Morrison law to study potential threat of microplastics

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to study the potential threat of microplastics was signed into law on Friday by Gov. Pritzker.

“While the prevalence of microplastics is well known, the potential environmental and human health effects are not yet fully understood,” Morrison said. “With increasing levels of plastic being found in our waterways, it is of even greater importance to reduce consumption of plastics whenever possible.”

Morrison’s new law, contained in Senate Bill 1392, requires the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois-Champaign to study microplastics and the threat they may pose to human health and the environment.

Microplastics – very small pieces of plastic often undetectable to the human eye – have been discovered in bodies of water across the globe and have showed up in the digestive tracts of aquatic animals and birds.

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Governor signs Holmes’ animal welfare, cosmetics testing laws

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes’ (D-Aurora) legislation to address a number of issues regarding animal shelters and foster groups, licensing fees and feral cat programs, as well as a measure to ban cosmetics testing on animals, have been signed into law.

Senate Bill 61 increases licensing fees and fines under the Department of Agriculture for the first time since 1971. It also changes rules regarding adopted dogs and cats and the facilities that provide foster homes and transport pets for adoption.

“This group of animal welfare measures brings several rescue and shelter issues up to date for Illinois,” Holmes said. “When I worked as a volunteer at the Humane Society, I learned how many pets find their forever homes through these facilities and fostering arrangements. This legislation can serve to increase the potential for that to happen while providing the Department of Agriculture with more resources to oversee these programs and facilities.”

In addition to increasing license fees and administrative fines, Senate Bill 61 as amended does the following:

• Changes definitions of terms related to animal shelters, rescue and transport groups and their functions;
• Addresses licensed animal groups’ Trap, Neuter, Release/Return (TNR) programs for sterilized and microchipped feral cats;
• Clarifies the limits of two litters of animals under eight weeks old in foster homes; and
• Removes a permit fee of $25 for foster homes.

Read more: Governor signs Holmes’ animal welfare, cosmetics testing laws

Steans law will update state’s suicide prevention strategy

SPRINGFIELD – A new law sponsored by State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) that updates Illinois’ suicide prevention strategy was signed by the governor today.

Steans’ measure requires the Department of Public Health to strengthen efforts to prevent suicide in Illinois. In 2016, suicide caused more deaths than homicide, motor vehicle accidents, and prevalent diseases like liver disease, hypertension, and HIV.

“When suicide takes a loved one from us, we’re left wondering ‘What could I have done?’” Steans said. “By partnering with advocates and devoting state resources in support of all our knowledge about how to prevent suicide, we’re doing what we can do right now.”

Steans’ law requires the department, working with the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance, to develop recommendations to prevent suicide using evidence based practices and promote any coordinating activity needed to implement them.

“The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention thanks Senator Steans for guiding this bill through the General Assembly and Governor Pritzker for signing it into law,” said Steve Moore, the Co-Chair of the Illinois Chapter of the AFSP. “As the 11th leading cause of death in Illinois, suicide is a serious but preventable public health issue. By creating an effective state government structure for addressing suicide, the enactment of this law will save lives.”

Read more: Steans law will update state’s suicide prevention strategy

Murphy’s new law adds extra protection for domestic violence victims

DES PLAINES – A measure that was signed into law today will add an extra protection for victims of domestic violence, thanks to Des Plaines Democrat State Senator Laura Murphy.

Senate Bill 399 will allow an address to be omitted from documents filed in court if disclosing the address would risk abuse or harm. The victim will also be protected from having to include a domestic violence safe house address or an address that was changed as a result of a protective order.

“It’s already hard enough for victims to take that first step and get out of their situation,” Murphy said. “They shouldn’t have to live in fear of their address being released after being brave enough to get away. I am happy to see this signed into law.”

Murphy introduced her measure in response to an incident where a judge included the address of a domestic violence safe house in a court order between the abuser and the victim regarding custody over their child.

Senate Bill 399 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.