Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would simplify the certification process for certified nursing assistants working at the Illinois Department of Corrections passed the State Senate on Wednesday.

“Being a nurse is admirable,” Belt said. “They have fearlessly served the residents of Illinois during this pandemic, and now it’s time we serve them.”

The measure would make it easier for CNAs working for IDOC to keep their certification while working for the department. By categorizing IDOC as a health care employer, it would allow CNAs to maintain their certification while working there.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, if a CNA has a gap of at least two years without employment by a health care employer, they will lose their registration status and no longer be listed on the Health Care Worker Registry. Currently, IDOC is not considered to be a health care employer, meaning that CNAs working for the department as a CNA for more than two years will lose their registration.

Right now, a CNA working for IDOC has to work a second job for another health care employer in order to maintain their certification. By modifying the act’s definition to include IDOC as a health care employer, CNAs employed by the department would no longer face this barrier.

“Right now, the Department of Corrections is not considered to be a health care employer,” Belt said. “This simple change will remove an unnecessary barrier for nurses serving their state.”

Senate Bill 1771 passed the Illinois Senate without opposition and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To enhance employment opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities in the state of Illinois, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) passed legislation in the Senate Wednesday to change the job interview process at state agencies.

“More diverse state agencies not only benefit our government and the people they serve, but they help create a more inclusive Illinois,” Belt said. “The workforce of state agencies should reflect our diversity.”

The measure would create the Equal Opportunity Employment Interview Initiative and require state agencies to implement hiring goals for certain target groups, including women, minorities and people with disabilities.

During a multiple stage or panel interview process, if an applicant has a disability or identifies as a minority, a woman, or bilingual, state agencies would have to assign an interviewer who represents the same group.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement in response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trail:

“We must acknowledge that since the inception of this nation, our justice system has and continues to fail millions of Black Americans each day. Collectively, we have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. Although the system still doesn’t work for millions, this afternoon it worked for one. Today’s verdict is a testament to what we can accomplish when we stand together as the United States of America, when we make our voices heard and demand change, when we refuse to accept the status quo. While the promise of liberty and justice for all has yet to be fulfilled, today’s news represents the progress we have made toward a more just nation."

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would ensure all eligible employees are paid prevailing wage and create a more transparent Illinois Department of Labor passed committee on Wednesday.

The Prevailing Wage Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics employed on public works construction projects no less than the average rate for the same work in the county where the work takes place.

The initiative would require IDOL’s electronic database of payroll records to be listed by the middle of each month and searchable by the public, ensuring compliance with prevailing wage laws.  

“The government shouldn’t be involved in underpaying construction employees,” Belt said. “We owe it to our local economies to create good paying jobs, and we owe it to the public to ensure government construction projects – especially on roads and bridges – are done right.”

Though IDOL is already required to maintain a database of payroll records to ensure workers are actually being paid the prevailing wage, Belt’s legislation would make it public.

“This added transparency will help ensure workers are being paid the prevailing wage they have earned,” Belt said.

Senate Bill 1767 passed the Senate Labor Committee with a vote of 12-5 and will now head to the Senate Floor for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fly the United States, Illinois and prisoner of war/missing in action flags at all state parks passed committee on Wednesday.

“When these flags are flown, they become more than flags, they become a representation of our nation and state, as well as a reminder of the sacrifices brave service members gave to protect the freedoms we all enjoy today,” Belt said.

SPRINGFIELD – An initiative sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would ensure Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City would maintain its status as a safety net hospital was signed into law Friday.

“Illinois’ safety net hospitals are of vital importance to our community’s health and safety, especially during a pandemic, “Belt said. “Gateway serves thousands of people each year, and ensuring that it maintains its status as a safety net hospital has been one of my top priorities.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would provide additional funding to prevent child abuse in Illinois passed committee Wednesday.

“Children are the most vulnerable members of our society,” Belt said. “We must do everything in our power to protect them from abuse and neglect.” 

The measure would require the Department of Lottery to offer a special scratch-off game for child abuse prevention. Currently, Illinois has similar scratch-off games for veterans’ related issues, HIV/AIDS prevention and education, the Illinois Special Olympics and more.

“The Illinois lottery brings in millions of dollars each year in revenue,” Belt said. “We need to ensure that some of that money goes toward preventing child abuse in the state of Illinois.”

