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TEEN DRIVING SAFETY LEGISLATION
As they say, all politics are local. I have always been aware of
the need for extra safety measures for young drivers, but the
traffic-related deaths of 15 young people in just 15 months in
Tazewell County alone has made teen drivers' safety a top priority
during the coming year.
I am sponsoring teen driving safety legislation unveiled by
Secretary of State Jesse White during press conferences Jan. 24 in
Chicago and Springfield.
Based on recommendations by Secretary White's Teen Driver Safety
Task Force, the legislation will strengthen the state's Graduated
Driver's Licensing program. It will increase the permit phase for
teen drivers from three to nine months; change the nighttime driver
restriction to 10 p.m. during the week and to 11 p.m. on weekends
for drivers younger than 18; and double the amount of time that
restricts a new driver to a maximum of one unrelated teen passenger,
from six to 12 months.
Composed of legislators, traffic safety experts, law enforcement
officials, educators, judges and victim advocates, the task force
had public hearings in Springfield, Carterville and Chicago last
summer to study proposals aimed at keeping young drivers safe. I
want to compliment the task force on its hard work to establish the
most productive and effective driver's license program for our
teens.
The legislation has been drafted and awaits introduction in the
Illinois Senate.
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 PARENTAL NOTIFICATION LAW
The General Assembly approved a measure in 1995 that would
require a physician to notify a parent or guardian at least two days
before a girl younger than 18 can receive an abortion.
For the past 12 years, this law has not been enforced because the
state Supreme Court failed to outline rules on how a minor could
obtain a waiver for the notification in cases of sexual or physical
abuse from her parent or guardian.
In September 2006, the Supreme Court finally released the
required waiver rules, which prompted Attorney General Lisa Madigan
to state late last week that the law is now constitutional. She has
begun taking steps toward ensuring the enforcement of the law by
petitioning the federal courts to remove the more-than-decade-old
ban.
Once enforced, Illinois will join 44 other states that have
similar parental notification laws.
(Text from file received from
Sen. Bill Brady)
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