SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure to mandate training for emergency medical dispatchers on how to provide CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

“We are losing too many of our friends and family to heart disease,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Ensuring that our emergency dispatchers are well-equipped to handle these situations will save lives.”

Senate Bill 1295 would mandate all 911 telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers to be trained in telecommunicator CPR. T-CPR involves a dispatcher providing over-the-phone CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest. This process is a key part of the chain of survival for cardiac arrest.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the murder of Sonya Massey, State Senator Doris Turner is leading two measures that advanced out of the Senate Executive Committee Thursday.

“Sonya’s tragic murder brought to light the unjust hiring practices within the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “The legislative measures come from conversations with state and county officials, law enforcement and community members. We have to take the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through committee to mandate training for emergency medical dispatchers on how to provide CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

“We are losing too many of our friends and family to heart disease,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Ensuring that our emergency dispatchers are well-equipped to handle these situations will save lives.”

Senate Bill 1295 would mandate all 9-1-1 telecommunicators to be trained in telecommunicator-CPR and would require emergency medical dispatchers to be trained in T-CPR. T-CPR is when a dispatcher provides over-the-phone CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest. This process is a key part of the chain of survival for cardiac arrest.

SPRINGFIELD – As a strong supporter of agriculture education, State Senator Doris Turner is sponsoring a measure that would allow any agriculture-related course to satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students.

“Understanding agriculture is important in Illinois, and our curricula should reflect that,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Students should be able to use their agricultural studies to fulfill graduation requirements.”

Senate Bill 1605 would clarify in statute that agricultural education, agricultural business or any other agriculture-related course can satisfy the vocational education requirement for public high school students beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, one year of music, art, foreign language, vocational education or speech and debate are required to graduate from high school.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure to simplify the process for students seeking higher education scholarships.

“After conversations with my summer interns who were applying to college, they stressed the need for a one-stop shop for information on scholarships,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We want to encourage students to continue their education, and this would make it easier for students to see what financial aid is available.”

Senate Bill 1331 would create the Illinois Scholarship Database, developed and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, to be used as a tool for improving Illinois students' knowledge of and access to higher education scholarships.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner has introduced two measures in response to the murder of Sonya Massey last year.

“Sonya’s death should have never happened,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Since that fatal day, I have worked with state and county officials, law enforcement and community members to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Alongside Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter, we created the Massey Commission to address systemic issues in law enforcement practices, mental health responses, and community relations. Both of these measures came directly from the commission.”

Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure his or her physical and psychological fitness for duty as a police officer before making an offer of employment. To ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in the hiring process of sheriffs’ deputies and other personnel, the legislation would expand the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merits commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.

SPRINGFIELD – Funeral homes will be held accountable under a new law spearheaded by State Senator Doris Turner that came in response to a Carlinville funeral home insufficiently handling human remains, giving over 60 families the wrong remains.

“After months of discussions regarding the death care industry, it was clear the status quo wasn’t working,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Families who lost loved ones experienced what no one ever thought was possible – receiving the wrong remains. It’s past time that we hold bad actors accountable.”

Senate Bill 2643 adds identification rules and regulations for the handling and storing of human bodies. Additionally, it requires funeral establishments and crematory authorities to maintain a chain of custody records that are uniquely identified to the deceased, ensuring the death care industry is able to identify the human remains in its possession through final disposition.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner was proud to visit Washington, D.C. last week to stand in support of the president signing a proclamation to designate a national monument to commemorate the 1909 race riot in Springfield. 

“The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument is a solemn reminder of the tragic events that took place in our city,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This designation is an important step toward healing and reconciliation, giving us space to educate and reflect.”

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation Friday designating a national monument to honor the 1908 race riot in Springfield that caused numerous deaths, injuries and destroyed dozens of Black-owned businesses and homes.