Illinois mayors and first responders want state lawmakers to protect them from lawsuits when responding to emergencies.
Brad Cole, of the Illinois Municipal League, says there was a long-held notion that government employees could serve the general public without fear of being sued.
But he says the Illinois Supreme Court recently struck down that principle. Cole says he wants a law passed to bring it back.
"Absent making these changes, we believe we're going to create an environment where there's going to be a cottage industry of frivolous lawsuits aiming to capitalize on the suffering of others."
But Chris Hurley, with the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, says it's not frivolous to hold officials accountable for intentional bad behavior.
The Supreme Court case began with a 911 call in Will County. Authorities responded to find a locked house. Rather than trying to break in, they left, and the woman inside died of a heart attack.