Caucus News

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of the Illinois Senate Thursday to ensure the mental health needs of school children are met.

House Bill 576 gives students the opportunity to take days off school to focus on their mental health without facing disciplinary action. The proposal comes as suicidal thoughts and mental health struggles among teens continues to rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates of suicide in young people increased 56% from 2007 to 2017. 

“Students experiencing mental health struggles need to know that they will not be disciplined for attending to their mental health.” Martwick said. “Giving students the opportunity to make up their work allows them to stay on track and not feel the pressure of falling behind.”

SPRINGFIELD – Today State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) passed legislation that ensures medical coverage for first responders injured in the line of duty.

“Our firefighters and police officers put themselves in danger every day.  When they are injured in service to our community, their medical treatment should be covered,” said Martwick.

Under current law, if a police officer or firefighter is injured while working and they receive immediate medical care, the city will cover the cost of medical treatment for duty-related injuries. House Bill 1777 requires the city of Chicago to notify injured first responders that they might qualify for duty benefits, which cover the full cost of medical treatments from an injury that occurred in the line of duty. The legislation also requires the city to pay for qualified treatment prior to issuing the notice.

CHICAGO – Last week, State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) was awarded the Friend of Education award by the Illinois Education Association for his continued commitment to helping students and educators in their pursuit of knowledge.

“It is an honor to receive such an outstanding award from an organization working to help the citizens of Illinois,” Martwick said. “Education remains the center of our society, and we must adapt to the ever-changing future as much as we can to help educators and student succeed.”

This Friend of Education award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated commitment to the success of public education and to the ideals and mission of the IEA-NEA.

Martwick has long been a supporter of education and works hard to make sure students are taken care of inside and outside of school. This means teachers are being recognized and supported for all their hard work, and students are able to feel safe and secure in the learning environment.

“I will continue to support educators and students who are working to better themselves,” Martwick said. “Creating meaningful legislation that works to improve our education system and ensure the safety and comfort of students and teachers is what is truly important.”

Martwick is currently sponsoring legislation like Senate Bill 1577, which would provide students with the ability to take mental health days away from school, and House Bills 576 and 577, which would help to identify students who are at risk for suicide and help bolster mental health awareness.

CHICAGO – This past Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced the fourth round of grants that are going out to local communities from the Rebuild Illinois Statewide Construction Program, and State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is pleased that approximately $1.9 million in funding is coming to the community to help rebuild transportation infrastructure and get people back on track.

“This funding will help many people find jobs while maintaining the transportation they use to visit family, go to school, and travel to work,” Martwick said. “This funding is a building block in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

A total of $1.5 billion spread out in six installments is being invested over three years to advance municipal, township and county projects across the state. Projects include road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs, with financial oversight from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

A complete list of local agencies and awards can be viewed here.

“An investment in our communities’ infrastructure goes a long way,” Martwick said. “People rely on our roads and bridges every day, and we need to make sure they remain safe.”

As part of its current FY2021-26 Proposed Highway Improvement Program, IDOT is investing a total of $21.3 billion to improve roads, bridges, and local transportation.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) is spearheading two measures to prioritize the mental health of students in schools.

Senate Bill 576 gives students the opportunity to take days off school to focus on their mental health without facing disciplinary action.

“When students are having mental health struggles, the last thing they need is the added stress of being penalized for missing school,” Martwick said. “Giving students the opportunity to make up their work allows them to stay on track and not feel the pressure of falling behind while trying to maintain a positive mental head space.”

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Robert Martwick’s (D-Chicago) legislation that would provide students with five excused absence days for mental health per school year passed the Illinois Senate Thursday.

“As society continues to increase the importance of addressing mental health as a part of health care, we must ensure that our students have the ability to address issues they are dealing with,” Martwick said. “This bill removes the stigma and allows students to prioritize their mental health and stability.”

Currently, state law requires that any child who is physically or mentally unable to attend school must be granted temporary absence from a physician or principal in order for the student to receive excused time off from school.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, suicidal thoughts among teens ages 18 or 19 increased 46% from 2008 to 2017, and suicide attempts among people ages 22 or 23 have doubled. A study conducted in 2019 showed that the rate of suicide increased by 56% from 2007 to 2017 among people ages 10 to 24. Suicide, in recent years, has become the second-most-common cause of death among teens and young adults. It has overtaken homicides and is outpaced only by accidents.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick’s (D-Chicago) legislation creating property tax exemptions of up to $5,000 for police and firefighters with qualifying duty-related disabilities passed the Illinois Senate on Wednesday.

“First responders put their lives at risk everyday to protect all of us and our families,” Martwick said. “This bill provides some much needed tax relief for those first responders who have become injured and disabled while serving.”

Senate Bill 1572 creates a property tax homestead exemption of up to $5,000 for police officers and firefighters with qualifying duty-related disabilities. Such exemptions would only apply if their homes have an assessed value of less than $250,000.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Martwick’s (D-Chicago) legislation that would create an elected Chicago Board of Education, starting with the 2022 primary election, passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

“This democratic step will allow the people of Chicago to vote on the school board members who make important decisions about their children’s future,” Martwick said. “Chicago parents deserve to take more control over the leaders in charge of their kids.”

Martwick’s legislation would create 20 school board member districts in order to ensure diversity and limit the influence of money on elections, while the board president would be elected at large. The board would initially be elected in the 2023 consolidated election for four year terms.