Illinois governor signs 2 criminal justice measures into law including ban on “gay panic” defenses

CHICAGO (AP) _ Illinois will allow authorities to prosecute out-of-state drug dealers for deaths caused by their sales under a measure signed recently by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The new law is named after Evan Rushing, a southwestern Illinois man the bill’s sponsor says died of an overdose after buying drugs from a St. Louis dealer.

Another measure the Republican governor approved bans what’s known as the “gay panic” defense in murder cases in Illinois. Among other things, the law bars the use of a victim’s sexual orientation as a justification for murder.

California has a similar law.

The Illinois measure received wide bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Rauner signed both measures Aug. 25 without offering any comment.

Both new laws take effect in January.

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