Mother who lost son to suicide fights alongside Democrats to support other grieving families
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SPRINGFIELD – When Laura Kane lost her son, Zachary, to suicide, she was still expected to return to work merely three days later. Today, she stood with lawmakers to support other grieving families and ensure that no one else is put in the same situation.
“I am grateful for the support and efforts of State Representative Maurice West and Senator Villa on getting this legislation passed. This is very bittersweet, as I am the mother who lost her 14-year-old son to suicide,” said Kane. “I was let go from my employment due to being unable to perform my duties to my employers expectation as a result the trauma and grief I was suffering following the sudden loss of my son. This bill will give families the job protection they deserve during this type of crisis. I truly hope no one has to use this, but in the event they find themselves in these circumstances, the bill will provide protection in what may be their darkest hours.”
Kane was let go from her job due to not being able to perform her job while grieving the loss of her child. She started a nonprofit, Marshmallow’s Hope, in honor of her son and to help children struggling with depression and families coping with the loss of a child due to suicide.
Villa pushes for bill to help cover emergency workers’ health insurance
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SPRINGFIELD – Emergency workers, such as firefighters, police officers or probation officers, put their lives on the line to protect the public. To guarantee these workers are insured when injured on the job, State Senator Karina Villa moved a bill out of the Senate Labor Committee on Wednesday.
“Law enforcement and firefighters risk their health for the safety of our communities every day,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This legislation will protect those who are gravely injured on the job by making sure their employers cover their health insurance.”
House Bill 3249 requires public employers to pay the full premium of a health insurance plan for a current employee, their spouse or their dependents if the employee is a full-time law enforcement officer, correctional or correctional probation officer or firefighter who has suffered a catastrophic injury or was killed in the line of duty.
Read more: Villa pushes for bill to help cover emergency workers’ health insurance
Morrison pushes to end the use of e-cigarettes indoors
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SPRINGFIELD – A steadfast champion of Illinois laws to keep harmful tobacco products away from young people, State Senator Julie Morrison expanded upon her work in passing a measure to ban the use of e-cigarettes inside public places.
“Vaping and e-cigarette-related illnesses and deaths have become a nationwide outbreak that must come to an end before more lives are lost,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “Banning the use of e-cigarettes indoors is another necessary step toward protecting people from serious, life-long health consequences of tobacco.”
Passed in 2007, the Smoke Free Illinois Act prohibited smoking in public and within 15 feet of entrances, and required “no smoking” signs to be posted on the prohibited public place. However, this law took effect when people primarily smoked cigarettes and cigars.
Read more: Morrison pushes to end the use of e-cigarettes indoors
Villanueva implements legislation that ensures charter schools can unionize
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva brought forth legislation that would allow charter schools to unionize without being penalized by management of the charter school.
“Employees of charter schools deserve the same rights and protections as those who work at public schools,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Their voices matter and must be uplifted.”
House Bill 1120 is an initiative of the Chicago Teachers' Union that seeks to ensure that if the staff at a charter school chooses to form a union, the management of the charter school would not interfere.
Read more: Villanueva implements legislation that ensures charter schools can unionize
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