Freshman State Rep. Daniel Biss of Evanston this week succeeded in getting his first bill through the state House. The bill, HB 3010, would add autism spectrum disorders to the list of disabilities protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Freshman State Rep. Daniel Biss of Evanston this week succeeded in getting his first bill through the state House. The bill, HB 3010, would add autism spectrum disorders to the list of disabilities protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act.
“Individuals with a disability on the autism spectrum already face enough challenges on a daily basis, unfortunately sometimes including discriminatory exclusion from public accommodations” Biss said. “If this legislation helps to alleviate even one of those burdens, it will have been a privilege to play a role in its passage.”
House Bill 3010 ensures that individuals living with a disability on the autism spectrum are allowed equal rights to public facilities such as libraries, restaurants, pools, gyms, and theaters. The bill also creates a more comprehensive definition of “disability” in Illinois’ law to include mental and physical health disorders.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate. If passed by the Senate, the bill will be sent to the Governor for his approval before becoming law.
For more information on this legislation, contact Representative Biss’s district office at (847) 568-1250 or at repbiss@gmail.com.