Moylan Supports Bill to Expand Protections for Sexual Assault Survivors

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, supported legislation Wednesday that would protect sexual assault survivors seeking justice by giving judges the authority to forbid their offenders from having the ability to question them in legal proceedings.

“Survivors of sexual assault who have endured significant emotional distress should not be required to answer questions directly from their attackers,” Moylan said. “Due to loopholes in existing law, this does have the potential to happen. The bill I supported would give judges the authority to prohibit this from taking place in the court room.”

The Moylan-supported House Bill 3191 would allow a judge presiding over a criminal sexual assault proceeding to bar the accused offender from possessing the ability to question the survivor of the alleged assault. The legislation provides that questioning may be done through court appointed counsel or by the judge. House Bill 3191 passed the House with bipartisan support on Wednesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“I am committed to advancing protections for survivors of sexual assault while also holding perpetrators accountable for their actions,” Moylan said. “This is a commonsense bill that moves us closer to that goal.”