SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) allowing state’s attorneys to petition for sentence reductions passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday.

“There are several factors that go in to determining a sentence for a crime, but in time, some or all of those factors could change,” Peters said. “Giving state’s attorneys the ability to ask a court to reduce sentences will ensure that people aren’t locked up for longer than they should be.”

SPRINGFIELD – As rates of suicide and depression among young people rise, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D- Villa Park) advanced a measure that would ensure suicide prevention information is readily available to college students.

“Crisis lines are such an important resource to those struggling with their mental health,” Cullerton said. “Something as simple as providing this information on a student ID card, which most college students are carrying around all day anyway, could save a life.”

The measure would require any public institution of higher education that issues student ID cards to publish the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Crisis Text Line on the back of each card as well on their website.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) that would create a Forensic Science Commission passed the Senate Thursday.

“This very measure is why we have hearings, to guide the legislation that impacts culture,” Van Pelt said. “There are still people awaiting answers as the DNA backlog decreases, and a commission is needed to improve coordination between police and forensic scientists to help further the decrease in the backlog.”

SPRINGFIELD – As one of his first acts after being appointed to represent the 7th Illinois Senate District, State Senator Mike Simmons passed legislation out of the Senate Thursday to require that meetings to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly be recorded and broadcast by electronic means for public consumption. The bill also requires election authorities to notify the public of all proceedings related to appointments in the future.

“The appointment process established by the state constitution is intended to ensure representation during interim periods when an official retires or is incapable of serving,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “It’s our duty to ensure Illinois citizens have as much input and transparency as possible in the process.”

SPRINGFIELD – To provide support to local park districts as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) that passed the Senate Wednesday would give park districts more time to complete projects funded through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program. 

“Every community was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic differently, and as a result, they are all recovering at a different pace,” Murphy said. “This initiative would give park districts the authority to set the timeline for their own community’s projects.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which administers the OSLAD grant program, provides an advance payment of 50% of the grant up front. State law requires grantees to complete projects within two years of receiving grant funds, meaning that park districts have just two years after this advance payment to complete projects.

SPRINGFIELD – To provide quality care to patients with Alzheimer’s disease, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would add Alzheimer’s and dementia training to the license renewal process for doctors and other healthcare providers.

“Diagnosing Alzheimer’s early is essential for receiving the best treatment possible,” Villivalam said. “This legislation will better enable doctors and all healthcare providers to identify and recommend treatment to patients showing early signs of dementia.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is leading an effort to speed up the process when abused and neglected minors are moved between counties during the process of finding a suitable guardian.

“The kids we’re talking about here have already experienced abuse or neglect, or they’re otherwise dependent on the social services our state provides,” Peters said. “They shouldn’t get caught up in the court bureaucracy when they need to move between counties.”

The legislation requires that, when child protection cases are transferred between counties, the clerk of the transferring county must submit all related documentation within 15 days to the receiving county, which must then set a status hearing within 10 days of receipt.  Currently, there is no timeframe for the process.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect first-generation college students from predatory business practices, State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate that would create transparency and fairer guidelines for educational planning services.

“Companies that prey on first-generation and low-income students must be held accountable,” Villanueva said. “I am committed to empowering our state agencies to reel in these bad actors.”