SPRINGFIELD – In the final weeks of spring legislation session, the Illinois Senate Democrats sported sneakers in place of dress shoes to raise awareness of cancer prevention, screening and early detection.

“Today we are wearing suits and sneakers for cancer awareness. This day is to help raise visibility and funds to support the American Cancer Society’s work of supporting those with cancer,” said State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago). “As chair of the Public Health Committee, I will continue to stand up and fight to improve our state’s health care for those who need it.”

According to the American Cancer Society, 42% of newly diagnosed cancers in the United States, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, are potentially avoidable. Screening can help prevent and detect some cancers early, when treatment is less invasive and more successful.

SPRINGFIELD – Time served in county jail could soon be included as part of the minimum 60-day sentence required to earn discretionary sentence credit, thanks to State Senator Robert Peters.

“The mission of the Department of Corrections includes promoting progressive change for incarcerated individuals,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Granting sentence credit to those who have participated in rehabilitation programs is not only in line with the mission of the Department of Corrections, but it reimagines the way we envision jails. Instead of correctional facilities, they should be treated as true rehabilitation centers.”

House Bill 3026 would change the Unified Code of Corrections to include time served in county jail as part of the minimum 60-day sentence required before the Director of Corrections may award discretionary earned sentence credit.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to improve access to residential treatment for youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.

“We must uphold our promise to protect and support youth in care,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This measure will ensure more efficient and timely treatment for our youth in care.”

Johnson’s measure would require the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to develop a strategic plan to improve timely access to in-state residential treatment, evidence-based alternatives to treatment, and specialized foster care for youth in care with significant behavioral health needs.

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois has only 13.8 behavioral health care professionals for every 10,000 residents. The erosion of the mental health care network in Illinois has a significant impact on access to care, increasing hospitalization for extended periods in emergency wards, and increasing expense for families of youth with complex intellectual or developmental disabilities. Most severely, it can lead to the willing relinquishment of a child into DCFS custody in order to fund psychiatric care.

“We have a duty to support youth in DCFS care,” said Johnson. “Unfortunately, these children are far too often forgotten – we must give them the immediate care they need.”

House Bill 439 passed the Senate Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus outlined their plans to make health care more accessible through proposals to cap the cost of EpiPens, make hearing aids free-of-charge, and help patients find the most cost effective avenues to care.

Epinephrine Auto-Injectors are the only medication that works on the entire body to combat anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal allergic reaction. However, since 2017, a global shortage of these devices has made this medication increasingly difficult to obtain. That’s why State Senator Mike Halpin is leading House Bill 3639 to limit the EpiPens to a maximum of $60 per twin-pack.

“This is a major victory for families struggling to afford this life-saving medication,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “With corporate profits at an all-time high, it’s time to say enough is enough. People’s lives shouldn’t depend on whether or not they can come up with $500.”

SPRINGFIELD – Taking another step toward making Illinois smoke free, State Senator Julie Morrison passed a measure to ban vaping inside public buildings.

“There’s absolutely no reason a person – from a pregnant woman to a young child – should be exposed to harmful e-cigarette products while in public,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “It’s about time we set a clear standard that protects non-smokers and further de-normalizes tobacco use.”

In recent years, the use of e-cigarettes – like vapes – has increased tremendously, leading Morrison to pass House Bill 1540 to ban the use of e-cigarettes indoors. Her measure – which now heads to the governor – expands upon the Smoke Free Illinois Act, putting Illinois in line with 17 other states that have banned the use of e-cigarettes indoors.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase the baseline financial penalty for civil rights violations, State Senator Robert Peters championed a measure to create the Civil Rights Remedies Restoration Act.

“Business enterprises receiving federal funds should not be immune to the consequences of discriminating against people,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Protecting businesses from punishment when they knowingly commit discriminatory acts goes against Illinois values.”

House Bill 2248 was created in response to the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C. that ruled emotional distress damages are not recoverable in a private action under the anti-discrimination provisions of either the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

SPRINGFIELD— To honor fallen firefighters, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus attended the 30^th Annual Illinois Fallen Firefighter Memorial ceremony in Springfield.

“Firefighters put themselves in harm’s way and into traumatic situations daily to protect us, whether it’s going to a traffic accident or fighting a fire,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Today we honor their courage and sacrifice, and support the families of the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice and fallen in the line of duty.”

The Illinois Firefighter Memorial is dedicated to the firefighters of Illinois who have given their lives in the line of duty and to those firefighters who heroically serve with courage, pride and honor. The Line of Duty Death Award is given to the family of a firefighter who died in, or as a result of, the performance of their duty.

SPRINGFIELD — To gain an understanding of the scope and frequency of SNAP benefit fraud in Illinois, State Senator Mattie Hunter passed a bill through committee granting the Illinois Department of Human Services the authority to collect data on these stolen benefits within the state.

"The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of SNAP benefits in ensuring that families have access to the food they need,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “However, fraud threatens the integrity of this critical program.”

House Bill 2214 allows IDHS to track how often benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are stolen from their rightful recipients. SNAP participants receive monthly benefits for groceries deposited onto EBT cards, and in recent months, card skimming has increased significantly in many states. IDHS began collecting data on card skimming and other fraud methods in December 2022, making it unclear how much theft had previously occurred. Under this measure, IDHS will be required to report its findings to the General Assembly annually beginning on Jan. 1, 2024.