SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) introduced a bill this week that redefines felony murder charges in Illinois.

The language of current state law allows prosecutors to charge someone with first-degree murder if a death occurs during the commission of another offense when acting alone, or if a third-party individual causes a death when acting within a group. The new legislation would ban prosecutors from being able to do so.

“Incarceration rates are disturbingly high as it is,” Peters said. “These laws do nothing to improve safety in our community and are not an effective way to combat the unforgivable crowding of our jails and prisons. They are quite simply not a reflection of any sort of justice we should strive for as a society.”

The bill is an initiative of Restore Justice and was filed in response to an incident in Lake County where five teens were charged with first-degree murder after a failed home burglary in which the homeowner shot and killed a sixth teen.

Senate Bill 2292 was filed with the secretary of the Senate on Monday. It is currently awaiting assignment to a committee, which likely will not occur until full session resumes in January.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) joined 48 Senate colleagues in passing a bill meant to address the rising cost of insulin today.

“People are dying because of the outrageous markups in insulin prices, all so that pharmaceutical companies can squeeze every last dime they can out of working class families,” Peters said. “That ends now. It’s time to stop putting profits over people.”

Senate Bill 667 caps the per-patient out-of-pocket price of insulin at $100 for a 30-day supply. In addition, the bill instructs the Attorney General’s office to research and publish a report on the factors that lead to the ever rising cost of insulin.

“This is a good first step, but in order to ensure true equality, we need to implement Medicare for All at a federal level,” Peters said.

Chicago – Continuing his fierce dedication to protecting the well-being of youth in care, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) will attend a joint committee hearing to discuss the 2020 budget of the Department of Children and Family Services.

“I have first-hand experience about the importance of DCFS and the services it provides because I was a child of adoption,” Peters said. “Some of the kids in DCFS care are in extremely vulnerable places, and if DCFS isn’t doing its job to protect them, either through lack of funds or negligence, then a lot of these kids will struggle to succeed later in life.”

In the FY2020 budget passed this spring by Peters and his General Assembly colleagues, DCFS was given an $89 million increase in funding. At the hearing, representatives from the Department will present their plans for how they intend to allocate the additional funds, as well as speak regarding the areas where they anticipate still having issues.

“If we can get a direct account of the needs of DCFS, then we can go into next session knowing the issues they face and the best way to address those issues legislatively,” Peters said.

The hearing is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. in the Bilandic Building’s sixth floor hearing room.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) that will give college students who may be eligible for SNAP benefits more opportunities to learn about the program was signed by the governor and became law Friday.

“There are a lot of students who struggle to find their next meal because they’re not ever aware they’re eligible for SNAP benefits,” Peters said. “This law will help raise awareness of the program so that college kids can rely on the community around them to not go hungry.”

Senate Bill 1641 requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to identify and flag college students who could be eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and requires the Commission to post notices that includes SNAP eligibility requirements and other information where students are likely to see them.

“In the richest country in the world, college students going hungry is unacceptable,” Peters said. “This also results in fewer people being able to financially justify attending our colleges and universities. Simply raising awareness of the benefits students are entitled to can go a long way in helping address this issue.”

The bill, which was approved by both chambers of the General Assembly with strong bipartisan support, was signed by the governor today. It is effective immediately.