FOID changes advance in Illinois House, not called in Senate

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Changes to Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s ID Card didn’t get across the finish line before the General Assembly adjourned for the summer.

While Second Amendment supporters were critical of proposals to ban the sale of certain types of handguns that are considered easily convertible from semi-auto to full-auto, that measure didn’t advance.

Neither did the controversial RIFL Act that would have taxed gun manufacturers and sellers.

What did advance are various changes to the FOID Act as proposed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia.

“First, it strengthens and clarifies the mental health evaluation process for people seeking to have their FOID card reinstated after they have been a patient in a mental health facility,” Hirschauer said on the House floor hours before adjournment.

People who are denied an Illinois Firearm Owner’s ID card for mental health issues could have more certainty on how to rectify that with a new identified class of counselors.

Amendments to Senate Bill 3229 also requires the complainant prompting immediate orders of protection to be named in certain cases.

“We’re providing transparency for people,” Hirschauer said. “We allow the identity of a person reporting an individual for being a clear and present danger to themselves or others, to be disclosed if ordered by the [FOID] Card Review Board or a court.”

The measure, which started in February as a bill about repealing provisions of the environmental laboratory certification assessment, passed the House with amendments 85-31 in the early morning hours of June 1. It was not brought up in the Senate before they adjourned for the summer.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly told The Center Square on Wednesday that the agency would be working with legislators over the summer on the issue.

“Obviously it got through the House with bipartisan support. A lot of work by people involved and, that public safety issue, to get us to that point,” Kelly said. “And I think that work continues in the Senate and we anticipate continuing to move forward with the people that have worked on this issue.”

The FOID Act is being challenged in federal court. That case, filed last month, is still pending.

Sean Reed contributed to this story.