Educators charged with sex crimes, violent felonies or certain drug offenses

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) issued the following statement today after the Illinois State Board of Education announced information documenting the success of her law to help protect CPS students from sexual predators and criminals:

“When the media publicized the number of sexual violence reports in Chicago Public Schools last year, we knew something had to be done. It’s humbling to know my law is already making a difference only two months after being signed. Misconduct from school employees will not be tolerated. No child should feel afraid or threatened while in their classroom.”

CHICAGO – Increased diversity among financial services contractors that work with state pension funds was the subject of two days of Senate hearings this week.

State Senator Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) chaired the hearings, during which Deputy Gov. Dan Hynes and representatives of state, county and local municipal pension funds testified about the importance of accountability and the need for diversity of minorities and women from the top down.

“Some pension systems are doing much better than when we started these hearings, but it’s clear we still need to improve diversity across the board,” Martinez said. “We have a lot of great minority and women-owned firms here in Illinois that deserve an opportunity, and they’re just not getting it.”

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez announced four new road and bridge projects in the 20th District under the Illinois Department of Transportation’s five-year Highway Improvement Program, slated to begin in 2020.

“This is a smart, comprehensive plan to repair our roads and bridges, increasing reliability for drivers while also creating sustainable jobs for people in Illinois,” Martinez said.

The Highway Improvement Program released by Governor JB Pritzker and a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday includes:

• $14.5 million to rehabilitate Montrose Ave. Bridge on I-94 Kennedy Expressway
• $2.1 million for preservation repairs on Elston Ave. from I-94 Edens Expressway to Central Park Ave.
• $600,000 for preservation repairs on I-94 from Edens Expressway to Hubbard St.
• $420,000 to rehabilitate Avondale Ave. from Pulaski Rd. to Addison St.

SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) has been named to serve on the Children’s Mental Health Partnership, she announced Tuesday.

“Children in Illinois are suffering from mental health issues because they don’t have access to the adequate resources required to treat their illnesses,” Martinez said. “As a member on this bipartisan coalition, I am devoted to being a strong voice for children needing assistance with their mental health.”

The Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) is the only statewide, public/private partnership of policymakers and advocates in Illinois committed to improving the scope, quality, and access of mental health programs, services, and supports for children.

SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is making it easier for graduating high schoolers to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Her new law requires the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to accept other testing methods for students to demonstrate English language proficiency for eligibility for the seal.

“Learning to read, write and speak in two different languages is an impressive skill for anyone, particularly young people,” Martinez said. “This law gives ISBE more flexibility to recognize that achievement.”

The State Seal of Biliteracy is a recognition given to graduating high school students who have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in English and in reading, writing, listening and speaking in another language.

House Bill 3237 is effective immediately.

SPRINGFIELD — Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is continuing her work to ensure the needs of immigrant communities in Illinois are met.

Her new law creates the Immigration Task Force to examine specified issues related to immigrant communities in Illinois, as well as possible solutions.

“Immigrants in our state are facing an extremely difficult time due to toxic rhetoric and policies from the federal government,” Martinez said. “I am glad the governor shares my commitment to making sure they know they are welcome and protected in Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD — A new law sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) creates rules to allow small distilleries to self-distribute spirits.

Martinez’s measure creates a class 1 craft distiller licensee, which allows a licensee to manufacture up to 50,000 gallons of spirits and to self-distribute or sell not more than 5,000 gallons of spirits to retail licensees or consumers.

The bill also creates a class 2 craft distiller license, which allows production of up to 100,000 gallons and allows the licensee to transfer up to 5,000 gallons of spirits to a distilling pub wholly owned and operated by the class 2 distiller.

SPRINGFIELD — A new law sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) seeks to crack down on the practice of notaries falsely advertising legal services.

Martinez’s measure strengthens the notice requirements for people who are advertising notary public services in a language other than English and who are not licensed to practice law or accredited as an immigration representative.

“We know that there are some bad actors taking advantage of those for whom English is not their first language and charging them for services they are not legally able to provide,” Martinez said. “I am glad the governor took this issue seriously and signed my legislation into law.”