Halpin bill to address teacher shortage passes committee
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to allow retired teachers to work additional paid hours as substitutes in order to address the statewide teacher shortage passed committee Tuesday.
“Illinois schools need more teachers and more substitute teachers. Allowing retired teachers to continue to work more substitution hours gives the support our education system needs,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “If we are going to solve the teacher shortage we will need creative solutions, this legislation represents one of them.”
Senate Bill 2953 would extend the sunset of a provision that allows retired teachers to work up to 120 days or 600 paid hours as a substitute teacher without impacting their retirement status – in turn addressing the substitute teacher shortage across the state.
Read more: Halpin bill to address teacher shortage passes committee
Lightford calls for more revenue for older adults, caregivers
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SPRINGFIELD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford knows what it takes to be a caregiver for a senior after taking care of her mother for many years. Despite Lightford having the support and resources to care for her mother, it was incredibly difficult to do so.
She acknowledges not everyone has the same support, and therefore face even more struggles – leading her to fight for more revenue for older adults and their caregivers.
“I know what it means to rearrange your life around someone you love, managing medications, doctor’s visits and sleepless nights,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “I know what it is like to show up every day – not because someone is paying you, but because you love the person. And I know what it means to do all of that while stretching a budget that was already too thin.”
Read more: Lightford calls for more revenue for older adults, caregivers
Joyce working to expand mental health counseling to coroners
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Patrick Joyce advanced a measure that would ensure county coroners and medical examiners are able to receive mental health counseling if needed.
“Our local coroners and medical examiners have the responsibility of examining the scenes of death and determining the circumstances,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “These can be some disturbing scenes for anyone to witness.”
Senate Bill 2770 would add coroners, deputy coroners, county medical examiners and deputy county medical examiners to the definition of first responders for the purpose of providing them mental health counseling without any cost-sharing.
Read more: Joyce working to expand mental health counseling to coroners
Johnson measure to expand continuing education to include perimenopause and menopause training
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Adriane Johnson is spearheading legislation to expand continuing education opportunities for health care professionals by allowing coursework on perimenopause and menopause to count toward Illinois’ required implicit bias awareness training.
“Women’s health — particularly during perimenopause and menopause — has too often been overlooked or dismissed,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation ensures providers can deepen their understanding of these life stages while still meeting continuing education requirements. It’s a practical step toward more responsive, patient-centered care.”
Senate Bill 3325 would permit a course covering perimenopause and menopause to satisfy the existing one-hour implicit bias awareness requirement for licensed health care professionals. Under current law, licensed health care professionals must complete at least one hour of continuing education on implicit bias awareness during each license renewal period. Failure to complete the training may result in license renewal issues or suspension.
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