Illinois State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) | senatormcclure.com/
Illinois State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) | senatormcclure.com/
Sen. Steve McClure’s (R-Jacksonville) bill allowing Illinois Department of Child and Family Services workers to carry pepper spray has passed the Senate.
In a debate on the Senate floor Feb. 25, McClure said the bill was filed after his constituent Diedre Silas, a DCFS investigator, was stabbed to death while on duty in rural Sangamon County. Under the current DCFS policy, workers are not permitted to carry any protective spray, Mace, or pepper spray with them, despite the fact that these can be legally carried by everyone in the state aged 18 and older.
“I don’t know that this would have saved her life, but it could have and I suspect if this passes it will save someone’s life,” McClure said in the debate. “What the bill does is it allows DCFS investigators only to have the option to carry Mace if they pass a training that is put on by the Illinois State Police on how to use Mace, when is the right time to use it, etc.”
He said the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is in full support of the bill, which passed the Senate Feb. 25.
According to the Illinois General Assembly website, S.B. 1486 passed unanimously with 48 yes votes.
The bill's text was completely amended in February, replacing everything after the enacting clause to include the Children and Family Services Act. Both Republican and Democratic senators have since been added as co-sponsors of the bill.
The bill now goes to the House.
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