Bill > HB3308

This bill amends the Wrongs to Children Act to prohibit children under 18 years of age from engaging in panhandling, with some specific exceptions. The bill defines panhandling as selling food products or other items, or begging for money or asking for monetary donations, unless the child is representing a nonprofit organization. Specifically, the bill clarifies that panhandling does not include solicitations for religious organizations, recognized charities with tax-exempt status under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code, or requests from friends or family members (either in-person or online). Any child under 18 who engages in panhandling that does not fall under these exceptions would be considered guilty of a petty offense. The bill builds upon existing protections in the Wrongs to Children Act, which already prohibited using children under 14 for various exploitative activities like begging or peddling, by expanding the scope of protection to all minors under 18 and providing more specific definitions of prohibited activities.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3308&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104