Rock Island Today

Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) thanked Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) for his efforts on HB 3665, The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act.

McCombie, who opposed the bill during the House Judiciary-Criminal hearing in March said that Guzzardi’s work on the bill demonstrated that both sides of the aisle can work together for Illinoisans.

“I would like to thank Rep. Guzzardi for his work on HB 3665,” McCombie said. “He heard many of our concerns. He may not have addressed all of them but he certainly has addressed all of my concerns and I just want to say thank you for your thorough examination and determining better language. This is a great example for the freshman in the House to learn how we can work together and we can craft legislation that will serve the people of Illinois, so thank you very much, representative.”

HB3665 would amend the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act 

It provides “that the crime victim has the right to submit a victim statement to the Prisoner Review Board for consideration at a medical release hearing as provided in a Section of the Unified Code of Corrections.”

Despite some of McCombie’s colleagues opposing the bill, including Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Harrisburg) and Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), HB 3665 was passed by a 75-38 vote and has recently been assigned to the Senate Committee on Criminal Laws.