SPRINGFIELD – Schools that teach sex education would be required to include a lesson about the risks of sexting under a measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford), which passed committee Tuesday.

“The last time this curriculum was updated, technology was not as advanced as it is today,” Stadelman said. “This measure would modernize our state’s education standards to include sexting so our children know the long-term effects and consequences of what may seem like a harmless act.”

The measure would require schools that offer a sex education course or unit to modify their current curricula to include an age-appropriate lesson on sexting and its potential consequences.

SPRINGFIELD – To raise awareness and help improve mental health among young adults and middle school students, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is sponsoring legislation that would require school districts to provide contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line on student identification cards.

“We have great services available to help students who may be struggling,” Bennett said. “Printing this information on student ID cards means the hotline number is always close at hand, and more importantly, can be used as a lifeline for children and their families.”

The legislation, an initiative of the Illinois Education Association, would require the contact information for national crisis hotlines specializing in domestic violence, sexual assault and suicide to be printed on identification badges issued to public middle and high school students in Illinois. School districts that do not issue student IDs would instead be required to publish the information on their websites.

“In society today, our children are facing so many additional pressures and now even more stress brought on by the pandemic," said State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian), the sponsor of the bill in the House. "This is a simple step to ensure all of our young know about these vital resources and help."

House Bill 597 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday and heads to the Senate floor for further consideration.  

CENTREVILLE– State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) was joined by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), the sponsor of the law, to celebrate the signing of the fourth and final pillar of the Legislative Black Caucus’ plan to eradicate systemic racism.

“Over the past year, Illinois has lost thousands of people, and the country has lost millions to COVID-19. When this pandemic became the focus of the nation, so did the realities of systemic racism in our health care systems,” Belt said. “The inequities that exist were made more apparent than ever before. We’re no longer waiting to address issues that are leading to the unnecessary deaths of thousands of Black Illinoisans.”

The law addresses numerous issues in Illinois’ health care and human services sectors, including health care accessibility, infant mortality, hospital reform, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and medical implicit bias.

One substantial provision would halt hospital closures for up to 60 days to ensure underserved communities retain access to emergency care during the pandemic. Other provisions include establishing a Medicaid MCO Commission to evaluate Illinois’ managed care program and requiring the state to facilitate partnerships between Federally Qualified Health Centers and hospitals.

“For centuries, Black people have been disrespected, abused and misused in the health care system. This system that binds and neglects Black people binds and neglects others, and must be grasped at the root,” Hunter said. “It was our goal with this legislation that no one will be mistreated or prejudged by the ones providing them with medical assistance. I am grateful to live in a time where we can rectify the wrongs of our past and begin a new chapter in American history where Black people and other groups will cease to be marginalized.”

“The signing of this legislation only reflects the beginning of what will be a long and difficult road to achieving true equity in our health care system,” Belt said. “I’d like to thank Senator Hunter for joining us today and sponsoring this vital legislation.”

House Bill 158 was signed on Tuesday and took effect immediately.

VILLA PARK – Following the release of a report from the Office of the Inspector General on the COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run LaSalle Veterans Home in November 2020, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) called for hearings to further investigate the issue, discuss the obvious mistakes that occurred and how to move forward.

“It breaks my heart and I can’t imagine what the loved ones of those lost during this outbreak must be feeling,” said Cullerton, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. “This report will give me, my colleagues and our veterans’ families an opportunity to seek understanding of what occurred plus offer clarity on what can be done to prevent this situation in the future.” 

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Senate President Don Harmon announced Friday he has asked colleagues to negotiate compromise legislation to transition Chicago Public Schools to a fully elected school board.

Here is President Harmon’s statement:

“I am fully committed to passing legislation this year to move to an elected, representative Chicago school board.

In order to set this in motion, I have asked the sponsors of the key proposals to sit down and come up with a plan that will guide this transition to a new era of leadership at Chicago Public Schools.

PARK FOREST – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) and State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) are partnering to host a virtual workshop on Monday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. to encourage Illinoisans to pursue careers in the trades.

“A career in the trades gives a person the opportunity to gain experience and education, learn practical and useful skills, and avoid student loan debt,” Joyce said. “With so many jobs in the trades in high demand, I encourage those looking for an alternative career path to sign up for this virtual event.” 

Attendees will be able to learn about the skilled trades and find out how to join a union, as well as connect with apprenticeship directors and contractors. 

BELLEVILLE – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) was joined by Governor JB Pritzker on Friday to announce a $7.5 million investment from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to build an advanced manufacturing training academy on Southwestern Illinois College’s Belleville campus to help train Illinoisans for new manufacturing jobs.

“I’m thrilled that SWIC was chosen for this project,” Belt said. “This equity-based program will provide residents with opportunities to develop specialized skills for careers in manufacturing.”

The funding will be used to create a new manufacturing training center on SWIC’s Belleville campus with new computers and other specialized equipment to prepare local residents for careers in electricity and welding.

SPRINGFIELD – After the second edition of the Illinois Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Report revealed that Black women die at disparately high rates due to medical causes, State Senators Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) are calling for better outcomes for Black mothers.

“These patterns of disparity and negligence must be identified, so that we know how to eradicate them,” Van Pelt said. “Reports like these are necessary in order to impact legislation, which, thankfully, my colleagues and I have already been working to combat the issue of Black maternal mortality.”