2021 Police "Reform Bill" Resource Center

Statements and information on House Bill 3653, the "Safety Act"

Updated February 25, 2021

• NEW! List of effective dates of more than 25 aspects of the new law (February 23, 2021)
  
  
• NEW! President James Black's statement on signing of HB 3653 (February 22, 2021)
  
  
• NEW! Executive Director Ed Wojcicki statement on signing of "anti-police bill" (February 22, 2021)
  
  
• Update 5. Words and phrases to help you talk about the flaws in HB 3653. Updated February 19. 2021.
  
  
• On Centersquare, Wojcicki, Senator Sims comment on funding for body cams (February 24, 2021)
• 
  Alabama chief writes open letter explaining why Illinois officers want to leave Illinois. Download his letter. February 19, 2021.
  
  
• Two cities (Hamel and Freeport) adopt resolutions opposing HB 3653. Download their language here.
  
  
• Fact vs. Fiction updated. Ed Wojcicki statement #4 with summary of major concerns. Updated information that you can use to express your concerns. February 10, 2021.Click here for this statement - update #4. 
  
  
• Update 3: Wojcicki says statements of Black Caucus, black chiefs and other Iaw enforcement all have validity. February 8, 2021
  Click here for the statement.
  
  
• Update 2: Information you can use to express concerns about problems with the bill: FACT vs. FICTION. February 2, 2021.
  Click here for PDF - detailed 6-page analysis. This describes our major concerns and scenarios.
  Click here for easy reading of Fact vs. Fiction on a smartphone or tablet. 

• Illinois Chiefs' Fact Sheet 1. January 26, 2021. 
  Click here for Fact Sheet 1. This provides an overview of our concerns and our next steps.
  
  
• Kane County State's Attorney expresses specific concerns to state senators and reps (January 22, 2021). This is a good read and explains some of the issues very well. Shared with permission of State's Attorney Jamie L. Mosser. 
  Click here.

• Detailed analysis of HB 3653 by Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, Ltd. 
  Click here. This PDF file from Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier and McGrath, based in Evergreen Park, Illinois, is 17 pages and provides a good explanation of the bill, with page numbers of the bill for easy reference. It is shared here with permission of attorney Michael Stillman in that law firm. Caveat: Everyone's analysis of the bill is being updated continuously.
  
  
• Initial analysis by Illinois Municipal League (January 13, 2021).
  Click here.
  
  
• Initial statement by ILACP President James R. Black (January 13, 2021).
  Click here.
  
  

• HB 3653 as passed by the General Assembly on January 13, 2021.
  Click here.

  Roll call vote of HB 3653. Who voted for it and against it? January 13, 2021.
  Click here.

MEDIA - SELECTION OF STORIES

• Victims' advocates concerned about negative consequences of HB 3653 (patch.com, February 4, 2021)
• Story about HB 3653 and differences of opinion; Wojcicki comments  (WGN TV, February 2, 2021)
• President Black explains LE wants to be part of the solution  (Associated Press, January 31, 2021)
• Vernon Hills' Chief Pat Kreis explains concerns on Mike Flannery show in Chicago (Fox32, Chicago, January 27, 2021)
• President Black comments on problems with body camera language (Tribune, January 27, 2021)
  
• Vernon Hills Chief Kreis calls body camera language a serious problem (WGN radio, January 27, 2021)
• House Republicans, Troopers FOP lodge urge veto of bill (Sun-Times, January 27, 2021)
• Wojcicki told he's "reasonable" on morning show discussion at black radio station WVON (January 15, 2021)
• Suburban Chiefs, President Black, disheartened by reform bill (Daily Herald, January 15, 2020)
• Tribune editorial board advises Pritzker not to sign this bill; it was "rushed" (Tribune, January 15, 2021)
• The trouble with the police reform bill in Madison County; Wojcicki comments (Fox 2, St. Louis, January 13, 2021)
• Wojcicki talks about concerns with just-passed reform bill (WGN TV, January 14, 2021)
• Law Enforcement Coalition statement expresses disappointment in bill (January 13, 2021)
• President Black testifies at hearing on police reforms (Tribune, January 10, 2021)

HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS OR MORE RESOURCES TO SUGGEST?

Contact ILACP Executive Director Ed Wojcicki at [email protected]