Bryant - Part Two of Molly's Law Passes House

HB 4715 received unanimous support in the Illinois House.

Springfield….State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) announced on Friday that HB 4715, which is the second piece of Molly’s Law, passed unanimously out of the House. The unanimous passage of part two of Molly’s Law is consistent with the previous unanimous Committee and House support that Bryant received for HB 6083, which was part one of Molly’s Law.

"I want to thank my colleagues in the House for their attention to Molly’s case,” Bryant said.

 “I was proud to sponsor Molly’s Law to help families that, God forbid, may find themselves in a similar situation as the Young family in the future. 


The changes contained in HB 6083 and HB 4715 are a direct response to the circumstances that occurred during Molly’s case, so to receive unanimous support from my colleagues in the House for these important changes is very encouraging.” 

Earlier this month, Rep. Terri Bryant was joined by Larry Young,
the father of Molly Young to testify in committee
on behalf of Molly's Law.  Molly's Law was created to fix
our wrongful death lawsuit laws and to add strength to
the Freedom of Information Act.

Part one of Molly’s Law is contained in HB 6083. That bill would change the statute of limitations for interested parties to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one from 2 to 5 years after the discovery of evidence that supports the assertion that a violent act lead to the death of the individual. That bill received unanimous Committee and House of Representatives support and now awaits action in the Senate.

Part two of Molly’s Law is reflected in HB 4715, and contains important changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The bill would change the current fine for public bodies that violate court orders to release information under FOIA from the current maximum fine of $5000 to $10000. It also adds an additional fine of $1000 for every day after 30 days that a public body is in violation of the court order as well.

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin was on hand for a press
conference to announce Molly's law in Carbondale alongside
Rep. Bryant and supports of the Justice for Molly movement.

Having passed the House 107-0, the bill moves to the Senate for consideration.


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