New Year, New Laws: Nearly 200 Laws Kick Off 2011

2011 ushers in a wide array of new state laws, including a ban on two "fake marijuana" drugs; regulations aimed at stopping kids and teens from "sexting;" and a law that reduces fees on license plates that pay tribute to Illinois veterans.

Here's a rundown of some of the legal highlights. Click the links to read the text of each bill or to see how your local legislators voted.

• House Bill 6459 bans two synthetic marijuana drugs, also known as K2 or "spice."

In the past, the Cook County Sheriff's Office did not deal with K2 and "spice" on a criminal level because the drugs were legal at the time, said spokeswoman Liane Jackson.  

"These sorts of 'synthetic marijuana' products are reportedly available in certain smoke shops, but are more common in outlying suburban areas, and haven't caught on at the same level in the Chicago metro area, or our patrol areas," Jackson said.

"Going forward, we will be working with the state and federal government on any initiatives or enforcement actions necessary," she said.

Will County Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Kaupas explained the drug in greater detail. "From what I understand, it is a substance that gives the user a high, like any hallucinogen would," he said. Popular among teens, the drug typically comes packaged in brightly colored bags, but its benign appearance belies its dangers, Kaupas said.

"This is 15 times more powerful than marijuana," he said, adding adverse effects can range from mild tremors to seizures. Poison control centers across the country fielded 500 calls related to K2 this year, Kaupas noted.

After Jan. 1, Kaupas said, law enforcement will likely conduct sweeps to make sure local retailers are no longer selling it.

"Here in Will County and in Cook County, there's various narcotics task forces that will be going into various locations and looking for this substance," he said.

Kaupas said it's unlikely retailers will face felony charges for distributing K2.

"It would probably be a business offense," he said. "We've got an overburdened court system as it is."

• Another law discourages teens from sending sexually explicit images of themselves or other minors electronically. House Bill 4583 makes it a Class B misdemeanor for minors to send nude or explicit images of themselves or other juveniles via cell phone or other electronic device. The law makes it a misdemeanor for a minor under age 17 to knowingly request, obtain or distribute such images from another minor. It also allows courts to impose additional actions against convicted minors, including court-ordered counseling or community service.

Other new laws for 2011:

• House Bill 5109 bans the public financing of a governor's portrait if that governor was removed from office by impeachment or conviction.
• Senate Bill 1946 subjects state employees to new pension requirements, including a higher retirement age, limits on cost-of-living adjustments after retirement and a ceiling on maximum earnings that can be counted toward their pensions.
• Senate Bill 1466 imposes campaign contribution limits, setting the maximum contribution an individual can make to a candidate at $5,000. Corporations, labor unions and trade associations can make up to a $10,000 contribution per candidate.
• Senate Bill 935 changes the way tickets can be issued by police departments using red-light camera enforcement. Now, drivers who come to a complete stop without entering the intersection cannot be ticketed. Images of traffic violations must be made available on the Internet, and communities using the cameras must post their locations on the municipal website. All violations must also be reviewed by a police officer, retired officer or technician who is not employed by the company that provides the cameras.
• Senate Bill 3616 increases the fee for DUI violations from $500 to $750 and gives the arresting agency a bigger share of the fine.
• House Bill 4580 gets tough on motor vehicle offenses by immediately revoking the license of anyone convicted of an offense that resulted in a fatality.
• Senate Bill 3803 authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect roadside markers identifying locations where people were killed in accidents caused by reckless drivers.
• House Bill 4738 imposes more severe sentences against offenders convicted of first-degree murder, assault, battery or robbery against a veteran known to be performing duties as a representative of a veterans' organization.
• House Bill 4778 honors Illinois veterans by eliminating additional fees, not including registration fees, for special license plates that pay tribute to military service.
• Senate Bill 3666 allows the spouse of a disabled veteran to continue receiving the homestead exemption if the veteran is placed in a veterans' home or if the house is unoccupied by is still owned by a disabled veteran.
• Senate Bill 2589 makes public indecency and sexual exploitation of a child a Class 4 felony if committed by an adult within 500 feet of an elementary or secondary school while children are present. The offense nets offenders a one- to three- year prison sentence.
• Senate Bill 2824 makes it illegal for sex offenders to visit or loiter near Illinois state parks.
• Senate Bill 1020 allows judges to impose longer terms for offenders convicted of sexually assaulting a victim under age 18 in cases where the victim was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime.

Carrie Porter contributed reporting.