Stava-Murray Files Bills Focused on Schools, Libraries, Criminal Justice

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Downers Grove, began 2024 by filing a series of new bills focused on safety in schools and libraries as well as criminal justice reform—issues that form just a part of her legislative agenda.

“In 2023, we made historic strides in promoting public safety, protecting the freedom to read and in advancing the cause of justice within our criminal justice system,” Stava-Murray said. “But more work remains to be done, and my colleagues and I are getting busy.”

Among her other legislation, Stava-Murray has filed four new bills for consideration during the 2024 regular session:

• House Bill 4567 would put library workers in the same legal category as public officials and human service providers in order to grant them the same protections against threats and harassment. It would also expand these protections to include harassment or threats that take place electronically or via social media.
• House Bill 4584 would require police involvement in incidents at public and nonpublic schools to be reported to the State Police. Would also require the State Police to furnish the State Board of Education with annual statistics based on these reports, and require that this information be made available to the public.
• House Bill 4585 would explicitly ban “arrest quotas”—the practice of requiring police officers to arrest a certain number of people within a given period of time.
• House Bill 4586 would require every school to notify both students as well as students’ parents or guardians of available mental health services and how to access them.

“Ensuring that people are safe and that problems impacting their safety are being addressed is crucial if we want to keep Illinois moving forward,” Stava-Murray said. “This year is a brand new opportunity to lay the foundations for a better future and I won’t stop working to help us reach it.”

###