HB5481 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 38780 SPS 68917 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5481

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

25 ILCS 10/7 new

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that the Senate Operations Commission and the Speaker of the House shall each employ a full-time licensed clinical therapist who specializes in providing mental health support for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall provide mental health services to the employees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including employees at district offices. Provides that any meeting between an employee of the General Assembly and a licensed clinical therapist shall be confidential, and the licensed clinical therapist shall not be required to file a report with the Legislative Inspector General concerning the mental health services provided. Provides that all sexual harassment or assault claims made by staff to the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the licensed clinical therapist. Provides that the licensed clinical therapist shall ensure that any victim specifically referenced in a sexual harassment or assault claim receives adequate mental health support as the claim is being processed.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The General Assembly Operations Act is amended by adding Section 7 as follows:

(25 ILCS 10/7 new)

Sec. 7. Mental health resources for employees of the General Assembly.

(a) The Senate Operations Commission and the Speaker of the House shall each employ a full-time licensed clinical therapist who specializes in providing mental health support for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. The licensed clinical therapist shall provide mental health services to the employees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, including employees of district offices.

(b) Any meeting between an employee of the General Assembly and a licensed clinical therapist described in subsection (a) shall be confidential, and the licensed clinical therapist shall not be required to file a report with the Legislative Inspector General concerning mental health services provided under this Section.

(c) All sexual harassment or assault claims made by staff to the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the licensed clinical therapist described in subsection (a). The licensed clinical therapist shall ensure that any victim specifically referenced in a sexual harassment or assault claim receives adequate mental health support as the claim is being processed.