Dupage Policy Journal

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) is among a group of Republican lawmakers pushing sweeping anti-crime legislation.

“Today, I joined several of my Senate Republican colleagues for the unveiling of a comprehensive package of anti-crime legislation,” Curran said in a post to Facebook. “We need to get serious about addressing the violent crime crisis in our state, and these bills will go far in curbing gun violence that is currently out of control across the state.”

Joining Curran in the crusade are Sens. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet), Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and Brian Stewart (R-Freeport), with the chief legislation pushed by the group centered on the Fund the Police Act, which will provide a major infusion of resources to criminal justice and mental health programs through a $100 million appropriation.

The act would revolve around combatting the levels of violent crime and mental health issues seen as plaguing neighborhoods across the state.

“The crime numbers coming out of Chicago and other Illinois cities speak for themselves, and we must do more to keep families safe and hold violent offenders accountable,” Curran said in a post to his website. “These legislative proposals will bring enhanced accountability for gun violence and act as an actual deterrent to committing a violent act with a gun. We must push back hard on the recent brazenness of violent crime that is endangering the citizens of our state.”

Elements of the legislation include providing more protection for law enforcement officers against violent offenders by outlining that individuals who assault police officers or bring weapons into penal institutions serve 85% of their sentence and increasing sentencing for gun crimes.

The legislation also includes Senate Bill 2927, which would require the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to track gun crimes by convicted felons and Senate Bill 2928, which would require a 10-year mandatory sentence for first-time convicted gun offenders and a life sentence for second offenses.

Curran has also been instrumental in pushing Senate Bill 539, touted as ethics legislation designed to bring more transparency to Springfield.

"Through Senate Bill 539 we will hold elected officials to a higher ethical standard," Curran said. "We will also provide our legislative Inspector General the ability to independently investigate allegations of political corruption without first coming to the body comprised of legislators for approval.”

SB 539 would amend various acts and provisions including the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, modifying requirements concerning the Executive Ethics Commission and the Legislative Ethics Commission, and the General Assembly Act among others.

The measure was already passed by the House and Senate and is awaiting signature from the governor.

"We wanted to strengthen the statement of economic interest to make them more robust, more transparent and more user-friendly for the public as they look to hold us accountable,” Curran said. “We wanted a ban on legislators acting as lobbyists for local governmental bodies. What we got were very tightened restrictions which will be a big step forward."