* Capitol News Illinois…

Four years ago, the General Assembly unanimously approved a law aimed at ending a routine indignity faced by foster children who, lacking luggage of their own, sometimes moved from home to home with their belongings in a trash bag.

As a result, the Department of Children and Family Services was required to“ensure” that children being removed from their homes or placed in a new foster care setting have “appropriate baggage and other items,” according to the law. While follow-up legislation to strengthen the law has flagged in recent years, a pair of Democratic lawmakers earlier this session introduced a bill to strengthen the law — and a formalized process for keeping track of times when DCFS falls short.

The legislation, House Bill 10, would add the luggage mandate to the Illinois Foster Child and Youth Bill of Rights and require DCFS to purchase luggage the agency can’t otherwise provide through donations from nonprofits or grants. It would also clarify that once a foster child has been given luggage, it belongs to him or her and the agency can’t reclaim it.

The bill would also require DCFS to record and report instances where the agency failed to provide the luggage and to file an annual report providing an explanation for the times a trash bag was used to move the belongings of a foster child.

But HB 10 isn’t moving forward this year. Its sponsor, Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, said after she filed the legislation, DCFS informed her that the agency was largely in compliance with the 2021 law. Croke said she and advocates want to keep a focus on the agency to ensure full compliance.

* The Eco-Justice Collaborative, Prairie Rivers Network…

The bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration passed a House Committee today. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers voted to move the bill out of the House Energy & Environment Committee and to the House floor.

“Today was an important day for central Illinois,” said Representative Carol Ammons, “When it comes to our Mahomet Aquifer, we won’t allow anyone to put our clean drinking water at risk. Our collective goal must be to make sure the law keeps that risk at zero.”

“Passing HB 3614 by such a wide margin showed the House Committee recognizes the hazards of allowing the Mahomet Aquifer to be used as an experiment for carbon sequestration technology.” said Pam Richart, Co-Director of the Eco-Justice Collaborative, “ADM’s Decatur carbon sequestration project, the only approved operating Class VI well project in the county, leaked twice. We aren’t ready to do carbon sequestration at this scale under our sole source of drinking water.”

“It feels like the voice of the public is finally being heard,” said Andrew Rehn, Climate Policy Director at Prairie Rivers Network. “Protecting drinking water is just common sense. This legislation is bipartisan and has strong support from mayors and village presidents across the Mahomet Aquifer region. It was terrific to see representatives from outside the aquifer stepping up to support these key protections. We hope to see the same in the Senate.”

The Senate version of the bill (SB1723), championed by Senator Faraci, will be next heard in the Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee on Thursday at 10am.

* Ben Szalinski at Capitol News Illinois…

Chicago police executed a search warrant at the wrong address more than six years ago that left social worker Anjanette Young handcuffed and naked in her home as she was getting ready for bed.

An Illinois House committee on Tuesday moved to overhaul how Illinois police officers execute search warrants in response to the botched 2019 raid at Young’s home, which includes banning what’s often called “no-knock” warrants.

“What happened to her did not need to happen, and in fact, should never happen again,” bill sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, said. “Situations like this don’t just erode public trust, they also increase the danger to officers who are entering an unknown environment without reliable intelligence. That unpredictability puts them at a great risk of confrontation or injury.”

The House Judiciary- Criminal Committee voted 8-5 to pass House Bill 1611, but lawmakers in both parties expressed concerns about the logistics of implementing the new limitations.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would increase access to non-opioid prescription medication to address the often-fatal addictiveness of prescription opioids.

“Prescription opioid medications are highly addictive, leading to countless deaths during the opioid epidemic, which our communities are still facing today,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “By expanding access to non-opioid alternatives, individuals will still be able to receive the care they need while reducing their risk of developing a serious addiction.”

Senate Bill 1238 would require health insurance providers to develop a plan for providing adequate coverage and access to non-opioid, non-narcotic and non-medication pain management services, which serve as an alternative to opioid and narcotic prescription drugs.

Additionally, the measure would allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to develop and publish an educational pamphlet regarding the use of non-opioid alternatives for pain management.

