Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) is excited and grateful to hear that today, Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1975, also known as Faith’s Law, into effect. Along with survivor and advocate Faith Colson, Illinois State Representative Michelle Mussman (D-Schamburg), and Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign), ChicagoCAC staff worked tirelessly to craft and revise the bill throughout 2021. Faith’s Law eventually passed veto session in both houses on October 28, 2021.
“Thank you to Governor Pritzker, members of the General Assembly, and especially Faith Colson, Representative Mussman, and Senator Bennett for the support and advocacy you have shown to Illinois students with the signing of HB1975,” said Julia Strehlow, Education, Prevention & Policy Director at ChicagoCAC. “Faith’s Law gets us all one step closer to a world free from child sexual abuse. Time and time again, we see examples of the system not working in our schools, and this law will strengthen the system and prevent more harm to students.”
Faith’s Law includes expanded protections for students through broadening the definition of grooming – a precursor to sexual abuse – to encompass in-person acts, acts through direct communication or a third party, or grooming through written communication. Under previous law, grooming only included internet-based communication. This expanded definition of grooming behavior closes several loopholes through which sexual misconduct could have occurred undetected and without recourse.
The new law also includes provisions which guard against educator sexual misconduct in schools and will help teachers and administration identify such conduct if it is occurring. Additionally, school districts must develop an employee code of professional conduct that addresses grooming and other forms of sexual misconduct, and have this code publicly available on school websites and in handbooks. Finally, the Illinois State Board of Education is now required to create a parent resource guide that would include general assistance and resources for parents and guardians pertaining to students becoming victims of sexual abuse. Schools must notify parents of the guide at the beginning of the school year and provide copies to parents by request.
“We are so proud to have worked with Faith, Representative Mussman, Senator Bennett, and the other stakeholders to make this law a reality,” said ChicagoCAC Executive Director Char Rivette. “These are substantive changes that will protect students from sexual abuse and exploitation for years to come.”