SPRINGFIELD – To allow local governments to undertake grant projects when the time is best for their community, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) introduced a measure to give park districts more time to complete projects funded through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program. 

“As communities recover from the economic impact of the pandemic, local governments are getting back on track with their long-term project goals,” Murphy said. “Our park districts are best positioned to decide when it makes sense for their community to start taking on new projects again.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which administers the OSLAD grant program, provides an advance payment of 50% of the grant value upon awarding the grant. State law requires grantees to complete projects within two years of receiving grant funds, meaning that park districts have just two years after this advance payment to complete projects.

The legislation Murphy has proposed would allow park districts to opt out of advance payments on OSLAD grants, delaying the start of the two-year grant timeline and giving them more authority over when to begin projects.

In addition to allowing park districts more freedom on future projects, Murphy’s initiative would also provide more flexibility on active grant projects by directing IDNR to consider requests by grant recipients to extend the deadline on the use of grant funds.

“Recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic will take time. This legislation will ensure that park districts’ hard-earned grant funding will still be available when they’re ready to tackle new projects,” Murphy said.

Senate Bill 321 passed the Local Government Committee Tuesday and awaits consideration by the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – Residents of mobile home parks could see improved financial transparency and more dependable clean water access under two measures proposed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“There are a number of mobile home parks in the Northwest Suburbs and surrounding communities. Our friends and neighbors live in these parks, and they need someone to advocate on their behalf,” Murphy said. “These initiatives are meant to increase transparency for mobile home buyers and improve conditions in mobile home parks.”

A loan for a mobile home located in a mobile home park is different from a mortgage: Mobile homes are assessed and taxed as personal property, not real estate; interest rates are often much higher than those for typical home loans; and refinancing options are limited. To ensure residents are well informed when purchasing a mobile home, Senate Bill 1779 would require lenders to disclose these differences to prospective mobile home buyers.

Murphy has also introduced Senate Bill 1780, which calls for the owner of a mobile home park to provide water to residents if the normal water supply has been disrupted for more than three days. Murphy was inspired to introduce the legislation after a weeklong water shortage in 2019 at the Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines, which left residents unable to shower, do laundry or wash dishes.

“Mobile home owners are part of our community,” Murphy said. “Like any other property owner, they deserve to know the terms of their loan agreements, and they deserve to be able to depend on a basic standard of living.”

Senate Bills 1779 and 1780 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday and now head to the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – Residents of long-term care facilities could avoid burdensome red tape and administrative delays in receiving their prescribed medications under a measure proposed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to exempt these individuals from the four-prescription limit imposed on Medicaid patients.

“For residents of long-term care facilities, whose drug regimens are regularly reviewed, prior authorization requirements are often just an unnecessary hoop to jump through,” Murphy said. “Removing this barrier would allow patients to get the care they need more quickly and efficiently.”

The legislation would exempt residents in long-term care facilities, community-integrated living arrangements, supportive living facilities, and intellectual and developmental disability care facilities from having to request prior authorization when prescribed more than four medications.

Nearly 92% of older adults have at least one chronic condition and 77% have at least two, according to the Illinois Association of Long Term Care Pharmacy Providers. That often results in many long-term care facility residents regularly being prescribed more than four prescriptions.

Federal law mandates that a patient in a long-term care facility has his or her drug regimen reviewed at least once a month by a licensed pharmacist, who must report any irregularities to the attending physician and the director of nursing. The physician must make changes based on these reports. Advocates say this rigorous review process should allow long-term care facility residents to bypass the prior authorization requirement.

“We should be making it easier, not harder, for patients to follow the treatment plans prescribed by their doctors,” Murphy said. “This legislation would eliminate a significant obstacle standing between long-term care residents and better health.”

Senate Bill 142 passed the Senate Health Committee Tuesday and now heads to the full Senate.

SPRINGFIELD – More students could represent their schools feeling comfortable, confident and included under a proposed measure from State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) that would allow student athletes to modify their athletic uniforms to adhere to cultural, faith-based or physical comfort requirements.

“Athletic uniforms are about establishing a sense of unity among team members, but in certain situations, they can unintentionally exclude groups of students,” Murphy said. “By allowing athletes more flexibility in the design of their uniforms, we can give every student the opportunity to represent their school with pride.”

DES PLAINES – Cook and DuPage County communities will receive over $113 million in Rebuild Illinois funding to address local transportation needs, with more than $5.7 million allocated to townships and municipalities in the district State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) represents.

“Safe and modern infrastructure is critical to our community’s success,” Murphy said. “The Rebuild Illinois program will have a monumental impact on roads, sidewalks and bridges in our neighborhoods, making travel safer and easier for residents and visitors to the Northwest Suburbs.”

DES PLAINES – The Illinois Department of Public Health will partner with Chicago Behavioral Hospital to administer vaccines to residents in Des Plaines and surrounding communities, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced today.

“Expanding access to the vaccine is especially important in the communities hit hardest by COVID-19, where rates of transmission, hospitalization and death are higher,” Murphy said. “This partnership with Chicago Behavioral Hospital will provide local residents a safe and convenient place to get vaccinated, which I hope will help our community bounce back and prevent further tragedy for the individuals and families who have been impacted by this pandemic.”

The state will provide the Des Plaines site with approximately 300-500 vaccine doses per week, in addition to the allocated doses the state distributes to existing health care partners, like local health departments and pharmacies.

Chicago Behavioral Hospital is one of nine sites in Illinois selected to participate in a pilot program launched by the state to ensure that communities hardest hit by COVID-19 have access to the vaccine.

The state-sponsored site at Chicago Behavioral Hospital will supplement the new Cook County mass vaccination site opening at the former Kmart in Des Plaines to significantly expand access to vaccines in the Northwest Suburbs.

Vaccines will be available to residents by appointment only. For additional information about vaccine availability, including locations and eligibility, visit www.coronavirus.Illinois.gov.

DES PLAINES – A mass COVID-19 vaccination site will open at the former Kmart in Des Plaines, thanks in part to efforts by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to secure a more convenient location for residents in the Northwest Suburbs to receive their dose.

“It’s great to see this much-needed vaccination site open in Des Plaines, a community that suffered some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the region earlier in the pandemic,” Murphy said. “This repurposed facility will allow residents throughout the O’Hare corridor to take that all-important step to protect themselves and their loved ones: Getting vaccinated.”

The site will be housed in the former Kmart located at 1155 E. Oakton St. in Des Plaines and will be open to residents in Phases 1A and 1B, including health care personnel, first responders, front-line essential workers, and residents 65 and older.

In February, Murphy and other North Suburban senators sent a letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle urging the county to open a community vaccination site in the area. Lawmakers cited disproportionately high COVID-19 rates and a large population of older residents, a potentially deadly combination, as reasons to prioritize the area in the county’s vaccine distribution plan.

According to Cook County officials, appointments will be available at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Vaccinations will begin Friday or Saturday, pending delivery of vaccine supplies from the federal government.

“When it’s your turn, I encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It’s the best way you can protect yourself and your loved ones,” Murphy said. “The faster we get everyone vaccinated, the sooner we can start going out to eat, traveling, and enjoying the in-person company of our family and friends again.”

SPRINGFIELD – College students in Illinois could see lower textbook purchase and rental costs under legislation filed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines), which requires colleges and universities to find ways to make course materials more affordable.

“A full-time undergraduate student today spends nearly $1,300 per year on textbooks and supplies. Especially on top of tuition and other fees, that can be overwhelming,” Murphy said. “It’s time to explore more affordable options, like inclusive access models, e-books, and subscription and rental programs.”