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  • COVID-19

Villa’s new law increases awareness of safe firearm storage

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, June 01, 2022 11:11 AM
  • Safety
  • Villa
  • Firearm Storage
  • Safety Education
  • HB 5193

Villa HB 5193

 

SPRINGFIELD – Under a newly-signed law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), school boards across the state will have the option to include safe firearm storage in their safety education curriculum.

“Guns are the leading cause of death of children in Illinois,” Villa said. “By giving students the opportunity to learn about safe, responsible firearm ownership, we are giving them the tools to protect themselves and others.”

Under House Bill 5193, safe gun storage will be added to existing safety education instruction taught in schools in Illinois. Automobile safety, CPR training, safety in the home, and safety while carrying out vocational training or work are all examples of what is already included in statewide safety education curriculum.

Read more: Villa’s new law increases awareness of safe firearm storage

Villa’s new law will expand telehealth services for students, non-residents

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Friday, May 13, 2022 06:27 PM
  • Villa
  • Telehealth
  • HB4797

VillaTelehealthSocialWorkWEST CHICAGO – Thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa, Illinois visitors and out-of-state students will soon be able to continue to receive their established therapeutic services via telehealth from an out-of-state certified social worker.

“We have already taken great strides toward mental health accessibility here in Illinois,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This is another important step to ensure these vital resources are available to everyone in our state, resident or otherwise.”

Read more: Villa’s new law will expand telehealth services for students, non-residents

Villa-backed measure brings more than $4 million in relief funds to local businesses

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 01:04 PM
  • DCEO
  • Villa
  • Back 2 Business

villa 033022WEST CHICAGO – Eighty-one businesses across the 25th District have received a total of $4,145,000 through the Back to Business program thanks to support from State Senator Karina Villa and the General Assembly.

“Our small businesses fought through the darkest days of the pandemic, and now they’re looking to rebuild and move forward,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “I am pleased to see them receive this well-deserved support as they begin to do so.”

The $4,145,000 was awarded to 81 local businesses. The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

Read more: Villa-backed measure brings more than $4 million in relief funds to local businesses

Villa’s measure to ensure the availability of interpreters passes out of Senate

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, April 06, 2022 10:36 AM
  • Villa
  • Interpreters
  • Language barrier
  • HB5214

Senator Villa

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) advanced a measure to expand the availability of interpreters to parents who are deaf or have limited English proficiency.

“Parents have a right to know what kinds of decisions are being made regarding their children’s education, and more importantly, be able to actively engage in these discussions and present any questions or complaints and they should be involved in discussions where these decisions are being made,” Villa said. “It’s an issue of accessibility and equity when parents who face communication barriers are unable to participate.”

Current law states that interpreters must be made available to parents during an Individualized Education Program meeting only. Villa’s measure would provide parents who struggle with a language barrier access to an interpreter for meetings that include multidisciplinary conferences, 504 meetings, a mediation session, or a due process hearing.

Read more: Villa’s measure to ensure the availability of interpreters passes out of Senate

Senate approves Villa-backed measure to protect students in Illinois

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Friday, April 01, 2022 03:32 PM
  • Students
  • Villa
  • Grooming and Abuse
  • HB 4316

Senator Villa

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Senate advanced a measure Wednesday supported by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) to protect students in Illinois from grooming and abuse at the hands of educators.

“Students have a right to feel safe at school and know they can trust the adults who watch over them,” said Villa. “This legislation ensures those who breach that trust are unable to go to another school and do the same thing.”

House Bill 4316 expands on legislation passed in December 2021 known as Faith’s Law. Named after Faith Colson, a woman who experienced sexual abuse as a student nearly 20 years ago, Faith’s Law made it illegal for school employees to groom students into sexual relationships. It created a resource guide for students, parents, teachers on sexual abuse response and prevention and strengthen training for teachers.

Read more: Senate approves Villa-backed measure to protect students in Illinois

Villa-backed measure to expand telehealth services for students, non-residents passes out of the Senate

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, March 30, 2022 05:59 PM
  • Social Workers
  • Villa
  • Telehealth
  • HB4797

villa 033022SPRINGFIELD – Illinois visitors and out-of-state students would be able to continue to receive their established therapeutic services via telehealth from an out-of-state certified social worker under a measure championed by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).

“I have seen firsthand how essential these services can be to those in need,” Villa said. “As a former school social worker, I know how important it is to nurture and maintain relationships between therapists and those they care for.”

Clinicians are required to be licensed in the state where their client is physically located at the time of care, not the state where they reside under current law. House Bill 4797 would allow non-residents and visitors to Illinois, such as university students, to continue to receive the care they need from their trusted and established therapists.

“I am proud to advance this legislation that will further establish Illinois as a national leader in mental health care access,” Villa said. “These vital resources should be available to everyone in our state, resident or otherwise.”

The legislation passed out of the Senate Wednesday and now awaits further action from the governor.

Villa announces more than $3 million in relief funding for local businesses

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, March 28, 2022 02:08 PM
  • Grants
  • Villa
  • Back 2 Business
  • Local Businesses

Senator Villa

 

WEST CHICAGO – More than $3 million in Back to Business grants will be awarded to small businesses across the 25th District, State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) announced.

“Local businesses bring so much life to our community,” Villa said. “Especially through the challenges of the last two years, the services they provide have been absolutely vital and, now more than ever, they need our support.”

Sixty-three local businesses will be receiving a total of $3,125,000 in COVID-19 relief funds in the latest round of B2B grants through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Read more: Villa announces more than $3 million in relief funding for local businesses

Villa advances measure expanding access to telehealth services for students, nonresidents

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Thursday, March 24, 2022 09:16 AM
  • Insurance
  • Social Workers
  • Villa
  • Telehealth
  • Therapy
  • HB4797

Sen. Karina Villa

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) will allow Illinois visitors and non-resident students to continue to receive therapeutic services via telehealth from an out-of-state certified social worker they have an established relationship with.

“Finding a therapist is a long and arduous process for many people,” Villa said. “This kind of care isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation, and when a good match is found, we should make it as easy as possible for individuals to receive continued care.”

Read more: Villa advances measure expanding access to telehealth services for students, nonresidents

More Articles …

  1. Over 50 local businesses receive pandemic recovery assistance thanks to Villa
  2. Villa: We are one step closer to protecting the rights of nursing home residents
  3. Villa measure provides flexibility for IMRF employers
  4. Villa: Advancing toward extended support for older LGBTQ adults
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  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13

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