Kane County Reporter

State Representative Dan Ugaste, a Republican from Geneva, has co-sponsored HB 3671, which successfully passed the House without opposition. This legislative measure initiated by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office aims to streamline the prosecution of individuals who distribute private images without consent. With its passage, the bill will now proceed to the Senate for further discussion and approval.

The provisions of HB 3671 allow for the prosecution of offenders either in the county where the offense was committed or in the county where the victim resides. The legislation simplifies the legal process by requiring the prosecution to demonstrate only the location of the victim, rather than the offender, thereby facilitating cases where images are sent across state lines to Illinois.

State Representative Ugaste expressed praise for the efforts leading to this legislative action. "I commend DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin for helping to bring this important legislation forward," he stated. "The Illinois Chiefs of Police and Illinois State’s Attorney Association also were proponents of this bill, and this change enhances our state’s attorneys’ efforts in prosecuting criminals."