SPRINGFIELD – Non-traditional students pursuing vocational training could be eligible for a new scholarship program under a new law from State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that was signed into law on Friady.

“Education is economic development,” Ellman said. “This new scholarship program will help alleviate the financial burden of education and provide additional opportunities to non-traditional students.”

Senate Bill 1167 establishes the Adult Vocational Community College Scholarship Program, run by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. To be eligible, a student must be over the age of 30 and unemployed but actively searching for work.

The scholarship would be enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees to attend the community college without exceeding $2,000 per recipient per academic year. The program is subject to appropriation.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Ram Villivalam to advance equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) older adults was signed into law on Friday.

“Older members of the LGBTQ community face difficulty and discrimination,” Villivalam (D-Chicago) said. “It is crucial that we protect LGBTQ elders’ right to age with dignity, and to access resources without fear. I am proud to say that SB 1319 does just that.”

“LGBTQ older adults face many challenges as they age, including fears about neglect, abuse, and harassment because of their identities,” said Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois. “Sometimes, LGBTQ older adults are forced by circumstances to go back into the closet as they age because of the absence of inclusive programming by service providers and a lack of affirming care in long-term care facilities. As they age, we must ensure laws and programming support and affirm them. Thank you, Sen. Villivalam, for leading the charge on SB 1319 in the State Senate.”

SPRINGFIELD – Bipartisan legislation introduced by State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago) and signed into law today by Governor JB Pritzker was created to help protect confidential documents submitted along with applications for driver’s license and state identification cards.

“Every person has the right to privacy and that applies to private documents you submit to the state as well,” Sandoval said. “Illinoisans should never be afraid that confidential information they give to the state will fall into the wrong hands and this legislation will help prevent this from happening.”

Senate Bill 1344 prohibits confidential documents submitted to the Secretary of State for driver’s license or ID card applications from being released through the Freedom of Information Act. The measure provides that these confidential documents may only be released to the following entities:

• The individual to whom the driver’s license or ID card was issued
• Officers and employees of the Secretary of State in charge of issuing driver’s licenses and ID cards
• Law enforcement officials for a criminal or civil law investigation
• Any other entity the Secretary has authorized by rule

The measure will go into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Jacqueline Collins issued the following statement today as Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law her plan to bring civics education to elementary schools:

“An informed and active electorate ready to take on their social responsibilities must have a firm understanding of government and society,” Collins said. “It’s not enough that we teach our children basic skills. We also need to open their eyes to their place in society.”

House Bill 2265 provides that, beginning with the 2020-2021 school year, every public elementary school shall include in its 6th, 7th or 8th grade curriculum at least one semester of civics education.

The new law takes effect July 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes’ (D-Aurora) legislation to address a number of issues regarding animal shelters and foster groups, licensing fees and feral cat programs, as well as a measure to ban cosmetics testing on animals, have been signed into law.

Senate Bill 61 increases licensing fees and fines under the Department of Agriculture for the first time since 1971. It also changes rules regarding adopted dogs and cats and the facilities that provide foster homes and transport pets for adoption.

“This group of animal welfare measures brings several rescue and shelter issues up to date for Illinois,” Holmes said. “When I worked as a volunteer at the Humane Society, I learned how many pets find their forever homes through these facilities and fostering arrangements. This legislation can serve to increase the potential for that to happen while providing the Department of Agriculture with more resources to oversee these programs and facilities.”

In addition to increasing license fees and administrative fines, Senate Bill 61 as amended does the following:

• Changes definitions of terms related to animal shelters, rescue and transport groups and their functions;
• Addresses licensed animal groups’ Trap, Neuter, Release/Return (TNR) programs for sterilized and microchipped feral cats;
• Clarifies the limits of two litters of animals under eight weeks old in foster homes; and
• Removes a permit fee of $25 for foster homes.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – The addresses of Illinois survivors of sexual assault will now be kept confidential thanks to State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton.

Glowiak Hilton’s measure, House Bill 2818, which empowers the Attorney General's Office to help keep the home addresses of survivors private from their attackers and stalkers, was signed into law last week.

“When our survivors take the brave step of seeking justice, they aren’t just leaving a painful situation behind: they are often making themselves the target of a violent person who knows them intimately,” Glowiak Hilton said. “As they strive for justice, we must take the essential steps to protect them as they seek it.”

The new law will allow survivors of sexual abuse or stalking to list the Attorney General’s Office as their contact address instead of revealing their actual address, avoiding any risk that their abuser might locate them.

The program is currently established for victims of domestic violence. House Bill 2818 expands its availability to all survivors of sexual abuse and stalking.

The bipartisan measure goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) expanding the state’s medical cannabis program to include more conditions and a veteran opioid alternative program was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker today.

"The medical cannabis program in Illinois has a proven track record of helping alleviate pain for many patients in our state," Senator Fine said. "By making the program permanent, expanding the number of qualifying conditions, and allowing veterans to enroll in the Opioid Alternative Pilot Program, we will vastly improve the quality of life for many people."

Senate Bill 2023 expands access to the medical cannabis program. It gives nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants the authority to certify a patient’s eligibility for medical cannabis. Currently, only doctors have this authority. The bill also adds 12 additional conditions for eligibility, bringing the total number of conditions to 54.

The legislation takes effect immediately, while the legalization of recreational cannabis takes effect on January 1, 2020. Unlike recreational cannabis, medicinal cannabis is specifically formulated to alleviate the discomforts associated with the qualifying conditions listed in the medical cannabis program.

SPRINGFIELD – The Department of Corrections will no longer be able to sue former inmates for the cost of their incarceration under a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

“‘Pay to stay’ is indentured servitude,” Peters said. “These folks served their time and were released from prison, so their punishment should be over. There’s no reason to continue punishing them and risk sabotaging their return to society by imposing a financial burden.”

House Bill 900 prevents the Department of Corrections from suing formerly incarcerated people for costs associated with their incarceration. The bill extends a restriction which already exists in certain jurisdictions to apply statewide.

Peters also noted the structural disadvantages that the “pay to stay” system reinforces.