SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate on Wednesday to remove barriers to justice for survivors of sexual assault.
“Survivors deserve a justice system that supports them during one of the most difficult times of their lives,” Gillespie said. “This measure removes a loophole that should never have existed and allows survivors to seek justice.”
House Bill 5441 clarifies the existing definition of “unable to give knowing consent” by adding that the survivor remains unable to consent if they voluntarily consumed an intoxicating substance. Under current interpretation, the offender must have provided the intoxicating substance to the survivor to be held responsible for a sexual assault.
Read more: Gillespie, Walker strengthen consent laws for survivors of sexual assault
SPRINGFIELD – During their final week of legislative session, the Illinois Senate Democrats traded in their dress shoes for sneakers to raise awareness to cancer.
“I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get screened regularly,” said State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville). “I waited 15 years to get screened and I wish I wouldn’t have. Making and keeping those appointments can feel inconvenient, but they’re much less inconvenient than receiving a cancer diagnosis that could have been caught sooner.”
Coaches vs. Cancer is a collaborative nationwide annual event in which the American Cancer Society and the National Collegiate Athletic Association team up to bring awareness to cancer, which is among the leading causes of death worldwide, by wearing sneakers with their suits during games.
Read more: Senate Democrats show off cancer support with suits and sneakers
SPRINGFIELD – Building upon efforts to address maternal and infant mortality in the state of Illinois, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is leading a measure to expand access to prenatal services.
“Prenatal and perinatal care can make a world of a difference in a mother and a child’s life,” Van Pelt said. “Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t have the same access to this kind of care, which is why the measure is vital.”
House Bill 5013 requires a managed care organization to pay for preventative prenatal services, perinatal healthcare services, and postpartum services rendered by a non-affiliated provider, as long as that the provider has not rejected a contract offered in good faith within the last twelve months or had a contract terminated for cause.
Read more: Van Pelt measure to expand access to prenatal services
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) championed a measure that passed the Senate Wednesday that would give people another option to become an organ donor.
“In January 2010, I received a kidney transplant,” Belt said. “After living on dialysis for a year, I understand how important organ donors are.”
House Bill 4696 would allow the Department of Natural Resources to offer online hunting license holders the opportunity to be redirected to the First Person Consent Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. On average, 300 people die each year waiting for an organ donation. More than 4,700 Illinois residents are waiting for an organ or tissue donation. In 2020, there were 7 million Illinoisans registered as organ donors.
Read more: Belt plan to expand organ donor registry heads to governor’s desk
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