* Senate Democrats…

As the nation grapples with an ongoing mental health crisis, members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are working diligently to engage greater accessibility to care. During a press conference Wednesday, they outlined their measures to enhance the mental health workforce and strengthen services.

To encourage more people of color to enter the mental health care profession, State Senator Javier Cervantes is championing a measure to require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to create a program to award scholarships to students pursuing a career as a mental health professional in Illinois. The scholarship – created under Senate Bill 1322 – would be open to all students, but give preference to applicants from various minority groups. […]

To further attract and retain mental health care workers, State Senator Laura Ellman has outlined a measure – Senate Bill 1225 – to add them to the list of professions eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program. The Child Care Assistance Program provides financial assistance to low-income families to help cover the cost of child care, enabling parents to work, attend training or go to school.

“It is hard to find mental health care when you need it, because there just aren’t enough professionals out there,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “By expanding access to child care assistance for families in the mental health, health care, and educational workforce, we can ensure parents no longer have to choose between their professions and family responsibilities while also retaining workers in workforces that are struggling to attract employees.”

Building trust and rapport with a mental health provider can often be daunting, leading State Senator Mike Simmons to spearhead Senate Bill 2287. The measure would prohibit private insurers, Medicaid, and state group health plans from charging an individual out-of-pocket costs greater than they would in network if they receive mental health services from a nonparticipating provider or health care facility. Expanding on that measure, Simmons’ Senate Bill 2353 would ensure there is no limit on the number of visits per week for outpatient mental health treatment.

“I’ve brought forth Senate Bill 2287 because effective and helpful mental health care requires consistency, and this bill makes sure patients can see a mental health provider that is the right fit for them regardless of insurance network with no danger of incurring fees or out of pocket costs,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Senate Bill 2353 will empower patients and providers – not insurance companies – with the autonomy to decide the frequency and timing of their own mental health treatment plans.”

Additionally, State Senator Robert Peters is leading a measure ensuring a more thorough and thoughtful rollout of critical services by extending the implementation deadline of the Community Emergency Services and Support Act – also known as CESSA – to July 1, 2027. In addition, Senate Bill 2500 would require new training for mobile mental health relief teams and an updated data collection structure, transforming how mental health emergencies are handled and offering a strong framework for individuals in crisis and the organizations that serve them.

Of the proposed mental health bills, only SB1322 (Third Reading) and SB2500 (Second Reading) have advanced out of committee.

* President and CEO of G-PAC of Illinois Kathleen Sances

[G]un violence is preventable, and we can do more to stop it this spring by passing the Safe At Home legislation in Springfield that will better prevent children, at-risk individuals and criminals from accessing deadly firearms and inflicting tragedy and violence.

This legislation was introduced as Senate Bill 8 and House Bill 3688 and is sponsored by state Sens. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, and Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, and state Reps. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, and Kevin Olickal, D-Skokie. It will enhance what it means to safely store weapons in Illinois and strengthen reporting requirements for gun owners when their weapons are lost and stolen.

Working together, these safety measures will promote more responsible gun ownership by improving safe gun storage practices and ensuring that lost and stolen guns are promptly reported to law enforcement authorities.

We need to do everything we can to secure weapons and keep our families safe in their homes. The statistics bear out the weaknesses in our current laws.

* Center Square…

It’s a mixed bag for an Illinois gun rights group for several bills expected to be discussed in a Senate committee Thursday.

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee aims to take up a measure in Senate Bill 8 that Illinois State Rifle Association’s Ed Sullivan said goes too far by requiring safe storage wherever they are, be it at home, at their place of business or even a vehicle.

“This bill is so onerous as it relates to individual gun owners being charged, but also civilly charged,” Sullivan told The Center Square. “This is really about tripping up gun owners, and it’s really onerous … and, quite frankly, we believe unconstitutional.”

Supporters of the safe storage bill like One Aim Illinois say the measure is needed to keep firearms out of the hands of children or at-risk individuals.

* WAND…

A plan in Springfield could allow anyone charged with their first weapon-related offense to apply for a FOID card while they participate in a pretrial diversion program.

