NW Illinois News

Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline) is celebrating the passage of legislation that designates emergency medical dispatchers as first responders.

On April 9, Senate Bill 3127 unanimously passed both the Senate and the House and is now only awaiting the governor’s signature before officially becoming law.

“As most of you have probably seen on social media and through the news, this week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” Anderson said during an April 13 news conference marking the bills’ sendoff to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. “This is the week that we highlight every year where the men and women behind the scenes who are literally the first ones that pick up the phone when someone is in need of help. This is the week I find it very appropriate to share some good news that came out of Springfield.”

Anderson concedes none of it came easily.

“For several years now I've worked on a piece of legislation that would classify emergency dispatchers as first responders,” he said. “The idea came to me initially from a constituent of mine. As a professional fireman in the city of Moline, I also know the utmost importance that our dispatchers have to not only us as firemen and law enforcement, but also to our community.”

Anderson said dispatchers are often there to answer the first call for help on what rates as the one of the worse days for many.

“These men and women are oftentimes dealing with critical situations and they are our eyes and ears — for police, fire, and EMS behind the scenes before we get to the scene,” he said. “They not only work to protect us and keep us safe but also the citizens of our communities.”

SB 3127 had bipartisan sponsorship in the Senate by Sens. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville), Robert Martwick (D-Chicago), Patrick Joyce (D-Kankakee), Win Stoller (R-Peoria), Sue Rezin (R-Morris), Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro), Brian Stewart (R-Freeport) and Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) and in the House by Reps. Dan Swanson (R-Woodhull), Tony McCombie (R-Sterling), Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa), Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee), Tim Ozinga (R-Mokena), Norine Hammond (R-Macomb), Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), Amy Elik (R-Alton), Charlie Meier (R-Highland) and Avery Bourne (R-Litchifield).

The bill was introduced in the Senate on Jan. 11 and initially went before the House on Feb. 23 before later passing that month. It then returned to the Senate for approval of an amendment.