SPRINGFIELD – To protect women and children in Illinois, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Senate Public Safety Committee that would establish the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission.

“Incidents of domestic violence have increased dramatically since the start of the pandemic,” Villanueva said. “Families are counting on us to take proactive measures to prevent violence.”

The commission would establish regional review teams by judicial court, conduct domestic violence fatality reviews and advise the Governor and General Assembly on domestic violence prevention policy. The commission would consist of four members of the General Assembly, one appointee by the Governor and various public members representing survivors, support organizations and law enforcement.

SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) joined a broad coalition of housing, civil justice and nonprofit organizations across the state to pledge her support of measures to increase access to housing by fighting income discrimination. 

“This legislation is critical now more than ever as we face a mounting housing affordability crisis and new destabilizing forces imposed by the pandemic,” Villa said. “Not only will this bill support those utilizing non-wage income and housing subsidies, but also workers like servers and bartenders who’ve experienced source of income discrimination because their profession may be viewed as unstable by housing providers. By ensuring landlords view all income with equal weight, we are creating important safeguards for family stability.”

Villa is the chief co-sponsor of Senate Bill 2492, which would help remove barriers to housing access by requiring the Department of Human Services to lift undue administrative burdens in the application process for tenants applying for housing assistance. This measure would also strengthen Illinois’ fair housing laws by creating new protections to ensure families are not refused housing solely because of the source of their income. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our communities in more ways than we can count, and it also shined a bright light on the lack of fair and affordable housing in Illinois,” Villa said. “Everybody deserves equal access to housing opportunities, and it’s imperative that any action we take makes it easier for individuals to obtain much-needed assistance.”

The full press conference can be viewed here.

SPRINGFIELD – On Wednesday morning, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) held a press conference alongside State Representative Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) and Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly to discuss his legislation to modernize Firearms Owner Identification cards in Illinois.

“Our goal is to ensure that we are keeping firearms out of the hands of people who are a danger to themselves and others,” Koehler said. “Our goal is not, however, to hassle safe, responsible gun owners. Through the modernization and streamlining of the FOID card process, I believe we can successfully accomplish both of our objectives.”

Senate Bill 1165, an initiative of the ISP, would create a prohibited persons portal to help law enforcement identify people whose FOID cards have been revoked, create a review board to respond to revocations and denials, and make other significant changes to make the process more efficient.

CHICAGO – To help public colleges and universities better understand the needs of student parents, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Senate Higher Education Committee directing colleges to collect certain information from students that will help shape more accommodating policies going forward.

“Young parents and parents returning to school face unique challenges, specifically with access to child care and financial assistance,” Villanueva said. “Public institutions of higher education have a moral obligation to the children of their students to see that they are cared for.”

According to Young Invincibles, a non-profit organization serving young adults, Illinois has 97,000 students who are juggling a course load alongside their parenting responsibilities. The Student Parent Data Collection Act will require public colleges and universities to further assist them with any on-campus child care opportunities and other relevant resources, and to collect information from them to help inform better school policies in the future.

The legislation is part of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus’ efforts to make our state’s institutions of higher learning more accessible to all Illinoisans. Other measures include Senator Omar Aquino’s (D-Chicago) Senate Bill 669 which would protect student loan borrowers and limit fees.

The legislation, Senate Bill 267, awaits consideration before the full Senate.

Villanueva da la batalla por los estudiantes que son padres de familia

CHICAGO – Con el fin de ayudar a que las universidades tengan un mejor entendimiento de las necesidades de los estudiantes que son padres, la Senadora estatal Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) aprobó una legislación en el Comité de Educación Superior del Senado que instruye a los colegios a recopilar información de los estudiantes para diseñar políticas públicas que les sirvan en el futuro.

“Los padres y madres jóvenes que regresan a la escuela enfrentan retos únicos, en particular el acceso a cuidados infantiles y asistencia financiera,” dijo Villanueva. “Las instituciones públicas de educación superior tienen una obligación moral con los niños de sus estudiantes para que éstos sean atendidos.”

De acuerdo con Young Invincibles, una organización sin fines de lucro, Illinois tiene a 97,000 estudiantes que batallan con la carga de trabajo de sus estudios en adición a sus responsabilidades como padres. La ley de Recolección de Datos de los Estudiantes que son Padres requerirá que las universidades públicas les asistan con oportunidades de cuidados infantiles dentro del campus escolar y otros recursos relevantes, así como recolectarán información para diseñar mejores políticas escolares en el futuro.

