North Egypt News

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) recently updated his constituents about where several pieces of legislation pertaining to law enforcement and crime that he sponsored stand.

Basically, his bills are calling on his colleagues to take better care of disabled law enforcement officers and to allow broader acceptance of medical records in juvenile abuse cases.

“We must do everything that we can to express our appreciation to police officers and sheriffs that have served our communities for years, sacrificing their lives and putting their bodies on the line,” Windhorst said on Facebook. “We should not be forcing anyone that has been disabled and even if they are now recovered, to return to the very dangerous work that police officers do after the age of 60. I appreciate our police, and if someone wishes to return to work, they still could. But my legislation would prevent the mandatory recall of these retired officers back into service.” 

House Bill 2390 deals with the Illinois Pension Code. It focuses on fitness for duty for those who have been suspended due to disability. 

“In a provision concerning submission to an examination to determine fitness for duty for police officers whose duties have been suspended because of disability, certification that a police officer is no longer disabled, and authorizing disabled police officers to be assigned to duty during an emergency, excludes police officers who have attained the age of 60," its synopsis says. 

It also prevents a retired deputy sheriff or police officer 60 or older who retired for disability from being recalled into service.

A second bill, House Bill 1434, focuses on changes to the Juvenile Court Act to allow the admissibility of certified hospital or public or private agency records in adjudicatory hearings on abused, neglected, or dependent minors. Windhorst filed this bill on Jan. 26, and it has advanced to the Calendar Order of third reading as of March 16, 2023. 

“The sad fact is that minors are abused and neglected and medical records are often needed to prove that abuse and neglect,” Windhorst said in a Facebook posting. “Current Illinois law unnecessarily restricts the admissibility of medical records in Illinois juvenile court hearings. My bill will protect private information while loosening restrictions on the admissibility of the medical records for those hearings.” 

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice Committee and Judiciary - Criminal, according to the Illinois House.