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Sponsored by Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, Senate Bill 1463
passed by a nearly 2-1 vote margin (37-19).
Parameters of the measure, which now sits in the House Rules
Committee, also call for individuals under the age of 18 to
still be required to pay restitution for such violations as
traffic, boating, fishing or game law along with municipal
ordinance violations.
With such fees and fines already outlawed in nearly half of all
states, advocates argue such costs especially impact minority
and lower-income families, with a recent Illinois Statutory
Court Fee Task Force report coming to the conclusion the
practice should be abolished, finding the assessments "undermine
the goal of achieving rehabilitation."
The report further outlines "in the juvenile court system,
youths living in poverty may face harsher consequences than
their more well-off peers since poor children are less likely to
pay juvenile assessments, which may result in contempt of court,
probation violations, recidivism, and even additional fees."
With fines often as high as $800, Peters sought to pass such
legislation before, though Senate Bill 3621 never advanced past
a first reading in the chamber.
"One fee for someone who's working class leads to a variety of
different other economic challenges that could cause a debt
cycle or debt spiral," he said.
Republicans opposed to the measure openly expressed concerns
about revenues, with state Sen. Jill Tracy taking to the House
floor to openly wonder how her small Adams County home would be
left to make up the $22,000 it issued in such fines as recently
as last year.
"That is a significant amount that somehow that county and that
entity of government through their taxpayers is going to have to
make up," she said.
In the end, all Senate Republicans voted to reject the measure,
with the Illinois Sheriff's Association taking a similar stance.
Peters’ bill comes at a time when some are pushing for youth
detention centers to be shut down across the state and with Gov.
J.B. Pritzker having recently moved to close at least five
centers.
Peters’ bill also has a companion bill in the House, with state
Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, having filed House Bill 3120,
which has also since been re-referred to the House Rules
Committee.
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