* A little preview from Brenden Moore…

Good morning! It’s a beautiful day in Springfield. Should be a busy one too. It’s both “Agriculture Legislative Day” and “Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day” at the Capitol. Of course, it’s also deadline week for the Senate. The building should be hopping today. #twill pic.twitter.com/ILjnzUjBU5

— Brenden Moore (@brendenmoore13) March 29, 2023

* Rep. Bob Morgan…

On Friday, March 24th, State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) passed HB 559, the Healthcare Workforce Reinforcement Act out of the Illinois House. This bill is a critical piece of legislation to protect our healthcare workers and the delivery of healthcare as Illinois’ COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends in Illinois on May 11. […]

“For the last three years, more than 25,000 out of state healthcare workers were able to practice in Illinois under the temporary COVID-19 licensure program put in place by Governor Pritzker’s administration,” said AJ Wilhelmi, President and CEO of the Illinois Health and Hospital Association. “Representative Morgan’s creative legislation recognizes the valuable contributions these caregivers provided during the darkest days of the pandemic by offering each of them the opportunity to continue practicing in the state. On behalf of our member hospitals and the patients they serve, IHA commends Representative Morgan for taking an important first step in our collective efforts to sustain the state’s healthcare workforce.” […]

The Illinois State Medical Society supports those components of HB 559 that will foster a strong Illinois healthcare workforce and help ensure adequate access to care for Illinois patients.

The bill will now go back to the Senate, where State Senator Glowiak Hilton will work to get it agreed to in the Senate and sent to the Governor.

* Capitol News Illinois…

The Illinois House advanced a measure last week that would allow noncitizen residents who are currently eligible for a “temporary visitor driver’s license” to instead obtain a “standard” driver’s license that can be used as identification. […]

The measure, House Bill 3882, has support from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

“This legislation will make our roads safer and protects immigrants who are legally able to drive,” Giannoulias said in a statement. “As with all drivers, immigrants who drive in Illinois must prove they are safe, capable motorists in order to earn the standard driver’s license.” […]

Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, characterized the bill as an attempt to “hide” a person’s status.

“I think the reality is we’re trying to turn undocumented individuals into documented individuals,” he said. “We have individuals who have come here outside of the legal process, and I know the legal process is broken. So why don’t we work on encouraging the federal government to actually do something to fix a broken system, instead of hiding the fact that it’s broken.”

* WBEZ…

Empower Life Center, founded in 2000 and run by the Peoria Rescue Ministries, is a crisis pregnancy center (CPC). Illinois is home to nearly 100 centers, usually nonprofit Christrian-based facilities offering ultrasounds, pregnancy testing and STI medication. […]

But these centers do not offer abortion services, medication or contraceptives — nor do they refer patients for these services.

And some state Democratic lawmakers say many of these centers use deceptive tactics to steer patients away from abortion-related services.

State Rep. Terra Costa Howard, D-Glen Ellyn, and Sen. Celina Vilanueva, D-Chicago, introduced their own versions of legislation that would allow patients to sue if they believe a center deceived them. Specifically, if a center was found to have concealed or misrepresented facts with the intent to “to interfere with an individual seeking to gain entry or access to a provider of abortion or emergency contraceptive.” The bill would also allow a court to impose a penalty of up to $50,000 on a center. However, neither bills have reached the House or Senate floors for a full vote yet.

* Rep. Stephanie Kifowit…

As part of ongoing efforts to expand protections for victims of military sexual assault, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, has filed legislation for Illinois National Guard and reserve military service members have access to the same rights as civilian sexual assault survivors.

“Military sexual assault is a real problem that can have long-term safety risks and consequences for victims,” Kifowit said. “I have been focused on aligning our laws to ensure that survivors receive the protections they deserve, not just from a military tribunal, but from the state they live in as well.”

“Last May, I was proud to sign nation-leading legislation expanding protections for survivors of sexual violence in the military,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “House Bill 3103 builds on that critical work—ensuring that Illinois National Guard and reserve military service members have access to every right and protection as their civilian counterparts. Representative Stephanie Kifowit is a steadfast advocate for survivors of military sexual assault and I am so grateful for her leadership in introducing this vital bill.”

