Bennett attends UIUC back to school event and groundbreaking ceremony in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) joined local officials and community leaders in Champaign Monday to announce two important developments in the Champaign-Urbana community, including an investment in campus improvements at the University of Illinois and a major transportation infrastructure project made possible by the Rebuild Illinois program.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will receive $140 million in state funds, matched by $52 million in non-state funding for a total investment of $192 million. The funds will be used to construct a new, world-class facility and make large-scale renovations and updates to centrally located buildings.

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Peters expands victims’ rights

CHICAGO – A new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) expands the rights of victims and survivors of violent crimes to take unpaid time off work.

“Trauma can often be a life-changing experience, so victims and survivors of violent crimes and their families should be able to deal with that trauma on their own time without having to risk losing their jobs,” Peters said. “Otherwise, we’re creating a situation where a person might experience serious trauma and then suffer loss of livelihood as a result.”

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Hunter: Pregnant girls still deserve an education

SPRINGFIELD – A measure led by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to ensure policies will be put in place if someone misses school due to pregnancy-related issues is now law.

“Pregnant women still deserve quality access to education,” Hunter said. “Girls should not have to miss out schooling just because they got pregnant.”

Under the law, all Illinois school boards will be required to adopt written policies related to absences and missed homework or classwork assignments as a result of or related to a student's pregnancy.

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New Simmons-sponsored law gathers data on effect of COVID-19 in LBGTQ+ communities

CHICAGO – A new law sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) requires hospitals and state agencies to gather more data in order to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has harmed LGBTQIA communities, older adults, and people with disabilities in Illinois.

“I see this as the first step to ensuring visibility and justice for historically wronged communities, which is especially important as Illinois recovers from a pandemic that has only aggravated these injustices,” Simmons said. “This is a response to valid concerns about how the COVID-19 pandemic in particular is harming communities that already were very poorly served by the health care system.”

Read more: New Simmons-sponsored law gathers data on effect of COVID-19 in LBGTQ+ communities