SB1342 Summary

• Amends the Criminal Code to revise definitions and offenses related to eavesdropping, including adding new definitions for "private conversation," "private electronic communication," and "surreptitious."

• Modifies eavesdropping offense elements to require knowledge and intent, clarifies that eavesdropping includes recording or transmitting private conversations even when the person is a party to the conversation, and specifies surreptitious manner requirement.

• Expands exemptions to include recordings by law enforcement during in-car video recordings, police vehicle occupancy recordings, taser device recordings, and establishes 90-day retention requirement for such recordings.

• Creates new "qualified offense" exemption allowing law enforcement to record conversations with State's Attorney approval for drug offenses, certain violent felonies, and crimes against children; requires written memorialization of requests and approvals, with annual reporting to General Assembly.

• Increases penalties for eavesdropping of law enforcement officers and officials from Class 1 felony to Class 3 felony for first offense and Class 2 felony for subsequent offenses, and allows admission of intercepted evidence if all parties consent.