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Public Act 102-0685
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| HB0370 Enrolled | LRB102 02739 LNS 12742 b |
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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.
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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.
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Section 25. Repeal. This Act is repealed on January 1, |
2024.
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Section 90. Public Act 89-18, approved June 1, 1995, as |
amended, is repealed.
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