Legislative Victory: Fair Probation Drug Testing (SB 1886) Signed into Law!
We are thrilled to announce that SB 1886, the Fair Probation Drug Testing bill sponsored by Illinois State Senator Robert Peters and Representative Lilian Jiménez, has been signed into law by Governor Pritzker!
Blanket drug testing doesn’t help people who are on probation succeed. Research shows that two-thirds of Illinois probation departments drug test most or all of their participants, which creates barriers to success for people who can’t afford the $8 per test or to take off work to take the test.
SB 1886 creates a clear process to waive drug testing fees for people in poverty; requires a connection between the testing conditions imposed on people and their charges; and ensures that people on probation are not denied access to medication prescribed by doctors. While the law does not prohibit drug testing, it makes sensible adjustments to when people on probation in Illinois can be tested for alcohol and cannabis, which in turn makes the system more equitable and makes our communities safer.
Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts is proud of the role we played in developing and passing this bill along with our partner organizations, including the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, and the legislation’s sponsors and advocates. While much work still needs to be done to ensure that the system is accessible and fair to all people, SB 1886 helps reduce some of the harms caused by the many collateral consequences experienced by system-involved people in Illinois.