Bill Text: IL HB5481 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the Senate Operations Commission and the Speaker of the House shall each employ a full-time licensed clinical therapist who specializes in providing mental health support for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall provide mental health services to the employees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including employees at district offices. Provides that any meeting between an employee of the General Assembly and a licensed clinical therapist shall be confidential, and the licensed clinical therapist shall not be required to file a report with the Legislative Inspector General concerning the mental health services provided. Provides that all sexual harassment or assault claims made by staff to the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the licensed clinical therapist. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall ensure that any victim specifically referenced in a sexual harassment or assault claim receives adequate mental health support as the claim is being processed.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-09 - Referred to Rules Committee [HB5481 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB5481-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB5481 Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
25 ILCS 10/7 new
Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the Senate Operations Commission and the Speaker of the House shall each employ a full-time licensed clinical therapist who specializes in providing mental health support for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall provide mental health services to the employees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including employees at district offices. Provides that any meeting between an employee of the General Assembly and a licensed clinical therapist shall be confidential, and the licensed clinical therapist shall not be required to file a report with the Legislative Inspector General concerning the mental health services provided. Provides that all sexual harassment or assault claims made by staff to the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the licensed clinical therapist. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall ensure that any victim specifically referenced in a sexual harassment or assault claim receives adequate mental health support as the claim is being processed.
LRB103 38780 SPS 68917 b
A BILL FOR
HB5481 LRB103 38780 SPS 68917 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The General Assembly Operations Act is amended
by adding Section 7 as follows:
(25 ILCS 10/7 new)
Sec. 7. Mental health resources for employees of the
General Assembly.
(a) The Senate Operations Commission and the Speaker of
the House shall each employ a full-time licensed clinical
therapist who specializes in providing mental health support
for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. The licensed
clinical therapist shall provide mental health services to the
employees of the House of Representatives and the Senate,
including employees of district offices.
(b) Any meeting between an employee of the General
Assembly and a licensed clinical therapist described in
subsection (a) shall be confidential, and the licensed
clinical therapist shall not be required to file a report with
the Legislative Inspector General concerning mental health
services provided under this Section.
(c) All sexual harassment or assault claims made by staff
to the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the

HB5481 - 2 - LRB103 38780 SPS 68917 b