SPRINGFIELD – A steadfast champion of criminal justice reform and the rights of people involved in the justice system, State Senator Robert Peters expanded upon his work broadening the civil liberties of the more than 70,000 people on probation in Illinois, which was signed into law Friday.

“Probation offers individuals an opportunity to have a sense of freedom under supervision,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Supervision while adjusting back into modern society should reflect the same rights as civilians in order to accurately judge a person’s ability to maintain the safety of a community.”

Under the new law, an individual on probation, conditional discharge or supervision will not be ordered to refrain from cannabis or alcohol except in specified circumstances. If a court orders someone on probation to be tested for cannabis or alcohol, a statement detailing the relation between the condition of probation and the crime must be provided. The law ensures individuals on probation will not be charged for costs associated with mandatory testing.

Peters’ law also prevents courts from ordering a person on probation, conditional discharge or supervision to refrain from using any substance lawfully prescribed by a medical provider or authorized by the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act.

“There are often circumstances in which individuals on probation use substances like cannabis for medical reasons,” said Peters. “Eliminating barriers for those on probation with a medical diagnosis, as long as the liberties are unrelated to the circumstances that landed them on probation, is a positive step toward true public safety reform.”

Senate Bill 1886 was signed into law Friday.

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of $82 million in road and bridge improvement projects for the 2024 fiscal year thanks to smart infrastructure investments supported by State Senator Robert Peters.

“As chair of the Senate Labor Committee, I’m always happy to support infrastructure projects because of the increase in employment opportunities for skilled laborers,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “The economic significance of this is huge considering the valuable goods that are being transported back and forth on local highways in addition to the increase in financial resources for workers.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Peters represents will see six infrastructure projects totaling nearly $142 million over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

• Ewing Avenue bridge replacement
• Cornell Drive, Stony Island Avenue and Marquette Drive construction engineering and reconstruction
• Jeffery Drive, Marquette Drive and South Shore Drive plan preparation

These projects are part of IDOT’s Multi-Year Plan, a $40 billion investment in construction projects for the next six fiscal years. The project invests in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

“The 13^th Senate District is known for some of the most iconic roads in the state,” Peters said. “It’s important that we not only generate high paying jobs for construction workers, but that we also put in the work to preserve the safety of our roads which play a crucial role in the social and economic development of Illinois.”

To find a full list of projects slated for the 13th Senate District, visit IDOT’s website.

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CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters released the following statement in response to the Illinois Supreme Court’s ruling on the pretrial release portions of the SAFE-T Act:

“I am extremely proud that our state’s highest court is prioritizing public safety over wealth. This historic decision is the culmination of over a decade of organizing from countless grassroots organizations that deal directly with vulnerable communities in which cash bail has affected, including groups that support survivors of gender-based violence. I would like to take this opportunity to specifically thank the Coalition to End Money Bond, the State’s Attorneys Association, the Sheriff’s Association and survivor advocates for their assistance in getting pretrial fairness across the finish line.

“In the aftermath of this historical achievement, I expect there to be backlash and calls for the reinstatement of a cash bail system in response to controversial legal cases. Let me be clear: cash bail delegitimizes criminal justice systems and transforms them into systems that violate public safety instead of upholding it. Illinois will not go back. We will only move forward with our goal of ensuring public safety for all Illinoisans, regardless of their background or financial position.” 

Read more about the SAFE-T Act here.

SPRINGFIELD –To reduce wage theft and provide workers with more time to recover wages owed to them, State Senator Robert Peters’ measure extending the recovery time was signed into law.

 “Wage theft is no better than regular theft. It uplifts the State on the backs of the working class,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This measure seeks to give working people more time to recover unpaid wages.”

Under previous minimum wage laws, the Illinois Department of Labor was able to recover wages on behalf of an employee but was not always able to locate and pay the employee by the time investigations and court processes were completed. Peters’ new law extends the time for wage recovery to three years to give the Department of Labor and employees more time to recover back wages.

Additionally, Peters’ law ensures that money recovered and held beyond the three-year recovery period is deposited into the Wage Theft Enforcement Fund and the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund. Previously, unclaimed wages held by the Department of Labor beyond the recovery time were transferred to the state’s General Revenue Fund.

“Educating employees on where they can find their money is more rewarding than placing their earnings into the General Revenue Fund,” Peters said. “Boosting the General Revenue Fund with recovered wages that people are owed is not an ethical or sustainable way to increase revenue. People deserve as much time as possible to recover their unpaid wages.”

 House Bill 3227 was signed into law Friday.