Lightford fights to keep families together

SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightfordis working to keep families together by preventing children from being wrongfully removed from their homes due to an unfounded allegation of abuse or mistreatment.

“While we need to take child abuse and mistreatment seriously, we must also remember that kids will be kids and accidents happen,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “Cases of abuse and mistreatment must be thoroughly, accurately and transparently investigated before making a decision to remove a child from their home.”

Families across the state have faced wrongful allegations of child abuse or neglect due to medical conditions, birth injuries and normal childhood accidents that result in findings that are misinterpreted as signs of abuse.

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Murphy measure to provide young adults in custody vital educational opportunities

SPRINGFIELD – Acknowledging a greater need for educational opportunities for young adults in custody, State Senator Laura Murphy is leading a measure to bring emerging adult programs to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice.

Standing alongside advocates, experts and fellow lawmakers, Murphy outlined her proposal at a press conference Thursday.

“As a state, we have a duty to ensure young adults in custody have the tools they need to thrive when they return to their communities,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Emerging adults deserve a fresh start when they leave custody, and this measure will put them on the path to successful reintegration.”

The measure would allow the Department of Juvenile Justice to establish emerging adult programs for individuals ages 18 to 21 who have been committed to the Illinois Department of Corrections. This would allow qualifying 18- to 21-year-olds to transfer to DJJ facilities to participate in developmentally appropriate educational services as well as holistic services. These services include individual or group therapy, case management, vocational training and higher education opportunities.

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Ventura to tackle deteriorating roads with out-of-state cargo transportation fee

SPRINGFIELD – To address crumbling roads in some of the district’s most traveled areas, State Senator Rachel Ventura is leading a measure that would impose a fee on interstate carriers with the collected fees going toward maintenance and repairs of roads most affected by heavy transportation travel.

“My district has one of the biggest transportation hubs in the state and has had ongoing issues with highway infrastructure due to heavy trucking,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Far too often, the 43^rd District is left with the burden of fixing reoccurring pot holes and damage due to the lack of tax dollars from local sales since these trucks often sell goods from elsewhere. This fee would address that issue by directly funding new projects to help fix the roads that need it the most.”

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Morrison leads measure to improve early diagnosis of fatal pediatric disease

SPRINGFIELD – Standing alongside advocates from Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy at a press conference Wednesday, State Senator Julie Morrison outlined her initiative to require each newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy.

“DMD is a devastating disease – tragically taking young children from their parents,” said Morrison. “Requiring every newborn to be screened for duchenne muscular dystrophy will save precious lives and restore hope.”

Senate Bill 2658 would require each newborn to be screened for the disease. This would increase the rates of early detection, giving those diagnosed the ability to receive affective treatment, far earlier than they would have otherwise.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder caused by a change in the dystrophin gene affecting 1 in 3,500 boys each year worldwide. It’s characterized by the progressive loss of muscle, which results in deterioration of the skeletal heart, and lung muscles. Because the dystrophin gene is found on the X-chromosome, it primarily affects males, while females are typically carriers.

Read more: Morrison leads measure to improve early diagnosis of fatal pediatric disease