It’s just a bill
Thursday, Jan 16, 2025 - Posted by Isabel Miller
* WBBM…
Illinois lawmakers are looking to lower prescription drug costs with a new bill.
The Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program Act, introduced during the lame duck session in Springfield, calls for the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish a network with Canadian prescription drug suppliers and wholesalers to provide affordable options to consumers.
It would create a registration process to be used by health providers and pharmacies.
If passed by lawmakers, Illinois would join seven other states who have already passed legislation to import drugs from Canada.
* WAND…
Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to remove toxic heavy metals from baby food. A suburban Senate Democrat was inspired to file the bill after talking about the issue with her chief of staff.
Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview) hopes to ban people from selling, distributing or offering baby food in Illinois that contains arsenic, cadmium, lead or mercury.
“Many people don’t even know that this is an issue,” Fine said. “When you think you are doing something healthy for your child, it is a big wake up call to find out that it’s actually backfiring.” […]
Senate Bill 73 also calls for manufacturers to tell consumers the name and level of each toxic heavy metal present in their products by January 1, 2027. It also requires companies to include the product name, universal product code, lot or batch number to help people identify the product.
* Rep. Jed Davis…
Yesterday, State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) introduced House Bill 1346, which aims to bolster school safety in Illinois by establishing the School Resource Officer (SRO) Grant Program. This legislation will provide critical funding to support the hiring of active or retired law enforcement officers as SROs in schools throughout the state.
“Every child deserves safe environments to grow and learn,” said Rep. Davis. “House Bill 1346 provides these environments by ensuring our schools have the resources for hiring trained law enforcement professionals. These professionals will help protect our classrooms, students, and teachers.”
Key Provisions of House Bill 1346:
- Creates the School Resource Officer Grant Program managed by the State Board of Education.
- Ensures districts and schools hiring SROs will be eligible for reimbursements of salaries and related costs through this program.
- Requires active or retired law enforcement officers serving as SROs to meet the certification requirements of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.
“This bill will help schools prioritize safety while fostering supportive learning environments,” Davis added. “Educators and parents shouldn’t worry about whether their school can afford critical safety measures. This legislation alleviates any worry, providing a path forward to safer schools for every child in Illinois.”
Rep. Davis emphasized the importance of addressing safety proactively, highlighting how SROs serve not only as protectors but also as mentors who can build positive relationships with students.
This bill was produced in collaboration with Kristina McCloy, head of Concerned Parents Illinois, whose advocacy was instrumental in shaping House Bill 1346. Ms. McCloy said, “School safety is deeply personal to me. For years, I’ve been unwavering in my efforts to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of our children. While politicians and public figures enjoy robust security, our classrooms remain exposed and vulnerable. It’s time for meaningful actions addressing these disparities. I’m grateful to Representative Davis for championing this cause and including this critical measure in his Protecting Kids bill package. Together, we can ensure every child in Illinois experiences safe environments to grow and learn.”
House Bill 1346 now awaits further action in the Illinois House of Representatives. Rep. Davis urges bipartisan support for this commonsense solution toward enhancing school safety.
This bill is one of multiple bills in Rep. Davis’ Protecting Kids bill package.
* NBC Chicago Investigates found an uninsured school bus company using expired plates to transport CPS students. Rep. Marcus Evans…
* Rep. Bob Rita introduced HB1389 yesterday…
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Expands the provisions regarding automated speed enforcement systems in safety zones to include municipalities in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will (instead of just the City of Chicago). Provides that the net proceeds a municipality receives from civil penalties imposed under an automated speed enforcement system shall be expended or obligated by the municipality for, among other purposes, the remission of $5 from each civil penalty to the State Treasurer for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, which shall be remitted to the State Treasurer as determined by the State Treasurer. Provides that if an automated speed enforcement system is removed or rendered inoperable due to construction, then the Department of Transportation shall authorize the reinstallation or use of the automated speed enforcement system within 30 days after the construction is complete.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 9:36 am:
“Illinois lawmakers could pass a plan this spring to remove toxic heavy metals from baby food.”
Literally speechless.
– MrJM
- Occasionally Moderated - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 9:39 am:
The public: Automated speed enforcement is grossly unpopular and has questionable safety value.
