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  4. Senator Celina Villanueva News

Villanueva champions equitable restroom law

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Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Friday, August 11, 2023 04:21 PM
  • LGBTQ
  • Gender Neutral
  • Villanueva
  • HB1286

Sen. Celina Villanueva

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a newly signed law to allow gender-neutral, multi-occupancy restrooms to be installed in private and public businesses.

“Businesses now have the autonomy to decide how to best show up for their communities,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “The inclusivity of this law not only benefits members of the LBGTQ community, but also those with disabilities, the elderly, and people with young children.”

A 2020 law, required that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 expands on that law, allowing businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed.

Read more: Villanueva champions equitable restroom law

Villanueva law supports students seeking need-based education financial assistance

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Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Tuesday, August 08, 2023 12:02 PM
  • Financial Aid
  • Villanueva
  • SB195

villanueva 061623
SPRINGFIELD
- State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a newly signed law to prevent students from taking advantage of loopholes to qualify for need-based financial aid for college.

“Students who are legitimately eligible for financial aid fear not receiving such assistance at the hands of others taking part of a guardianship change scam,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “It’s disheartening that people are using this tactic to essentially take away aid from students who need it.”

Senate Bill 195 is a direct response to previous public reports that Illinois students became eligible for need-based education financial assistance through the practice of "opportunity hoarding." Opportunity hoarding is the practice of exploiting a loophole in the Probate Act by transferring legal guardianship from a parent to a relative or friend in lower income brackets or by declaring financial independence.

In 2019 alone, approximately 82,000 students eligible for a state grant for low-income students didn’t receive it because there wasn’t enough money. Many higher education officials believe the increase in guardianship change is at fault.

Villanueva’s law will prevent guardianship changes if the primary purpose is to reduce the financial resources available for them to qualify for need-based financial aid.

“The students of tomorrow need our help today,” said Villanueva. “I will continue to fight for more equitable educational resources and stand up for the disadvantaged students who have fallen victim to a lack of assistance because of this loophole.”

Senate Bill 195 was signed into law Friday.

Villanueva law increases access to emergency contraceptives for college students

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Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Monday, August 07, 2023 12:57 PM
  • SB1907
  • Villanueva
  • Emergency Contraception

villanueva 032323SPRINGFIELD – A steadfast advocate for expanding reproductive health care, State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a newly signed law to require colleges and universities to have emergency contraceptives readily available for students.

“High costs and a feeling of shame should not restrict college students from the time-sensitive medication they are seeking,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Wellness kiosks give students another point of access to prevent a pregnancy that is unattended.”

Read more: Villanueva law increases access to emergency contraceptives for college students

Villanueva joins legislative leaders to discuss reproductive rights at the White House

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Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Friday, June 16, 2023 01:15 PM
  • Villanueva
  • Reproductive Rights
  • White House

villanueva WH 061623WASHINGTON, D.C. – State Senator Celina Villanueva joined legislative leaders at the White House Wednesday to discuss ways they can continue to fight for reproductive rights since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last year. 

As many black and brown communities have long faced barriers to abortion access and health care largely due to systemic barriers and discrimination, continuing the fight for equal healthcare rights and abortion care on a national level gives hopes to a population who is often overlooked and misrepresented,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Abortion is health care and everyone, no matter their income, immigration status, or zip code should be able to access the care they deserve without fear and obstacles.”

 

Read more: Villanueva joins legislative leaders to discuss reproductive rights at the White House

Villanueva targets domestic and sexual violence in massage therapist industry through new law

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Tuesday, June 13, 2023 01:45 PM
  • IDFPR
  • Villanueva
  • HB2756
  • Massage Licensing Act

villanueva 061223SPRINGFIELD – In order to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence in the massage therapist industry, State Senator Celina Villanueva’s House Bill 2756 was signed into law by the governor.

“It is extremely imperative that licensed massage therapists are required to have additional adequate training and education needed to perform their jobs in a respectful, non-harmful manner,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Without it, individuals can easily find themselves in a domestic violence and or sexual assault situation ruining their careers forever.”

The new law amends the Massage Licensing Act. For each license renewal period, one hour of continuing education needs to be domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education as prescribed by rule of the Department. A continuing education provider approved by IDFPR will provide the one-hour domestic violence and sexual assault awareness continuing education course.

The measure makes it mandatory for licensed massage therapists to take 25, rather than 24, hours of continuing education courses to renew their massage license. The additional hour must include domestic violence and sexual assault awareness.

“As we take sexual assault and domestic violence seriously in the state of Illinois, I am glad we are able to continue educating individuals about the importance of these topics and train those whose profession can easily be compromised if ever found in a situation related to domestic and sexual assault,” Villanueva added.

House Bill 2756 was signed into law Friday.

Villanueva continues fight for equitable restrooms

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Thursday, May 18, 2023 06:37 PM
  • Gender Neutral
  • Villanueva
  • All-Gender Restroom
  • HB 1286

Villanueva floor May 18 copy

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva continued her fight to allow gender-neutral, multi-occupancy restrooms to be installed in private and public businesses.

“By passing this legislation, we are ensuring that people of the LGBTQ community have a comfortable and safe space to use the restroom like everyone else in the state,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “This bill is about inclusivity – for not just the LGBTQ community, but for people with disabilities, older adults and families with young children.”

In January 2020, it became law that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 expands on that law, allowing businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed.

Read more: Villanueva continues fight for equitable restrooms

Villanueva pushes for restroom equality

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 05:28 PM
  • Gender Neutral
  • Villanueva
  • All-Gender Restroom
  • HB 1286

Villanueva action may1

 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva championed legislation to allow businesses to create gender-neutral multi-occupancy restrooms.

“Businesses deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about how they want to be more inclusive to the community,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Inclusion and equality is at the heart of this measure.”

In January 2020, it became law that all single occupancy public bathrooms in Illinois become gender neutral.

House Bill 1286 simply expands on that law. However, the legislation is permissive – gender specific multiple-occupancy restrooms are still allowed. Moreover, multiple-occupancy all-gender restrooms will have to meet additional privacy safeguards. Any restroom designated for all genders must have specified signage and stall dividers.

Read more: Villanueva pushes for restroom equality

Villanueva implements legislation that ensures charter schools can unionize

Details
Category: Senator Celina Villanueva News
Wednesday, May 10, 2023 03:34 PM
  • Charter Schools
  • Villanueva
  • Union Labor
  • HB 1120
  • Chicago Teachers' Union

Villanueva floor may copy

 

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Villanueva championed legislation that allows charter schools to unionize without being penalized by management of the charter school.

“Employees of charter schools should never be made to feel like their voices do not matter and their teaching is not important,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “All teachers play a vital role in the educational success of our state’s students.” 

House Bill 1120 is an initiative of the Chicago Teachers' Union that seeks to ensure that if the staff at a charter school chooses to form a union, the management of the charter school will not interfere.

Read more: Villanueva implements legislation that ensures charter schools can unionize

More Articles ...

  1. Villanueva implements legislation that ensures charter schools can unionize
  2. Villanueva measure to increase computer science, art teachers at CPS
  3. Villanueva: We must protect patients from deceptive, misleading reproductive health care practices
  4. Villanueva champions measure to address deceptive practices interfering with reproductive health care

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