Senate approves Peters’ measure guaranteeing play time in school

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois could soon be the ninth state to guarantee students daily playtime after a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) cleared the General Assembly Sunday.

“When I was growing up, unstructured playtime was a key part of my development, which is why I believe it should be a guaranteed right for all kids,” Peters said. “Physical activity also helps keep children’s minds sharp, and the exercise they get helps keep them healthy.”

Senate Bill 654 requires elementary schools to guarantee at least 30 minutes daily to students in kindergarten through fifth grade each day for supervised, unstructured play. Electronic devices may not be used during this time, and a physical education course does not count to fulfill the legislation’s requirements.

Read more: Senate approves Peters’ measure guaranteeing play time in school

Feigenholtz’s “cocktails-to-go” expansion heads to governor

Measure also includes month-long vaccination incentive

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) expanding the state’s “cocktails-to-go” program was approved by the Senate Sunday and will head to the governor.

“The hospitality industry was hit the hardest by the pandemic,” Feigenholtz said. “Our favorite local bars and restaurants are the cornerstones of our communities. Sadly, we have lost many that were unable to survive the shutdown. This legislation will help restaurants and bars survive the pandemic by continuing cocktails-to-go delivery along with the other cash management methods.”

Senate Bill 104 extends the sunset on cocktails-to-go until Jan. 3, 2024, allows single servings of wine to be available for delivery, and allows for products filled, labeled and sealed by the manufacturer to be included. It also provides businesses with options for cash flow management during lean times by allowing retailers to pay their distributors for wine and spirits with a credit card.

Read more: Feigenholtz’s “cocktails-to-go” expansion heads to governor

Cullerton proud to support expansion of telehealth services

SPRINGFIELD – To promote health care equity and reduce health care disparities in Illinois, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) is supporting a measure to expand telehealth services that will make it easier for patients to meet with their doctors.

“One thing the COVID-19 pandemic showed us is that there are so many things we can do remotely, including meeting with our doctors,” said Cullerton, who is a co-sponsor of the measure. “Expanding telehealth services will remove many barriers to health care access that many people face, like taking time off work or not being able to find transportation.”

Telehealth services were largely used during the COVID-19 pandemic due to emergency federal and state orders. House Bill 3308 will maintain and expand telehealth services by requiring insurance companies to utilize similar billing processes for both in-person and telehealth services.

Read more: Cullerton proud to support expansion of telehealth services

Holmes fights for workers’ compensation protections for contagious infections

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) moved legislation this week that would expand workers’ compensation for firefighters and EMTs to cover a potentially deadly, antibiotic-resistant staph infection that poses a particularly high risk to first responders.

House Bill 3662 would amend the Workers’ Compensation Act. It presumes that these professionals would be exposed to MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in the course of their employment.

“The job of a firefighter or EMT includes administering up-close care to people who may be MRSA carriers or infected with MRSA,” Holmes said. “This puts first responders at increased risk for MRSA contamination—it’s common sense that a MRSA infection should be covered under workers’ compensation policies.”

Read more: Holmes fights for workers’ compensation protections for contagious infections