“Providing access to safer alternatives for pain management will save lives by reducing dependency and misuse of opioids,” said Villa. “This would help meet the needs of thousands of individuals across our state who depend on prescription pain medications without putting them at risk of developing a substance use disorder.”

Senate Bill 1238 passed the Senate Insurance Committee Tuesday.

* Holly Rosencranz from the Illinois Clinicians for Climate Action…

Illinois faces mounting threats to water quality. Pollution continues to degrade our rivers and waterways, and a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned decades of clean water protections has only made things worse. Illinois has already lost nearly 90% of its wetlands since becoming a state two centuries ago. Without decisive action by our state’s leaders, our remaining wetlands now face even greater risk of destruction.

To address this, Illinois lawmakers have introduced The Wetlands Protection Act (HB3596/SB2401) — a crucial piece of legislation that would restore protections for wetlands across our state. It is imperative that the Illinois legislature acts swiftly to pass this bill and safeguard these vital ecosystems.

Access to clean water is fundamental to human health. Clean water is critical for hydration, hygiene, preventing waterborne illnesses and sustaining numerous physiological functions. Without strong protections, contaminated water sources will pose a greater risk to public health.

Sensible legislation like The Wetlands Protection Act is essential for securing clean water, protecting food sources, and ensuring the health of Illinois communities. By passing this bill, we can improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and promote the health and well-being of current and future generations. I urge Illinois leaders to vote for and enact HB3596/SB2401, demonstrating their commitment to protecting our state’s natural heritage and a healthier future for all.

* Sen. Steve Stadelman…

With other states reporting influxes in drivers concealing or switching their license plates to avoid legal repercussions, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to ensure Illinois law explicitly bans license plate flippers.

“Devices like flippers allow drivers to evade tolls and law enforcement, creating unfair and unsafe road conditions for everyone,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure reinforces the importance of accountability on our roads by making it clear these devices are illegal.”

Senate Bill 1883 builds on current law, clarifying that the use of tape or flippers on any registration plate and any other evidence of registration issued by the Illinois Secretary of State is illegal. A license plate flipper is a device that allows drivers – with the push of a button – to obscure their license plates, often used to avoid identification when committing traffic violations. Illinois would join the expanding number of states in outlawing license plate flippers.

“We need to secure the safety of our citizens and officers on the road,” said State Senator Mike Porfirio (D-Lyons Township), chief co-sponsor of the measure. “This bill aims to deter vehicles from hiding their plates and evading accountability.”

Senate Bill 1883 passed the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday.

* Center Square…

Legislation has been introduced in House Bill 1330 that would require each in-home service provider to spend a minimum of 80% of total payments the provider receives for services on total compensation for direct service workers who furnish those services. The measure would create a minimum wage of at least $20 an hour for in-home workers. […]

Those eligible for the program must be 60 years or older, either U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, and have non-exempt assets of $17,500 or less.

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, the sponsor of the legislation, said every time a care worker leaves the industry because of low wages, the crisis gets more dangerous for seniors.

“The solution is investing in care workers to stabilize the care workforce,” said Canty. “We need to invest in care by raising wages for home care workers.”

* Sen. Robert Peters…

Illinois could reshape the way agencies respond to mental health crises and offer critical services to those in need, thanks to a new measure from State Senator Robert Peters that would ensure better coordination, training and accountability in the delivery of behavioral health services.

“We must meet the growing mental health needs of our communities by providing the necessary resources, training and structure to ensure every individual in crisis gets the help they deserve,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This is about keeping people safe and providing them with the right support when they need it most.”

Under Peters’ measure, the implementation deadline of the Community Emergency Services and Support Act would be extended until July 1, 2027, ensuring a more thorough and thoughtful rollout of critical services. The initiative comes at a time when mental health services are under increasing strain, with more people experiencing mental health crises and a heightened demand for accessible care.

In addition to providing a clear roadmap for CESSA implementation, the bill 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.

“By extending CESSA’s timeline and enhancing its scope, we are creating a system that holds providers accountable while certifying people in crisis are met with professional care and support,” said Peters. “Senate Bill 2500 is a major step in making our state a model for compassionate, effective and efficient mental health care.”

