Rock Island Today

Illinois State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) recently voiced his approval of new legislation that would classify emergency medical dispatchers as first responders.

Senate Bill 3127 advanced through both the Senate and the House unanimously with bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House, the Illinois General Assembly reported. The bill would amend several state laws involving emergency medical dispatchers and would categorize them as first responders.

Swanson voiced his approval for the bill during an April 13 news conference.

"I am a retired veteran of the Army National Guard and the United States Army," Swanson said. "I’m the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 3127. I want to first thank Sen. Anderson first for his service as a firefighter and for his service to the people of Illinois first responder and as a state senator. Sen. Anderson and I have passed several pieces of legislation and I'm grateful for that team effort that we have between the Senate and the House. I was proud to join Sen. Anderson in guiding Senate Bill 3127 through the legislative process. The House and Senate both passed it with unanimous support."

Swanson also thanked public safety dispatches. 

"It is fitting that we are discussing this legislation during this National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. These are essential workers that help residents and first responders through their most critical moments. They help save countless lives and help people from every walk of life navigate through the most traumatic of times," he said.

SB 3127 was sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Neil Anderson, Darren Bailey, Robert Martwick, Patrick Joyce, Win Stoller, Sue Rezin, Terri Bryant, Brian Stewart and Dale Fowler, the assembly reported. In the House, it was sponsored by Reps. Dan Swanson, Tony McCombie, Lance Yednock, Jackie Haas, Tim Ozinga, Norine Hammond, Jonathan Carroll, Amy Elik, Charlie Meier and Avery Bourne.

The bill was introduced in the Senate on Jan. 11. It went to the House on Feb. 23 and advanced in the House on March 30. It then returned to the Senate for approval of an amendment. 

SB 3127 now awaits the governor's signature.