SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans on Medicare would be able to switch supplemental plans without worrying about higher premiums, underwriting or pre-existing conditions under a new measure introduced by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“If their supplemental plan rates go up, many older adults are denied the chance to switch to a less expensive plan because of a pre-existing condition. They’re locked into their current plan,” said Murphy. “It’s time to give older Illinoisans the freedom to seek lower costs elsewhere.”

The measure would establish an annual open enrollment period for each Medicare supplement policyholder between 65 and 75 years of age that begins on the policyholder’s birthday and lasts 45 days.

CHICAGO HEIGHTS – To address a growing need for residents in the Chicago Heights area to have convenient access to driver services, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) and State Representative Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) will join Secretary of State Jesse White to announce the opening of a new driver services facility at Prairie State College.

“This is an important announcement for the residents of Chicago Heights and surrounding areas who have been waiting much too long to have secretary of state services available close by,” Joyce said. “I have worked tirelessly with Rep. DeLuca and the secretary of state’s office to negotiate with Prairie State College to get the temporary location open as soon as possible so drivers have a convenient way to access state services. I’m hopeful we’ll get the regular driver services facility up and running soon, but for now, we’re working hard to make sure people still have access to the resources they need.”

Last summer, the Chicago Heights driver services facility was damaged by a fire and since then has been closed to the public. The closing of the Chicago Heights facility forced motorists to go out of their way to other secretary of state facilities in Midlothian, Joliet, Naperville and Bradley to seek out services.

“This is an important first step toward bringing much-needed services back to the residents of Chicago Heights and surrounding communities,” DeLuca said. “The people have waited far too long and have rightfully begun to run out of patience. Thanks to the leadership at Prairie State College and our partners at the Secretary of State for helping Senator Joyce and me to bring these services back to the community where they are needed. The next step will be to get the construction completed on the permanent Chicago Heights facility on 209^th Street, but until then, this temporary facility will be a huge help.”

Joyce and DeLuca understood residents’ frustrations and worked together to advocate for a temporary facility so residents could quickly access the services they need. The legislators are pleased with the site and are confident the facility will serve the community well until the construction is finished at the permanent site.

With questions or for additional information, contact Joyce’s office at 708-756-0882 or visit SenatorPatrickJoyce.com.

WHO:                   State Senator Patrick Joyce, State Representative Anthony DeLuca, Secretary of State Jesse White, and Dr. Thomas Saban, Interim President of Prairie State College

WHAT:                 Opening of a new temporary driver services facility  

                WHEN:                 Monday, May 10 at 11 a.m.      

WHERE:               Prairie State College – Prairie Center (indoors) on the main campus, 202 S.

Halsted St., Chicago Heights

                                                Visitors will arrive and park in lot A -- there are signs to direct guests

RICHTON PARK - The Village of Richton Park was named a recipient of a $90,679 grant through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunity program, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) announced Thursday. 

“Routine infrastructure upkeep is a key component to thriving communities,” Hastings said. “Because of this grant, made possible through the Rebuild Illinois construction program, the people of Richton Park can rest easy knowing their critical infrastructure will remain first class.”

The money will be used to implement the next phase of the Town Center Stormwater Improvements project, retrofitting an existing 0.4-acre dry detention basin to increase its storm water storage capacity and convert it to a wet bottom detention basin. The current dry detention basin has an outflow pipe that immediately delivers storm water from the basin directly into the Butterfield Creek East Branch Tributary.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the Village of Richton Park. The Village has been awarded close to $5 million so far in this $24 million project,” said Michael Wegrzyn, director of Public Works. “Through this grant, the Village will be one step closer to reducing the flooding in this area, benefiting all the residents of Richton Park.”

The project site was chosen by the Village due to its close proximity to the Village’s Town Center and its location upstream of flood impact areas. The Village applied for a GIGO grant from Illinois EPA with a total project budget of $120,905, with Illinois EPA providing $90,679 in grant funds and the Village providing $30,226 in match.

CHICAGO – Legal representation to those in immigration proceedings should be a fundamental right, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) argued this week as she passed the Right to Counsel in Immigration Proceedings Act in the Senate Human Rights Committee.

“Having an immigration lawyer at your side dramatically increases the success rates of your case,” Villanueva said. “We must create a fairer legal system so that all residents, regardless of status, have an equal opportunity at justice.”

Current law provides the right to legal representation in immigration proceedings, but at the defendant’s own expense. Villanueva’s measure creates a task force to study how to guarantee legal counsel to all those in immigration proceedings by July 1, 2022. Those who qualify would include people who are subject to removal proceedings.

Villanueva’s legislation is inspired by the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. This program has achieved a 1,100% increase in success rates for their clients when compared to people who did not have counsel in their proceedings.

The legislation, House Bill 25, passed the Senate Human Rights Committee and awaits consideration before the full Senate.

Villanueva: El acceso a un abogado de inmigración debe ser un derecho fundamental

CHICAGO – La representación legal para aquellos que enfrentan un proceso migratorio debe ser un derecho fundamental, dijo esta semana la Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) al aprobar la iniciativa del Derecho a Asistencia Legal en Procesos Migratorios en el Comité de Derechos Humanos del Senado de Illinois.

