McHenry Times

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) leaves no debate about where he stands on a bill that would make parental bullying a crime.

“Where does bad parenting end and bullying start?” Skillicorn said in a statement. “I'm skeptical that politicians can draw that line better than parents. I do not plan on supporting HB 181.”

Sponsored by Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago), House Bill 181 defines parental bullying as a parent “knowingly and with the intent to discipline, embarrass, or alter the behavior of the minor, transmits any verbal or visual message that the parent or legal guardian reasonably believes would coerce, intimidate, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to the minor.”

The bill that would also require any person convicted of such an offense to cover all court costs as well as pay a court-determined fine that will be set aside and awarded to the victim when they reach age 18 now sits in the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee for further consideration.

A first reading of the bill was held during the start of the new legislative session in January after Ford first introduced it for debate in late 2018.