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Senate approves Johnson plan protecting individuals who have been treated for addiction

Details
Category: Senator Adriane Johnson News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 05:56 PM
  • Opioid Addiction
  • Johnson
  • Substance Abuse
  • Life Insurance
  • HB33

Sen. Adriane Johnson

SPRINGFIELD – To allow individuals who have overcome addiction to put their pasts behind them and move forward, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) has sponsored a measure to prohibit life insurance companies from denying coverage or increasing rates solely because an individual has undergone treatment for substance abuse.

“It takes strength, perseverance and resolve to seek treatment for an addiction,” Johnson said. “Life insurance companies shouldn’t punish those who have chosen to change their lives for the better.”

Johnson’s plan would prohibit a life insurance company from denying or limiting coverage or charging higher rates based solely on whether an individual has participated in a substance use treatment or recovery support program more than five years prior to application.

Read more: Senate approves Johnson plan protecting individuals who have been treated for addiction

Birth centers could be more accessible to mothers-to-be under Senator Fine legislation

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Category: Senator Laura Fine News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 04:54 PM
  • Health Care
  • Fine
  • Pregnancy
  • HB3995

 Senator Fine

SPRINGFIELD – Birth centers across Illinois would have a path to permanent licensure, increasing access to quality, affordable health care for pregnant women, under a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) that passed the Senate Saturday.

“Pregnant women should not be limited in their choice of birthing style due to an inadequate number of freestanding birth center licenses in Illinois,” Senator Fine said. “Improving accessibility to birth centers will help bridge health care disparities across the state.”

Read more: Birth centers could be more accessible to mothers-to-be under Senator Fine legislation

Senator Holmes works for greater safety for pregnant women after family loses premature infant

Details
Category: Senator Linda Holmes News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 04:47 PM
  • Holmes
  • Pregnancy
  • Disability Parking
  • HB3027

holmes pkng 052921SPRINGFIELD – Senator Linda Holmes’ (D-Aurora) legislation to allow pregnant women to use a disabilities vehicle placard or sticker in their third trimester passed the Senate today.

Holmes was motivated to sponsor the legislation, originally introduced by Representative Keith Wheeler (R-North Aurora) in the House, after hearing the story of Wheeler’s district office director Ben Marcum and his family, who inspired the measure.

“Rep. Wheeler has a personal connection with a family who suffered a devastating loss that may have been avoided if this had been in place two years ago,” Holmes said. “This can prevent future heartbreak if an expectant mother has a long, exhausting walk to work or school without the aid of temporary disability parking access.”

When Marcum’s wife was pregnant with their first child in 2019, she faced a long, difficult walk from her car to her office, which only became more grueling as her pregnancy progressed. When Marcum tried to secure disability parking privileges for his wife, he was shocked to learn that pregnancy was not considered a qualifying condition. Unfortunately, his wife went into early labor at 21 weeks, and their son Henry only survived an hour.

The legislation would allow an expectant mother in her third trimester to use a disabilities placard for up to 90 days To qualify, an individual would have to provide documentation proving that they have entered the third trimester.

“In memory of Henry Marcum and in honor of pregnant women who could use some additional support during their third trimester, I’m am happy to sponsor this commonsense measure,” Holmes said. “I’m grateful to Rep. Wheeler for bringing it to my attention.”

House Bill 3027 has passed both chambers of the Illinois legislature.

Lightford passes legislation to remove “Negro” from Illinois law

Details
Category: Senator Kimberly A. Lightford News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 04:23 PM
  • Lightford
  • Racial Injustice
  • Systemic Racism
  • HB3217

Sen. Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford

SPRINGFIELD – To continue her efforts to dismantle the systemic racism in Illinois, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) passed legislation that would remove derogatory words from Illinois law that describe Black people as “Negro” or “Haitian.” 

“In this era of racial reckoning and righting the wrongs of our predecessors, it’s imperative that we cleanse Illinois law of old, offensive racial terms,” Lightford said. “We are working to undo years of oppression and currently fighting racial injustice.” 

