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  • COVID-19

Villa to hold public health hearing to discuss long COVID

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, September 25, 2023 11:59 AM
  • Public Health
  • COVID-19
  • Villa
  • Illinois Unidos

Sen. Villa

WEST CHICAGO – State Senator Karina Villa is collaborating with Illinois Unidos for a Public Health Committee hearing focused on the effects of long COVID in underserved communities.

“The effects of long COVID are still being studied, making it difficult to diagnose,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Our goal is to gain insight from experts in the field and promote research that can help medical providers diagnose long COVID.”

Long COVID has emerged as a pressing concern for individuals who have previously recovered from the initial COVID-19 infection, and the range of symptoms can persist for weeks or months after the acute phase of a COVID-19 infection.

Read more: Villa to hold public health hearing to discuss long COVID

Villa observes September as Suicide Prevention Month

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, September 11, 2023 02:16 PM
  • Suicide Prevention
  • Villa
  • 988 Hotline
  • Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Sen. Karina Villa

WEST CHICAGO – As September begins, so does the 15th annual Suicide Prevention Month, and State Senator Karina Villa is highlighting the importance of suicide awareness and prevention for Illinois residents. 

“My heart goes out to every person who has lost a loved one to suicide,” said Villa (D-West Chicago), chair of the Senate Public Health Committee. “We need to be vigilant in our support for people who experience mental health challenges. By working together, we can create a safer, more compassionate state where every individual’s mental wellbeing is valued and protected.”

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under 50,000 people died by suicide in 2022. The CDC also reported that men accounted for over 39,000 of these recorded deaths—which is a 2.3% increase from 2021.

Read more: Villa observes September as Suicide Prevention Month

New Villa law expands service and companion animal protections

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Tuesday, August 08, 2023 11:14 AM
  • Villanueva
  • SB1499
  • Service and Companion Animals

villa servicedogs 080823SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa advocated for a new law that will expand protections for service and companion animals in Illinois.

“The goal of this law is to protect animals from those who would do them harm,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This law will ensure companion and working animals will have protections in place if law enforcement come across someone who is mistreating them.”

The new law makes changes to the Humane Care for Animals Act, allowing a law enforcement officer to legally take possession of a companion animal from an individual under arrest who strikes, harms, injures, tampers with or kills police animals, service dogs, detection dogs or search and rescue dogs; poisons animals; or confines animals in a motor vehicle for a dangerous amount of time. Current law allows law enforcement to take possession of an animal only when making an arrest involving cruel treatment, aggravated cruelty, animal torture or animal entertainment.

A person who violates an order to hand over their companion animal would be subject to civil and criminal contempt, with a fine up to $2,500 and imprisonment for up to 90 days. It would be up to the prosecution to prove the person arrested violated the Humane Care for Animals Act, and an individual who violates this Act may not possess another animal for a period of time determined by the court, which could include permanent relinquishment.

“Those who abuse animals do not deserve to own animals themselves,” said Villa. “Animal cruelty is a harsh reality that happens far too often. Adding these additional safeguards will protect animals across the state.”

Senate Bill 1499 was signed into law on Friday, Aug. 4 and goes into effect immediately.

Villa law creates new path to licensure for social workers

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, August 07, 2023 01:32 PM
  • Social Workers
  • Villa
  • Licensure Exams
  • HB2365

villa 060923SPRINGFIELD – Following findings of testing bias in social worker licensure exams, State Senator Karina Villa advocated for a law to provide social workers with a more equitable avenue for obtaining a license. This is the first law of its kind in the nation, and many states are expected to follow suit.

“In Illinois, we have social work graduates who have earned a master’s degree, completed intense clinical supervision hours and are currently working in the field, yet they are barred from a path forward due to a biased exam,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This new law will help social workers who are already out in the field benefiting their communities and those who are looking to enter the profession have an easier time getting licensed.”

Read more: Villa law creates new path to licensure for social workers

Villa initiative to alleviate statewide nurse shortage signed into law

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Friday, July 28, 2023 05:05 PM
  • Villa
  • HB1615
  • Nursing Shortage

villa051723CM0512SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa that addresses the shortage of nurses in health care facilities across Illinois was signed into law Friday. 

“The ongoing nurse shortage in our state demands our immediate attention,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Our nurses are the backbone of our health care system, and we owe it to them and our communities to address this issue with urgency. By empowering the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center to look for ways to address the shortage, our hope is this new law will help us retain and recruit nurses throughout our state.”

The growing scarcity of nurses in Illinois, especially in Southern Illinois, hurts patients and existing nurses who have to work without a full staff in some cases. Nurses are a critical part of health care and make up the largest portion of health care professionals. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 275,000 additional nurses will be needed from 2020 to 2030.

Read more: Villa initiative to alleviate statewide nurse shortage signed into law

Villa’s new law will protect concertgoers from overdose

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Friday, June 09, 2023 02:50 PM
  • Villa
  • Naloxone
  • Opioid Overdose
  • HB1557
  • Music Venues

villa 060923SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa, music venues will be equipped with overdose-reversing medications.

“The summer months bring a lot of concerts with them, and I want to make sure those in attendance are safe from one bad decision or mistake costing them their lives,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This law will save lives by expanding first aid in concert halls, training staff to treat overdose and ensuring the proper tools are on site.”

Read more: Villa’s new law will protect concertgoers from overdose

Villa bill to cover emergency workers’ health insurance passes Senate

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Thursday, May 18, 2023 10:39 AM
  • First Responders
  • Health Insurance
  • Villanueva
  • HB3249

Sen. Karina Villa

SPRINGFIELD – To guarantee emergency workers — including firefighters, police officers and probation officers — have quality health insurance in the event they are injured on the job, State Senator Karina Villa passed a bill from the Senate on Wednesday. 

“Emergency workers are the first on a scene when something goes wrong; they protect our communities and deserve our protection in return,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This legislation will protect those who are gravely injured on the job by making sure their employers cover their health insurance.”

House Bill 3249 requires public employers to pay the full premium of a health insurance plan for a current employee, their spouse or their dependents if the employee is a full-time law enforcement officer, correctional or correctional probation officer or firefighter who has suffered a catastrophic injury or was killed in the line of duty.

Read more: Villa bill to cover emergency workers’ health insurance passes Senate

Villa passes bill to protect against gender violence

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:37 PM
  • Gender-Related Violence
  • Employer Accountability
  • HB1363

villa 051723SPRINGFIELD – To protect against gender-related violence in the workplace, State Senator Karina Villa passed a bill from the Senate to clarify areas of the Gender Violence Act in regards to employer accountability.

“Work should not be a violent environment for anyone; employees should have protection if they feel unsafe by the actions of a coworker or their employer,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This bill aims to make sure those in a position of power are held responsible for protecting their employees and held accountable when they fail.”

Read more: Villa passes bill to protect against gender violence

More Articles …

  1. Villa initiative to address statewide nurse shortages passes Senate
  2. Villa pushes to increase social worker diversity in the workforce
  3. Villa passes measure aimed at increasing Illinois Dream Fund donations
  4. Villa passes bill to protect concertgoers from overdose
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