SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Illinois lawmakers are renewing their calls to pass legislation increasing penalties for people who hurt workers at two state agencies, the Department of Children and Family Services and Department on Aging.
The push comes as a Sangamon County jury found Benjamin Reed guilty Thursday of the 2022 fatal stabbing of DCFS social worker Deidre Silas.
“If you harm a DCFS worker or a Department of Aging worker, you should be penalized for that crime at the same level as if you were commit that same crime against a police officer, a teacher, a fireman. It should be the same, it is no different,” said House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savana.
She is sponsoring both HB1460 and HB1461, which would increase penalties for people who harm DCFS and Department on Aging workers. She believes state law should treat them similar to other first responders.
“It’s not about protecting DCFS workers or Department of Aging workers, it’s about respecting them,” McCombie said.
The bills would make harming a DCFS worker or Department on Aging Adult Protective Services worker a class-two felony. It’s currently a class-three felony. The bill would make it a class-one felony if the assault caused great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement.
“This is a bill that we thought would have been a simple cleanup bill, an oversight, which we see a lot in Springfield, for first responders to be treated the same across the board,” McCombie said.
She said she’s been working on the legislation for several years since the 2018 death of another DCFS worker, Pamela Knight.
She added Silas’ death should remind lawmakers why it’s important lawmakers finally pass these bills.
Despite having received bipartisan support, the bills have not received a hearing during the 2023-24 general assembly.
DCFS officials did not comment on the legislation but did release a statement following Thursday’s verdict:
“Deidre Silas committed her life to protecting and supporting Illinois’ most vulnerable residents. Deidre was a dedicated child protection professional and public servant who worked day in and day out to make Illinois a better and safer place. Her death is a tragedy for all of us.
“We know that the outcome of this trial cannot bring Deidre back or heal the many hearts that were broken by her tragic death. Our thoughts remain with Deidre’s family, friends and all of those whose lives she touched. We ask that the people of Illinois continue to support her family by keeping them in your thoughts as they continue to mourn the loss of a beloved mother, daughter, sister and colleague.”
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Publish date : 2024-08-29 13:09:00
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