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Public Act 102-0685 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning civil law.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Youth | ||||
Health and Safety Act. | ||||
Section 5. Findings and declaration of policy. The General | ||||
Assembly finds, determines, and declares the following:
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(1) In 2019, the State of Illinois enacted the | ||||
Reproductive Health Act to establish and affirm the | ||||
fundamental right of all individuals in our State to make | ||||
their own decisions about their reproductive health care | ||||
without government interference.
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(2) Illinois' support of reproductive health care | ||||
stood in stark contrast to actions in other states aimed | ||||
at limiting, and even banning, access to reproductive | ||||
health care, including abortion care. The Reproductive | ||||
Health Act further established Illinois as a bulwark in | ||||
the protection of access to reproductive health care in | ||||
the Midwest. The pace of attacks on the fundamental right | ||||
of individuals to make autonomous decisions about their | ||||
lives has accelerated dangerously since 2019.
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(3) So far in calendar year 2021, 47 states considered | ||||
severe abortion restrictions, including 10 bans in direct |
conflict with the basic guarantees contained in Roe v. | ||
Wade and the protections codified under the Reproductive | ||
Health Act. Additionally, the Supreme Court of the United | ||
States is being asked to overturn the holding in Roe v. | ||
Wade in a case concerning an abortion ban in Mississippi, | ||
a development threatening to leave millions of Americans | ||
without access to abortion care.
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(4) These attacks reached their zenith with the | ||
passage of an abortion ban in Texas that deputized | ||
individuals across the country to act as "bounty hunters" | ||
allowing for lawsuits against physicians providing | ||
abortion care to people who are pregnant and others | ||
helping those seeking that care.
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(5) Illinois again is called to be an example for the | ||
nation in the protection of reproductive health care while | ||
also working to establish healthy family communications, | ||
protecting the health and safety of youth including those | ||
who are pregnant and parenting, and investing in | ||
individuals throughout their lives.
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(6) It is in the public policy interest of the State to | ||
ensure that Illinois residents, and individuals coming to | ||
the State of Illinois to access reproductive health care, | ||
are safe and free from barriers to access, including, but | ||
not limited to, medically unnecessary waiting periods, | ||
bans on particular reproductive health procedures, and | ||
restrictions or legal threats when accessing reproductive |
health care. The State of Illinois recognizes it is not | ||
the role of government to deny access to reproductive | ||
health care for its residents and those traveling to the | ||
State to access healthcare, especially those who are | ||
traveling to the State of Illinois because of the | ||
implementation of severe abortion restrictions in their | ||
home states. It is also in the public policy interest of | ||
the State to protect and support providers of reproductive | ||
health care and ensure that there are no penalties | ||
targeting providers, and individuals who support or aide | ||
those seeking reproductive health care in Illinois. The | ||
State of Illinois also opposes criminal litigation | ||
directed at those who provide healthcare or support to | ||
individuals traveling from states with such laws.
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(7) The Youth Health and Safety Act seeks to restate | ||
Illinois' commitment to full and equitable access to | ||
reproductive health care for all persons across the State, | ||
without barriers based on race or ethnicity, immigration | ||
status, age, geographic location, economic means, | ||
education level, or other categories of identity. The Act | ||
confirms that Illinois will not move backwards and will | ||
continue to assure that reproductive rights are protected | ||
and recognized.
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Section 10. The Youth Health and Safety Advisory Working | ||
Group; duties and responsibilities.
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(a) The Youth Health and Safety Advisory Working Group is | ||
created for the purpose of identifying and reviewing laws and | ||
regulations that impact pregnant and parenting youth and youth | ||
that may become pregnant or a parent. The working group shall | ||
identify existing and needed resources for pregnant and | ||
parenting youth, and youth seeking reproductive healthcare. In | ||
this Act, "youth" means an individual under 18 years of age.
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The working group shall prepare and make public a report | ||
that details available information and makes recommendations | ||
as necessary.
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(b) The working group shall identify laws and regulations | ||
that impact pregnant and parenting youth, or that may impact a | ||
pregnant or parenting youth, and provide information and | ||
resources on topics related to healthcare, including, but not | ||
limited to the following:
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(1) consent to medical care, including what healthcare | ||
and treatments are available, and access to confidential | ||
treatment and care;
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(2) pregnancy, abortion, adoption, and parenting;
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(3) counseling services, including, but not limited | ||
to, reproduction and sexual health, pregnancy and | ||
post-pregnancy, mental health, family, and parenting;
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(4) emancipation; and
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(5) insurance coverage.
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(c) The working group shall identify and provide | ||
information and resources that encourage and support open |
communication and conversation between youth and their | ||
families and other trusted people in their lives, including, | ||
but not limited to, counseling services, classes and | ||
workshops, talk and text-lines, online and social media | ||
options, tools targeted to parents and adults, and tools | ||
targeted to youth.
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(d) The working group shall identify and provide | ||
information and resources for pregnant and parenting youth | ||
related to education, employment, housing, food access, child | ||
care, and human trafficking, including the prevention of | ||
trafficking.
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Section 15. Membership; meetings.
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(a) The members of the working group shall include and | ||
represent the diversity of the people of Illinois, and shall | ||
be composed of the following:
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(1) Four members appointed by the Senate President, | ||
with at least 2 youth.
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(2) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of | ||
the Senate, with at least one youth.
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(3) Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House | ||
of Representatives, with at least 2 youth.
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(4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of | ||
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with at least | ||
one youth.
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(5) One State Representative appointed by the Speaker |
of the House of Representatives. | ||
(6) One State Representative appointed by the Minority | ||
Leader of the House of
Representatives. | ||
(7) One State Senator appointed by the President of | ||
the Senate. | ||
(8) One State Senator appointed by the Minority Leader | ||
of the Senate. | ||
(9) Four members appointed by the Governor, with at | ||
least 2 youth. | ||
(b) Appointments for the working group shall be made on or | ||
before August 31, 2022.
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(c) Members shall serve without compensation.
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(d) The Department of Public Health shall provide | ||
administrative support to the working group.
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Section 20. Report; dissolution. The working group shall | ||
issue a report based upon its findings. The report shall be | ||
submitted to the Governor and General Assembly no later than | ||
July 1, 2023. | ||
Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, | ||
2024. | ||
Section 90. Public Act 89-18, approved June 1, 1995, as | ||
amended, is repealed.
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