* Crain’s…

A new bill in the Illinois General Assembly aims to create a fairer evaluation system for Chicago Public Schools teachers, but questions surrounding the legislation’s language have left the school system skeptical of what a reformed evaluation process would mean in practice.

The proposal would give the Illinois State Board of Education the ability to examine teacher evaluation procedures and determine if racial, ethnic, socioeconomic or geographical factors undercut how CPS teachers are rated. Then, the Chicago Board of Education and the Chicago Teachers Union would negotiate to create a new evaluation system to remedy those disparities. If passed, the new evaluation would be implemented by Aug. 15, 2025.

State Rep. Kam Buckner, the bill’s author, argues the legislation would not change the baseline approach to evaluations. The bill passed through committee on April 3. […]

Chicago Public Schools has already pushed back on the legislation, arguing the bill’s language doesn’t adequately define what constitutes “clear racial, ethnic, socio-economic, or geographic disparities.” That could lead to a potential misuse of data that would undermine the evaluation process, the district contends. […]

As the Chicago Teachers Union heads to the bargaining table with the mayor this spring, Buckner’s bill has dredged up worries among some at CPS who see the legislation as a way to get around formal contract negotiations. That would track with the political strategy that CTU President Stacy Davis Gates has laid out. In a March interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Davis told reporters she would take the contract fight to “Springfield and to Washington, D.C.”

* Brenden Moore…

* WSIU…

The Illinois Senate has approved a bill to address food deserts across the state.

Bill sponsor, State Senator Dale Fowler from Harrisburg, says the state is making great strides in raising awareness to the food desert problem that several local communities face.

Senate Bill 3265 would create a program within the Illinois Department of Agriculture, tasked with establishing and operating projects and strategies that focus on the distribution of fresh, nutritious food while providing education in food preparation and nutrition in food deserts.

* WAND…

The Illinois Senate approved a plan Wednesday to require insurance companies to cover preventative cancer screenings and genetic testing for people with a family history of cancer.

Screenings for certain types of cancer are currently covered by insurance if patients meet the age requirement. However, Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) said her proposal would require coverage for prevention and susceptibility cancer screenings for every type of cancer for anyone with family members impacted by the disease. […]

Senate Bill 2697 also requires insurance coverage for genetic testing for inherited gene mutations to help people with family history of cancer. […]

The legislation passed unanimously out of the Senate Wednesday. Senate Bill 2697 now moves to the House for further consideration.

* Illinois Times…

The tiny Scott County community of Riggston, 50 miles west of Springfield, with a mere 18 residents, is drawing national attention for a self-serve operation in a small building that is addressing the issue of rural American food deserts.

The Grab-N-Grow Greenhouse is a combination of an indoor farmers market and a self-serve grocery store. Local produce growers, livestock producers and bakers bring their fresh goods to the facility and customers select and pay for what they need. […]

Several months ago, [Jenny Sauer-Schmidgall, the owner of Grab-N-Grow Greenhouse] discussed her operation during a casual conversation with her Springfield attorney, who suggested that she make some state elected officials aware of what she was doing. State Sen. Doris Turner, a Springfield Democrat, immediately expressed interest in the Grab-N-Grow Greenhouse and the potential it may hold for other rural areas in Illinois.

Turner cosponsored Senate Bill 3219, which expands the 2023 Illinois Grocery Initiative by allowing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants for equipment upgrades for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets like the Grab-N-Grow Greenhouse. […]

Senate Bill 3219 has received strong bipartisan support. [Three] Republicans, along with five other Democrats, have added their names as cosponsors of Turner’s bill.

* Center Square…

State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, said her Senate Bill 2960 is about encouraging a change in behavior to prohibit hotels from using single use plastics.

“Right now, we are putting so much plastic pollution into our waterways that it will no longer be safe for aquatic consumption and then human consumption,” Fine said. […]

A first violation of the law, if passed, would be a written warning. Second or subsequent violations could levy a civil penalty of $500 for each violation.

The measure now heads to the Illinois House for further action.

* Fox Chicago…

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is partnering with some Illinois lawmakers to support legislation aimed at centralizing information for caregivers, making it easier for them to make decisions for their families and loved ones with confidence.

House Bill 4677 calls for the creation of the Illinois Caregiving Portal, creating a one-stop-shop for state, federal, nonprofit and professional caregiving information.

The portal would be managed by the Illinois Department of Aging in coordination with other state agencies. […]

That bill is currently in committee in Springfield.

HB4677’s Third Reading deadline has been extended to May 24.

* WCBU…

A bill to strengthen protection for employees of Illinois libraries is heading to the House floor.

House Bill 4567 would amend the criminal code outlining the consequences of threatening public officials, like school employees and elected officials. If the bill passes, the law would also cover library employees and threats made through electronic means, like social media. […]

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois is opposed to penalty enhancements in general, including those for repeat offenders included in this bill. […]

“The people who are making these threats are unlikely to be deterred under an enhanced penalty, just like they’re not deterred under the current criminal prohibition for making these kinds of threats,” [Benjamin Ruddel, director of criminal justice policy for the Illinois ACLU] said. “These kinds of penalty enhancements allow elected officials to say they’re doing something about a problem, but there’s no enhanced safety.” […]

“I’m not sure that solving those root causes is something that can be done legislatively, but increasing penalties is,” [Illinois Library Association President Ryan Johnso] said. “So it’s not a magic bullet. It’s not a panacea. But it is a gesture, it’s a step in the right direction, albeit a small one.”

* WAND…

People leaving Illinois prisons and jails could soon receive a state ID for free.

Under Senate Bill 2803, incarcerated people who previously held a state ID or driver’s license would be able to submit a form to the Secretary of State’s Office. Applicants would need a photo taken by the correctional facility and must provide proof of residency upon discharge.

Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) said Wednesday that people released on parole, mandatory supervised release or a pardon could receive a temporary 90 day state ID if they do not receive a standard state ID before they leave a correctional facility. […]

Senate Bill 2803 passed out of the Senate on a partisan 41-18 vote. The proposal now heads to the House for further consideration.

* SJ-R…

House Bill 545, sponsored by Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, would require the Department of Human Services to establish add-on rates for childcare providers participating in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program to purchase supplemental diapers for children in need.

Per the bill, the add-on rates should allow for a family participating in the program full-time to purchase 50 diapers per month for each child under 3 and 25 diapers for part-time participants. Those that run out of diapers would also not be turned down from participating in the program.

Mayo said the program’s cost ranges from $4 million to $6 million, which acts like an “additional check” for families trying to ensure their children have diapers. It comes as Gov. JB Pritzker is also calling for lawmakers to approve a $1 million pilot program to be approved by lawmakers in the upcoming budget for the department to distribute free diapers throughout the state.