August 14, 2009

To the Honorable Members of the

Illinois House of Representatives

96th General Assembly

I hereby return House Bill 557 with my specific recommendation for change. I thank the sponsors for their hard work on this legislation.

This bill makes interference with a public institution of education accompanied by a threat of personal injury or property damage a Class 3 felony.  While it is important to convey the message that false threats at schools are serious crimes, punishing such threats as Class 3 felonies is too severe.  Therefore, I am proposing to define threats of this nature as Class 4 felonies.  This will make the punishment identical to that authorized for similar crimes punished as class 3 felonies, such as making false threat against public agencies and officials (720 ILCS 5/26-1 (2), (4)), or making a bomb threat that endangers human life (720 ILCS 5/26-1(3)).

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 557, entitled “AN ACT concerning Criminal Law”, with the following specific recommendation for change:

on page 3, line 23, by replacing “3” with “4”; and

on page 3, line 24, be replacing “2 years” with “1 year”; and

on page 4, line 1, by replacing “10 years” with “6 years”; and

on page 4, line 1, by deleting “and may be prosecuted for”; and

on page 4, by deleting line 2.

With this change, House Bill 557 will have my approval.  I respectfully request your concurrence. 

Sincerely,

PAT QUINN

Governor