Lightford fights to remove expulsion for preschool through second graders

SPRINGFIELD – All too often, students of color feel the brunt of being expelled or suspended from school, rather than being provided restorative approaches to help with their emotional and mental health – a phenomenon Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford is fighting to change.

“Our education system has failed many children by simply denying them the opportunity to sit in a classroom,” said Lightford (D-Maywood). “We’re continuing to move toward a disciplinary system that prioritizes educating students by keeping them in school.”

Expulsion of students in kindergarten through second grade would not be permitted under Lightford’s measure. Additionally, pre-k through second graders would not be able to be suspended without the principal receiving written or verbal consent from the district superintendent.

Read more: Lightford fights to remove expulsion for preschool through second graders

Cunningham backs bill to track illegal guns and keep crime out of neighborhoods

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham advanced a bill through the Senate that gives law enforcement stronger tools to track down the criminals bringing illegal guns into Illinois neighborhoods.

“This is about giving our police the tools they need to track down illegal guns and the people that traffic them into our communities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “When we can trace more guns and share more data across jurisdictions, we can solve more crimes and keep more dangerous individuals off our streets.”

Read more: Cunningham backs bill to track illegal guns and keep crime out of neighborhoods

Loughran Cappel moves legislation further enhancing emergency training in schools

SPRINGFIELD – To better prepare all educators – including substitute teachers – for emergencies at school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel advanced a measure out of the Senate that requires training in evacuation and lockdown procedures prior to being in the classroom.

“This measure ensures that anyone teaching students knows exactly what to do in case of a crisis situation,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “You never know when an emergency will happen, so requiring this training is the logical thing to do.”

House Bill 1787 would require school districts in Illinois to provide training to all substitute teachers on school evacuation drills and law enforcement lockdown drills. Additionally, all substitutes would be given the same information as full-time employees that outlines all lockdown and evacuation procedures, and maps would be required to be displayed in every classroom showing all school exit points.

Read more: Loughran Cappel moves legislation further enhancing emergency training in schools

Murphy advances measure to fight crime on expressways, protect residents’ privacy

SPRINGFIELD – To keep human traffickers off Illinois roadways, bring to justice to victims of human trafficking and shield everyday Illinoisans from unnecessary exposure, State Senator Laura Murphy passed legislation to expand the expressway camera program to target traffickers while prohibiting images taken by license plate readers from being released via FOIA requests.

“The expansion of this program would empower law enforcement with the tools necessary to swiftly identify human traffickers in real time,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “This bill sends a clear message that Illinois will not be used as a safe haven for these criminals.”

Read more: Murphy advances measure to fight crime on expressways, protect residents’ privacy