BENTON, Ill. (AP) Illinois State Rep. Gary Forby says legislation that Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law will extend statutes of limitations on crimes that financially exploit the elderly.

Forby tells The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan that the law extends statutes of limitations from three years to seven years. That means charges can be brought against individuals accused of financially exploiting seniors or the disabled for seven years instead of three years.

Forby, a Benton Democrat, was a co-sponsor of the legislation. He says the legislation is important because such crimes can put victims “in dire financial situations, robbing them of their savings.”

The votes on the legislation were unanimous in both the Illinois House and Illinois Senate.