A new Illinois law boosting financial security for first responders who are injured or become ill while on duty, was signed into law and takes effect on Jan. 1.

State Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, sponsored Illinois House Bill 4491, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law July 24.

In 2023, 48,000 Illinois police officers became injured or ill on the job and over 10 Illinois firefighters suffered an injury per 1,000 fires, according to a news release from Loughran Cappel’s office.

Most first responders rely on their salaries and do not always have enough savings to get them through their non-working time, the release said.

Employers currently withhold both state and federal taxes from disability payments, but these payments do not count toward a first responder’s adjusted gross income, the release said.

While collecting disability payments, first responders have received reduced salaries, the release said.

Under the new law, public employers will be required to maintain first responders’ base salaries if they are unable to perform their jobs due to becoming injured in the line of duty, the release said.

This includes taxes, union dues, pension contributions and insurance premiums. The money will still be taxed if it is part of the first responder’s adjusted gross income.