SPRINGFIELD – Applicants for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) grants may soon see faster turnarounds on their approvals, thanks to a new initiative led by State Senator Javier Cervantes.

“Grant applicants and workers are suffering from the burden of relying on volunteers to grade ICJIA grant applications,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “With this legislation, both parties will see a faster turnaround time, and not need to deal with unnecessary stress.”

Senate Democrats outline proposals to enhance mental health care accessibility

SPRINGFIELD – As the nation grapples with an ongoing mental health crisis, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are working diligently to engage greater accessibility to care. During a press conference, they outlined their measures to enhance the mental health workforce and strengthen services.

To encourage more people of color to enter the mental health care profession, State Senator Javier Cervantes is championing a measure to require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create a program to award scholarships to students pursuing a career as a mental health professional in Illinois. The scholarship – created under Senate Bill 1322 – would be open to all students, but give preference to applicants from various minority groups.

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Porfirio advances bill to expand medical care opportunities for veterans

SPRINGFIELD – Veterans could receive expanded leave for health care visits thanks to a new bill sponsored by State Senator Mike Porfirio.

“Veterans across Illinois have earned and deserve the best medical care possible for their service and sacrifice,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “We must support our service members by empowering them to get the care and treatment they need.”

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Belt's measure would keep more students in Illinois for college

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt stood alongside his colleagues to highlight a measure that would simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students at a press conference.

“High school seniors and community college transfer students already have enough on their plates,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The last thing they need is a complicated college application process filled with extra fees, paperwork and delays.”

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD – In recent years, Illinois has seen over 1,700 gun-related deaths, with firearms being the leading cause of death for children and teens. To prevent further harm and keep Illinois families safe, State Senator Laura Ellman is leading a measure to strengthen safety standards for both firearm owners and individuals with potential access to such firearms.

“Unsecured firearms pose a risk to children and their families,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This measure will help ensure owners of firearms store them in a safe and secure manner, preventing unnecessary injury or death.”

Under current law, firearm owners in Illinois must keep their guns temporarily inoperable and in a securely locked container or location a minor under age 14 without a FOID card would not have reasonable access to.

SPRINGFIELD — Disasters take a physical, emotional and financial toll, which can be compounded by inflated prices of essential items during the recovery process. To protect Illinoisans in a time of need, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is working to prevent price gouging immediately following a disaster.

“Tornados are common in Illinois — imagine one destroys your home and you go to the store to purchase diapers only to find the price has tripled. For some, that’s just not feasible,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “The affordability and availability of essential goods is vital for those rebuilding their lives.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson is leading a measure, in collaboration with the Office of the State Treasurer, to establish a state-managed investment pool for non-profits, providing a secure and competitive investment option.

“Non-profits play a critical role in supporting our communities, but many lack access to investment opportunities that help their resources grow,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This initiative ensures they have the same secure and reliable investment opportunities as government entities.”

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam is spearheading a measure aimed at providing schools with calendar dates indicating when a portion of students may be absent due to cultural or religious reasons ─ further assisting schools when scheduling major school or athletic events.

“Illinois is home to many diverse communities, which means portions of a student body may be absent due to a cultural or religious holiday at various times throughout the year,” said Villivalam (D-Chicago). “No student should have to worry about missing an important event, and providing our schools with this information is imperative.”

Currently, the Illinois State Board of Education provides a guide for school districts regarding attendance days, holidays, special circumstances and frequently asked questions about school calendars.

SPRINGFIELD –To ensure dental patients do not have to pay the bill for their visits out of pocket until their claim is processed, State Senator Javier Cervantes is working on legislation that would require insurance to cover visits immediately.

“Patients should not have to worry about a shelling out a majority of their paycheck from visiting a dentist when they have dental insurance,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “Thanks to this measure, their visits will be automatically paid by insurance, without making patients go through the reimbursement process.”

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure families and their children are protected from toxic heavy metals, State Senator Laura Fine advanced a measure to strengthen safety regulations for baby foods.

“Parents expect baby food to be manufactured safely,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “By informing families of the potential presence of toxic heavy metals in baby food, we can prevent exposure and give parents peace of mind about what their child is eating.”

To expand safety regulations for baby food, Fine’s bill would require manufacturers to test samples of their baby food products for toxic elements – such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury – and disclose this information directly on the product’s website.