Airline employees may now use sick time to care for family

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CHICAGO – Airline employees may use sick time to care for family members now that legislation sponsored by State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) was signed into law Friday.

“Access to paid family and medical leave is essential for the future of work,” Villivalam said. “Airline workers shouldn’t have to choose between caring for sick loved ones and keeping food on the table and a roof over their heads.”

House Bill 106 amends the Employee Sick Leave Act by removing a line that exempted airline employees from coverage. This change allows these workers to use already-earned sick time to care for sick family members.

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Morrison: to focus on the future of heath care

State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), Dr. Shoeb Sitafalwalla, chief strategy officer of Advocate Aurora Health, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest)
and State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) participate in a Senate Health Committee hearing on the future of health care.

Morrison leads Senate Health Committee hearing on future of health care Thursday

CHICAGO – As health care continues to evolve, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) wants to study trends and have open dialogue with health care professionals to bring Illinois to the forefront of the future of care.

That led her to chair a Senate Heath Committee Subject Matter Hearing on the future of health care Thursday.

“We have an opportunity to rely on the data and innovation behind the booming health care and IT industries and start to forecast our health care future,” Morrison said.

Morrison spearheaded the committee to discuss the future of health care – including innovations in telehealth, technology and other ways in which health care is being delivered.

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Peters’ expansion to Reimagine Public Safety Act becomes law

Chicago – More communities are a step closer to addressing the problem of firearm violence related crimes after State Senator Robert Peters’ (D-Chicago) measure to bring gun violence prevention training and services to more areas was signed into law.

“The recent rise in gun violence will not be addressed until we change the policies that disproportionately have a negative impact on Black and Brown communities,” Peters said. “Soon, we will be able to work hand-in-hand with affected communities, intervening with at risk youth, supporting survivors and working from the bottom-up rather than the top-down. People in Illinois deserve public safety for all, not theater.”

Read more: Peters’ expansion to Reimagine Public Safety Act becomes law

Murphy on shakeup at Illinois Tollway: What signal are we sending to consumers of the tollway?

CHICAGO – Concerned about the ethics and transparency of recent moves made by top leaders of the Illinois Tollway, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) called a hearing Tuesday to push for answers regarding the sudden change in the quasi-governmental agency’s chain of command.

“We must ensure that we are providing the most transparent process by effectively and efficiently operating the Tollway,” Murphy said. “This is significant to the consumers of the Tollway.”

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