* Rep. Kam Buckner now has the bill in the House…
Press release…
To ensure local governments do not compromise driver or pedestrian safety in order to accommodate large trucks on non-designated highways, State Senator Mike Simmons passed a measure out of the Senate on Friday.
“Construction on highways can be time consuming, dangerous and can significantly impact traffic flow,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This legislation will allow local governments to avoid such a big undertaking by not requiring them to change their non-designated highways to accommodate larger trucks and vehicles.”
Senate Bill 2278 provides that an agency or local government will not be required to design, construct, widen or alter a non-designated highway to accommodate trucks between 55 and 65 feet in length. Additionally, a local government will be required to report to the Illinois Department of Transportation any limitations that prohibit the operation of vehicles on non-designated highways and any non-designated highway that is not designed or constructed after Jan. 1, 2023 to accommodate trucks between 55 and 65 feet in length.
“Widening intersections to accommodate these larger trucks takes away space that can be used for bike lanes, pedestrian walkways and green space,” Simmons said. “This is an unnecessary undertaking for what is, on many roads, only an occasional need.”
* HB3413 passed the House and is now in Senate Assignments. Here’s ProPublica…
In January, a ProPublica investigation revealed that institutions have not returned the remains of at least 15,461 Native Americans who were excavated from Illinois. We also revealed how the Illinois State Museum had for decades displayed open Native American graves at Dickson Mounds, a burial site that was billed as a tourist attraction and then as an “educational” exhibit before its closure in the 1990s. […]
State Rep. Mark L. Walker, a Democrat who represents part of Chicago’s northwest suburbs, said he introduced the bill after leaders of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation brought the issue to his attention. Walker, who has a master’s degree in anthropology, said it is “atrocious” that some museums and universities still keep the human remains and funerary items of Native Americans. […]
If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would create a cemetery on state land where repatriated Native American ancestors and their belongings could be reburied. The state would be responsible for protecting the cemetery, which would not be for public use, from potential looting or vandalization. […]
The bill would establish a Tribal Repatriation Fund, which could only be used to help return ancestors and items and for reburial and would help pay for repatriation work using money from fines and other penalties collected from individuals or organizations that knowingly disturb burial sites.
* News-Gazette…
It will be easier for customers to pick up their prescriptions at drug stores if a bill sponsored by state Sen. Chapin Rose passes the Illinois House and is signed into law. […]
Rose said that currently a pharmacist can be in the building, but if he or she is taking lunch, a prescription that has been filled cannot be dispensed until he or she returns to work. It can make for a major inconvenience — and in some cases an emergency — for some people. […]
Andy Hudson of Hudson Drug Shop of Paxton said the bill seems designed to help the chain pharmacies because they generally only have one pharmacist on duty.
“Unfortunately that ultimately puts things on businesses like us who want to do things the high-quality way at even more of a disadvantage,” Hudson said. […]
“It’s a good access-to-care bill,” Rose said, adding he believes it is likely the House will pass it.
* Marijuana Moment…
The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that would prevent the smell of marijuana from being used as probable cause to search a vehicle or its passengers.
The Senate voted 33–20 on Thursday to pass the bill, SB 125. It’s now set to be considered by the state’s House of Representatives. […]
A striking amendment from [the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rachel Ventura] that was approved on the Senate floor Thursday replaced the bill’s language as it was originally introduced in January.
As passed by the body, the bill says that “if a motor vehicle is driven or occupied by an individual 21 years of age or over, the odor of burnt or raw cannabis in a motor vehicle by itself shall not constitute probable cause for the search of the motor vehicle, vehicle operator, or passengers in the vehicle.”
* Illinois Community College Board…
A bill that would equalize the value of major course credits at all Illinois higher education institutions reducing the time and money students spend towards earning a degree has unanimously passed out of the Illinois Senate.
SB2288 strengthens the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) Act (110 ILCS 152) by requiring public colleges and universities to accept all major coursesapproved for transfer through IAI as equivalent major courses, as long as a specific major is offered at the receiving institution.
