Pacione-Zayas measures to support students with post-graduation plans pass Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To offer students more options following graduation from high school, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) advanced two measures out of the Senate Wednesday.

“Many students are pushed toward college from a young age, but it’s important for them to know that there are other options if that’s not what they want to do,” Pacione-Zayas said. “From furthering education in the trades or going straight into a career, these young adults deserve to know what else is out there.”

Senate Bill 3990 requires school counseling services to include Career and Technical Education to help students consider secondary education plans following high school. Notably, provisions in Illinois’ Clean and Equitable Job Act will create new opportunities for technical jobs in the clean energy sector.

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Villanueva’s measure supporting students with dependents advances

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to the work  of State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), a measure to inform college students who are parents or have dependents of child care and other assistance programs passed the Senate Wednesday.

“Being a parent requires an enormous amount of time and mindfulness, and it has the potential to make other areas of life far more challenging,” Villanueva said. “The demands of receiving an education on top of being a student make balancing the two lifestyles extremely difficult, which is why we should do what we can to support our most vulnerable students.”

Senate Bill 3149 will help student parents focus on their education by ensuring they are notified of child care assistance available to them. It also gives higher learning institutions the ability to create a student-parent liaison to assist with applying for public benefits programs. The idea behind the measure was brought to Senator Villanueva by Young Invincibles, an organization working to bring equity to the political, educational, social and economic structures in the country.

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Stadelman-sponsored measure to promote public trust in local government passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – To restore public trust in local government officials, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is sponsoring a measure alongside Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), to create a process to place local officials on administrative leave for those accused of violating their oath.

“We are ensuring that while criminal charges are pending, residents can have trust in their government to act appropriately,” Stadelman said. “This allows townships and counties the ability to remove bad faith actors within the system.”

Senate Bill 3460 creates a process in which countywide elected officials or township officers can be placed on administrative leave in the wake of a criminal charge for a crime or any offense in violation of their official oath. Specifically, this measure allows county or township boards to vote to determine if the official should be placed on administrative leave with a three-fifths vote.

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Morrison’s measures to tackle DCFS shortcomings head to House

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison’s legislative package to further protect children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is on its way to the House.

"We owe it to the children and families who rely on DCFS to do everything in our power to keep them safe and give them the best services we are able to provide," said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). "While there is much more work to be done, these measures are a step in the right direction."

Senate Bill 3747 provides that all children under the age of five in the child welfare system would be eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program, which helps provide financial assistance for quality child care. Additionally, infants and toddlers in the care of DCFS would automatically be eligible for the state's Early Intervention Program, supporting families in promoting their child's development.

Senate Bill 3853 provides families who receive Extended Family Support services from DCFS with additional resources through a three-year pilot program. The measure includes broader "wraparound" case management services, home visiting services for caregivers of children under five, and more.

Both measures passed the Senate Wednesday and head to the House for further consideration.