Rockford Sun

Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says it's disappointing that Democrats in the House stopped a bill that would allow county officials charged with crimes to be placed on leave.

The bill was inspired by the arrest of Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz on charges of forgery, theft, official misconduct, and conspiracy. It did not make it out of the House Rules Committee as of March 2022. 

"We were sending a strong message with this legislation – elected officials are not above the law," Syverson said in a press release on his website. "It's very disappointing, and frankly hard to understand why House Democrats stopped a bill that would protect taxpayers and families. It will now be a year before this legislation can be reintroduced again."

"The public is losing their confidence in the Legislature's ability to protect them," Syverson said. Witness the horrendous crime activity coming on the heels of the Majority Party forcing through its 'defunding of police' legislation last year. Then comes the indictment of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and a number of Chicago-area legislators. Now the Majority Party's action to kill a bill that would hold elected official accountable further sends the message that their leaders are not serious about protecting the public." 

The bill had been approved unanimously by the Senate.

Senate Bill 3460 would have allowed the county board to review the crime and place the charged individual on administrative leave, and forward its findings to the State's Attorney or State's Attorney General (if the incident involves the State's Attorney). The State's Attorney or Attorney General would then be allowed to move that the individual be placed on administrative leave with the circuit court.

This legislation came as a request from Winnebago County Chairman Joe Chiarelli and was drafted by Winnebago County State's Attorney J. Hanley.