A state bill that would protect underage drinkers who seek medical assistance from prosecution will be reviewed by the House’s judiciary committee on Wednesday.

While Bill 1285, introduced Feb. 5 by state Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, D-103, would apply to the entire state, the University, along with Champaign and Urbana police departments, has already adopted a version of the policy.

Lt. Rich Surles, north patrol commander for the Urbana police department, said the University, Champaign and Urbana police all have the same informal policy regarding medical amnesty.

“If somebody calls for a student who needs medical assistance, then we don’t take enforcement action,” Surles said. “We treat that as a medical event.”

Surles said this policy has been in effect for several years, and while it isn’t technically a written code, each department ascribes to it.

“Conceptually, we’re all on the same page,” he said. “Internally, we send information out to our officers telling them this, so it’s kind of written.”

Though the University already has an informal policy, University police Chief Jeff Christensen said any legislation to protect students is beneficial.

“I think (the bill) is a good thing,” he said. “We don’t want people to suffer traumatic injury because they’re afraid to call (the police) because the police may give them a ticket for underage drinking.”

After receiving calls regarding alcohol poisoning, University police use their discretion on reporting the student to the University Alcohol and Other Drug Office, or AODO.

“If it’s a student who is intoxicated to the point where it’s affecting their safety or someone else’s safety or perhaps even their academic success, or if the student is incapacitated and is transported, our officers will complete a referral form,” Christensen said.

If a referral form is filed, the individual then receives counseling from the AODO, a branch of the McKinley Health Center.

Champaign and Urbana police, however, are not required to complete a form.

Even though police grant this amnesty, University police Capt. Roy Acree said there are still exceptions to punishing underage drinkers.

“The police department usually, and in most cases, will not be concerned with writing somebody a drinking violation (when) we get a call for medical (assistance),” he said. “But that’s not to say that we haven’t had issues where we get a call and now the student has woken up and decided to become violent.”

If a student has committed other crimes while intoxicated, they can still be arrested on those charges, Acree said.

On holidays and during large campus events, Acree said the average number of calls increase.

“It’s not unusual for us, especially on a busy weekend, such as home football weekends and other large events taking place (to get these calls),” he said. “We fully anticipate being very busy with medical calls on the upcoming March 1 Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day.”

Despite the existing policy, some students said they will feel more secure with a consistent, state-wide law.

Student body president Brock Gebhardt said the Illinois Student Senate is in favor of the bill becoming law and will lobby for the legislation.

Twinkle Patel, freshman in DGS, who is a pre-med student, said she supports the bill but has concerns about students relying too heavily on such a law.

“I think there are other factors to be considered,” Patel said. “Just because the person overdosed on alcohol, they don’t get any punishment for it — I think sometimes people might abuse it.”

Patel said she thinks students have a lot to gain from a solidified law.

“People may not call the ambulance, and they could risk having their friend die just because they were afraid of getting in trouble or getting written up,” she said. “In the end, it is more beneficial in saving lives than getting someone punished.”

Chrissy can be reached at [email protected].