SPRINGFIELD – To make the transition to higher education smoother for students with disabilities, State Senator Laura Fine is sponsoring The Removing Barriers to Higher Education Act. This legislation will make it more convenient for students to provide documentation to the school to demonstrate that they have a disability.

“Under current law, students may have to undergo costly assessments to prove they qualify for disability services in college,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This initiative will allow students to save time and money by allowing them to submit documentation of accommodations that they received during their K-12 years.”

Senate Bill 99 would establish a process for students with disabilities to receive reasonable accommodations from public universities and colleges.  This measure defines the types of documents that state universities must accept as proof of a disability, including previous diagnostic testing or other recent documents. From this information, colleges and universities could provide reasonable accommodations that they deem to be appropriate for the student requesting the services. This will ensure that students will receive the support they need to thrive in higher education.

SPRINGFIELD – In collaboration with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, State Senator Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas introduced new legislation to clarify and expand offerings and funding for community schools in Illinois, ensuring that innovative community education models can reach more geographies.

“As a former community schools director, I can testify to the numerous benefits community schools yield for students, their families, and communities at large. Thriving communities have strong neighborhood schools that extend their walls into the neighborhood,” said Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago). “Community schools complement formal schooling by providing out of school time programming including arts enrichment, homework help, leadership development, sports, and adult education. The positive impact can be transformational for young people and an entire community. This initiative will support greater access to students and families across Illinois.”

Community schools are schools that cultivate and sustain strategic partnerships between the school and other community resources to promote student achievement, positive learning conditions, and the well-being of students through wraparound services. Senate Bill 2391 adds language about a designated program coordinator and articulates types of wrap-around services that could be offered in a community school.

SPRINGFIELD – Advocating for better, safer, and less abusive practices with animals, State Senator Linda Holmes passed two new pieces of legislation that will ensure those who work with animals are using best practices.

“Our animal companions are not to be subject to greed and inhumane care,” said Holmes (D-Aurora) “These actions are a positive step toward ensuring those providing and connecting us with pets are doing so in the most humane way.”

Senate Bill 1230 changes the definitions of “dog dealer” and “animal shelter” to not include a person who sells dogs at retail to the public and defines that as selling animals at brick-and-mortar establishments that were obtained from breeders or brokers for compensation and not bred on its premises. This closes the loophole pet shop operators use to avoid obtaining dogs from animal shelters and instead from breeders.

SPRINGFIELD – To support returning citizens with outstanding fees, State Senator Mike Simmons presented legislation to the Senate Special Committee on Criminal Law and Public Safety on Thursday.

“I am dedicated to serving all 7th District constituents, which includes returning citizens,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Senate Bill 2175 provides a returning citizen with the opportunity and time to establish stability in their life and take care of basic human needs, such as finding gainful employment, housing and healthcare before owing fees from prior criminal proceedings.”

Senate Bill 2175 prohibits courts from ordering the payment of outstanding fees, fines, taxes or any costs arising from criminal proceedings for the first year after a person returns from incarceration. Currently, Illinois does not have a law striking fees for a certain amount of days post-confinement. However, under the Unified Code of Corrections, the court may revoke a fine if good cause is shown.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Rachel Ventura spearheaded new legislation that would lift the limits on hydropower plants.

Currently Illinois is ranked 46th in the nation when it comes to hydropower. With Senate Bill 1474 passing the Energy and Public Utility Committee Thursday, Ventura hopes to advance Illinois’ renewable energy sector.

“By having hydropower in our communities, we can increase jobs, lower the price of energy and protect our planet,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Supporting hydropower today will allow Illinoisans to reap economic and environmental rewards for decades to come.”

Under Ventura’s measure, the Illinois Power Agency would be required to procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams. This would help increase the use of this renewable energy source, while also promoting environmental conservation by using dams that already exist.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is leading a measure that would ensure Illinois schools would allow articles of clothing that have cultural or religious significance for its students.

“We need to make sure future graduates and students have the opportunity to represent themselves the way they see fit,” said Glowiak Hilton. “Discrimination, of any kind, has no place in our schools.”

Students would be able to wear articles of clothing of cultural or religious significance in the classroom and at graduation ceremonies.

SPRINGFIELD – If a store closes due to bankruptcy or other shortcomings, customers who have credit cards with the company would not be negatively impacted under legislation being led by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

“A person’s credit score follows them everywhere,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “One credit card mishap can take years to recover from. Consumers must be protected.”

Under Senate Bill 2121, if a customer’s credit account is closed due to the business closing or inactivity on the account, the business must notify credit reporting agencies of the reasoning so it is not assumed the customer failed to pay the balance of the account.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce co-sponsored a measure that would increase renewable energy procurement and promote environmental conservations by adding a framework to the Illinois Power Agency Act.

“Hydropower is a clean and reliable energy source that has the potential to help Illinois meet its renewable energy goals,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “However, we need to make sure that we are not encouraging the construction of new dams, because this can lead to negative impacts on our environment and natural resources.”

Under this legislation, the Illinois Power Agency would be required to procure a percentage of its renewable energy credits from hydropower dams. This would help increase the use of this renewable energy source, while also promoting environmental conservation by using dams that already exist.