Bill

SR 433

MEMORIAL-JO M. BONELL

104th Regular Session Introduced by Laura Murphy

Recognizes March 17, 2025 as Profound Autism Day to raise awareness of needs of individuals requiring 24/7 caregiver support and their families.

Resolution Adopted

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Bill Summary · SR 433

Summary — Senate Resolution 433 (SR 433)

Title: MEMORIAL — Jo M. Bonell
Classification: Senate Resolution (non‑binding)
Introduced: April 17, 2025
Status: Resolution Adopted

Overview / Purpose

SR 433 is a commemorative Senate resolution with two primary elements:
1. It recognizes March 17, 2025, as “Profound Autism Day,” calling attention to the specific needs of people with profound autism and their caregivers.
2. It serves as a memorial resolution mourning the death of Jo Marie (Jo) Bonell and expressing the Senate’s condolences to her family and friends.

Resolutions of this type are symbolic and declarative rather than legally binding or budgetary.

Key Provisions and Content

Profound Autism Day
- Officially recognizes March 17, 2025, as Profound Autism Day.
- Notes evolving definitions of autism and focuses on “profound autism” as referring to autistic individuals who require 24/7 adult caregiver support throughout life.
- Cites a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prevalence study (April 2023) finding that 26.7% of 8‑year‑old children with autism in the U.S. fall into the profound autism category (about 1 in 4).
- Summarizes CDC findings that children with profound autism (compared with non‑profound autism) were more likely to be female, from racial/ethnic minority groups, of low socioeconomic status, born preterm or with low birth weight, exhibit self‑injurious behavior, have seizure disorders, and have lower adaptive scores.
- Calls attention to the social isolation experienced by people with profound autism and their caregivers and the need for greater inclusion, support, and targeted research.
Memorial for Jo Marie Bonell
- Expresses sorrow at the death of Jo Marie Bonell (died September 21, 2025).
- Recites biographical details: education (St. Ignatius Grade School; St. Scholastica High School; J.D. from Loyola University; M.L.I.S. from University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign), legal practice in Chicago, recent role as library director of Des Plaines Public Library, and personal interests and family survivors.
- Extends condolences to her family and directs that a suitable copy of the resolution be presented to them.
Administrative Direction
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make appropriate copies of the resolution available to the public and press.

Who Is Affected / Impact

Direct legal impact: none (ceremonial resolution).
Practical/awareness impact:
- Raises public and legislative awareness of the needs of people with profound autism and their caregivers.
- Highlights CDC data that may inform future policymaking, advocacy, research priorities, and service development aimed at this subgroup.
- Recognizes and memorializes Jo Bonell, providing official legislative condolences to her family and community.

Procedural / Timeline Highlights

Senate hopper: March 20, 2025
Senate read and adopted (initial reading): March 21, 2025
Received by Secretary of the Senate: April 17, 2025
Read & adopted: April 22, 2025 (vote recorded; reported enrolled)
Additional entries: filed with Secretary and resolution adopted in October 2025; cosponsored by all Senators by October 14, 2025 (per docket entries)

Note

This resolution is symbolic — it does not appropriate funds, create enforceable rights, or change statute. Its value is in formal recognition, awareness‑raising, and official condolence.

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