'Zach's Law' sent to Quinn's desk

SPRINGFIELD — It took longer than he wanted, but Sen. Terry Link finally got the victory he was looking for when the Illinois Senate Thursday approved “Zach's Law,” a proposal inspired by the death of a Vernon Hills boy in 2003 in a soccer accident.

The legislation would require park districts, athletic clubs and other organizations to purchase tip-resistant goals and have them properly anchored to the ground. The Tran family has pushed for the safety measure ever since their 6-year-old son Zach died after an unanchored soccer goal fell on him at a Vernon Hills field.

Legal barriers had caused difficulties for the passage of the legislation in the past, but Link, a Waukegan Democrat, said he stuck with it along with Rep. Carol Sente and former Rep. Kathy Ryg.

“This is why you never give up down here,” Link said. “We talk about budgets and we talk about other things ... but here is someone who had a tragedy that is trying to correct it so others don't have a tragedy like it. It's nice to know you can directly touch the lives of people.”

The legislation passed the Senate 56-0. It now moves to Gov. Pat Quinn's desk for his signature. Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said the governor would review it.

Sente, a Vernon Hills Democrat, said she expected Quinn to come through.

“It has been one of my favorite bills,” she said. “Saving lives is every bit as important as balancing our budget.”

Jayson Tran, Zach's father, said his work has just begun. He's won approval for similar legislation in Wisconsin and Arkansas.

Tran said he was happy his home state now has this protection, but his Anchored for Safety organization still has many more state and even federal laws to pursue.

“To us this is not the end, there is still a lot of work to be done in other states,” he said. “We're really happy that at least in Illinois there is movement toward soccer goal safety.”