HB4040 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 17637 KMF 23423 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4040

Introduced 3/11/2021, by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

720 ILCS 5/12C-75 new

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Creates the offense of parental bullying. Provides that a parent or legal guardian of a minor commits parental bullying when he or she knowingly and with the intent to discipline, embarrass, or alter the behavior of the minor, transmits any verbal or visual message that the parent or legal guardian reasonably believes would coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to the minor. Provides that parental bullying is a petty offense. Provides that if a person is convicted of parental bullying, the court shall order that person to pay for the costs of prosecution and that a portion of any fine imposed, as determined by the court, be placed in escrow for the purchase of a certificate of deposit for use by the victim when he or she attains 18 years of age.

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 Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by adding Section 12C-75 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/12C-75 new)

Sec. 12C-75. Parental bullying.

(a) As used in this Section:

"Emotional distress" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of Section 12-7.5 of this Code.

"Harass" has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of Section 12-7.5 of this Code.

"Minor" means a person who is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense.

(b) A parent or legal guardian of a minor commits parental bullying when he or she knowingly and with the intent to discipline, embarrass, or alter the behavior of the minor, transmits any verbal or visual message that the parent or legal guardian reasonably believes would coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to the minor.

(c) Sentence. Parental bullying is a petty offense. If a person is convicted of parental bullying, the court shall order that person to pay for the costs of prosecution under Section 124A-5 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and that a portion of any fine imposed, as determined by the court, be placed in escrow for the purchase of a certificate of deposit for use by the victim when he or she attains 18 years of age.