Kifowit’s House Bill 3103 clarifies that Illinois National Guard and reserve military service members who are the survivor of non-consensual sexual conduct and have received a military protective order are also protected under the state’s civil no contact and stalking no contact orders. Additionally, the bill requires a Staff Judge Advocate to obtain a survivor’s consent before filing a petition on behalf of the survivor in civilian court when pursuing:

- A no contact order under the Code of Criminal Procedure,
- A civil no contact order under the Civil No Contact Order Act, and
- A stalking no contact order under the Stalking No Order Act.

* Senate Bill 1543 passed the Senate and awaits further action in the House. Beverly Review…

State Sen. Bill Cunningham recently passed through the Senate a bill that aims to provide mental health support and education for law enforcement officers who are facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“We are not passing any new mandate on law enforcement,” said Cunningham.

“We are creating a supportive resource that officers can utilize for specific traumatic situations and for PTSD.”

The statewide PTSD mental health coordinator will be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall serve for a term of four years. The coordinator will be responsible for providing resources, information and assistance to law enforcement officers who may be experiencing PTSD symptoms or other mental health issues related to their work.

* Sen. Robert Peters…

State Senator Robert Peters’ measure to expand on domestic violence laws is on its way to the House.

“Unclear language in current domestic violence laws are undermining victims instead of progressing social justice,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Reexamining current domestic violence laws and improving protections for survivors of gender-based violence will undoubtedly root out loopholes that delay due process for survivors.”

Senate Bill 2260 builds on current domestic violence laws that created procedures to request resentencing for incarcerated survivors of domestic violence. Ambiguity in the language of current statutes has caused inconsistent interpretations and outcomes for survivors. […]

Senate Bill 2260 passed the Senate and will now head to the House for further consideration.

* Senate Bill 505 passed the Senate Health and Human Services committee and now heads to the Senate floor for further consideration…

To expand those eligible to serve as personal care providers to include guardians, kin or siblings, State Senator Javier Cervantes advances legislation through the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday.

“Many Illinois residents who are disabled currently rely on a family member for personal care and assistance,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This legislation will support those who act as personal care providers for family members and will ensure any wages received will not decrease their loved ones’ benefits.”

Currently, a recipient’s spouse is the only eligible family member who can contract with the Department of Rehabilitation Services to serve as a personal assistant to a person with a disability, and that individual may not have more than $10,000 in assets in order to be eligible for the services. People who need home-based services can hire their own personal assistants to provide care in their home, based on their service plan developed in partnership with their DRS rehabilitation counselor.

Senate Bill 505 would allow guardians, kin and siblings to serve as personal assistants for their family member with disabilities. They would be able to provide services such as personal assistance, home-delivered meals, adult day care, respite care, home health services and supported employment services. Under this legislation, any wages earned by the employee would not count against the $10,000 asset limit required for disabled individuals to be eligible for the program.

* Illinois Newsroom…

“The pandemic was very disruptive to how we access food,” said Kelly Lay, of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. “Both how businesses get to you, but also how you get to the businesses.”

As pandemic restrictions kept people at home, many turned to delivery services for groceries and meals. While plenty of restaurants were able to weather the shutdowns by turning to take-out, cottage food producers didn’t have that option.

Under laws at the time, most producers were only allowed to sell their products at farmers markets. “So when the farmers markets closed, that really had a big impact on cottage food businesses,” Lay said.

Lay works with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes local food systems. Beginning in 2021, Lay spearheaded a successful effort to reform cottage food law in the state. The Home-to-Market act introduced changes that create a far less restrictive framework for producers. […]

The legislation also brought changes to what kind of products can be sold by a cottage food business. Under the previous law, only items considered to be “non-hazardous” like jams, preserves, and baked goods were allowed. The list of allowed items has now expanded to include things like kimchi, pickles, and buttercream frosting.