SPRINGFIELD – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) recently filed legislation that would require an employer to reimburse an employee within 30-45 days after the receipt of a required business expense, a common workplace scenario that currently isn’t governed by any sort of statute.

“A lot of employees despair of ever seeing their business expenses reimbursed,” Van Pelt said. “This should be a common labor protection, just as a 40-hour workweek is. Employees who float costs for their employers should receive reimbursements in a timelier manner.”

SPRINGFEILD - State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and advocates introduced the REACH Act at a press conference this morning. 

This legislation requires all K-12 public schools to offer a comprehensive and age-appropriate course on personal heath and public safety. The program would be phased in slowly, thus granting schools a smooth orderly transition to the new curriculum.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) has introduced legislation that would make it a Class 4 felony for a person to knowingly and falsely represent himself or herself to be a census worker in person or by any means of communication.

The move is intended to avert any efforts to use the 2020 Census for political gain in Illinois, after media outlets across the country reported that the Republican National Committee has repeatedly sent out fundraising mailers disguised to look like official census documents.

“Some things should simply be kept out of politics – the census count is one of them,” Manar said. “It is far too consequential to be diminished in any way by political gimmicks. We should be doing everything possible to ensure a full and accurate count, not sowing confusion and distrust by using the census to solicit political donations.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago) released the following statement on Illinois’ policy to no longer refer undocumented immigrants who have served their sentences within the Illinois prison system to federal immigration custody:

“I am the daughter of immigrants and hearing my colleagues and members of law enforcement repeat the President’s racist rhetoric breaks my heart.

“Our criminal justice system does not exist to serve ICE. Law enforcement should not aid and abet the deportation machine. Communities of color, specifically immigrant communities, need to know that they can trust law enforcement regardless of citizenship status.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced a measure through the Senate Education Committee Tuesday to allow a student’s parent to exempt them from school active shooter drills.

The legislation is in response to recent news regarding the effects active shooter drills in schools have on young children. It seeks to reduce the associated psychological effects by granting parents the authority to exempt students from the drill.

“While I support training for school staff and students, it’s critical that we take additional precautions for these drills, as fear of school shootings has intensified,” Bennett said. “These drills can sometimes be confusing for young students and psychologically distressing – if the circumstances permit, a parent should have the ability to opt their child out of a school shooter drill.”

Illinois Senate Democrats see hopeful signs in Pritzker's second budget address

SPRINGFIELD — Democratic members of the Illinois State Senate were encouraged by Governor JB Pritzker’s second budget proposal. His address last week highlighted that they and the governor share many of the same priorities to move Illinois forward and achieve permanent budget stability and government functionality.

The governor’s budget included large proposed increases to early childhood education funding, need-based financial aid programs for college students, innovative job training programs, and for a number of important social services programs that help grant people with disabilities and seniors lives filled with comfort and dignity. Democratic senators commented on many of the items they felt were most important in the proposal.

Read more.

Holmes bill to cut pet restrictions in public housing

SPRINGFIELD — Pets are part of two out of three households in America, including 72% of renters. Restrictions in public housing can prevent a family from keeping a pet based on its size, weight or breed. That results in pets being surrendered to already-burdened animal shelters.

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Linda Holmes introduced Senate Bill 2973, which would allow any tenant living in housing acquired, constructed or rehabilitated with state funds for low-income housing to keep a pet dog or cat regardless of its size, weight or breed.

Read more.

A February Tradition: Go Red for Women Day

SPRINGFIELD — Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association's national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women.

Every February, the General Assembly holds a Go Red for Women Day at the Capitol to increase awareness of women’s heart health issues and help improve the lives of women throughout Illinois.

Read more.

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SPRINGFIELD – The End Money Bond Coalition hosted a rally in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday in support of a measure to end cash bail in Illinois. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who will sponsor the legislation in the Senate, spoke at the rally.

“We know what safety and justice looks like in our communities,” Peters said. “We know it’s a roof over your head. We know it’s a social worker at your school. We know it’s being able to drink your water. And we know that it’s not locking you up because you’re poor.”

Peters is the Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Public Safety and has made ending cash bail in Illinois his top priority for the 2020 legislative session.

SPRINGFIELD – Students from the Illinois Math and Science Academy traveled to Springfield Tuesday as a part of the academy’s first annual State Capitol Day trip.

Students shadowed their respective Senators throughout the day.

“I shared a wonderful day with my constituent Esha Dani who attends the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. The Senate was honored to host such a brilliant group of students and we can’t wait to see what their futures hold,” Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) said.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for these students to see firsthand how their government functions,” State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) said. “It also gives my colleagues and me the chance to connect with some of the best and brightest students our state has to offer. The future is undeniably promising for each and every one of them, and I look forward to following their progress.”