New Villivalam law creates inclusive health and safety education curriculum

CHICAGO – To create a comprehensive, inclusive health and safety curriculum for Illinois public schools, State Senator Ram Villivalam’s (D-Chicago) Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act was signed into law today.

“No student should feel stigmatized or excluded in the classroom,” Villivalam said. “This legislation establishes guidelines for an inclusive, culturally competent curriculum to keep students safe and healthy.”

The Keeping Youth Safe and Healthy Act establishes the requirements for public and charter schools that elect to teach comprehensive personal health and safety education in grades K-5, and comprehensive sexual health education in grades 6-12. A parent or guardian can opt their student out of instruction. Schools will retain local control through the selection of curriculum and instructional materials.

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New law requires students to learn the consequences of sexting

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was signed by the governor on Friday, creating a requirement that public schools that offer sex education curricula include a lesson about the risks of sexting.

“Technology has grown a lot in the last decade, and our education needs to adapt as well,” Stadelman said. “This new law requires those schools that teach sex education to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”

The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

“Students should know about the realities of what may seem like a harmless act,” Stadelman said. “We can’t expect kids to know the importance and dangers of sharing sexually explicit images.”

The legislation was introduced by State Representative Maurice West (D-Rockford), Stadelman’s counterpart in the Illinois House of Representatives.

The new law, originally House Bill 24, takes effect immediately.

New law gives breweries and meaderies more options to reach customers

SPRINGFIELD – A newly signed law sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham will make it easier for small breweries, meaderies, and winemakers to sell their products at local grocery and liquor stores, reaching customers more easily.

“Local craft breweries, wineries, and meaderies have become very popular, and their customers would like to be able to buy their products at local grocery stores,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Our system was not set up for small producers, which is why we need this change.”

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Schools to make plans for responding to anaphylactic shock under new law by Morrison

SPRINGFIELD – To help protect the lives of young children with food allergies, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a new law that will create anaphylactic policies for schools and day cares.

“Children spend most of their day at school, and both they and their parents deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that schools are well-equipped to assist when a student is having an allergic reaction,” Morrison said. “Creating a plan and training more employees on what to do if a student is having a reaction will save lives.” 

Read more: Schools to make plans for responding to anaphylactic shock under new law by Morrison