SPRINGFIELD – Protections for survivors of sexual assault will expand to allow family members of survivors to file petitions for civil no-contact orders under a new law sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago).

“Survivors of sexual assault should be able to go about their daily lives without worrying about their abuser contacting them or their loved ones,” Villa said. “Expanding civil no-contact orders to include family members of survivors is imperative to restoring a sense of normalcy and peace in the lives of survivors and their families.”

Under current law, a petition for a civil no-contact order can be filed by a survivor of non-consensual sexual conduct or by another person on behalf of a survivor who cannot file the petition. Villa’s new law will expand eligibility to offer protections for family or household members of survivors of sexual harassment and assault.

In order to qualify for these protections, the person filing the petition must first receive consent from the survivor.

House Bill 1742 was signed into law Friday and will take effect Jan. 1, 2022.

SPRINGFIELD – The state’s Call4Calm text line to support Illinois residents' mental health needs is now permanent thanks to an initiative led by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago).

“Due to the pandemic, mental health outcomes are more concerning than ever, and this text line is an essential outlet,” Van Pelt said. “Call4Calm can still benefit those who struggle with their mental health even after this pandemic is over, and must remain a mental health resource.”

Initially, Call4Calm was launched as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a remote patient monitoring program and support line available to anyone in the state.

SPRINGFIELD – Epilepsy specialists will be able to provide telehealth treatment services with the assurance of reimbursement from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services under a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“Patients seeking telehealth treatment for epilepsy and their providers will no longer have to worry about payment parity for services from home,” Senator Fine said. “Epilepsy specialists delivering the same treatment via telehealth as they would in person should be reimbursed accordingly.”

More than 65 million people around the world are living with epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, and many have chosen to seek telehealth treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Fine’s law will ensure epilepsy specialists in Illinois receive the reimbursement they deserve for providing treatment via telehealth to individuals with epilepsy or related disorders.

“The world we are living in could not be more different than the pre-pandemic world, and it’s time to normalize and expand telehealth services,” Senator Fine said. “Illinoisans will now be able to seek timely and proximate treatment for epilepsy from the comfort of their homes without lingering concerns regarding coverage.”

House Bill 3025 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD - A new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) gives public workers a better way to save for retirement.

“I’m happy the governor signed this plan to make better retirement savings available to many people in Illinois,” Martwick said. “Encouraging public workers to invest in their retirement early on will allow for greater savings later in life and a more financially stable future.”

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

“Students may be prescribed opiates to relieve pain after injuries or surgeries before they can learn the effects of addiction or dependency,” Crowe said. “It’s important that children know the health consequences associated with opioid misuse 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 law would begin engaging students in age-appropriate discussions on opioid abuse from kindergarten to eighth grade.

CHICAGO - A new law sponsored by State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) will help increase the diversity of Illinois’ business community.

“Diversity is an important aspect of the business community,” Jones said. “All historically discriminated against communities deserve representation in the business world.”

Senate Bill 1730 requires publicly held domestic or foreign corporations in Illinois to report the self-identified sexual orientation and gender identity of each member of the company board in their annual report to the secretary of state.

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois community college students with a B-average or better will automatically qualify to transfer to the University of Illinois thanks to an initiative cosponsored by Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

“This new law gives students a great reason to stay close to home and offers the U of I the ability to bring hardworking students to campus,” Bennett said. “This allows us to keep Illinois’ best and brightest in the state for their university career, and makes for a smooth transition for community college students.”

SPRINGFIELD – To better protect the health of children and all Illinois residents, the use of toxic coal tar-based pavement sealant in construction projects at public schools and state agencies will have to be disclosed under a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview), which was signed into law Friday.

“Children and families across Illinois should be able to live their lives without exposure to cancer-causing chemicals on the playground or at work,” Senator Fine said. “This law will protect our communities today and our environment for years to come.”