SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is sponsoring legislation that will allow the state to hold parents accountable when they knowingly allow children to consume alcohol in their cars, boats, campers, airplanes and other vehicles. State law already punishes parents who allow children to drink in their homes.

“We don’t allow children to drink alcohol for a very good reason,” Morrison said. “They’re bodies are still developing, and they can experience long-term health effects. Young, inexperienced people who drink are also even more likely to make dangerous decisions.”

The state legislature began to crack down on parents who knowingly turn a blind eye to teenagers’ drinking parties after several incidents where drunk teenage drivers were involved in deadly accidents.

“Two teenagers died and countless lives were shattered by a drunk driving accident a few blocks from my house,” Morrison said. “They were returning to a party where the parents were home and knew that all of the teens there were drinking.”

A 2007 law made it a Class A misdemeanor for parents or guardians to host – or turn a blind eye to – parties where children consume alcohol inside their homes. A 2012 law sponsored by Morrison’s predecessor, Susan Garrett, expanded the prohibition to all land owned by the parents. Senator Morrison’s proposal would expand the law to include campers, trailers, boats, private aircraft and other family property where teens could hold drinking parties.

The existing law exempts alcohol consumed as part of a religious ceremony.

The legislation passed the Senate unopposed and now returns to the House, which must approve an amendment before the measure can go to the governor.