SPRINGFIELD — A dedicated advocate for victims and their families, State Senator Mattie Hunter passed a law to expand the Task Force for Missing and Murdered Chicago Women, adding two seats for Chicago police officers.

“Through the work of the task force and dedicated individuals who are shining a light on this crisis, we are beginning to see the true scale of this issue and areas for improvement related to managing cases and data,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “It’s vital we bring in representatives from the Chicago Police Department to speak to current practices and how we can best move forward.”

Despite making up only 2% of Chicago’s population, Black women and girls account for about 30% of the city’s missing persons cases — an alarming disparity that remains the focus of the Task Force for Missing and Murdered Chicago Women. The task force, established through legislation Hunter passed in 2022, is studying methods for tracking and collecting data on violence against Chicago women and working to develop strategies to reduce violence and prevent future tragedies. The task force meets monthly and is due to submit its first report to the General Assembly by Dec. 31.

Members of the task force include legislators and representatives from the Illinois State Police, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, Illinois Department of Public Health, Cook County Medical Examiner and victim advocacy groups. Hunter’s law adds two seats to the task force for Chicago Police Department officers, who will be nominated by the Chicago police superintendent.

“There are too many women and girls — and loved ones — left without answers and without justice,” said Hunter. “The current system is failing our community, and we need to work together to address the systemic issues fueling this tragedy.”

House Bill 4261 was signed into law Friday and is effective immediately.