SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois lawmakers introduced several new pieces of legislation Wednesday.
In the same week California's same sex marriage ban was overturned, an Illinois lawmaker introduced a bill to allow the practice here.
Chicago democrat Greg Harris introduced the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act Wednesday.
If passed, the new law would amend the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act, allowing the voluntary conversion of a civil union to a marriage.
Meanwhile, a Senate panel began considering legislation Wednesday designed to tighten state laws for parents who fail to report missing children.
The proposal stems from the Casey Anthony case and has been dubbed the "Caylee Anthony Law" and adopted in other states.
The bill would would make it a Class 3 felony, punishable by up to five years in prison, if a parent or guardian of a child age 12 or under fails to notify police in a timely manner if the child is missing or in potential danger.
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