“Contar con un abogado de inmigración incrementa dramáticamente las posibilidades de éxito de un caso,” dijo Villanueva. “Debemos crear un sistema legal más justo para todos, independientemente de su estatus migratorio para tener equidad en la procuración de justicia.”

La ley actual otorga el derecho a la representación legal en los procedimientos migratorios, pero es al costo de quien se defiende. La medida de Villanueva crea el grupo de trabajo que estudiará cómo garantizar la defensa legal a todos aquellos que tengan un caso ante Inmigración para el 1 de julio de 2022. Las personas que califiquen al beneficio incluirán a aquellos que son sujeto a ser deportados.

La legislación de Villanueva está inspirada por el New York Immigrant Family Unity Project. Este programa ha logrado un 1,100% de éxito en los casos de sus clientes al ser comparados con los de las personas que no contaron con representación legal.

La legislación, HB 25, fue aprobada por el Comité de Derechos Humanos y espera ser considerada ante el pleno del Senado.

SPRINGFIELD – Prior authorization is a health insurance company practice meant to ensure treatments are medically necessary, but it often forces patients to wait too long for treatments they need. House Bill 711, sponsored by State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) to rein in that practice, passed the Senate Insurance Committee on Wednesday.

“People requiring surgery, supplies or services often experience stressful delays as they await approval for medical treatment, and it is past time to shorten and simplify that process,” Holmes said. “For those with chronic or life-threatening conditions, it can be an ongoing battle for however long the treatment continues.”

The Prior Authorization Reform Act would create a system that requires transparency, appropriate peer-to-peer review, medically appropriate timelines for both urgent and non-urgent care, and continuity of care. If authorization is approved for a given treatment, related supplies or services would also be considered to be authorized, and the approval would remain in effect for the extent of the care.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that tax increment financing (TIF) dollars are used responsibly, State Senator Ann Gillespie passed legislation in the Senate Revenue Committee that would expand the required reporting by municipalities to the Illinois Comptroller.

“Most residents don’t know how TIF districts affect their property taxes or benefit the community,” Gillespie said. “This plan will shed light on the process and provide transparency in our local governments.”

TIF districts are a tool used by municipal governments to stimulate economic development in targeted areas. The legislation would gather more consistent, measurable data on the success of the TIF project by expanding what local governments must report annually to the Comptroller’s Office. Expanded reporting requirements would include projected and actual job creation, and projected and actual increment. The legislation also requires the report to be verified by a neutral third party.

"This is a sensible plan to ensure taxpayers are presented with a more complete picture of whether promises made are promises kept when it comes to TIF districts in their communities," Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said.

House Bill 571 passed the Senate Revenue Committee and awaits consideration before the full Senate.

CHAMPAIGN – May is Foster Parent Appreciation Month, and State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is extending his appreciation to those who help enhance the lives of children and youth in foster care, as well as encouraging community members to consider becoming a foster parent.

“May is a great time to recognize the role foster parents play by providing safe havens and stable homes for our youth in need,” Bennett said. “Please take a moment to thank the foster families in our community for a job well done and consider making the commitment yourself to foster a child in need.”

Today, there are just over 21,000 youth living in foster care in the state. Of that number, 8,200 are living with foster families, 11,300 with relatives, and 1,200 in group homes and institutions. The need for foster parents is growing, and there are many types of foster care, including traditional care, emergency/shelter care, medical/therapeutic care, relative/kinship care, respite/short-term care, and tribal care. 

Foster parents must be at least 21 years old and can be married, in a civil union, single, divorced or separated. They can work full- or part-time, go to school, or be a stay-at-home parent, and can rent or own their own home.

“By opening their hearts and homes, foster parents give vulnerable children the stability and connections to community, friends and family members they need to thrive,” said Illinois DCFS Acting Director Marc D. Smith. “They are an invaluable part of the child welfare team; and we could not do the work of keeping children safe without them.”

Currently, foster homes are needed for sibling groups, adolescents, African American and Latino youth, children with special medical needs, teenage mothers and their babies, and LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex) youth. A complete list of youth in need of foster families can be found at the Heart Gallery of Illinois website.

To learn more about becoming a licensed foster parent, fill out the online interest form on the DCFS website. Click on Loving Homes, then click on Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would allow students to use 529 college savings accounts for additional purposes without additional taxation passed committee on Wednesday.

“This measure expands the uses of college savings plans to better reflect the realities of higher education,” Ellman said. “Some students need to use their savings plans to pay for loans or job-training programs.”

The measure would allow up to $10,000 to be used for additional education-related purposes without being taxed, making Illinois law consistent with federal law.

The additional education-related purposes are:

1. Interest payments on the student’s qualified education loan, and

2. To cover expenses for fees, text books, supplies and other materials needed to participate in certain vocational apprenticeship programs registered and certified with the secretary of labor.

“Every resident of Illinois deserves the chance to succeed and decide their future,” Ellman said. “Broadening the uses of this savings program gives our young people more options.”

House Bill 741 passed the Senate Financial Institutions Committee without opposition and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.