HB3308 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10020 RLC 20091 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3308

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

720 ILCS 150/1	from Ch. 23, par. 2351
720 ILCS 150/5	from Ch. 23, par. 2355

Amends the Wrongs to Children Act. Provides that it is unlawful for a child under 18 years of age to engage in panhandling unless the child is a representative of a nonprofit organization. Provides that any person under 18 years of age who engages in panhandling is guilty of a petty offense. Defines "panhandling".

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Wrongs to Children Act is amended by changing Sections 1 and 5 as follows:

(720 ILCS 150/1) (from Ch. 23, par. 2351)

Sec. 1. Prohibited activities involving children.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person having the care, custody or control of any child under the age of fourteen years, to exhibit, use or employ, or in any manner, or under any pretense, sell, apprentice, give away, let out, or otherwise dispose of any such child to any person in or for the vocation or occupation, service or purpose of singing, playing on musical instruments, rope or wire walking, dancing, begging, or peddling, or as a gymnast, contortionist, rider or acrobat in any place whatsoever, or for any obscene, indecent or immoral purpose, exhibition or practice whatsoever, or for, or in any business, exhibition or vocation injurious to the health or dangerous to the life or limb of such child, or cause, procure or encourage any such child to engage therein. Nothing in this section contained shall apply to or affect the employment or use of any such child as a singer or musician in any church, school or academy (or at any respectable entertainment), or the teaching or learning the science or practice of music.

(b) It is unlawful for a child under 18 years of age to engage in panhandling. As used in this subsection (b), "panhandling" means the selling of food products or other items; or begging for money or asking for monetary donations unless the child is representing a nonprofit organization. "Panhandling" does not include a solicitation of money or a gratuity for:

(1) a religious organization such as a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other organized religion;

(2) a recognized charity or organization that is exempt from full or partial taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; or

(3) a friend or family member either in person or through the Internet.

(Source: Laws 1877, p. 90.)

(720 ILCS 150/5) (from Ch. 23, par. 2355)

Sec. 5. Any person convicted under the provisions of the preceding Sections sections, shall for the first offense be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; and for a second or any subsequent offense shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony. Any person under 18 years of age who engages in panhandling is guilty of a petty offense.

(Source: P.A. 77-2346.)