SPRINGFIELD – People seeking help for an individual experiencing an opioid overdose will no longer fear arrest under Alex’s Law, a new statute sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that was signed into law on Friday.
“Fear of criminal charges should never result in someone not receiving the medical assistance they need,” Ellman said. “Saving lives has to be our first priority.”
Read more: Alex’s Law aims to decrease opioid overdose deaths
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would waive trapping license requirements for disabled veterans, returning service members and those who are terminally ill was signed into law Friday.
“Our servicemen and women have sacrificed so much for all of us, and it is our duty to do anything we can to show them that we remember and appreciate that sacrifice,” Koehler said. “This is one small way we can make their lives easier.”
SPRINGFIELD – A new law spearheaded by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) that will help public state workers better save for retirement was signed into law Friday.
“Employees across the state deserve to know their hard work will pay off into retirement,” Martwick said. “Encouraging people to invest in their futures earlier on will allow for more savings that leads to more financial stability.”
Read more: New Martwick law to move public workers into better savings for retirement
CHICAGO – Many additional organizations that provide rape crisis services will be able to receive state recognition after legislation sponsored by State Senator Mike Simmons (D-Chicago) was signed Friday. Simmons says the new law will facilitate quick access to critical resources for survivors.
“The current definition of rape crisis center is too narrow and excludes a lot of great organizations,” Simmons said. “Organizations that share locations with other services or that provide rape crisis in tandem with other services can’t get the necessary certification, which severely limits their ability to provide help to the people who need it.”
Read more: More rape crisis services to be certified under new Simmons law
CHICAGO – To help clarify the Department of Children and Family Services’ role in assessing the living situations of children placed with parents out of state, State Senator Cristina Pacione-Zayas (D-Chicago) spearheaded a law signed Friday that lays out clear guidelines for when DCFS can assess these living arrangements.
“We have a clear duty to children who are or have been in state care, and it can’t be hindered by confusion over geographical lines,” Pacione-Zayas said. “This legislation will help fill in the gaps in current policy and make it easier for DCFS to do its job to protect our state’s children.”
CHICAGO – To better serve undocumented and immigrant communities, legislation introduced by State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) that would allow municipal ID cards to be used to access state services and facilities was signed into law today.
“All residents of Illinois, regardless of immigration status, should be able to receive essential state services,” Villivalam said. “Today Illinois renews its commitment to undocumented and immigrant communities that we are the most welcoming state in the nation.”
Read more: Villivalam makes state services more accessible through CityKey ID
CHICAGO – So that students better understand the naturalization process, a measure introduced by State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) that would allow schools to offer courses on naturalization and citizenship was signed into law today.
“More than two-thirds of students who take the U.S. Citizenship test in their history courses end up failing,” Villanueva said. “Schools may now offer instruction on citizenship so that students from all backgrounds know the effort it takes to go through the naturalization process.”
Read more: Villanueva law adds citizenship classes to high school curriculum
PARK FOREST – A comprehensive proposal by State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) aimed at eliminating Illinois’ teacher shortage was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.
“The teacher shortage in Illinois is a crisis, and this new law offers strategies to reverse the trend,” Joyce said. “As school districts return to in-person learning this fall, this new law will grant retired teachers the ability to substitute teach for more hours without impairing their retirement status.”
Read more: Joyce measure to alleviate Illinois teacher shortage signed into law
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