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Holmes measure would protect contract considerations for all public school staff undergoing consolidations

Details
Category: Senator Linda Holmes News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 03:50 PM
  • Holmes
  • Special Education
  • School Consolidation
  • SB3709

holmes 030922Adds special education staff to the current dissolution process

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois has 852 school districts, some of which have sought consolidation in recent years. One consideration is personnel issues such as contracts, compensation and seniority, and they affect educators, support staff and other faculty members.

State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora) introduced a measure to help address one personnel concern: special education staffers' contracts would transfer to the newly formed districts when public school districts or special education cooperatives are being formed, annexed or reorganized.Senate Bill 3709 passed in the Senate Wednesday.

Read more: Holmes measure would protect contract considerations for all public school staff undergoing...

Lawmakers advocate for legislation to expedite professional licenses

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Category: Member News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 01:37 PM
  • Glowiak Hilton
  • Stadelman
  • Professional Licenses
  • Licensing
  • SB 670

Glowiak Stadelman 3 9 22


SPRINGFIELD – To offer support to workers, a group of pro-business Democratic lawmakers held a press conference Wednesday to advocate for an initiative to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to expedite complete professional license applications.

“Health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and a variety of others are eager, qualified and ready to enter their respective industries but are waiting months for professional licenses to be issued by the state,” said State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs), chief Senate sponsor of Senate Bill 670. “Improving convenience, timeliness and accessibility for working people is a necessary step to building our economy and focusing efforts on recovery.”

Read more: Lawmakers advocate for legislation to expedite professional licenses

Stadelman support brings $800,000 to local museums

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Category: Senator Steve Stadelman News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 01:24 PM
  • Stadelman
  • Public Museum Capital Grants
  • Museums

Senator Stadelman

 

ROCKFORD – Thanks to support from State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) three local museums will receive a combined $838,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits.   

“Museums provide extraordinary opportunities for education and are great environments to explore and learn about our history,” Stadelman said. “The grants going to these museums will provide the resources necessary to serve the community.”

The Department of Natural Resources announced three museums in Rockford that will be receiving grants. The Rockford Art Museum will receive $301,000, the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens will receive $104,000, and the Discovery Center Museum will receive $433,000.

Read more: Stadelman support brings $800,000 to local museums

Villivalam: Caregivers deserve a living wage

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Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 01:22 PM
  • Villivalam
  • Caregivers
  • Living wage
  • SB 3607
  • HB 4616
  • HB 4647

Senator Villivalam

 

SPRINGFIELD – With support staff in community living facilities facing high turnover rates and low wages, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) joined advocates to support legislation to increase pay for these frontline workers.

“For too long, the funding meant for essential workers has not reached their wallets,” Villivalam said. “The staff who care for our most vulnerable neighbors deserve a living wage, and I stand with them in calling for better and fairer working conditions.”

Read more: Villivalam: Caregivers deserve a living wage

Senator Villivalam, Rep. Gong-Gershowitz announce formation of Illinois Assyrian Caucus

Details
Category: Senator Ram Villivalam News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 11:31 AM
  • Villivalam
  • Murphy
  • Johnson
  • Simmons
  • Illinois Assyrian Cacus

Sen. Ram Villivalam addresses reporters in Blueroom

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) announced the formation of the bipartisan, bicameral Illinois Assyrian Caucus today. The Illinois Assyrian Caucus will bring together members of the General Assembly to advocate for Illinois’s Assyrian community by providing a unified platform to educate the public on Assyrian-American identities and issues. Illinois is the first in the nation to establish a statewide caucus on Assyrian issues.

“Illinois is the most welcoming state in the nation and home to hundreds of diverse ethnic communities,” Villivalam said. “Together, we can elevate the voices of our Assyrian-American neighbors and partner in a united effort in addressing the issues their community faces.”

