IllinoisSB0019104th General Assembly (2025–2026)SenateWALLET

PRB-ADMIN CHANGES

Sponsored By: Don Harmon (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

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.

assignmentsexecutive

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

13 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Judges keep pensions during board service

Retired judges can serve full time on the Prisoner Review Board without losing their Article 18 pension or other benefits. This protection applies only if they do not elect Article 14 pension participation for that board service. The service alone does not count as regular employment or resumed judicial service.

Clearer steps for ending parole early

Before ending parole or mandatory supervised release, the board must give registered victims notice and 30 days to comment. This applies when it finds the person is likely to remain free without another offense. After denying early discharge, the board must explain the steps needed and how to request another review. Once the person completes those steps and petitions again, the board must decide within 30 days.

More victims can address release decisions

The Prisoner Review Board must consider registered victims' statements and post and provide instructions for submitting them. Registered victims can support or oppose clemency requests. People with qualifying protective orders can submit statements about medical release, supervised-release conditions or revocation, and clemency. Qualifying orders include final, plenary, non-emergency, or emergency orders under Illinois criminal procedure, domestic violence, stalking, or civil no-contact laws. The order must have been granted against the person seeking release or parole.

More victims can seek protection orders

Victims abused before an offender's incarceration can seek a protection order while the offender remains incarcerated. People previously abused by someone convicted of a listed offense can also petition. Listed offenses include domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, other domestic violence offenses, and violent crimes against another person. Courts cannot deny a petition solely because either party is incarcerated when it is filed. These rules allow petitions but do not guarantee an order.

Parole applicants get fuller decision reviews

Parole decisions must consider rehabilitation, offense circumstances, trauma, discipline, medical needs, and plans for housing, work, and services after release. No single listed factor can decide the case. Covered youth parole reviews must also consider reduced blameworthiness, features of youth, and later growth and maturity. When denying parole, the board must explain each factor it relied on in writing. It must also identify goals and factors the person should address before a later hearing.

Prisoners get hearing and preparation rights

After giving notice, the board must hold hearings for every parole candidate and medical-release petitioner. They must be offered an in-person or video appearance and may use a lawyer, advocates, or supporters. Incarcerated clemency petitioners must be offered a pre-hearing meeting with at least one member, in person or by video. Their hired lawyer may join. At least 60 days before clemency, medical-release, or parole hearings, Corrections must provide requested disciplinary records and available education and program records. Copies go to the person and any hired lawyer. The board must arrange video conferences for specified hearings and report annually on use, costs, effectiveness, and future viability.

Released prisoners receive protective order notices

Corrections must run a LEADS law-enforcement report when someone leaves custody for parole, mandatory supervised release, or final discharge. It must tell the person about all active protective orders identified in that report under the specified Illinois laws.

Victims get added prisoner status notices

Victims who requested notice must receive board notices about pardons, commutations, furloughs, and early release from state custody. Those notices, and board escape notices, add to notices required through statewide systems. If a victim says required notice was missing, the board must document its notification efforts.

Victims get dedicated board service support

The Prisoner Review Board must hire a Director of Victim and Witness Services. The director must work to ensure victims receive notices and a chance to submit impact statements. The director also coordinates with other agencies to improve notices and services. The board must give registered and identified victims state victim assistance hotline details when gathering statements and sending notices.

Medical release applicants gain process protections

The board cannot add restrictions or requirements to medical-release applications. For eligible hearings, it must publish the petitioner's name, case number, lawyer, and hearing date. When scheduling the institutional hearing, it must give the petitioner or lawyer the evaluation and Corrections medical records it received. Petitioners can attend and speak; hearings are public unless they request privacy. The public can attend without restriction, and the board must vote during the public hearing. Denials of eligible applications require a published letter addressing every legal factor and estimated yearly incarceration costs, including medical care.

Parole board changes qualifications and terms

Board qualifications now include advocacy for crime victims, their families, and survivors of domestic, sexual, or intimate partner violence. At least 3 members need 3 years of juvenile experience, down from 6 years. Seven members need 5 years in specified law-enforcement, parole, prosecution, defense, or judicial roles. Members appointed after January 1, 2026, receive 8-year terms starting on appointment or reappointment and serve until successors qualify. For appointments or reappointments on or after the law's effective date, chair and member salaries match their Illinois Human Rights Commission counterparts.

Parole hearing staff face training rules

The board can appoint commissioners who are Illinois-licensed lawyers, dismiss them at will, and employ them outside Personnel Code protections. Hearings requiring at least 3 members must include at least 2 actual board members. Commissioners cannot lead institutional hearings or serve as their contact person. Members and commissioners must finish initial training within 30 days of starting, before any hearing, plus 20 training hours yearly. Training includes corrections, bias, violence, trauma, victim safety, and an Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline provider course initially and annually. Corrections must record training completion and make the documentation available on request.

Revocation reviews add checks and publicity

Before deciding whether to revoke parole or mandatory supervised release, the board must run a LEADS law-enforcement report. It must publicly post the person's name, identification number, and revocation decision on its website for 60 days. These rules apply when someone allegedly violates a supervision condition.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Don Harmon

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Lakesia Collins

    Democratic • Senate

  • Laura M. Murphy

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rachel Ventura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Peters

    Democratic • Senate

  • Will Guzzardi

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 123 • No: 66

House vote • 5/20/2025

Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed

Yes: 74 • No: 37

House vote • 4/23/2025

Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee;

Yes: 8 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Third Reading - Passed;

Yes: 32 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/3/2025

Do Pass as Amended Executive;

Yes: 9 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0011

    6/20/2025Senate
  2. Effective Date June 20, 2025

    6/20/2025Senate
  3. Governor Approved

    6/20/2025Senate
  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/18/2025Senate
  5. Passed Both Houses

    5/20/2025Senate
  6. Third Reading - Standard Debate - Passed 074-037-000

    5/20/2025House
  7. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Standard Debate

    5/14/2025House
  8. Second Reading - Short Debate

    5/14/2025House
  9. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

    4/23/2025House
  10. Do Pass / Short Debate Executive Committee; 008-003-000

    4/23/2025House
  11. Assigned to Executive Committee

    4/17/2025House
  12. Referred to Rules Committee

    4/11/2025House
  13. First Reading

    4/11/2025House
  14. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi

    4/10/2025House
  15. Arrived in House

    4/10/2025House
  16. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins

    4/10/2025Senate
  17. Third Reading - Passed; 032-022-000

    4/10/2025Senate
  18. Added as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura

    4/9/2025Senate
  19. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 8, 2025

    4/4/2025Senate
  20. Second Reading

    4/4/2025Senate
  21. Added as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters

    4/4/2025Senate
  22. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 4, 2025

    4/3/2025Senate
  23. Do Pass as Amended Executive; 009-004-000

    4/3/2025Senate
  24. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

    4/3/2025Senate
  25. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive

    4/3/2025Senate

Bill Text

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