Hastings’ missing persons identification measure passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on his missing persons investigation work ─ passing legislation in the Senate that would accelerate the timeline for critical forensic data being added to state and national databases.

“Law enforcement often starts, and sometimes stops, with criminal databases like CODIS for DNA or criminal fingerprint records,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Those are strong tools, but they fail when the missing person has no criminal history.”

Under current law, missing persons cases are entered into state and federal databases and may eventually receive additional identifying data. Senate Bill 2949 would update the process so that if a person remains missing for 30 days after a police report, their dental record will be added to the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System — rather than waiting longer under previous practice. After 60 days, the bill would require dental records to be entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, the federal repository used to match missing persons with unidentified remains.

Read more: Hastings’ missing persons identification measure passes Senate

Cunningham legislation to protect sensitive medical information moves to the House

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation to prevent genetic marker data from being used by employers and insurers has passed out of the Senate.

“With the field of medicine progressing, we face a new set of privacy challenges,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “We want to encourage people to take part in these new beneficial practices, while keeping important genetic data about them out of the wrong hands.”

Senate Bill 2886 would update Genetic Information Privacy Act to expand existing safeguards to include biomarker testing, in addition to genetic testing. The measure clarifies that information derived from these tests is confidential and privileged, and may only be released to the individual tested or to those specifically authorized in writing.

Read more: Cunningham legislation to protect sensitive medical information moves to the House

Turner works to strengthen school policies for students with service animals

SPRINGFIELD – To support all students, no matter their needs, State Senator Doris Turner championed a measure through the Senate to strengthen school policies that protect access to service animals for students with disabilities.

“We need to make sure students with service animals don’t face setbacks because of a lack of understanding or awareness of the law,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We have a responsibility to make sure all students feel welcome at school.”

Read more: Turner works to strengthen school policies for students with service animals

Hastings: ‘Storm chasers’ have no place in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings passed legislation through the Senate aimed at protecting Illinois homeowners from deceptive and high pressure contractor practices that often follow severe weather and natural disasters.

“In light of some tragic storms in the area, we need to protect Illinois’ residents,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “There were people in Kankakee County who lost everything and not even a full day later they had contractors showing up trying to make a deal on-the-spot. After what we saw in Kankakee, these ‘storm chasers’ have no place in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 3029 would prohibit a contractor from offering home repair or remodeling services while a loss-producing event, such as a fire or storm, is occurring at the premises; while the fire department or emergency personnel are engaged at the premises; or between the hours of 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. The measure would still allow consumers to initiate solicitation with contractors during these scenarios. 

Read more: Hastings: ‘Storm chasers’ have no place in Illinois