Municipalities, lobsters and private companies involved: But it’s a license to print money.
The state of Iowa recently curtailed their electronic enforcement. Years of upset motorists, complaining, bellyaching and controversy. Who doesn’t want more of that?
- don the legend - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:05 am:
To MrJM: I thought the story had to be from The Onion
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:19 am:
I’ve never understood those who complain about automated traffic enforcement. First, it frees police to handle real crime problems. Second, computers can’t be discriminatory. Third, it’s incredibly easy to avoid getting tickets: just obey basic traffic laws that you learned when you were 16 years old.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:30 am:
There’s a new echo-chamber attack showing up on a few local social media political groups this week, related to a recently filed senate bill - SB0045
Along the lines of “look how unserious your legislators are because they want to make it illegal for you to tug on a cows tail.” For how quickly the message showed up on multiple pages within just a day of the bill being filed, it seems to be somewhat coordinated.
Of course the language in the attack is designed to minimize the actual issue, which is that at certain rodeo events held in the state part of the event consists of ripping off the tail of a live steer down to the bone to get it to be more active during a rodeo. The tail is then paraded around the arena by someone riding on horseback, and presented as it is a type of trophy of the event.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:37 am:
===I’ve never understood those who complain about ===
I concur. Especially these days, when it appears that too many drivers have completely lost their ever-loving minds.
- Jim Kincaid - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:38 am:
Illinois could benefit from a Single Payer System. Currently some people are not getting care as they are on a form of health maintenance organization or are being over treated for profit by the Fee for Service model. The goal should be to analyze the data for unusual observations and investigate with the goal of reducing healthcare costs by 19%. Medical fraud is a real and ongoing material cost in our healthcare medical payment system. That is what it is, a medical payment system, not a healthcare system.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 10:58 am:
- I’ve never understood those who complain about automated traffic enforcement. -
My only complaint was when an intersection I used frequently went from allowing right turn on red to not allowing it from one week to the next as they installed a camera. I was astounded when the $200 ticket arrived and was sure it was a mistake until I reviewed the video and only then noticed the “No Turn on Red” sign that hadn’t been there before.
The 3 cars behind me made the same mistake. In that case it was a clear cash grab, but in general I don’t mind them.
- Occasionally Moderated - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 11:05 am:
Late fees disproportionately affect those who can afford to pay them the least. For a 10 over citation that a live police officer wouldn’t write.
==The consequences have been especially punishing in Black neighborhoods, which have been hit with more than half a billion dollars in penalties over the last 15 years, contributing to thousands of vehicle impoundments, driver’s license suspensions and bankruptcies, according to ProPublica’s analysis.==
More here
https://www.propublica.org/article/chicagos-race-neutral-traffic-cameras-ticket-black-and-latino-drivers-the-most#:~:text=Almost%20half%20of%20the%20tickets,end%20up%20with%20additional%20fees.
- Shark Sandwich - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 11:16 am:
Importing drugs from Canada… interesting that no one in the state has thought of that before, or made it a key part of his campaign for governor or anything…
- Um, no - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 11:24 am:
Be cautious with a discussion of a single payor system in Illinois.
The current Medicaid middle man system is an unmitigated disaster that systematically delays payment and denies clean claims in a fashion that fiscally crushes organizations that provide services to our most vulnerable citizens.
Suggesting that the middle-man entities add value to our system is laughable and absurd. This system literally forces excellent organizations out of serving Medicaid recipients as the human rain delay in terms of reimbursement is unsustainable.
The practices of the middle man companies are shameful and are the antithesis of a commitment to serving our most vulnerable.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Jan 16, 25 @ 11:41 am:
===I’ve never understood those who complain about automated traffic enforcement.===
My problem is most are NOT run through the court system / reported to insurance companies. Law enforcement officer tickets you? Appear in court, get supervision, pay $ allocated under a formula Steve Andersson got enacted in 2018, is reported to SoS. IF you do it again within certain time frame, conditions with higher fine might be imposed & informed insurance company raises rates.
Camera ticket? If you contest, the case is heard by someone paid from these same fines. If you pay on time, you can break traffic laws as often as you want with SoS / insurance companies none the wiser. Cullerton admitted this during the hearings on Chicago red light cameras.