SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to protect survivors of sexual assault from being forced to see their assailants, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) passed legislation out of committee on Tuesday that would make a civil no contact order permanent when the assailant is criminally convicted of sexual assault.

“Survivors of sexual assault are forced to live day in and day out with their trauma,” Stadelman said. “The least we can do is not make them relive it.”

Currently, under Illinois state law, sexual assault survivors are forced to see their assailants in court every two years to renew their no contact orders.

“These no contact orders are based on convictions. Those convictions don’t change over time,” Stadelman said. “People should have the right to feel safe in their daily lives without having to endlessly go to court.”

The legislation is an initiative of the city of Rockford. The city worked with the Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling, which suggested the lifetime order of protection. Similar protections are already in place in Illinois for stalking victims.

Senate Bill 2277 passed the Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee with a vote of 10-0 and now heads to the Senate Floor for further consideration.