SPRINGFIELD – To eliminate the teacher shortage in Illinois, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) advanced a plan out of the Senate Friday to increase the number of hours a retired teacher may work without impairing their retirement status.

“The teacher shortage in Illinois predated COVID-19, and as we see more school districts return to in-person learning, some will be faced with challenges in hiring substitute teachers,” Joyce said. “This legislation will ensure schools have the most qualified professionals to teach our children.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is leading an initiative that would extend the student-assistance contribution tax credit, which passed the Senate Friday. 

“I am proud to sponsor this initiative to help parents get a head start on saving for their children’s college expenses,” Hunter said. “Children who have a savings account are more likely to go to college, so it is important to encourage planning early.”

Senate Bill 340 extends the sunset of the student-assistance contribution tax credit for employers from Dec. 30, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2031. Additionally, this bill provides that for taxable years on or after Dec. 31, 2021, the maximum credit will rise to $1,000 from the current amount of $500.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) passed a measure through the Senate Friday that creates an organ donation tax credit for private employers.

“Organ donors transform lives and reshape futures through selfless acts,” Morrison said. “I’m hopeful this measure will encourage more people to participate in the generous act they feel they have been called to do.”

The measure creates an optional organ donation tax credit for private employers. The credit is applicable if the employer allows its employees the option to take a paid leave of absence for a minimum of 30 days for serving as an organ or bone marrow donor.

Employers can receive a credit equal to the amount of tax withholding payments due with respect to wages paid while an employee is on leave. That amount, however, cannot exceed $1,000 for each employee who takes an organ donation leave.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure that Black and Brown families are being treated fairly, State Senator Napoleon Harris, III is sponsoring legislation that would require the Department of Children and Family Services to submit an annual report regarding racial disparities for children and families. 

“Our minority families already have to deal with enough challenges. They shouldn’t have to deal with racial disparities in their treatment by DCFS and other state agencies,” Harris said. “Requiring DCFS to provide a report on inequities helps us pinpoint where these Black and Brown families need help the most.” 

Senate Bill 2406 requires DCFS to prepare and submit an annual report to the General Assembly regarding racial disparities for children and families involved in the child welfare system by no later than Dec. 31, 2022, and each year after.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure universities are using tuition and tax dollars in service of their students, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) advanced legislation out of the Senate Friday to crack down on university administrators who continue to exploit loopholes in the law by receiving massive payouts, or “golden parachutes,” after leaving their positions.

Lawmakers passed the Government Severance Pay Act in 2018 to limit the amount paid in university severance packages. Murphy’s measure strengthens the act by expanding the definition of severance pay and defining limits on compensation.

“Students and taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for a retired administrator’s six-figure payouts,” Murphy said. “The Government Severance Pay Act was intended to ensure our institutions spend responsibly, with the campus community in mind—it’s time we hold them to that standard.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Bill Cunningham’s legislation to help turn vacant city lots into urban farms and community gardens is one step closer to becoming law, having passed the Illinois Senate Friday.

“Cities often find themselves responsible for vacant lots in older neighborhoods that can be difficult to sell,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the southwest suburbs. “Community gardens and urban farms both benefit local residents and raise nearby property values.”

The legislation enables local governments to sell or lease government-owned vacant lots to non-profit groups for urban farms, community gardens, or to sell fruits and vegetables from the non-profit’s other properties. Cities would be able to grant leases of up to 25 years (with 25-year renewals possible) or to sell vacant tracts of land for less than they would normally cost, providing the land continues to be used to grow food and/or sell food grown by the non-profit. The legislation also makes it easier for eligible non-profits to get property tax breaks.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) would fix a technical problem that prevents some local school councils of Chicago Public Schools from meeting.

“Local school councils are essentially the only way that local communities have the ability to impact how schools in their area run,” said Peters, who also supports an elected Chicago School Board. “Current law makes it more difficult – and sometimes impossible – for them to do the work they were elected to do when they have too many vacancies at one time.”

Local school councils are able to appoint additional members to fill vacancies. However, when membership falls below seven members as a result of too many vacancies, LSCs are prohibited from meeting. Peters’ measure would allow the councils too meet with only four members present, should the number in office drop too low.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois children will receive additional consideration when prison sentence length is determined for an expectant or current mother under a proposal from State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood), which passed the Senate Thursday.

“The absence of a mother can have devastating effects on the development of young children,” Loughran Cappel said. “Stunting their growth because of the poor decisions of a parent is irresponsible.”

To discourage further disruption of families caused by a parent going to jail, Loughran Cappel’s initiative creates a weighing factor for courts to consider when determining the imprisonment time of pregnant women or women with young children in their care.