SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to keep communities safe from gun violence, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would strengthen the Firearms Restraining Order Act on Monday.

“Families must have a course of action to protect themselves when a household member shouldn’t have a gun,” Gillespie said. “This measure gives our partners in law enforcement the tools they need to intervene before a tragedy can occur.”

Under current law family members, household members and law enforcement may obtain a civil order to temporarily remove firearms from people who pose a risk of harm to themselves or others. If issued, the firearms restraining order would transfer any firearms, FOID card or concealed carry license to law enforcement for no more than six months. This legislation adds ammunition and firearm parts to the list of removeable items.

State Rep. Denyse Stoneback (D-Skokie) introduced the measure in the Illinois House.

SPRINGFIELD – Survivors of sexual assault could track their evidence kits through the Illinois State Police sexual assault evidence tracking system and would be afforded more concrete rights as survivors of crime under a measure sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), which passed the Senate Sunday.

The legislation supports survivors of sexual assault by requiring hospitals to use the Illinois State Police online evidence tracking system and establishing a set of crime victims’ rights.

“There’s no reason hospitals should not take part in the Illinois State Police sexual assault evidence tracking system,” Villa said. “Requiring hospital participation in the tracking system will give survivors the tools they need to take control of the evidence in their cases.”  

In 2020, the Illinois State Police launched an online tracking system for sexual assault evidence collection kits that allows survivors of sexual assault to track evidence in their cases, but not all hospitals in Illinois opted to participate. Villa’s measure would require hospitals to enter collected sexual assault evidence into the tracking system. This would ensure survivors of sexual assault receive information on how to use the tracking system from health care facilities or law enforcement.

SPRINGFIELD – After the Illinois Senate approved the fiscal year 2022 state budget early Tuesday morning, State Senator Steve Landek (D-Bridgeview) issued the following statement:

“As the mayor of Bridgeview, I have experience with the needs and struggles of local governments, and in my role as chair of the Senate State Government Committee, I strive to ensure that all legislation that clears the General Assembly is fiscally sound and doesn’t put an undue burden on cities and villages.

“I’m pleased that the budget the Senate is sending to the governor ensures that the Local Government Distributive Fund stays fully funded, so that municipalities across our great state – especially low-income areas, communities of color, and other places that have been disproportionally impacted by the COVID-10 pandemic – can continue to pay for the programs and services their citizens depend on.”

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to support mental health education in schools, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is sponsoring legislation that helps school leaders identify, understand, and respond to mental health problems school children may face.

“Educating students about their mental health early in life will benefit them in the long term,” Stadelman said. “Many students will navigate difficult situations in a healthier way if schools are able to teach them and provide instruction on how to cope and respond with their mental health.”

CHICAGO - State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago), Deputy Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate, issued the following statement in response to the passage of the Fiscal Year 2022 budget:

“The budget that passed the legislature, most importantly, is balanced and responsible. I’m proud we continued to fund health care and education, as both are important to the lives of so many people in this state.

“Additional Medicaid funding for community health workers, psychiatric rate increases for safety net hospitals, doulas and home-visiting programs will help make these services available to families in Black and Brown communities. This budget also preserves access to OB/GYN and other specialty services in safety net hospitals, helping reduce disproportionate rates of maternal mortality in the Black community.

“We also increased funding for schools with the greatest need. Students at these schools not only deserve access to the same resources as other students, they often need extra help. Continuing to increase our investments in education is the surest way to guide Illinois to a brighter future.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) released the following statement after the passage of a budget for the 2022 Fiscal Year:

“As we begin to take steps to recover from this past year, I’ve made it a priority to ensure that those most impacted by the pandemic get the resources they need to get back on their feet.

“Our schools took a big hit with the abrupt switch to online learning, so the $350 million in additional funding for education will provide a much-needed boost for our students and teachers. I am also glad to see money for local governments fully funded to give our communities flexibility when it comes to addressing local needs.

“Additionally, this year’s budget sets Illinois on the path of fiscal responsibility. As we pay off our bills this year and in the future, we can put more focus and funds on programs that will continue to benefit residents of our state.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the Senate voted to send the Fiscal Year 2022 budget to the governor:

“Over the past year, I’ve fought for many institutional changes that help combat systemic racism that holds Black and Brown folks down. This budget ensures that there is equity in how Illinois spends its money and that everyone in our state, regardless of ZIP code, is given the opportunity to live their best life.

“This is our first state budget following a global pandemic that nearly crippled the world’s economy, and the services and programs the budget funds will help shore up stability for the people in Illinois who are struggling the most.

SPRINGFIELD – After months of negotiations with lawmakers, state agencies and other stakeholders, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is calling the state’s final budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year a win for students and working families:

“As we work toward a full recovery from the pandemic, it’s crucial that Illinois spends—and saves—smart. Every dollar represents a down payment on our state’s future.

“By closing loopholes and cutting back on unnecessary expenses, we were able to keep our promise to public schools and increase evidence-based funding by $350 million, making critical investments in K-12 education in a way that reduces the tax burden on local property owners.

“I’m proud to have helped craft a balanced budget that makes our full required pension payment, supports the middle class and spurs economic growth in all our communities. We’ve weathered the challenges of the past year—now it’s time to build back better.”