SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans who are unable to afford their medications would be able to take advantage of the state’s first prescription drug repository program under legislation sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), which passed the Senate Thursday.
“Many Illinois families are forced to make difficult choices due to the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs — choices that often result in skipping much-needed medication,” Villa said. “I-DROP will help families struggling to afford prescription medicine.”
Read more: Prescription drug donation program created under Villa measure
SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that would make civil no contact orders permanent for sexual assault survivors whose assailants are criminally convicted of sexual assault passed the Illinois General Assembly on Monday.
“People who’ve been through a sexual assault will live with that trauma for the rest of their lives,” Stadelman said. “I believe it’s our responsibly to help ease their burdens and not make them relive that trauma by forcing them to return to court year after year.”
Currently, under Illinois state law, sexual assault survivors are forced to see their assailants in court every two years to renew their no contact orders.
Read more: Stadelman measure protecting sexual assault survivors passes Illinois General Assembly
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that passed the General Assembly on Thursday would require public schools that offer sex education curricula to include a lesson about the risks of sexting.
“Technology has evolved a significant amount in the last decade,” Stadelman said. “This legislation would update Illinois’ sex education curriculum to include a lesson on sexting, so students can learn about the real-life consequences of the virtual act.”
The legislation would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to revise their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.
Read more: Stadelman legislation teaches students the consequences of sexting
Read more: Stadelman moves Illinois one step closer to a high-speed rail network
Legislation is part of Collins’ push against trafficking
SPRINGFIELD – Information about human trafficking would also be displayed in public restrooms of establishments like truck stops, hotels and restaurants as part of the latest legislation fighting human trafficking sponsored by State Senator Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago).
“This may seem like a minor action, but we must remember two very important things: Human trafficking is here in Illinois, and it thrives on invisibility,” said Collins. “Today, we have taken a small step toward raising awareness about this crime against humanity.”
Collins is the Senate sponsor of House Bill 588, which would require high-traffic businesses to display signs in their restrooms created by the Illinois Department of Human Services that list the phone number for the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline.
Read more: Senate passes another part of Collins’ plan to fight human trafficking
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Senate approved a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) that would increase transparency around misconduct and discipline at Chicago Public schools.
“Parents lose the ability to properly take care of their children if they don’t know about important events like fights at school,” Peters said. “Parents have the right to know what’s going on at their kids’ schools so that they can help their kids get the proper treatment and care to deal with traumatic events.”
Read more: Peters: Parents have the right to know what’s going on at their kids’ schools
SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would ensure that special education students in Illinois are able to complete their schooling passed out of the Senate on Wednesday.
“Students all across Illinois have faced significant challenges over the last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Koehler said. “It is no different for special education students, except that an interrupted school year may mean that they are unable to finish their education under current regulations.”
Read more: Measure by Koehler to support special education students advances out of the Senate
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) pledged to continue work on his initiative to demand that excessive profits received by Managed Care Organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic be returned to the state.
“As we begin to move into a post-COVID-19 world, we’re seeing that managed care organizations brought in record-breaking profits while many communities across the state struggled to receive basic care and necessary resources during the pandemic,” Koehler said. “If we are able to reallocate excess profits from these companies, we can help hospitals stay open and keep providing lifesaving care in our low-income and rural communities.”
The legislation was filed in response to decreased health care service use during the period where elective surgeries and procedures were postponed. Decreased use resulted in MCOs paying fewer claims and therefore retaining unprecedented amounts of enrollment-based profit, the scope of which was revealed via a Better Government Association investigation. Those wishing to read more about the results of the investigation can visit the BGA’s website.
Read more: Koehler calls for hearings on legislation requiring MCOs to return excess profits
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