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Aquino opens pathways for internationally trained medical professionals

Details
Category: Senator Omar Aquino News
Tuesday, August 06, 2024 02:55 PM
  • Aquino
  • International Health Care Professionals
  • Clinical Readiness
  • HB778

aquino-intl-med-prosSPRINGFIELD – A plan sponsored by State Senator Omar Aquino to provide direct services and residency opportunities to international medical graduate physicians was signed into law Friday.

“The global pandemic exacerbated existing challenges for our health care industry, and right now we’re leaving talent on the table as we continue to face a shortage of providers across the nation,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “Dedicating resources to help support immigrant inclusion in the professional sector while opening pathways for licensure will go a long way toward ensuring patients can get the care they need.”

Read more: Aquino opens pathways for internationally trained medical professionals

Chicago homeowners to see additional flood repair assistance thanks to Martwick law

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Category: Senator Robert Martwick News
Tuesday, August 06, 2024 02:45 PM
  • Martwick
  • HB4921
  • Home Equity Assurance
  • Home Flooding

martwick 080624SPRINGFIELD — Chicago homeowners who pay into home equity assurance programs will soon be able to use their tax dollars to protect their home from flooding, thanks to a new law led by State Senator Robert Martwick.

“Flooding in Chicago has been getting worse each year, posing a significant threat to homeowners, especially when their insurance won’t cover the steep costs associated with restoration after a flood,” said Martwick (D-Chicago). “Allowing home equity assurance programs to provide financial relief is a crucial step in terms of giving back to the communities that they serve.”

Read more: Chicago homeowners to see additional flood repair assistance thanks to Martwick law

More Illinois-grown food coming to stores thanks to Koehler law

Details
Category: Senator Dave Koehler News
Tuesday, August 06, 2024 02:32 PM
  • Koehler
  • Agriculture
  • SB3077
  • Fresh Local Produce

koehler 080524SPRINGFIELD – A majority of food on grocery store shelves is purchased out of state, which has led State Senator Dave Koehler to pass a law to make Illinois food more readily available on local store shelves.

“Our farmers play a significant role in our economy, and we should make every effort to have their produce in stores across our communities,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This law supports our family farmers and gives residents access to fresh local produce.”

Koehler’s law directs the Illinois Department of Agriculture to amplify local food processing, collection and distribution within the state through grants. Eligible applicants include farms, co-ops, process facilities, food businesses and hubs with fewer than 50 employees, as well as Illinois nonprofit organizations and local governments.

Read more: More Illinois-grown food coming to stores thanks to Koehler law

Stronger consumer fraud protections for veterans signed into law, thanks to Porfirio and Kifowit

Details
Category: Senator Mike Porfirio News
Tuesday, August 06, 2024 01:27 PM
  • Consumer Protection
  • Veterans
  • Fraud
  • Kifowit
  • SB3479

porfirio 080624SPRINGFIELD – To protect our nation’s veterans from predatory business practices, State Senator Mike Porfirio and State Representative Stephanie Kifowit championed a new law combating businesses using deceptive practices to target veterans and their benefits.

“Our veterans are true American heroes and they deserve to have protections in all facets of their lives, especially when it comes to their hard-earned benefits,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), a U.S. Navy veteran. “By protecting our veterans from exploitation, we’re making certain they have the support and respect they deserve and taking a crucial step forward in honoring their dedicated service.”

Read more: Stronger consumer fraud protections for veterans signed into law, thanks to Porfirio and Kifowit

Villa law establishes language access framework

Details
Category: Senator Karina Villa News
Monday, August 05, 2024 12:22 PM
  • IDHS
  • Villa
  • SB3762
  • Language Equity and Access
  • Essential State Services

villa 080524SPRINGFIELD – Under the Language Equity and Access Act, a new law championed by State Senator Karina Villa, individuals whose primary language is not English will have access to essential state services.

“Our diverse communities have consistently shared their challenges when accessing essential state services due to language barriers that sometimes make an already confusing process much more difficult,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “State agencies should be equipped to provide services to any resident, regardless of their proficiency in English.”

 

Read more: Villa law establishes language access framework

Morrison law to protect nursing home residents

Details
Category: Senator Julie A. Morrison News
Monday, August 05, 2024 12:12 PM
  • Morrison
  • Nursing Home Medical Staff
  • Ownership Transitions
  • Care and Staffing
  • SB3115

Morrison nurs staff 080524SPRINGFIELD – To ensure consistent quality of care for residents when their nursing home changes ownership, State Senator Julie Morrison championed a new law requiring facilities to develop comprehensive transition plans.

“Nursing home residents should always receive high-quality care, even during facility ownership transitions” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “This law requires transfer plans from current owners to new owners to ensure nothing gets over looked.”

Senate Bill 3115 will require owners of a facility to submit a transition plan detailing how resident care and appropriate staffing levels will be maintained throughout the process of shifting ownership. 

Read more: Morrison law to protect nursing home residents

Lightford fights for equitable funding for higher education

Details
Category: Senator Kimberly A. Lightford News
Monday, August 05, 2024 11:05 AM
  • Lightford
  • Commission on Equitable Public University Funding

lightford 080524MAYWOOD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is working to transform how Illinois funds its higher education system through newly-filed legislation that would take a student-centered approach. 

“Despite education’s paramount importance, the disparity in funding among higher educational institutions remains dreadfully evident,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “This imbalance not only undermines the principle of equal opportunity but also hampers our collective progress as a society.”

Lightford was instrumental in creating the Commission on Equitable Public University Funding in 2021. Over the last two years, the 30-person commission studied if public institutions of higher education are in dire need of a new funding model when serving underrepresented and historically underserved student groups, including Black and Brown students, as well as students from low-income families.

 

Read more: Lightford fights for equitable funding for higher education

Updates to Illinois’ biometric privacy signed into law thanks to Cunningham

Details
Category: Senator Bill Cunningham News
Friday, August 02, 2024 03:17 PM
  • Cunningham
  • Biometric Information
  • SB2979
  • BIPA

cunningham 080224SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s measure that updates liability guidelines in the Biometric Information Privacy Act was signed into law on Friday.

“In order for Illinois to continue being a leader on biometric protections for consumers, these changes were necessary,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Not only did we preserve protections in BIPA, we made sure to clarify damages so businesses in our state are not crushed by penalties for violation.”

Cunningham’s measure limits the number of claims accrued should an employee bring a lawsuit against a company for a violation of BIPA. If a certain biometric identifier is collected by the same employer in the same manner, only one violation would accrue. This is a change from the previous interpretation of BIPA, where claims were accrued on a per-collection basis, which resulted in hundreds of claims on a repeated violation.

 

Read more: Updates to Illinois’ biometric privacy signed into law thanks to Cunningham

More Articles …

  1. Turner law holds bad actors in the EMS field accountable
  2. Murphy law combats prescription medication shortages
  3. Stadelman law expands financial flexibility for education savings programs
  4. Insurance coverage for IVF expanded under new Castro law
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