All of the revenue earned from the game would go to the Child Abuse Prevention Fund, which was created to provide grants to private social service organizations to help eliminate and prevent child abuse and neglect.

Senate Bill 2090 passed the Senate Executive Committee with a vote of 16-0 and will now head to the Senate floor for further consideration.

CHICAGO — As Illinois works to build an equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a slate of reforms spearheaded by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) to expand economic access, equity and opportunity.

“These measures are a major step forward not only for the residents of underserved and disadvantaged communities, but the state as a whole,” ILBC Joint Caucus Chairperson state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, said. “This package will help give a pathway to opportunity for Illinoisans who have had obstacles in their path due to systemic problems facing communities including disinvestment and racism.”

“Our nation’s systems were designed to keep Black people from owning businesses, buying homes and fostering economically prosperous communities. To achieve real equity in Illinois, we must dismantle these systems and rebuild them in a way that gives African Americans the chance to succeed,” Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, D-Maywood, said. “This package of legislation is a critical step toward leveling the playing field and empowering Black Illinoisans to rise to their full potential as entrepreneurs, homeowners, company executives and more.”

“Just as it is with redlining, with bias in insurance rates, and with the ongoing disparity in home lending, this is not just about financial ethics. It’s about racial justice,” state Senator Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago, said. “There is a growing understanding among Illinoisans that these financial systems target people of color and entrench racial poverty. When we have honest, hard conversations, we can topple barriers.”

“It’s a victory for all of Illinois when we can come together to increase opportunities for the people of our state, especially those that have historically been left behind and faced discrimination, “state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford said. “Helping ensure that all Illinoisans and Illinois businesses have a path to prosperity is critical to securing the future of our state and the success of our families.”

“Encouraging the success of minority workers and businesses starts with pushing for equality in the workforce and in government contracting,” state Sen. Christopher Belt, D- Centreville, said. “A diverse business community makes our economy richer and stronger. When we break down barriers to economic access, equity and opportunity, it isn’t just minorities that get a boost—the whole state benefits.”

“These measures take major strides towards creating the equity we need for state contractors and Black-owned and minority businesses. These businesses are fully capable of doing the job yet for too long they’ve been denied the opportunity,” state Rep. Will Davis, D-Homewood, said. “Looking forward, I will continue to work together with my colleagues to ensure that state government utilizes the service of Black businesses and other local businesses in state contracts.”

“For too long African American entrepreneurs and prospective small business owners have been denied access to the capital necessary to create jobs and provide services and products to local communities,” state Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin, D-Olympia Fields, said. “The disparity studies conducted under this legislation will help provide guidance to the legislature as we continue our work to remedy historic discrimination against African Americans and ensure economic opportunity for all people in Illinois.”

“I’m incredibly proud of the work of the Black Caucus in shepherding these critical measures into law to help lift up Illinoisans who have been left behind for generations,” ILBC House Chairperson state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said. “The push for equitable solutions to the economic problems faced by African Americans and disadvantaged Illinois begins here, but it does not stop here. As the work to create a better future for Illinois families continues, ensuring that the promise of economic access, equity and opportunity is met for all families will be a top priority for the Black Caucus.”

Measures enacted into law today by Pritzker include:

Senate Bill 1480, which lowers barriers for reentry into the workforce for people with criminal records by requiring employers to make individual assessments of job candidates, institutes state-based data collection of race and gender information for companies required to file such reports with the federal government and requires companies to certify compliance with equal pay laws.

Senate Bill 1608, which works to increase investments in underserved communities by ensuring that financial institutions chartered in Illinois engage in fair banking and lending practices. It also allows the state to invest funds in community banks and local financial institutions, includes a series of programs to provide grant funding for small business technology firms and leverage federal small business grants, and increases state investments in local businesses owned by minorities, women and people with disabilities.

Senate Bill 1792, which addresses predatory lending by capping the annual interest rate for payday loans at 36%. This measure also creates the Cannabis Equity Commission to ensure equity goals are being met in the Illinois cannabis industry and requires the state to conduct racial and economic disparity studies on the beauty supply industry and farm ownership and operations within Illinois.

Senate Bill 1980, which requires independent review of the criminal record of applicants to public housing agencies and sets criteria for denying a housing application based on a criminal record.