More than 230 new Illinois laws go into effect in 2016.

While many of us start the new year promising to do a better job watching what we eat and drink, two of the state’s new laws focus on that as well.

A ban on powdered alcohol and restrictions on powdered caffeine are two of the 237 new Illinois laws going into effect in 2016.

Although powdered alcohol is not yet for sale in the United States, state Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) wants to ensure it doesn’t make it onto shelves of Illinois stores.

Illinois, on Jan. 1, will join two dozen other states in banning the substance. Under the law, any crystal substance of powder containing alcohol is considered “powdered alcohol.” The powder can be dissolved in liquid such as mixers and juice, sprinkled on food, eaten or snorted, Silverstein said.

“Powdered alcohol is not yet for sale in the U.S. and given its potential dangers, I believe it should never enter the market,” Silverstein said. “Knowing how accessible traditional alcohol already is to those susceptible to abuse — including minors — the risk of alcohol poisoning and its easily concealable form are just two reasons sales of this type of alcohol must be prevented.”

The litany of new laws also restricts caffeine powder from being sold to anyone under the age of 18.

State Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) said she sponsored the bill in response to the death of an Ohio teenager who overdosed on caffeine powder.

Logan Stiner was a week away from graduating from high school when he suffered a cardiac arrhythmia and a seizure as a result of ingesting toxic amounts of caffeine. Several bags of caffeine powder were found in the student-athlete’s home.

Bertino-Tarrant said in order to prevent a death like Stiner’s from occurring in Illinois she championed the legislation to make it illegal for caffeine powder to be sold to anyone under 18 years of age.

“Logan Stiner’s death was a tragedy and I wanted to be proactive about preventing minors in Illinois from being able to use a substance that, by simple mistake, could be deadly,” Bertino-Tarrant said.

Other new laws include:

• Protecting pets — Jail time or a fine can be imposed on individuals who leave pets out in extreme weather and the animal is injured or dies. Senate President John Cullerton said he co-sponsored the bill with state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz after a number of dogs died during last year’s bitterly cold winter after being left outside. A conviction for the crime could bring a year in prison or a $2,500 fine.
• Divorce proceedings — Changes in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act overhaul the rules regarding grounds for divorce, custody and visitation. “All divorces and legal separations will be based on no-fault grounds of irreconcilable differences,” said Ceila Gamrath, a Cook County Circuit Court judge in the Domestic Relations Division. “If the couple has lived separate and apart for at least six months, there is an irrebuttable presumption of irreconcilable differences. The two-year waiting period is removed entirely.”
• Missing seniors alerts — Creates a notification system on tollway electronic message boards and other avenues for when a person who has Alzheimer’s or other form of dementia is missing. The Silver Search program will be similar to the Amber alerts conducted with a juvenile has been abducted.

“As our population ages, more and more people suffer from (Alzheimer’s and dementia) and when such individuals wander off and get lost, every minute can be crucial to bring them back to safety,” said state Sen. Daniel Bliss (D-Evanston), sponsor of the legislation. “I believe that Silver Search will save lives and give comfort to countless families.”

• Experimental drugs — Terminally ill individuals will be allowed access to experimental drugs. Known as the “Right to Try” Act, the law will allow terminally ill patients access to clinical trials and experimental medial treatments and drugs. State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton), sponsor of the legislation, said it will offer hope to terminally ill residents afflicted with HIV, ALS, cancer and other conditions.

“Terminally ill patients now have access to experimental drugs to help end their debilitating health conditions,” Connelly said. “This legislation was negotiated in good faith by both sides of the aisle and is a great example of what can happen when we leave partisan differences at the door in order to craft good public policy.”

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