Villa advances measure to end discriminatory disciplining in schools

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would address unequitable school disciplinary practices.

“The practice of ticketing in schools does not address the root causes of students’ behavior and instead creates financial hardships for working families, affecting Black and Latino families the most,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This creates serious learning disparities between students of color and their white counterparts.”

In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law ending the ability of schools to issue monetary fines to students for disciplinary infractions at school. However, students in schools across the state continue to be fined due to the practice of students being referred to law enforcement for school-related behavior. 

Read more: Villa advances measure to end discriminatory disciplining in schools

Cervantes expands E-Verify legislation to ensure additional protections for immigrant employees

SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant workers may soon be entitled to more protections from wrongful workplace retaliation due to issues with their paperwork, thanks to a new initiative led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes.

“For many immigrant workers, the E-Verify system can be confusing and complicated,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This initiative will give people the option to utilize legal support in communications with their employer so they are not taken advantage of, and establish the rights they are entitled to as legal, hardworking employees.”

Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system, which compares information from an employee’s I-9 Form to records available to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility. If discrepancies are found, immigrant workers have the possibility of receiving a “no match” letter for a variety of reasons, including instances where the individual changed their name due to marriage. Many employers terminate employees upon receiving this notice, even though they could be legally working in the United States.

Read more: Cervantes expands E-Verify legislation to ensure additional protections for immigrant employees

Guzmán measure to expand SNAP eligibility for college students

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Graciela Guzmán is championing a new initiative that would alleviate college student hunger by expanding eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Illinois.

“It is hard to succeed in school when you’re hungry,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Helping students, especially low-income scholars, who are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, succeed academically and economically is not only smart, but also the right thing to do for the next generation.”

Read more: Guzmán measure to expand SNAP eligibility for college students

Harris advances measure to improve access to life-saving disease screening

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris III advanced a measure to require insurance companies to cover medically necessary peripheral artery disease screenings for people at risk.

"As we continue to address the root causes of health disparities, this measure is an important move toward ensuring those at highest risk for PAD have access to life-saving care," said Harris (D-Harvey). “Better access to screening will ensure we can detect this dangerous condition earlier and prevent life-changing consequences like amputations.”

Peripheral artery disease is a serious condition where the arteries outside the heart and brain become narrowed or blocked, restricting blood flow to the limbs, most often the legs. Studies have shown that African Americans are disproportionately affected by PAD, with nearly one in three Black adults developing the condition, compared to approximately one in five Hispanic or white adults.

Read more: Harris advances measure to improve access to life-saving disease screening