Cunningham law supporting first responder mental health signed

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham and State Representative Fran Hurley have passed a new law – recently signed by the governor – that will help promote mental health treatment for police officers and firefighters by providing better focus for the First Responder Suicide Prevention Task Force.

“Our first responders risk their lives to protect us every day working stressful, traumatic jobs,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “It’s incumbent upon us to make sure they have access to the mental health resources they need.”

Read more: Cunningham law supporting first responder mental health signed

Joyce-sponsored bill to lower license fees for small trailers signed into law

PARK FOREST – Registration fees for small trailers will be $36, a significant decrease from the current $118, thanks to a new law backed by State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex).

“After speaking with many constituents who were having trouble renewing licenses for their small trailers, I became a lead co-sponsor of this new law to create a more reasonable registration system,” Joyce said. 

The new law classifies all trailers weighing 2,000 pounds or less as “utility trailers” and sets the utility trailer registration fee at $36. Fees were increased on these trailers in 2019 as a part of the Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan.

Read more: Joyce-sponsored bill to lower license fees for small trailers signed into law

Gillespie plan to end the abuse of seclusion rooms in schools made law

SPRINGFIELD – A ban on prone restraint and guidelines on use of seclusion rooms in schools championed by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) was signed into law today.

“This law makes a commitment to our most vulnerable students that their school will be a safe learning environment,” Gillespie said. “No child should be subject to abuse at school.”

After an investigation revealed that seclusion rooms are often used as a punishment for refusing to do classwork, swearing and otherwise non-threatening behavior, Senator Gillespie introduced legislation to address these abuses.

Read more: Gillespie plan to end the abuse of seclusion rooms in schools made law

Young adult immigrants granted more protections under new Castro law

SPRINGFIELD – Under a new law championed by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin), immigrants from age 18 to 21 will now see increased protections in line with federal law.

“The young people who will be affected by this law are some of the most vulnerable in our state,” Castro said. “I am glad to see this extension of protections signed into law, bringing Illinois in line with what is already practiced at the federal level.”

The law allows a court hearing a case under the Juvenile Court Act to designate a young adult as a “special immigrant minor.” This allows the court to place the young adult with a guardian if it is not viable to place them with a parent due to neglect, abuse or abandonment.

Read more: Young adult immigrants granted more protections under new Castro law