Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 6083 and House Bill 4715, also know as Molly’s Law in Carbondale, IL on Tuesday. The two bills strengthen Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act and extend the time period in which a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by a victim’s family where the act is intentional and violent.
“This bill provides families a longer time frame to bring wrongful death actions against perpetrators of intentional violent crimes and gives families access to the necessary public information to find closure in a loved one’s death.” Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner said in Carbondale on Tuesday.
House Bill 6038 extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases and allows for a lawsuit to be brought with 5 years after the date of death or withing a year after the criminal case against the perpetrator concludes.
House Bill 4715 add fines, up to $1,000 per day, in cases where a public body doesn’t comply with a court order following a FOIA request.
“Today’s signing of Molly’s Law by the Governor is a victory for Molly Young’s family,” said Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), chief sponsor of both bills. “I want to thank the Governor for his attention to this very important issue and for traveling to southern Illinois to sign Molly’s Law today. I also want to thank Molly Young’s father, Mr. Larry Young, who traveled to Springfield to testify on behalf of Molly’s law to help ensure its passage.”
The laws are a response to a 2015 case, where a judge dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Larry Young on the grounds that he failed to lawsuit within two years of Molly’s death. “Molly’s Law” goes into the effect on January 1, 2017.