Glowiak Hilton bill enhances standards for sexual assault evidence collection

SPRINGFIELD — At-home sexual assault evidence collection kits, often sold and marketed directly to consumers, are raising concerns about their reliability and the risks they pose to survivors seeking justice. State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton is working to strengthen standards by ensuring evidence is collected by trained medical professionals.

“At-home collection kits may sound ideal for privacy reasons, but they don’t provide the same level of support or legal integrity as exams conducted by a medical professional,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “No one should be sold false hope during one of the most traumatic experiences in their life.”

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Hastings working to ensure vet techs have necessary training

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings advanced a measure to ensure anyone practicing as a veterinary technician is licensed and trained from an accredited program.

“When you go to see a doctor, it can bring you peace of mind to see their medical license displayed on the wall or desk,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This legislation will align the veterinarian field with common health care practices.”

House Bill 3360 would require anyone referring to themselves as a veterinary technician to be licensed with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The bill would ensure that veterinary technicians have graduated from an accredited program and passed the exam required for the license. The bill would also require vet techs to visibly display their license in their office.

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Halpin bill to ensure homeowners receive attorney’s fees passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to ensure defendants in a home repair or remodeling contract dispute receive attorney’s fees passed committee today.

“If homeowners have a genuine dispute and receive a favorable ruling, they should receive full coverage of attorney’s fees,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This will make sure a resident will have one less cost barrier to enforce their rights against a contractor.”

State law already requires consumer contracts in cases under $10,000 to pay out attorney’s fees to a consumer if the consumer prevails in their action. This initiative would ensure that if a home repair and remodeling contract allows attorney’s fees then the contract will permit the award of attorney’s fees to all parties in the contract.

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Feigenholtz champions measure to protect Chicago restaurants

SPRINGFIELD — Third-party restaurant ‘booking’ services have cropped up in foodie destinations recently, including Chicago. Scooping up restaurant reservations and reselling them on an auction-style platform with the promise of exclusivity is a new trick. In response, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is leading a bill aiming to protect Illinoisans from these price-gouging tactics. 

“Restaurants operate on the slimmest of margins to keep prices competitive and attract customers,” Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said. “When bad actors try to turn a profit using a restaurant’s name and likeness without consent, owners are left scrambling with no-shows, eroding trust in the culinary industry.”

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