Read more: Senator Villivalam, Rep. Gong-Gershowitz announce formation of Illinois Assyrian Caucus

Feigenholtz: Illinois tourism industry needs funding for recovery efforts

Details
Category: Senator Sara Feigenholtz News
Wednesday, March 09, 2022 08:48 AM
  • Grants
  • Feigenholtz
  • Recovery Support
  • Hotel Job Recovery
  • SB 4148

Feigenholtz 3 8 22

 

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) joined the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association to urge the General Assembly to pass the Hotel Jobs Recovery Program, which would allocate funds toward rehiring workers after a two year record low occupancy rate caused by the pandemic.

“Nationally and right here in Illinois, the tourism industry took the hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” said Feigenholtz. “Unlike other industries, hotels and lodging were not given federal relief and need an infusion of 250 million in order to keep larger hotels that are destinations for convention visitors afloat. Without this funding, hotels and lodging businesses could be forced to close and many jobs will be lost.”

Read more: Feigenholtz: Illinois tourism industry needs funding for recovery efforts

Hastings works to alleviate Illinois’ teacher shortage

Details
Category: Senator Michael E. Hastings News
Monday, March 07, 2022 11:53 AM
  • Hastings
  • Teacher Shortage
  • Teachers
  • Substite Teachers

Senator Hastings

 

SPRINGFIELD – To help alleviate the nationwide teacher shortage, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) supported the passage of a package of legislative measures to help recruit substitute teachers, teacher assistants and support educators in the classroom.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are more than 4,000 unfilled positions in schools. Hastings believes a multifaceted approach is necessary to address the void.

“Like most states across the nation, Illinois is facing a teacher shortage,” Hastings said. “It is vital that we work with our schools administrators and teachers to help recruit and retrain staff to help educate and mentor the future leaders of our great state.

Read more: Hastings works to alleviate Illinois’ teacher shortage

The Majority Report 03/07/22 - Protecting our workers

Details
Category: Majority Report
Monday, March 07, 2022 09:51 AM
  • Holmes
  • Majority Report
  • Villanueva
  • Simmons
  • Youth Mental Health
  • Teachers
  • SB1143
  • Worker Protections
  • SB4028

Sen. Celina Villanueva

Villanueva measure pushes for worker protections

SPRINGFIELD - Action sponsored by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that would protect the rights of workers moved out of the Senate.

“Current law does not accurately reflect the working habits of our society, which is why this measure is so critical,” Villanueva said. “Having clear, strong labor laws is one of the most important ways we prevent the exploitation of workers whose contributions allow our communities to prosper.”

Read more.

 

Sen. Linda Holmes

Holmes: Teachers spending their money on classroom supplies deserve a tax break

SPRINGFIELD - Educators throughout the state spend their own money for classroom supplies and materials with no expectation of repayment, but that will change if State Senator Linda Holmes’ (D-Aurora) Senate Bill 1143 becomes law.

“Our school funding falls short of what materials students need in the classroom, and I’m pleased we can offer support in the gap between what district funding affords and how much educators are voluntarily spending out of their own pockets for these items,” Holmes said.

Read more.

 

Sen. Mike Simmons

Simmons leads measure to increase mental health support for students

SPRINGFIELD - In an effort to empower students and provide them with greater access to the resources they need, State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) initiated and passed a measure, Senate Bill 4028, that would require Illinois elementary and high schools to discuss how and where to find access to mental health treatment.

“Our children have been through constant stress the last two years,” said Simmons. “Their sacrifices from the pandemic have exacerbated the growing mental health crisis among our state’s youth.”

Read more.

 

members in the news

In case you missed it

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

Senate President Don Harmon, Oak Pak: Harmon talks music and what lessons he’s taken from it | Capitol Fax

Senator Laura Fine, Glenview: Fine proposes student loan repayment for human services workers | Patch

Senator Dave Koehler, Peoria: Senate approves Fowler, Koehler legislation to support auto industry | WQRL

 

Copyright 2022 - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - All Rights Reserved

More Articles …

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  4. Holmes drives efforts to expand Kendall County Courthouse for rapidly growing county
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