SPRINGFIELD – To address the growing need for direct support professionals, State Senator Laura Murphy passed legislation to provide college students with hands-on training and experience in the field.

“Direct Support Professionals help disabled individuals realize their full potential, that is why it is vital to help remove barriers to entering the workforce,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “The pandemic exacerbated the shortage of disability staff members, and we need to develop programs that help students get the experience they need to enter this workforce.”

SPRINGFIELD – To help libraries have an easier time acquiring e-book and audiobook licenses, State Senator Laura Murphy passed legislation through the Senate Thursday.

“There is a demand for e-books and audiobooks, but more often than not the prices set by publishers is prohibitively expensive, restrictive or simply not available,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “With the State Librarian negotiating on behalf of libraries, it is my hope that the process of acquiring licenses will become easier.”

The measure would allow the Secretary of State, acting as the State Librarian, to negotiate with publishers of e-books and audiobooks on behalf of libraries to get necessary licensure of the product. Additionally, it would establish a grant program to provide funds to libraries and library districts to pay for digital licenses.

Consumption of digital books has been on the rise for more than a decade. According to Pew, checkout rates of e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines exceeded half a billion in 2021. However, publishers can set expiration dates on their licenses, limit the number of times an e-book can be borrowed or refuse them altogether.

“It is my hope that a proactive approach will allow our libraries greater access to these e-books and audiobooks,” Murphy said. “Libraries provide an invaluable service to our communities. It is time they get the help they need to fully provide this popular service.”

Senate Bill 2419 passed the Senate and now heads to the House for further deliberation.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase communication between schools and students, State Senator Laura Murphy is leading a measure to include parents in meetings regarding students being transferred to alternative schools.

“When transferred to an alternative school, students and their families are often left in the dark,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It is essential that students and their parents know the requirements to return to the regular school when it is in their best interests. Transparency is key.”

Alternative schools are designed to educate students who have not been successful in regular schools, due to either behavioral or discipline issues. Both the sending school and the alternative school hold meetings regarding the student and establish an alternative education plan for them. Murphy’s measure would ensure that students and their parents or guardians are invited to participate in the meetings.

Before the effective date of the student’s transfer, the parents or guardians must be provided with the specific nature of the curriculum, number of students in the school, available services, disciplinary policies, typical daily schedule and extracurricular activities, under Murphy’s proposal.

“Transfers to alternative schools are meant to ensure the student is successful –they are meant to aid in educating students who are not flourishing in traditional environments,” Murphy said. “We want them to succeed – that is why it’s best to keep lines of communication open and establish expectations for the student to succeed.”

Senate Bill 183 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate floor for further deliberation.

SPRINGFIELD – To address the growing need for direct support professionals, State Senator Laura Murphy is leading legislation to provide college students with hands-on training and experience in the field.

“We are facing a crisis amongst providers to our disability community,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It has been exacerbated post-pandemic, as we face an event greater shortage of disability workers who serve our most vulnerable community members.”

This legislation would require the Illinois Community College Board to create a model program of study for college students to receive class credit that incorporates the training and experience necessary to serve as direct support professionals. If adopted, the program would begin in the 2026-2027 academic year.

This builds upon the Murphy-supported legislation passed in the 102^nd General Assembly, which created a pilot program for high school students to train and become certified to join the existing disability specialist workforce after graduation, which began in the 2022-2023 academic year.

According to a 2022 survey of Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities members, 28% of providers are unable to accept new patients and 72% of providers have delayed service expansion due to staffing shortages.

“Many young people are passionate about disability services, but may be hesitant to start a career in this field because a lack of hands-on training,” Murphy said. “This measure would take the delay away and encourage students to pursue their goals of working as a Direct Support Professional.”

Senate Bill 1558 passed the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate floor for further deliberation.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to protect victims of wrongful foreclosures that occurred during the COVID pandemic, State Senator Laura Murphy has introduced a bill that would seal foreclosure records that were initiated during the foreclosure moratoria.

“Many families struggled with job and income losses due to the pandemic. As a result, they fell behind on rent and mortgage payments,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Despite the protections put in place at the state and federal level, many families wrongfully lost their homes. We need to do our part to ensure that our hardworking families do not suffer from the negative impacts of foreclosure.”

The measure would allow a mortgagor to request that foreclosure records be sealed if they were meant to be protected under the moratoria enacted by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Corporation, the Federal Housing Administration, or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to ATTOM, a property and real estate data platform, nationally nearly 12,000 properties had foreclosure filings in October 2020. In October 2021, one in every 1,923 homes in Illinois faced foreclosure. Chicago ranked fourth among cities with a population of at least 220,000 with one in every 2,284 homes facing foreclosure.

“Foreclosures on an individual’s record can have countless impacts, including their ability to qualify for another mortgage, which will only perpetuate the cycle started by these wrongful foreclosures,” said Murphy. “I want to protect the families of Illinois, and prevent wrongful foreclosures from sabotaging their futures.”

Senate Bill 201 passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. It now goes to the Senate floor for further deliberation.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Illinoisans in need of insulin have affordable access to the life-saving medicine, State Senator Laura Murphy has introduced a measure to cap its price at $35. 

“No Illinois family should have to go into debt or skip meals to afford life-saving medications,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “We have made great strides in Illinois to make insulin more affordable, but we will not stop our work until every person who needs this medication has continuous access to it.”

In addition to capping out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month, Murphy’s measure would also outline a plan to ensure that residents in urgent need of insulin are able to receive it in a timely manner.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy has been appointed to serve as Assistant Majority Leader of the Illinois Senate.

“I am honored to take on the role of Assistant Majority Leader,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “It’s a privilege to be entrusted to represent my colleagues in this capacity, and I look forward to working with them to advance legislation that brings positive change to our great state.”

Murphy is one of four assistant leaders in the Senate Democratic Caucus who assist the Senate President to develop and implement an agenda for the majority party.

SPRINGFIELD – Thanks to a measure from State Senator Laura Murphy local governments and municipalities have better tools to hold utility companies accountable for payments.

“Utility companies already collect this tax on behalf of municipalities—it’s just a question of whether the money gets where it’s supposed to go,” Murphy said. “This legislation would ensure local governments can depend on utility companies to hold up their end of the bargain.”