CHICAGO — A plan to give students time off to vote was signed into law on Wednesday.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) led efforts to pass legislation, which allows students to vote during school hours. This comes after push back from school administrators during a “March to the Polls.” Students from those schools rallied to pass the new law out of committee last year, and some were there to see it signed into law.

“I was proud to stand with the same students who fought for this bill’s passage as it is signed into law today,” Sims said. “It is crucial that voting is accessible to everyone, including our students. Their voices are just as important as state workers’, who already have time off to vote. And of course, I encourage private employers to extend this allowance to their employees wherever possible.”

Senate Bill 1970 amends the Election Code to allow students who are 18 or older to leave school for up to two hours to vote in a primary, general or any other election in the state that requires a popular vote.

CENTREVILLE — A measure that gives students time off to vote during school hours was signed into law Wednesday with the support of State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville).

“Every vote counts, which is why it is critical to make voting more accessible for students,” Belt said. “I hope this encourages our young people to vote and show them that their vote is just as important as the workers who receive time off to go to the ballot box.”

Senate Bill 1970 amends the Election Code to allow students who are 18 or older to leave school for up to two hours to vote in a primary, general or any other election in the state that requires a popular vote.

The measure allows schools to decide which hour students can be absent to vote. Schools must follow the same rules set for employers and employees. .

The new law will take effect Jan. 1, 2021.

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman has recently announced that the Rockford Park District will receive a total of $275,000 to renovate Keye-Mallquist Park.

The funds were secured from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development program (OSLAD). So far this year, the program has provided more than $28 million to support 87 park projects across the state.

“Our local parks are a great way for all of us to stay active and play different types of recreational sports,” Stadelman said. “It’s great to see that the Rockford Park District is continuing its hard work and commitment to the community by securing these funds.”

The OSLAD program began in 1987 and has invested $419.4 million in 1,765 local park projects. The program receives dedicated funding from a percentage of the state’s Real Estate Transfer Tax.

For more information about Rockford Park District and Keye-Mallquist Park, please visit rockfordparkdistrict.org.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to news that the University of Illinois is increasing tuition while giving its president a 40% pay raise, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) reaffirmed her commitment to fighting administrative greed and providing an affordable education to all Illinois students.

“I’m outraged that the university is raising the president’s pay and burdening students with the cost,” said Murphy. “Very few of these students will ever see a 40% raise for doing the same job in their lifetimes. It’s shameful that the administration is making it even more difficult for kids to afford an education.”

SPRINGFIELD – The price of EpiPens has greatly increased over the years, causing people with certain allergies to forgo purchasing the life-saving medication. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) strives to offset the burdensome cost by requiring insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors.

“With increases in food allergies and other serious allergic conditions, people are relying on EpiPens more than ever,” Morrison said. “Nobody with a serious allergy should go without an epinephrine injector simply because they cannot afford one.”

Senate Bill 2457 – sponsored by Morrison – requires insurers to cover medically necessary EpiPens for all people – regardless of their age.

In 2019, Morrison passed legislation to require insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors – also known as EpiPens – for minors. However, she wants to take the law one step further by removing the age limitation.

Epinephrine injectors deliver the drug epinephrine to individuals experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine works by narrowing blood vessels and opening lung airways, reversing the symptoms of an allergic reaction that, if left untreated, can cause death.

“This is a life-saving medicine and it shouldn’t be too expensive for those who need it,” Morrison said. “We must do everything we can to make sure people can afford medically necessary medication.”

CHICAGO – Six school districts will receive more than $6,000 in grants through the Illinois Secretary of State’s School Library Grant program, Senator Rob Martwick announced today.

“Our school libraries have a phenomenal impact on our student’s academic achievements,” said Martwick. “This grant program will allow our libraries to help train our children to compete for jobs in a global economy.”

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, allow public schools to improve technology by purchasing new computers or improving Wi-Fi connectivity, acquire books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources.

“Today’s students not only need to be good readers, but also be able to evaluate and use information to develop cognitive skills,” said Martwick. “Our schools have amazing librarians who are helping educate the minds of the next generation. This grant will help aid them in continuing their mission and training the future leaders of our great state.”

Information about the grant program can be found at: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/schoolpercapgrant.html.

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• East Maine School District #63— $2,046
• Schiller Park School District #81— $970.50
• Board of Education District #80— $787.50
• Union Ridge School District #86— $750
• Ridgewood Community High School District #234— $750
• Pennoyer School District #79— $750

WAUKEGAN – State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) applauded Medline Industries’ decision to temporarily close its Waukegan sterilization plant while working to decrease ethylene oxide emissions.

“It’s clear just how dangerous exposure to ethylene oxide can be,” Link said. “I’m glad to see that Medline is taking the health consequences of people who live near the plant seriously.”

The company announced Tuesday that it will temporarily halt sterilization operations at the Waukegan facility to install nearly $10 million worth of upgrades to comply with new state laws regulating ethylene oxide.

SPRINGFIELD - Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) released the following statement regarding reports that fewer than 600 non-citizens were added to voter rolls due to administrative error:

“There is absolutely no room for administrative error when it comes to properly conducting our election system. Democrats and Republicans came together and unanimously approved automatic voter registration, and we expect it to be done correctly. We need a gaugeable plan of action from the Secretary of State’s office to make sure such errors never happen again. If it takes a Senate committee hearing to get those answers, that’s the course I’ll pursue.”