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HB 2917

GOOD SAMARITAN-VETERAN SUICIDE

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jackie Haas and 1 co-sponsor

Immunity from civil liability for not-for-profit veterans orgs and unpaid volunteers who intervene in a veteran’s suicide on scene, barring bad faith, gross negligence, or willful

Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
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Bill Summary · HB 2917

Summary — HB 2917 (Good Samaritan — Veteran Suicide)

Status: Added co-sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
Jurisdiction / Statute affected: Amends the Illinois Good Samaritan Act by adding new Section 125 (745 ILCS 49/125)
Primary sponsor (per file): Rep. Jackie Haas
Filed/introduced: February 2025 (see procedural history below)
Companion bills: SB 1679; HB 2081

Purpose / Intent

To encourage and protect not‑for‑profit veteran service organizations and unpaid volunteers who intervene to prevent a veteran’s suicide by providing civil immunity from lawsuits for acts or omissions that occur while rendering suicide‑prevention interventions at the scene of a threatened suicide.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new Section 125 to the Good Samaritan Act (745 ILCS 49):
    • A not‑for‑profit corporation organized to assist veterans that requests, sponsors, or participates in providing a suicide prevention intervention at the scene of a threatened suicide by a veteran is immune from civil liability for acts or omissions arising from providing that intervention.
    • A person who, without compensation, provides such an intervention for and at the request of a veteran not‑for‑profit corporation is likewise protected from civil damages.
    • Immunity does not apply when the act or omission was not in good faith or resulted from gross negligence or willful misconduct.
    • “Not‑for‑profit corporation” is defined by reference to Section 101.80 of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986.

Who is affected

  • Eligible not‑for‑profit organizations that are organized to assist veterans and that request, sponsor, or participate in on‑scene suicide‑prevention interventions.
  • Unpaid volunteers who provide on‑scene suicide‑prevention interventions at the request of such veteran‑focused nonprofit organizations.
  • Veterans who receive such interventions (potentially better access to volunteer/nonprofit assistance).
  • Potential plaintiffs (family members or others) whose civil claims would be limited unless they can prove lack of good faith, gross negligence, or willful misconduct.

Potential impact

  • Likely to reduce civil liability risk for veteran service nonprofits and volunteers, which may encourage more immediate, community‑based interventions when a veteran is threatening suicide.
  • Maintains accountability standard: immunity is forfeited for gross negligence or willful misconduct, preserving recourse for egregious conduct.
  • Clarifies that the protection applies specifically to on‑scene suicide‑prevention interventions linked to veteran nonprofit activity (not general medical or emergency services).

Procedural / timeline notes

Selected actions listed in the bill text:
- Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Jackie Haas: 2025-02-05
- First Reading / Referred to Rules Committee / First House actions: 2025-02-06 onward
- House First Reading / Second Reading and subsequent referrals occurred in February–March 2025
- Read first time (later stage): 2025-03-19
- Referred to Higher Education: 2025-03-19
- Re‑referred to Rules Committee under Rule 19(a): 2025-03-21
- Committee referrals included Judiciary – Civil and Civil Procedure & Tort Liability Subcommittee (March 2025)
- Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly: 2025-04-09

(See bill file for a complete procedural history and current status.)

Statutory citation added

  • 745 ILCS 49/125 (new)

If you want, I can:
- Pull the full committee reports or current bill text,
- Compare this language to existing Good Samaritan protections in Illinois,
- Draft a short one‑page explainer for veteran nonprofits about what steps they should take to rely on this immunity.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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