SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will now have more access to mental and behavioral health specialists thanks to a law signed Friday supported by State Senator Scott Bennett.

“People living with mental health conditions often go without treatment because of the obstacles in place,” said Bennett (D-Champaign). “This new law breaks down those barriers and will help people access the care they need when they need it the most.”

In Illinois, there are only 14 behavioral health care professionals for every 10,000 Illinois residents. Many people are forced to wait longer for essential treatment or forego health care entirely because of this gap. This can be detrimental to their mental and physical well-being.

SPRINGFIELD – As more Illinoisans seek mental and behavioral health supports, a new law championed by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is designed to ensure the workforce can meet the demands.  This workforce expansion bill was signed into law June 10, 2022.

“Mental health is just as important as physical health,” Fine said. “With this law, we are able to reduce barriers to improve the mental health workforce so that all who are seeking mental and behavioral health care will have access to this necessary care.” 

MAYWOOD – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford's plan to create HIV/AIDS supportive servicies across Illinois disenfranchised communities was signed into law on Friday. 

“In 2005, I led the creation of the African American HIV/AIDS Responsive Act in response to the specific impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Illinois disenfranchised communities, and now this law builds upon that act,” Lightford said. “Creating a Center of Excellence Biomedical Resource Hub for HIV/AIDS preventative care including supportive services is key in treating HIV-infected residents and preventing the continuous spread of this disease, which will help slow down the epidemic.”

CHICAGO – To make it easier for people to access HIV preventative care, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) championed a recently signed law to allow pharmacists to provide HIV tests and preventative medications to help reduce new HIV infections.

Simmons’ law will allow pharmacists to dispense and administer drugs, order laboratory tests, and consult individuals on HIV pre-exposure drugs and post-exposure drugs. Pharmacists will first have to complete an educational training course on the administration of tests and medications prior to being permitted to assist patients. 

SPRINGFIELD – The burden of silence many people face when returning to the workplace almost immediately following the loss of a pregnancy can cause emotional upheaval. State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) passed a newly signed law to allow people to take leave following pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or other fertility issues.

“The emotional anguish suffered after a miscarriage or stillbirth is often debilitating,” Bush said. “Returning to work sooner than they’d like leaves little room for grief, mourning and healing.”

CHICAGO – Neighborhoods like Englewood, Woodlawn and others across the state suffer from food insecurity, an issue to be addressed thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Mattie Hunter, which expands access to healthy foods across Chicago communities and statewide.

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity estimates that 500,000 Illinoisans have limited or no direct access to local stores.

“There are too many Illinoisans eating poorly simply because they don’t have access to healthier food,” said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Food insecurity is one of the issues I’ve been fighting for a long time, and I am confident that this law will help to end food deserts in our state.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the 2022 Parent Mentor Graduating Class with more than 1,300 Parent Mentors and more than 200 Parent Mentor coordinators and organizers from 40 community organizations and 200 schools in 39 school districts across the state of Illinois.

“It is an honor for me to provide some thoughtful words to the amazing Parent Mentors of this year’s class. They help fill a systemic gap in our education system by volunteering their time a couple hours a day to assist our teachers in instruction and organizing. They help our young students dream big and chart their course toward success, both in and out of the classroom.

“This program helps create stronger classrooms, stronger families, and stronger communities. This program works so well that many Parent Mentors go on to serve in faculty and staff roles for their schools.

“I am proud to have helped appropriate the necessary funds to not only continue, but expand, the Parent Mentor program.”

CHICAGO – For the first time since 2019, the number of sexual assault kits awaiting testing, also referred to as the DNA backlog, has been eliminated, announced State Senator Patricia Van Pelt.

After decades of extensive sexual assault forensic backlogs, the number of pending sexual assault forensic assignments older than 180 days, which was once more than 1,800, has reached zero.

“The reduction of this backlog has been a long time coming, and I am so glad that there are no more outstanding sexual assault kits,” said Van Pelt (D-Chicago). “Families have spent years waiting for some kind of answer—for some kind of accountability for their loved ones that have been lost—and today I am thinking of what this progress means for them.”