Bill Text: IL HB4441 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates the Illinois Safe Sidewalks and Roadways Act. Makes it unlawful for a person to panhandle after sunset or before sunrise. Makes it unlawful for a person to panhandle when the person solicited is in any of the following places: (1) at any bus stop or train stop; (2) in any public transportation vehicle or facility; (3) in any vehicle on the street; or (4) on private property, unless the panhandler has permission from the owner or occupant. Makes it unlawful for any person to panhandle in any of the following manners: (1) by coming within 3 feet of the person solicited, until that person has indicated that he or she wishes to make a donation; (2) by blocking the path of the person solicited along a sidewalk or street; (3) by following a person who walks away from the panhandler; (4) by using profane or abusive language, either during the solicitation or following a refusal; (5) by panhandling in a group of 2 or more persons; or (6) by any statement, gesture, or other communication which a reasonable person in the situation of the person solicited would perceive to be a threat. Makes it unlawful for any person to knowingly make any false or misleading representation in the course of soliciting a donation. Provides that any person who commits a first or second violation of the Act is guilty of a petty offense and shall for a first violation be fined $100 and for a second violation be fined $500. Provides that a third or subsequent violation is a Class C misdemeanor. Defines "panhandle". Contains a severability provision. Effective immediately.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-02-18 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4441 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2021-HB4441-Introduced.html
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1 | AN ACT concerning criminal law.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | Illinois Safe Sidewalks and Roadways Act.
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6 | Section 5. Findings and policy. The General Assembly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | finds and declares that while panhandling is a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | constitutionally-protected free speech right, aggressive and | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | violent actors across the State approaching passersby on the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | sidewalk or standing in hazardous positions on the roadway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | require the need for time, place, and manner restrictions so | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | that the citizens of and visitors to this State can freely walk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | on sidewalks and drive on roadways without fearing for their | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | safety or the safety of a person blocking a roadway.
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15 | Section 10. Definition. In this Act, "panhandle" means to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | solicit in person a request for an immediate donation of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | money. Purchase of an item for an amount far exceeding its | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | value, under circumstances in which a reasonable person would | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | understand that the purchase is in substance a donation, is a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | donation for the purpose of this Act. "Panhandle" does not | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | include passively standing or sitting with a sign or other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | indication that one is seeking donations, without addressing |
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1 | any solicitation to any specific person other than in response | ||||||
2 | to an inquiry by that person.
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3 | Section 15. Time of panhandling. It is unlawful for any | ||||||
4 | person to panhandle after sunset or before sunrise.
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5 | Section 20. Place of panhandling. It is unlawful for any | ||||||
6 | person to panhandle when the person solicited is in any of the | ||||||
7 | following places: | ||||||
8 | (1) at any bus stop or train stop; | ||||||
9 | (2) in any public transportation vehicle or facility; | ||||||
10 | (3) in any vehicle on the street; or
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11 | (4) on private property, unless the panhandler has | ||||||
12 | permission from the owner or
occupant.
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13 | Section 25. Manner of panhandling. It is unlawful for any | ||||||
14 | person to panhandle in any of the following manners: | ||||||
15 | (1) by coming within 3 feet of the person solicited, until | ||||||
16 | that person has indicated that
he or she wishes to make a | ||||||
17 | donation; | ||||||
18 | (2) by blocking the path of the person solicited along a | ||||||
19 | sidewalk or street; | ||||||
20 | (3) by following a person who walks away from the | ||||||
21 | panhandler; | ||||||
22 | (4) by using profane or abusive language, either during | ||||||
23 | the solicitation or following a
refusal; |
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1 | (5) by panhandling in a group of 2 or more persons; or | ||||||
2 | (6) by any statement, gesture, or other communication | ||||||
3 | which a reasonable person in the
situation of the person | ||||||
4 | solicited would perceive to be a threat.
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5 | Section 30. False or misleading solicitation. It is | ||||||
6 | unlawful for any person to knowingly make any false or | ||||||
7 | misleading representation in the course of soliciting a | ||||||
8 | donation. False or misleading representations include, but are | ||||||
9 | not limited to, the following: | ||||||
10 | (1) stating that the donation is needed to meet a specific | ||||||
11 | need, when the solicitor already
has sufficient funds to meet | ||||||
12 | that need and does not disclose that fact; | ||||||
13 | (2) stating that the donation is needed to meet a need | ||||||
14 | which does not exist; | ||||||
15 | (3) stating that the solicitor is from out of town and | ||||||
16 | stranded, when that is not true; | ||||||
17 | (4) wearing a military uniform or other indication of | ||||||
18 | military service, when the solicitor is neither a present nor | ||||||
19 | former member of the service indicated; | ||||||
20 | (5) wearing or displaying an indication of physical | ||||||
21 | disability, when the solicitor does not suffer the disability | ||||||
22 | indicated; | ||||||
23 | (6) use of any makeup or device to simulate any deformity; | ||||||
24 | or | ||||||
25 | (7) stating that the solicitor is homeless, when he or she |
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1 | is not homeless.
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2 | Section 35. Penalties. Any person who commits a first or | ||||||
3 | second violation of this Act is guilty of a petty offense and | ||||||
4 | shall for a first violation be fined $100 and for a second | ||||||
5 | violation be fined $500. A third or subsequent violation is a | ||||||
6 | Class C misdemeanor.
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7 | Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are | ||||||
8 | severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
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9 | Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||||||
10 | becoming law.
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