Ellman advances measure to grant high school credits to middle school students

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman advanced a measure out of the Senate to ensure middle school students have the option to earn high school credit for high school level courses.

“Our students deserve support every step along their academic career paths,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Middle school students working toward the next educational milestone need the attention, care and resources that ensure proper consideration of their academic abilities.”

Under current Illinois law, middle school students are able to receive credit for high school level courses, as long as the course is offered by the high school in the student’s district and the instructor holds a professional educator license and is endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course.

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Morrison works to remove dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ from household products

SPRINGFIELD — In response to growing research about the long-term health risks posed by PFAS — commonly known as “forever chemicals” — State Senator Julie Morrison is working to eliminate their use within everyday products sold in Illinois.

To reduce Illinoisans’ exposure to these chemicals, House Bill 2516 would ban intentionally added PFAS from seven categories of products sold and distributed in the state, including cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, children’s items, menstrual products, intimate apparel and food packaging. Morrison’s bill prioritizes products where PFAS exposure is likely to be frequent or prolonged, especially for vulnerable populations like children, and sets a 2032 implementation date to give manufacturers time to phase out their use.

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Stadelman working to require more transparency in health care fees

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure transparency from health care providers and protect patients from unexpected fees on bills, State Senator Steve Stadelman passed a measure out of the Senate that would require hospitals to be more explicit about the fees included in their services.

“There’s no reason to wait and disclose extra fees to patients after the care has already been provided,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “We need these facilities to take more responsibility and inform patients of all costs and fees prior to any services.”

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Villivalam joins climate advocates to discuss tackling issues facing public transit

SPRINGFIELD — Joining climate advocates at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday, State Senator Ram Villivalam spoke at a rally about how public transit positively impacts our environment and what can be done to address issues currently facing the state’s transit system.

“We have spent the last two years on this journey; we asked the Chicago Metropolitan Council on Planning to put together a report and convene stakeholders, had bills introduced and held over eight subject matter hearings across the region to hear over 35 hours of testimony,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “We've heard repeatedly that public transit is good for our economy, it must be equitable and accessible, is necessary for equality, community quality of life, and how it is good for our environment.”

For the last 19 months, Villivalam has been working alongside stakeholders, advocates, including the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, and everyday riders to address issues facing the public transit system in the Regional Transportation Authority region amid the $771 million fiscal cliff.

Read more: Villivalam joins climate advocates to discuss tackling issues facing public transit