Lake County Gazette

Mary Edly-Allen introduced SB0086 in the Illinois Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 55 years and served at least 25 consecutive years of incarceration, excluding any person sentenced to natural life imprisonment for a Class X felony violation of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, shall be eligible to submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Specifies factors that the Board must consider as shown by the petition or as shown at the hearing. Provides that victims and victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and be provided the opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this provision. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 3 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that the Board shall render its decision within a reasonable time after the hearing. Provides that when the panel votes to deny parole, a rationale shall be prepared by at least one member of the panel that states the basis for the denial, including the primary factors considered. Provides that in its decision, the Board shall set the person's time for parole or if it denies parole, it shall provide for a rehearing no later than 3 years after denial of parole. Provides that this provision applies retroactively to all persons serving any sentence that was or is imposed before, on, or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and the period of incarceration for eligibility of each such person to submit a petition for parole is based on all previous consecutive years of incarceration served by that person before, on, and after the effective date of the amendatory Act."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the Unified Code of Corrections to allow incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older, who have served at least 25 consecutive years, to petition the Prisoner Review Board for parole, excluding those serving natural life sentences for Class X sexual assault felonies. The Prisoner Review Board must consider various factors, including the individual's rehabilitation efforts, community support, risk assessments, and re-entry plans. Victims and their families are to be notified and allowed to participate in parole hearings. Decisions require a majority vote from a panel of at least three board members, with a written rationale provided for any denial. This provision is retroactive, applying to sentences imposed before, on, or after the bill's effective date, aiming to reduce incarceration costs and reintegrate individuals into society.

Mary Edly-Allen has proposed one other bill since the beginning of the 104th session.

Edly-Allen graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 1993 with a BA.

Mary Edly-Allen is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 31st Senate District. She replaced previous state senator Terry Hall in 2023.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
SB0086	01/17/2025	Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that a committed person who has attained the age of 55 years and served at least 25 consecutive years of incarceration, excluding any person sentenced to natural life imprisonment for a Class X felony violation of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, or predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, shall be eligible to submit a petition to the Prisoner Review Board seeking parole. Specifies factors that the Board must consider as shown by the petition or as shown at the hearing. Provides that victims and victims' families shall be notified in a timely manner and be provided the opportunity to participate at the parole hearing concerning the petitioner's application for parole under this provision in accordance with the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act, the Open Parole Hearings Act, and this provision. Provides that Prisoner Review Board hearings under this provision shall be conducted by a panel of at least 3 members of the Board and a majority vote of the panel is required to grant the petition and release the petitioner on parole. Provides that the Board shall render its decision within a reasonable time after the hearing. Provides that when the panel votes to deny parole, a rationale shall be prepared by at least one member of the panel that states the basis for the denial, including the primary factors considered. Provides that in its decision, the Board shall set the person's time for parole or if it denies parole, it shall provide for a rehearing no later than 3 years after denial of parole. Provides that this provision applies retroactively to all persons serving any sentence that was or is imposed before, on, or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and the period of incarceration for eligibility of each such person to submit a petition for parole is based on all previous consecutive years of incarceration served by that person before, on, and after the effective date of the amendatory Act.
SB0085	01/17/2025	Amends the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act of the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that, on and after the effective date of the amendatory Act, before the estimated dates of completion of a redevelopment project and retirement of obligations issued to finance development project costs (including refunding bonds) are extended to the 35th or 47th years, the municipality must submit to the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives written support for the extension of the life of the redevelopment project area from each school district, community college district, and park district that has authority to directly levy taxes on property within the redevelopment project area. Provides that a municipality may only submit written support to extend a redevelopment project area to the 35th year within the 5 years prior to the estimated date of completion of the redevelopment project and may only submit written support to extend a redevelopment project area to the 47th year within one year prior to the estimated date of completion of the redevelopment project area. Effective immediately.
SB0087	01/17/2025	Creates the Consensual Non-Transplant Donation Regulation Act. Provides for licensing of non-transplant anatomical donation organizations by the Department of Public Health. Sets forth requirements for licensed non-transplant anatomical donation organizations, including application and renewal fees, penalties for failing to comply with the Act, and enforcement of the Act's provisions. Provides for deposit of licensing and renewal fees in the Public Health Licensing Fund, a special fund created in the State treasury. Provides that fines accruing from a conviction under the Act shall be paid into the common school fund of the county in which the offense was committed. Sets forth conditions under which a licensee must update a license or license application. Sets forth conditions under which the Department may deny, suspend or revoke, a license, or assess a civil penalty against a licensee. Provides for a universal donor consent form and sets forth requirements for the form. Sets forth requirements for donor records and record retention policies. Sets forth requirements for labeling and packaging the non-transplant anatomical donation. Provides for final disposition of a non-transplant anatomical donation. Sets forth general responsibilities and environmental standards for licensees. Provides for transportation standards while transporting non-transplant anatomical donations. Provides screening standards for end users by licensees. Makes conforming changes in the State Finance Act, Vital Records Act, Illinois Vehicle Code, and Illinois Anatomical Gift Act. Effective immediately.