Senator Don Harmon (D), 39th District, President of the Senate. | Ballotpedia
Senator Don Harmon (D), 39th District, President of the Senate. | Ballotpedia
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Judges Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Specifies that a person who serves as a full-time member of the Prisoner Review Board does not violate the Code's return-to-work provisions on the basis of service on the Prisoner Review Board. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that persons who have final, plenary, or non-emergency protective orders granted against the petitioner or parole candidate may submit victim statements. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall publish on its official website, and provide to registered victims, procedural information on how to submit victim statements. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board may contain members who have experience in advocacy for victims of crime and their families, advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or intimate partner violence. Provides that at least 3 members of the Board (currently, 6) must have at least 3 years experience in the field of juvenile matters. Provides that a total of 7 members must have at least 5 years' experience as a law enforcement officer, parole officer, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, or judge. Contains provisions concerning training for members and commissioners of the Prisoner Review Board. Makes changes concerning factors to be considered by the Board in deciding whether to grant or deny parole. Provides that, prior to entering an order discharging a person from parole or mandatory supervised release, the Prisoner Review Board shall provide notice and a 30-day opportunity to comment to any registered victim. Requires the Department of Corrections to prepare a report describing whether the subject has completed the mandatory conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release. Contains provisions concerning LEADS reports. Provides that all petitioners for clemency and medical release and all candidates for parole appearing before the Prisoner Review Board shall be afforded the opportunity to appear in person or via interactive video teleconference. Makes other changes. Effective immediately."
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 Illinois Pension Code and several other related statutes to address various aspects of parole, pension, and the rights of crime victims and witnesses. It modifies rules regarding the suspension and resumption of retirement annuities when recipients are reemployed, specifically judges, and outlines exceptions for part-time employment and certain positions. It revises procedures related to parole hearings and decisions, emphasizing rehabilitative programming and individual circumstances of offenders, particularly for youthful offenders. The bill also clarifies the procedures for medical release, establishes a Director of Victim and Witness Services, and enhances notifications and protections for crime victims and witnesses, including specific notice requirements and documentation standards for victim impact statements. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for digitizing Department of Corrections records and sets effective dates for various sections to ensure timely implementation of these changes.
Don Harmon has proposed another 11 bills since the beginning of the 104th session.
Harmon graduated from Knox College in 1988 with a BA and again in 1994 from University of Chicago with a JD.
Don Harmon is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 39th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator John Cullerton in 2003.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SB0019 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Judges Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Specifies that a person who serves as a full-time member of the Prisoner Review Board does not violate the Code's return-to-work provisions on the basis of service on the Prisoner Review Board. Amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act. Provides that persons who have final, plenary, or non-emergency protective orders granted against the petitioner or parole candidate may submit victim statements. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board shall publish on its official website, and provide to registered victims, procedural information on how to submit victim statements. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that the Prisoner Review Board may contain members who have experience in advocacy for victims of crime and their families, advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or intimate partner violence. Provides that at least 3 members of the Board (currently, 6) must have at least 3 years experience in the field of juvenile matters. Provides that a total of 7 members must have at least 5 years' experience as a law enforcement officer, parole officer, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, or judge. Contains provisions concerning training for members and commissioners of the Prisoner Review Board. Makes changes concerning factors to be considered by the Board in deciding whether to grant or deny parole. Provides that, prior to entering an order discharging a person from parole or mandatory supervised release, the Prisoner Review Board shall provide notice and a 30-day opportunity to comment to any registered victim. Requires the Department of Corrections to prepare a report describing whether the subject has completed the mandatory conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release. Contains provisions concerning LEADS reports. Provides that all petitioners for clemency and medical release and all candidates for parole appearing before the Prisoner Review Board shall be afforded the opportunity to appear in person or via interactive video teleconference. Makes other changes. Effective immediately. |
| SB0001 | 01/13/2025 | Appropriates $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the General Assembly for its FY26 ordinary and contingent expenses. Effective July 1, 2025. |
| SB0003 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Property Tax Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0004 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the State Housing Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0006 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Labor Dispute Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0007 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0010 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0011 | 01/13/2025 | Creates the Workforce Development Act. Contains only a short title provision. |
| SB0012 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the School Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the School Code's construction. |
| SB0014 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0015 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Franchise Tax and License Fee Amnesty Act of 2007. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0016 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Makes a technical change in the short title Section. |
| SB0017 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. |
| SB0018 | 01/13/2025 | Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning prohibited transactions. |
Alerts Sign-up