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Villa advances measure to end discriminatory disciplining in schools

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 09:38 AM
  • School
  • SB1519
  • Fines

20250304KP8477SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would address unequitable school disciplinary practices.

“The practice of ticketing in schools does not address the root causes of students’ behavior and instead creates financial hardships for working families, affecting Black and Latino families the most,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This creates serious learning disparities between students of color and their white counterparts.”

In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law ending the ability of schools to issue monetary fines to students for disciplinary infractions at school. However, students in schools across the state continue to be fined due to the practice of students being referred to law enforcement for school-related behavior. 

Read more: Villa advances measure to end discriminatory disciplining in schools

Villa measure expanding access to non-opioid prescriptions advances

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Tuesday, March 18, 2025 06:25 PM
  • IDPH
  • Prescription Non-Opioid Pain Management
  • Reduce Dependency and Misuse
  • SB1238

villa 031825SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would increase access to non-opioid prescription medication to address the often-fatal addictiveness of prescription opioids.

“Prescription opioid medications are highly addictive, leading to countless deaths during the opioid epidemic, which our communities are still facing today,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “By expanding access to non-opioid alternatives, individuals will still be able to receive the care they need while reducing their risk of developing a serious addiction.”

Read more: Villa measure expanding access to non-opioid prescriptions advances

Villa, LaPointe host press conference on equity in behavioral health care services

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Thursday, March 06, 2025 03:06 PM
  • Mental Health
  • Villa
  • SB 55
  • HB 1085

20250306KP8639r

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa stood alongside State Representative Lindsey LaPointe and fellow legislators and advocates to call for equity in mental health and substance use treatment.

“Many individuals across Illinois are being forced to wait extended periods of time to receive care, have to go out-of-network and rack up extreme debt, or not receive any care at all,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “People who are already paying costly insurance premiums should be able to access the care outlined in their benefits, but can’t because of the lack of in-network providers.”

Senate Bill 55, with corresponding House Bill 1085, would require insurers to cover medically necessary out-of-network mental health and substance use benefits as if they were in-network. The measures would also set minimum reimbursement rates for care providers for proper compensation of their services and incentivize providers to join insurance networks.

Read more: Villa, LaPointe host press conference on equity in behavioral health care services

Villa measure addressing congenital syphilis cases advances

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, February 05, 2025 10:30 AM
  • Villa
  • Sb 119
  • Congenital Syphilis test

Villa SB119SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure aimed at addressing the increase in congenital syphilis cases in Illinois. 

“As congenital syphilis continues to rise in Illinois and across the country, this bill is important in advancing syphilis testing practices to ensure the health of a baby and the individual birthing them,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “It is incredibly important to catch syphilis while it is conventional and can be treated.”

Senate Bill 119 would require the second syphilis test conducted on pregnant individuals to be done between 27 and 32 weeks of pregnancy to ensure treatment can begin at least 30 days before delivery. The measure would also expand authorization to administer the test to health care professionals who are qualified in addition to physicians.

Read more: Villa measure addressing congenital syphilis cases advances

Villa measure addresses sexual misconduct by law enforcement

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, January 06, 2025 06:53 PM
  • Human Trafficking
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • HB4410
  • Law Enforcement Officers

villa 010625SPRINGFIELD – A measure spearheaded by State Senator Karina Villa, addressing sexual misconduct by law enforcement officers with suspects during an investigation passed the Senate on Monday.

“State law must be up-to-date to prevent further exploitation of survivors of human trafficking and individuals involved in the sex trade industry, especially when interacting with law enforcement and the justice system,” said Villa (D-West Chicago).  “It is imperative we do everything we can to support these individuals and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.”

House Bill 4410 would require law enforcement agencies to create and adopt polices prohibiting officers from engaging in sexual conduct with a suspect while investigating prostitution and require the Illinois State Police, local law enforcement and circuit court clerks to automatically seal all prior arrest and court records related to felony prostitution charges.

Read more: Villa measure addresses sexual misconduct by law enforcement

Villa furthers language equity initiative

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, November 20, 2024 04:02 PM
  • Villa
  • HB 5172
  • Language Equity

VillaSPRINGFIELD – A measure championed by State Senator Karina Villa, securing language assistance during state agency administrative hearings passed the Senate on Wednesday with support from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

“Maneuvering government procedures can be overwhelming and difficult, especially when a language barrier is present,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “Building upon the Language Equity and Access Act that was signed into law in August, this will ensure that every Illinois resident has the same degree of access during hearings, regardless of their proficiency in English.”

House Bill 5172 would require state agencies to provide competent and accurate interpretive assistance for self-represented and low-income individuals with limited English proficiency during any stage of a substantive administrative hearing.

Read more: Villa furthers language equity initiative

Villa law expands recycling and composting

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Wednesday, August 21, 2024 09:57 AM
  • Villa
  • SB 2876
  • recycle and compost

032024CM0163reduced 1024x602SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa will require large event facilities to recycle and compost materials to address the significant amount of waste created at large scale events.

“Advocating for the health of our environment ensures the health of our communities which has been long recognized by our state,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This law will maintain Illinois’ standing as a leader in environmental policy.”

The new law requires large event facilities with a legal occupancy of at least 3,500 people to participate in their county recycling program and compost organic materials produced during an event held at the facility. Those found to be in violation of this law will face fines up to $1,500 for the first offense and $2,500 for each subsequent offense.

Read more: Villa law expands recycling and composting

Villa law supports body positivity

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 12:31 PM
  • Villa
  • Laser Hair Removal Treatment
  • HB4357

villa 082024SPRINGFIELD – To promote healthy body image, State Senator Karina Villa passed a law to facilitate practices for affordable access to laser hair removal treatment.

“Appearance plays a major role in how people see themselves,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “We must maintain the safety of laser hair removal while increasing accessibility."

The new law allows trained professionals, including registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, to perform non-ablative laser hair removal procedures as long as a physician delegated it and supervision protocol is in place.

The law also provides that an on-site physician exam is not required prior to these procedures under specific conditions and will allow an advanced practice registered nurse to conduct the exam in place of a physician.

 

Read more: Villa law supports body positivity

More Articles …

  1. Villa law finalizes closure of Kerr-McGee in West Chicago
  2. Villa law establishes language access framework
  3. Villa measure fortifying protections against patient abuse advances
  4. Villa measure supporting body positivity passes Senate
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