By H&R Springfield Bureau Staff

SPRINGFIELD - A Senate committee OK'd a sweeping package of legislation Wednesday aimed at reducing driving deaths among Illinois teens.

The measure, proposed by Secretary of State Jesse White, would lengthen the learner's permit period for new drivers to nine months, up from the current three. It also would move the new driver curfew back by an hour, forcing teens to be off the road by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on weekends.

New drivers also would be barred from carrying more than one unrelated passenger for a full year.

State Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria, said the changes are needed.

"We've lost too many of our teens," Risinger said.

The proposal now moves to the full Senate for further debate.

The legislation is Senate Bill 172.

Teen driver signs

On a 74-39 vote, the House approved legislation that would require young drivers to adorn their vehicles with a sign that identifies the car as being driven by a new driver.

The proposal by state Rep. Dave Leitch, R-Peoria, was floated separately from White's legislation.

Leitch said he is surprised at how the proposal has been received.

"The bill got a lot of attention from the press and otherwise … more than I expected, frankly," he said. "Now, we'll see if we can find a sponsor in the Senate and see if we can save some children's lives."

The signs, which would cost $2, will likely be magnetic and easily removed when Mom or Dad needs to use the vehicle.

The legislation is House Bill 408.

Gun laws advance

Measures that would allow some Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons are set to go to the House floor for vote.

The House Agriculture Committee approved the measures Wednesday.

One would extend the right to carry concealed guns only to judges, state's attorneys and public defenders.

The other would extend the rights to all citizens who are certified after a background test and a firearm instruction course.

The National Rifle Association supports the latter measure. A representative from the Chicago Police Department opposed it.

"This bill would permit even more guns on the street, further endangering our communities," said Daniel Dugan, a deputy chief with the Chicago Police Department. "More guns on the street is not the answer to making the public or the police safer."

The concealed-carry bill for judges, state's attorneys and public defenders is House Bill 1320. The other measure is House Bill 1304.

MySpace bill

Local school boards will get the authority to expel or suspend students if they use social networking sites such as MySpace.com to make threats against teachers or schools, under legislation approved in the House on a 98-9 vote Wednesday.

House Minority Leader Tom Cross, R-Oswego, has argued for the idea along with a larger package of legislation aimed at protecting children from Internet predators.

Some critics say school boards could get too much power and punish students for protected free speech.

The measure now goes to the Senate for further debate. The legislation is House Bill 38.

The H&R Springfield Bureau can be reached at 789-0865.