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Leader Lightford champions measure to expand full-day kindergarten options

Details
Category: Senator Kimberly A. Lightford News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 06:30 PM
  • Lightford
  • Education
  • Early Childhood Education
  • HB2396

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford successfully passed a measure to require the option for full-day kindergarten across the state.

“It is important that we create equal access to education on every level,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This measure will ensure all families in Illinois are provided with the same opportunities for their children early on.”

Parents who live in districts without the option of full-day kindergarten are often faced with additional barriers to preparing their children for early elementary school. These barriers include, but are not limited to, mid-day transportation, loss of income due to being home with the child or finding additional childcare, and ensuring developmentally appropriate activities are being provided throughout the day.

 

Read more: Leader Lightford champions measure to expand full-day kindergarten options

Senator Morrison lowers price of fishing licenses

Details
Category: Senator Julie A. Morrison News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 06:28 PM
  • Fishing License
  • Lower Annual Fee
  • HB2317

morrison fish 051823SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison is helping more people enjoy the great outdoors by lowering the price of fishing licenses.

“Growing up near a river in Illinois, one of my favorite memories is fishing with my family in the summer,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Over the past few years, we have grown a greater appreciation for the outdoors, and I want to make sure people have easy access to grow that appreciation and love even more.”

 

Read more: Senator Morrison lowers price of fishing licenses

Preston passes new measure to provide state IDs to inmates before release

Details
Category: Senator Willie Preston News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:56 PM
  • Imprisonment
  • IDOC
  • Preston
  • IDJJ
  • HB 3345
  • Illinois ID

051723CM03491

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston passed a measure through the Senate on Wednesday that will require the Secretary of State to provide individuals committed to the Illinois Department of Corrections or the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice with an Illinois ID upon receipt of identifying documents which the IDOC or IDJJ must assist the individual in obtaining.

“When people are incarcerated, especially for long periods of time, the government ID they had when entering prison — like a driver’s license — may no longer be valid when they are released,” said Preston (D- Chicago). “Yet this small piece of plastic is needed for many of life’s basic necessities like housing, employment, medical care, banking, and, for those who need it, government benefit programs like food stamps.”

House Bill 3345 requires the Secretary of State to provide individuals committed to IDOC or IDJJ with an Illinois ID upon receipt of the individual’s birth certificate, social security card, photograph, proof of residency upon discharge, and application which must be submitted 60 days prior to the individual's scheduled release.

Read more: Preston passes new measure to provide state IDs to inmates before release

Senate approves Belt measure to ensure fair compensation for teachers

Details
Category: Senator Christopher Belt News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:47 PM
  • Fair Compensation
  • Teachers
  • COGFA
  • HB300

belt 051723SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt passed a measure out of the Senate Wednesday that aims to ensure fair compensation for teachers and protect school boards from undue financial burdens.

“This measure empowers our state’s educators and recognizes the invaluable contributions they make every day,” said Belt (Swansea). “Not only would this enhance the financial well-being of teachers, but it also would contribute to maintaining the high standard of education in our schools across the state.”

Read more: Senate approves Belt measure to ensure fair compensation for teachers

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

Villanueva pushes for restroom equality

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:28 PM
  • Gender Neutral
  • Villanueva
  • All-Gender Restroom
  • HB 1286

Villanueva action may1

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva championed legislation to allow businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms.

“Businesses deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about how they want to be more inclusive to the community,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Inclusion and equality is at the heart of this measure.”

In January 2020, it became law that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 simply expands on that law. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed. Moreover, multiple-occupancy all-gender restrooms will have to meet additional privacy safeguards. Any restroom designated for all genders must have specified signage and stall dividers.

Read more: Villanueva pushes for restroom equality

Senator Fine bill to establish take-back program for ‘forever chemicals’

Details
Category: Senator Laura Fine News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:17 PM
  • Fine
  • Environment
  • PFAS
  • Forever Chemicals
  • HB 3508

fine 3508

 

SPRINGFIELD – PFAs, also known as “forever chemicals”,  are of great concern to the environment and people’s health. To prevent these chemicals from further contaminating our environment, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure that will establish a “take-back” program for existing firefighting foams that contain these hazardous substances. 

In 2021, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 561, which ends the manufacture and sales of firefighting foam with PFAs by January 2025. To further protect from these chemicals, Fine sponsored House Bill 3508, which will establish a take-back program for firefighting foam that contains PFAS. This program will run for five years or until the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal finds that no more firefighting foam contains PFAS. This is an important step to protect our environment and our ecosystem.

“Research has shown that the PFAs in firefighting foam can seep into our water supply and cannot be removed in the water treatment process,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is vital to stop the ongoing use of products with PFAS to preserve our environment and prevent adverse health effects.”

Read more: Senator Fine bill to establish take-back program for ‘forever chemicals’

Senator Fine’s measure improving 988 call center operations passes Senate

Details
Category: Senator Laura Fine News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:14 PM
  • Mental Health
  • Fine
  • 988 Hotline
  • HB 1364
  • Mental Health Crisis

fine 1364

 

SPRINGFIELD – In order to make the 988 hotline as effective as possible for hotline operators and people experiencing a mental health crisis, State Senator Laura Fine is launching an initiative to review data from the first year of operations and recommend updates for the future.

“As the 988 hotline is the most accessible form of mental health care in Illinois, it is imperative that we are operating it in the most effective way to provide the best care for Illinoisans struggling with their mental health,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This study will provide more insight into where we can grow and adjust our operations to better serve people experiencing a mental health crisis.”

Last year, Illinois launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health hotline, offering 24/7 access to trained counselors who can help people experiencing a mental health-related crisis. The hotline has been beneficial to many Illinoisans, and this study will ensure we continue to improve the 988 system.

Read more: Senator Fine’s measure improving 988 call center operations passes Senate

More Articles …

  1. Loughran Cappel initiative to honor submarine veterans passes Senate
  2. Senator Fine bill to create database on safety of children’s products
  3. Fine commemorates Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day
  4. Koehler measure to prohibit price gouging of generic drugs
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