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Bill Status

Passed House Committee

MAKE GUN ENHANCEMENTS FOR YOUNG ADULTS DISCRETIONARY – HB 1501

House Sponsor: Representative La Shawn Ford

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Support HB 1501

HB 1501 would expand the Youth Firearm Sentencing Law to 18, 19, and 20 year olds, building on the years-long success of the 2015 law.

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Bill overview

People ages 18 to 20 should receive the same judicial discretion as people 17 and younger.

HB 1501 would expand the Youth Firearm Sentencing Law to 18, 19, and 20 year olds, building on the years-long success of the 2015 law. Judges would have the authority to decide whether enhancements make sense on a case-by-case basis using the existing nine-point guidelines and could apply the additional years to a sentence if appropriate.

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BACKGROUND

Illinois law adds a mandatory 15, 20, or 25 years to prison sentences of people who had firearms during the commission of certain felonies.

A bipartisan 2015 law made those enhancements discretionary for people 17 and younger.

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Restore Justice focuses on sentencing, prison conditions and practices, and pathways to release.

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