House Bill 3217 reconstructs several state laws by deleting the use of the words “Haitian” or “Negro,” replacing them with “Black” or “African American.” 

HB 3217 passed the Senate floor and now heads to the governor for final approval.

Johnson plan would allow older Illinoisans to keep resources close at hand

Details
Category: Senator Adriane Johnson News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 03:55 PM
  • Seniors
  • Johnson
  • Department of Aging
  • HB32

 Senator Johnson

 

SPRINGFIELD – Older Illinoisans would have a better understanding of the state programs and resources available to them, even without easy access to the internet, under legislation proposed by State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove).

“I’ve spoken to countless older neighbors who don’t have a computer or smartphone, or who simply aren’t comfortable navigating the internet,” Johnson said. “When events and services went digital during the pandemic, these Illinoisans were overlooked. Moving forward, we have to ensure no one is left out of the loop.”

The measure would require recipients of home-delivered meals to receive an annual fact sheet developed by the Department on Aging with a current list of toll-free numbers to access information on various health conditions, elder abuse and programs for seniors. Recipients would also receive updates on any new programs for older adults.

Read more: Johnson plan would allow older Illinoisans to keep resources close at hand

Villanueva: Schools should offer instruction on citizenship / Villanueva: Las escuelas deben ofrecer instrucción sobre la ciudadanía

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 03:52 PM
  • Students
  • Public Schools
  • Villanueva
  • HB3281
  • Citizenship

Senator Villanueva

 

SPRINGFIELD – So that students better understand the naturalization process, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would allow schools to offer courses on naturalization and citizenship.

“More than two-thirds of students who take the U.S. Citizenship test in their history courses end up failing,” Villanueva said. “Schools should offer instruction on citizenship so that students from all backgrounds know the effort it takes to go through the naturalization process.”

Read more: Villanueva: Schools should offer instruction on citizenship / Villanueva: Las escuelas deben...

Peters’ measure limiting law enforcement intimidation clears Senate

Details
Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 03:15 PM
  • Law Enforcement
  • Peters
  • Background Checks
  • HB1765

Sen. Robert Peters

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate approved a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) aimed at limiting the ability of law enforcement agencies to use intimidation tactics.

“Public safety belongs to the people, and as such, anyone who wants to should be able to participate at public hearings without fear of repercussions,” Peters said.

Under House Bill 1765, law enforcement agencies would be prohibited from conducting a background check on a person if the only reason for doing so is that they’re participating in an open, public meeting. The proposal allows some exceptions, such as when public safety is potentially at risk or in cases where the individual in question is under consideration for an appointment to a government body.

Read more: Peters’ measure limiting law enforcement intimidation clears Senate

Anti-opioid death “Alex’s Law” passes General Assembly

Details
Category: Senator Laura Ellman News
Saturday, May 29, 2021 03:12 PM
  • Ellman
  • Opioid Overdose
  • Alex's Law
  • HB3445

Sen. Laura Ellman

SPRINGFIELD – Alex’s Law, a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that aims to decrease deaths from opioid overdoses passed the Senate on Saturday. The legislation would ensure that people who seek emergency assistance for an individual experiencing symptoms of an opioid overdose will not be arrested for any crime related to the use of drugs at the scene.

“Saving lives has to be our first priority,” Ellman said. “Fear of criminal charges should never prevent someone from seeking help.”

The idea for the measure came from the death of a 25-year-old Naperville resident, Alex Green, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018. Alex had been with others at the time of his overdose, but none of the others on the scene called 911 for assistance. This meant the officers who arrived on scene were not able to identify what had happened until it was too late, despite having Narcan (a medicine used to treat opioid overdoses) with them at the time.

Read more: Anti-opioid death “Alex’s Law” passes General Assembly

More Articles …

  1. Glowiak Hilton plan ensures quality mental health resources for students
  2. Johnson: In the wake of the pandemic, public health policy must meet communities’ unique needs
  3. Jones passes legislation that would help stem the opioid epidemic
  4. Hunter bill to add traffic stop protocol to driver’s education passes Senate
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