Under current law, 4-year institutions can accept IAI major courses as either direct course equivalents or as elective credits. As a result, some students transferring to a public university must repeat courses already completed at a community college level in order to complete a degree at the university level.
“Students that earn major coursework credit at a community college should not have to spend more precious time and money to re-earn the same credit at a four-year university. This legislation will reduce the burden on our students and accelerate the time it takes them to earn a degree and start a meaningful career,” said bill sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).
The bill is part of the Illinois Community College Board’s (ICCB) larger initiative to increase access to educational opportunities and strengthen Illinois’ growing workforce. […]
The bill now moves to the Illinois House of Representatives for approval.
* State Journal-Register…
Senate Bill 1463 from state Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, passed on Wednesday in a 37-19 vote and would eliminate the issuing of nearly all juvenile court fines and fees if [it passes the House and then] signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.
Individuals under the age of 18 would still owe restitution for violations of traffic, boating, fishing or game law along with municipal ordinance violations. The bill has received its first reading in the state House of Representatives and is now in the House Rules Committee. […]
Peters said the real impact is often felt when families have to take-on credit card debt to cover their fines and fees. […]
Still, Republicans voting against the bill were concerned that this would be a financial loss for counties. State Sen. Jill Tracy, R-Quincy, said during floor debate on Wednesday that Adams County, her home county, issued $22,000 in fines either last year or in 2021. … The Illinois Sheriff’s Association also opposes the legislation.
* SB380 passed the Senate Friday…
When Bloomington resident Curt Richardson got his DNA test results back from Ancestry.com, his life – and those of his parents – changed forever when they learned they had been victims of fertility fraud.
Richardson’s story is similar to hundreds of others across the state and nation who have lived most of their lives thinking the very people who raised them were their biological parents. State Senator Dave Koehler is working to bring awareness to fertility fraud and provide justice to the families who fall victim to the heinous act.
“Fertility fraud is an issue that has been overlooked for far too long,” said Koehler (D – Peoria). “This is a horrible practice that has gone unpunished. Illinois needs to join other states in taking a stand for those who have been affected by this horrendous act.”
Fertility fraud occurs when a health care provider knowingly or intentionally uses their own human reproductive cells during an assisted reproductive treatment without the patient’s informed written consent.
When Richardson received his at-home DNA test results in June of 2021, he knew he couldn’t be silent. Richardson reached out to Koehler for help to ensure that if any other Illinoisans becomes victim of fertility fraud, they would be able to take legal action.
Senate Bill 380 would create the Illinois Fertility Fraud Act, which would allow people to bring action against health care providers who knowingly or intentionally use their own reproductive cells without the patient’s informed written consent.
- We've never had one before - Monday, Apr 3, 23 @ 12:10 pm:
The math and science courses that I took at the City Colleges of Chicago Daley Campus were first rate and a great experience that helped carry me through life. I can’t speak to what’s offered now. This was “engineering track” Calculus and Physics, and a set of chemistry courses that also had healthcare students. This was 40 years ago.
Heck yea, the courses need to transfer, but the courses also need to be worthy of that transfer.
- Lagertha's Shield - Monday, Apr 3, 23 @ 12:19 pm:
If a county is dependent on juvenile fines and fees to operate, that really says . . .something. Whew.
- JS Mill - Monday, Apr 3, 23 @ 1:01 pm:
=SB2288 strengthens the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) Act (110 ILCS 152) by requiring public colleges and universities to accept all major coursesapproved=
A very good bill.
=If a county is dependent on juvenile fines and fees to operate, that really says . . .something. Whew.=
My thoughts as well.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Apr 3, 23 @ 1:43 pm:
I fear that no one is looking out for counties and this will soon become a statewide problem. How are they to function if they cannot get money by claiming a piece of the action from adult bail and Juvy fines. Please fix this /S