Kendall County Times

Before voting on a bill amending the Arsonist Registration Act, the Sex Offender Registration Act, and the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act, Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) sought clarification on some concerns he has on the bill.

House Bill 2542 would allow an individual to change his or her name following some conditions, amending the current name-change law. 

“What safeguards are in place for those on the registry or those with a past criminal record cannot change their name to avoid that?” Batinick asked bill author Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy (D-Chicago). “How will victims know if somebody changes their name?”

Cassidy explained that “the state’s attorney will be notified in these cases and has the opportunity to file an objection that the judge will hear and ultimately decide based on the facts of the case and both old and new names or even unofficial aliases will follow the records database and on their registry,” but “nothing about the bill changes the current notification practices.”

The bill “Provides that a person required to register under the Act may change her or his name if the change is due to marriage, religious beliefs, status as a victim of trafficking or gender-related identity as defined by the Illinois Human Rights Act… Provides that a petition for this change shall be a statewide, standardized form approved by the Illinois Supreme Court and include a warning about when a name change may be charged as a felony.”

Batinick voted yes on the bill which has already been referred to the Senate Assignments Committee.