La legislación es parte de los esfuerzos del Caucus Legislativo de Illinois para lograr que nuestras instituciones de educación superior sean más accesibles a la gente de Illinois. Otra iniciativa es la del senador Omar Aquino (D-Chicago), SB 669, que protege a los estudiantes con prestamos estudiantiles y limita los cargos por éstos.  

La legislación de Villanueva, SB 267, espera ser considerada por el pleno del Senado.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to crack down on university administrators who continue to exploit loopholes in the law by receiving massive payouts, or “golden parachutes,” after leaving their positions, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) has advanced an initiative to strengthen current rules against the practice.

Lawmakers passed the Government Severance Pay Act in 2018 to limit the amount paid in university severance packages. Murphy’s measure strengthens the act by expanding the definition of severance pay and defining limits on compensation.

“The intent of the Government Severance Pay Act was to protect taxpayers and students from being forced to bankroll administrators’ six-figure paychecks for years after they’ve resigned from service to the school,” Murphy said. “This initiative will tighten up the language of that legislation to ensure it serves its purpose.”

Universities typically offer severance packages to end an employment agreement without litigation or arbitration. Upon resignation, many public university administrators are awarded severance packages that pay amounts equal or nearly equal to their entire salary, even in cases of declining university performance under their leadership.

Senate Bill 2240 expands the definition of severance pay to include employees who are transitioning to a new position within a unit of government. It also limits the compensation that employees may receive to the annual compensation of the highest paid employee in their department.

“Our state’s education system must reinvest tuition and taxpayer dollars responsibly, with a focus on serving students and communities,” Murphy said. “Limiting administrative costs is an important step toward making and keeping education affordable for Illinois students.”

Senate Bill 2240 advanced out of the Higher Education Committee and now goes before the full Senate.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Two measures introduced by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) that would assist school social workers with earning and paying off their degrees passed in the Senate Higher Education Committee on Tuesday.

“Illinois schools face a shortage of professional, culturally competent social workers,” Gillespie said. “We must make it easier for our future social workers to finish and pay off their education so that schools can hire the positions they desperately need to fill.”

Senate Bill 661 would require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to award up to 250 Post-Master of Social Work Professional Educator License scholarships each year. Scholarship recipients would be required to work at a public or not-for-profit P-12 school in Illinois for at least two of the five years immediately following their graduation.

Senate Bill 662 would require ISAC to consider up to $6,500 in loan repayment assistance to borrowers with loans related to a degree in social work. Recipients must be employed at a public elementary or secondary school in Illinois for at least one year.

Both of Gillespie’s proposals would grant priority to underrepresented groups in the school social work field.

“As students return to in-person learning after over a year of remote classes, the need for social workers is more critical than ever,” Gillespie said. “Student mental health must be our primary focus in the upcoming school year.”

Both pieces of legislation now await consideration before the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation to help turn vacant lots from problem areas into urban farms and community gardens passed the Senate Local Government Committee Tuesday.

“Many of our older communities find themselves with vacant, neglected lots in city centers and older neighborhoods,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “In many cases, the local government becomes responsible for these lots, and this plan would give them a clear path to turning them from sometimes-dangerous eyesores into farms or gardens that increase property values and engage the community.”

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) moved a measure through the Senate Higher Education Committee Tuesday to help students make more informed choices about the loans they take out to pay for college and establish new accountability standards for private loan companies.

“The reward for higher education should not be a lifetime of debt,” Bennett said. “Students and families should be informed if they qualify for federal loans before they turn to private loans and the higher interest rates and fewer repayment options that go with them.”

Bennett introduced the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act, which requires private lenders to confirm with a potential borrower’s school that the student’s tuition, housing and other costs are not covered by other sources of financial aid. Additionally, the legislation requires colleges and universities to notify students about their federal loan eligibility before certifying private loans.

Bennett worked closely with the Illinois attorney general’s office to craft the legislation.

“Private student loans are more expensive and more difficult for borrowers to repay. As we have seen during the pandemic, the relief that comes with federal student loans is particularly critical during an economic downturn,” Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “This legislation ensures that students and families are aware of the benefits of federal loans and whether they are eligible – before they take out private loans.”

“The Know Before You Owe initiative will ensure that students and their families know about their federal loan options before they take on private loans,” Bennett said. “I am proud to work with Attorney General Raoul on this initiative to give Illinois students more control over their financial futures.”

Senate Bill 2291 cleared the Senate Higher Education Committee and will now go before the full Senate for a vote.