(KMOV)—Thursday the Illinois House of Representatives approved legislation that will not allow employees to receive workers compensation if their claim resulted in committing a felony.
Illinois Sate Representative Dwight Kay, the sponsor of the legislation, stated that taxpayers should not have to pay a person who was injured while committing a crime.
The Act will be referred to as “Uhl’s Law” in honor of the late Jessica and Kelli Uhl.
The legislation began from a car accident which occurred the day after Thanksgiving 2007. An Illinois State Trooper was driving in excess of 120 mph weaving in and out of heavy traffic heading to an emergency already being handled by first responders.
According to authorities the Trooper was talking on his cell phone, lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median and struck the vehicle of Jessica and Kelli Uhl, resulting in their death.
The Trooper survived the crash and pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless homicide. In addition, the Trooper requested workers’ compensation for the incident.
The legislation is House Bill 2607.
