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CunninghamSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham moved two initiatives to expand family counseling services and disability benefits for first responders through the Illinois Senate.

“We have to recognize that first responders deal with an enormous amount of stress on the job,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “Sometimes that stress carries over to the family, so this important initiative will strengthen their access to family counseling services.”

House Bill 4460 would require every self-insured county and municipality across the state to provide coverage for marriage and couples counseling for firefighters and police officers. Coverage for marriage or couples counseling is not currently required in insurance plans for first responders because it is not considered a diagnosable mental health condition.

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FineSPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine passed a measure through the Senate that would require health insurance providers to cover prescribed at-home pregnancy tests.

“Prescribed at-home pregnancy tests, like medications, should be covered by insurance for those who need them,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “The purpose of this legislation is to reduce barriers to accessing necessary prescriptions and help patients obtain their tests.”

While at-home pregnancy tests are available over-the-counter, prescribers require patients taking certain medications — like Accutane, a medication for severe acne — to take a monthly pregnancy test. For those who need pregnancy tests, Fine’s measure extends privacy to patients by allowing tests to be concealed in the same paper bags as other pharmacy prescriptions.

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harris 051724SPRINGFIELD – Homeowners across Illinois may have a new law on the books to increase transparency of insurance policy coverage, thanks to State Senator Napoleon B. Harris, III.

“When residents select their homeowner insurance policy it is crucial that they have a full picture of what the policy covers,” said Harris (D-Harvey). “This legislation will enable homeowners to make educated financial decisions about their insurance policies.”

House Bill 5357 would require an insurer to disclose whether a homeowner's insurance policy covers damage from a sewer backup or overflow from a sump pump when issuing or quoting a homeowner's policy. Also, the legislation would require insurance companies to offer the policyholder an opportunity to purchase this additional coverage if the policy does not already include it.

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Sen. Edly-Allen

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mary Edly-Allen passed a measure through the Senate to protect artists if their songs or likeness are stolen through the means of artificial intelligence (AI).

“In the last few years, we have seen an explosion of AI tools and AI generated content, often created and distributed without authorization,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “While AI is a powerful tool with the potential to do much good, guardrails are necessary to protect artists and the general public. I’d like to thank the numerous groups that worked in collaboration to ensure this measure is effective including the Motion Picture Association, TechNet, the Software Alliance and more.”

House Bill 4875 would create a private right of action for the artist or music studio to sue when a digital replica of the individual was disseminated or made available publicly without authorization of the artist or music studio.

More Articles …

  1. Koehler’s measure to expand access to bleeding disorder medications passes Senate
  2. Holmes advances inclusive insurance coverage for menopause relief treatment
  3. Villanueva champions measure to give first-time offenders a second chance
  4. Simmons passes legislation to provide culturally competent haircare for youth in care

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