SPRINGFIELD – Employees who are found to be underpaid by their employers could be entitled to damages worth 5% of the monthly amount they were underpaid in addition to the full underpayment amount owed under an initiative proposed by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), which passed the Senate Tuesday.

“Illinoisans who go to work day in and day out deserve to be justly compensated,” Villa said. “Wage theft is a crime, and this legislation will help deter the bad actors from taking advantage of those who cannot speak up.”

Currently, employees who do not receive wages in a timely manner are entitled to file a claim to recover their unpaid wages, plus damages totaling 2% of the amount of monthly underpayments. Villa’s legislation would increase the percentage paid in damages from 2% to 5% to more effectively deter wage theft by employers.

SPRINGFIELD – Biomarker testing — the medical technology used to determine medical risk factors like cancer — would be covered under state-regulated insurance plans under a measure sponsored by Assistant Majority Leader Tony (D-Chicago), which passed the Senate Tuesday.

“Inequalities exist in our health care services, especially for communities of color and people with lower income,” Munoz said. “Everyone deserves the right to benefit from this testing that can lead to better health outcomes, and this is essential for our fight against inequalities in our health care services.”

A “biomarker” is a sign of disease or abnormal function that can be measured in blood, tissue or bodily fluid. In cancer care, biomarkers are often used to help determine the best treatment for a patient. Biomarker testing analyzes a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans living with human immunodeficiency virus will soon be free from fear of criminal prosecution after a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) cleared its final legislative hurdle Tuesday.

“Laws that criminalize HIV are outdated, dangerous, discriminatory, and out of line with current science,” Peters said. “This practice has no place in modern society. HIV is a medical condition and must be treated as such. Individuals living with it should not have to fear being punished simply because they are sick.”

SPRINGFIELD – To give young people the tools to recognize and prevent opioid abuse, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) advanced legislation through the Senate to educate students on the dangers of opioid addiction.

“Young students and athletes may be prescribed opiates to relieve pain from injuries or surgeries before learning the risks of abuse,” Crowe said. “It’s important that kids know the health consequences associated with opioid misuse and dependency before entering high school.”

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 54 Illinois residents ages 15-24 fatally overdosed in 2019, with an additional 581 non-fatally overdosing. Crowe’s plan would begin engaging students in age-appropriate discussions on opioid abuse from kindergarten to eighth grade.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) allowing students to choose whether or not to submit their ACT and SAT scores when applying to Illinois colleges and universities passed the General Assembly on Tuesday.

“Test anxieties are real. We know standardized tests are not reliable indicators of graduation rates,” Belt said. “Taking a snapshot of a student’s high school years and reducing it down to a single test isn't fair.”

The measure creates the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, which would prohibit Illinois’ public universities from relying solely on a student’s ACT or SAT score to make an admissions decision.

DANVILLE – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced the Illinois Department of Transportation has slated an estimated $45.3 million in infrastructure projects to improve roads throughout Vermilion County.

“Transportation infrastructure is an essential part of daily living for drivers who are traveling for work, running errands, or visiting our area,” Bennett said. “We need to continue to improve our state’s aging infrastructure by making our roadways more accessible for commuters.”

IDOT announced a number of major infrastructure projects representing an estimated $45.3 million in investments for the area, including:

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) hosted a vaccination event in partnership with Howard Brown Health, the Illinois Institute of Technology, State Representative Lamont Robinson, State Representative Kam Buckner, and Alderman Pat Dowell Saturday.

“From our community health fairs to these mass vaccinations, Illinois Tech has been a terrific partner in helping to promote a healthy and thriving community,” Hunter said. “I am excited to have partnered with them on this vaccination event, helping Illinoisans stay protected against the worst of COVID-19.”

Howard Brown Health provided first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine Saturday. Vaccinations were open to all students, faculty, and staff, and neighbors throughout Chicago’s Southside community. More than 400 people came out to get their shot.

NAPERVILLE – With the release of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s multi-year plan to improve Illinois’ roads and bridges, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is pleased to see the Illinois Route 38 expansion between Wheaton and Winfield proceeding in 2022.

“Investing in our area’s roads and highways is essential to the safety of both drivers and pedestrians,” Ellman said. “I am thankful that the state is taking the next step toward making Route 38 more accessible and safe for people in our community.”

The IL Route 38 project proposes to widen the highway to include two 11-foot wide lanes in each direction and expand to a 16-foot wide barrier median. It also includes a proposed 8-foot wide shared-use path on the north side of the highway for bikers and pedestrians. IDOT’s plan expects the project to be completed within six years and to drastically improve the highway’s safety for both drivers and pedestrians.