Springfield . . . Senate lawmakers were busy in committee hearings all week, approving legislation that State Senator Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) said would target the growing social issue of “sexting,” and advancing measures to the House of Representatives that would change Illinois’ legislative scholarship program and push back the state’s February primary election date.

The Senate Criminal Law committee tackled the issue of “sexting,” a growing social trend where explicit photos or video are sent via cell phone or e-mail to someone else. The bill is aimed at people younger than 18, as sexting has become increasingly prevalent among young people in recent years. 

Currently, there is little that could be done to address sexting aside from pursuing felony child pornography charges—which prosecutors are reluctant to do. Senate Bill 2513 seeks to create a middle ground.

Under the legislation, a minor who electronically sends an indecent image of themselves can be brought into juvenile court for a proceeding to determine if they are a minor in need of supervision.  If the young person is found to be in need of supervision, he or she could be ordered into counseling or other supportive services. They may also be ordered to complete community service. 

Senate Bill 2513 also makes it a misdemeanor crime for any person, regardless of their age, to possess an explicit visual image transmitted to them by a minor.  This controversial provision sparked concern that the creator and sender of the image could be found to have committed a lesser offense, while the person who received the unsolicited image would be guilty of a higher penalty.  However, there would be no possession offense if the person receiving the image takes reasonable steps to eliminate the image within a reasonable time. 

Questions were raised about whether the issue of sexting is a topic best handled by the parents and educators.  Nonetheless, the bill was approved by the Senate Criminal Law Committee on a vote of 8 to 0 and it now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

On Feb. 24, the full Senate did approve legislation targeting the state’s controversial legislative scholarship program. The program came under fire after media reports revealed that General Assembly scholarships had been awarded to students who are family of campaign contributors or influential acquaintances.

Senate Bill 365 would allow a legislator to opt out of the legislative scholarship program.  The measure also prohibits a legislator from nominating a person for a scholarship if that person or an immediate family member has made a campaign contribution to the lawmaker who would award the scholarship at any time during the last five years. The bill also requires the individual nominated to have already been admitted to a state-supported university. 

A number of lawmakers argued the program should be eliminated completely to avoid future improprieties, though many noted that Senate Bill 365 is an adequate first step. Opponents of the legislation contend that the scholarships provide a much-needed opportunity for students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend college.  Senate Bill 365 now moves to the House.

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 355, a bill that will move the general primary election from February to the third Tuesday of March in evened numbered years. 

Currently Illinois boasts the nation’s earliest primary. The primary date was moved to February a couple of years ago to benefit Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential bid. Lawmakers voted Feb. 24 to return the primary date to mid-March, saying that reinstating the March primary date will help increase voter turnout and improve the overall process.  Senate Bill 355 was sent to the House for consideration.

Senator McCarter also met with local groups during the week.  

Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Decatur visited on Wednesday, Feb. 24.  The Senator met with mentors Pat West and Robert Crawford and Club members Matthew Joyner and Latrise Williams.   McCarter said the organization is doing wonderful work in Decatur through programs like Teen Reach and Sisters.

Mayors from a number of Metro East communities visited the Capitol on Thursday, Feb. 25 to meet with legislators, including Senator McCarter, about the pending STAR bonds legislation.  McCarter says he was excited to see the mayors take an active role in making sure the General Assembly got the message that STAR bonds will have a negative impact on a large number of communities in the Metro East area, including those cities and towns he represents. 

Other legislation passed by Senate committees during the week include:
Veterans (SB 384): Allows veterans who are applying for a free hunting, fishing, or camping permit to prove their service abroad by mailing in applications instead of traveling to Department of Natural Resources offices in Springfield.

Flood control plan (SJR 87): Urges Congress to fund the Army Corps of Engineers flood control plan for the Upper Mississippi River.

Educational mandates (SB 3000): Creates the Instructional Mandates Task Force to study instructional mandates governing public schools, and will make recommendations to the General Assembly on existing and future mandates.

Sex offenders (SB 2824): Prohibits a sex offender from being in a public park or loitering within 500 feet of a public park.

Property taxes (SB 2950): Protects persons with developmental disabilities from losing their homes due to nonpayment of property taxes.

Intergovernmental agreement (SB 3152): Requires information about intergovernmental agreements be included in a municipality’s annual TIF financial report to the State Comptroller and affected taxing districts.