“Under current law, nonviolent offenders charged with their first offense may be diverted to a divergence program such as the First Time Weapons Offense Program,” said Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago). “Upon completion, the state’s attorney dismisses the charges. However, the individual cannot apply for a FOID card until after the charges are dismissed.”

House Bill 3496 would allow eligible first time offenders to apply for a FOID card much earlier. […]

The proposal passed unanimously out of the House Restorative Justice & Public Safety Committee. House Bill 3496 could be heard on second reading in the House when representatives return to Springfield next week.

* Sen. Christopher Belt…

State Senator Christopher Belt stood alongside his colleagues to highlight a measure that would simplify the college admissions process for high school seniors and community college transfer students at a press conference Thursday.

“High school seniors and community college transfer students already have enough on their plates,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “The last thing they need is a complicated college application process filled with extra fees, paperwork and delays.”

Senate Bill 2448 would grant automatic admission to qualified applicants at all public institutions of higher education and community colleges that participate in the direct admissions program. Under the legislation, students would no longer face the burden of repeated application processes or unnecessary application fees, ensuring a smoother transition into postsecondary education.

The legislation would allow the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Community College Board, Student Assistance Commission and State Board of Education to work with Illinois public universities to set the qualifications. Beginning in their senior year of high school, students would be able to register for the direct admissions program and receive automatic admissions offers — free of charge — from universities and community colleges. This means they won’t have to go through the repeated application process or pay application fees. Instead, they’ll be able to focus on what matters most: their education and future. […]

Senate Bill 2448 awaits further consideration in the Senate.

* WAND…

Early intervention services is a state program that helps babies reach developmental benchmarks, but a State Democrat lawmaker said a lot of eligible families have never heard of the program.

The Democrat’s bill would try to fix that. Under the plan, when a baby is born below 2.2 pounds, the hospital would be required to notify the family their baby is eligible for early intervention program.

For the hospitals, they would also have to sign a written letter referring the baby to EI if that child was sent to their neonatal intensive care department. […]

The EI program is already available for any Illinoisan whose baby qualifies for the service, where it lasts up until the toddler’s third birthday. The program helps teach the kid communication skills, walking, learning, developing routines, managing emotions and everyday skills such as getting dressed or eating by themselves.

* Sen. Sue Rezin and Sen. Terri Bryant…

WHAT: Senators Rezin, Turner, and Bryant will hold a press conference to discuss the future of nuclear energy in Illinois and the need for legislative action to expand and strengthen the state’s energy grid.

WHEN: Thursday, April 3rd at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Capitol Blueroom in Springfield (event will also be streamed on Blueroom Stream)

* WAND…

Illinois senators could vote on a bill in the coming days to require trauma-informed response training for law enforcement.

This plan could require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board to teach police officers how to identify conflicts of interest and options to address those conflicts when officers know a sexual assault victim or the abuser.

Sen. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) said law enforcement must use the utmost care when survivors come forward to report their abuse. Edly-Allen filed the legislation after hearing about a negative experience Anna Williams went through while filing her sexual assault report. […]

Senate Bill 1195 passed unanimously out of the Senate Criminal Law Committee. It now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration.

* WAND…

A state House Democrat plan would allow working moms to get paid break time to breastfeed their babies.

This would work as an additional paid work lunch break, just this time it’s the baby having the meal. It would require employers to give their nursing mom workers reasonable time to breastfeed their little one at work while still receiving pay. […]

In committee, GOP lawmakers voted against the bill, who said there are already accommodations for breastfeeding at work, and this plan is playing favorites. […]

The proposal passed the Senate labor committee on a partisan 12-5 vote. Now the bill will head to the Senate floor, where lawmakers could talk about it in the coming weeks.

* Meanwhile… In Indiana. Tribune…

Indiana legislators are seemingly preparing to review the Indiana-Illinois border without its neighboring state.

Indiana House Bill 1008, which is aimed at redrawing the Indiana-Illinois border, was amended in the Senate Public Policy Committee Wednesday to allow one more Indiana representative to the commission and, with that, give the commission a quorum to meet.

House Bill 1008, authored by Speaker Todd Huston, would establish an Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of adjusting the boundaries between the two states.

Under the amended bill, Indiana would have six commissioners and Illinois would have five commissioners. The amended bill also states that a quorum of the commission consists of at least six members.