Lightford champions legislation that addresses EMT staffing shortage
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SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing staff shortages in the EMS workforce, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford advanced legislation in the Senate to attract and retain EMS workers.
“The pandemic further exacerbated how vital the EMS professionals are,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “We need to expand the workforce by prioritizing recruitment and retention of highly-skilled workers.”
Senate Bill 761 works to tackle the emergency medical field workforce shortage head on by allowing more flexibility for EMS directors to use alternative staffing models and creating a task force to bring greater training, recruitment and retention to the field.
Read more: Lightford champions legislation that addresses EMT staffing shortage
Feigenholtz continues to advance access to information for adopted adults
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SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz that will alleviate obstacles for adoptees to obtain post-adoption information related to their birth and adoption passed the Senate on Wednesday.
“This measure levels the playing field for all adopted adults who are seeking information about themselves through the confidential intermediary program. Permitting record access for those who were placed through child welfare agencies that have since closed their doors, does exactly that,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).
Senate Bill 2134 adds clarifying language to the Adoption Act to permit a confidential intermediary to have access to stored records from closed adoption agencies. Currently, records of closed agencies are housed at the central state storage facility.
Read more: Feigenholtz continues to advance access to information for adopted adults
Belt initiative to help tackle the issue of food deserts in the State clears the Senate
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt advanced a measure through the Senate Thursday to tackle the increasing number of food deserts in Illinois.
“People should be able to have easy access to healthy and affordable food at all times,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “By providing financial assistance to grocery stores, we can incentivize the establishment and expansion of stores in areas that are considered food deserts.”
Under this legislation, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would be required to provide grants and other forms of financial assistance to privately-owned grocery stores and grocery stores owned by a unit of local government, school district or community college district, located in or to be located in a food desert.
Read more: Belt initiative to help tackle the issue of food deserts in the State clears the Senate
Ventura advocates for new science criteria in elementary schools
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura passed a measure through the Senate Thursday to expand science education in elementary schools.
“Creating human-centered education in science helps individuals to understand their bodies fully but also creates connections to other sciences potentially creating a strong interest and understanding,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “We must empower kids to learn more about the human body and how it relates to higher sciences.”
Ventura’s measure would create the Science in Elementary Schools Working Group. The group, created by the Illinois State Board of Education, would add new science curriculum on topics such as anatomy, physiology, and nutrition. The expanded education would also help students understand their own bodies and care for their health and well-being throughout their lives.
Read more: Ventura advocates for new science criteria in elementary schools
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