Senate Bill 2500 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

* WAND…

House Bill 2658 could reduce driving under the influence and prioritize public safety by revoking the driver’s license and allowing people to apply for a permit if they agree to use a BAIID device.

Sponsors said this change would allow drivers to go anywhere they need to travel six days per week, twelve hours per day and a 200 mile radius of their home after they test for blood alcohol content.

“We are cracking down on peoples’ ability to drive under to drive under the influence by actually using an interlock device,” Rep. Ann Williams (D-Chicago) said Tuesday. “But at the same time, if they do use that device, it will allow the expansion of places they can go.” […]

The measure passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee Tuesday night. It now moves to the House floor for further consideration.

* Sen. Karina Villa…

State Senator Karina Villa advanced a measure that would address unequitable school disciplinary practices.

“The practice of ticketing in schools does not address the root causes of students’ behavior and instead creates financial hardships for working families, affecting Black and Latino families the most,” said Villa (D-West Chicago). “This creates serious learning disparities between students of color and their white counterparts.”

In 2015, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law ending the ability of schools to issue monetary fines to students for disciplinary infractions at school. However, students in schools across the state continue to be fined due to the practice of students being referred to law enforcement for school-related behavior.

A 2022 investigation revealed that Black and Latino students were ticketed at disproportionate rates. Between 2019 and 2021, 11,950 tickets were issued with fines as high as $750.

Senate Bill 1519 aims to address the issue by ensuring that no person on school grounds is allowed to issue a fine or ticket to a student for a school-based disciplinary infraction. The bill would also require school districts with a school resource officer to have a memorandum of understanding with their local law enforcement agency, establishing that SROs are properly trained and do not use fines or tickets for disciplinary infractions.

“Ticketing in schools as a form of discipline forces students to miss class to attend hearings designed for adults,” said Aimee Galvin, government affairs director for Stand for Children Illinois. “This practice creates a new form of exclusionary discipline, which does not make schools safer and may worsen academic outcomes. Every student deserves to feel safe and welcomed in their school.”

Senate Bill 1519 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

* More…

* WTTW | How the Proposed Ban on Cellphones in Illinois Classrooms Would Work: Illinois students have yet to recover from pandemic-era learning losses, according to a study from the Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative released in August that showed less than a quarter of school districts are “back to pre-pandemic levels in English language arts.” The figure is lower for math, with 15% of high schools scoring on SAT math as well as before the pandemic and 22% in grades 3-8. One change Gov. J.B. Pritzker said could improve student achievement: banning an “impediment to learning in the classroom: cellphones.”

* WAND | Chronic health prescriptions only require prior authorization once under new IL proposal: Prior authorization is when doctors need to know if the patients health insurance will or will not cover the cost of a prescribed drug. Currently chronically ill patients need prior authorization each time they refill their medicine. This bill would change that, only needing prior authorization once. State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) said the current system puts an “unnecessary burden on the patient.”

* WAND | Illinois legislation could create prison ADA compliance task force: The proposed task force would study the number of people in Illinois prisons who have sight, hearing and mobility issues in order to create the best accommodations for them. Task force members would be required to look into the number of committed people not having their ADA needs met and areas the Department of Corrections is currently unable to make accommodations.

* WAND | Bill could ensure Illinois prisoners receive physical mail, collect data on mail restriction: A bill in Springfield could require IDOC to collect data on why they restrict access to mail and how often it happens. The plan would also limit the department’s use of access to mail, in-person visits and virtual calls as disciplinary punishments. Sponsors and advocates said denying connection with family and friends can lead to worse outcomes.

* Tribune | State legislators look to establish rules for artificial intelligence in elections, education and health care: The Democratic-controlled legislature, in the early stages of a two-year term, is considering bills to address how AI affects residents in areas including education, health care, insurance, elections, picking up on work from the previous General Assembly. Last year, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation that made it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI if it subjects employees to discrimination, as well as a measure prohibiting the use of AI to create child pornography, which made it a felony to be caught with artificially created images. In 2023, he signed a bill to make anyone civilly liable if they alter images of someone else in a sexually explicit manner.

* WAND | Chronic health prescriptions only require prior authorization once under new IL proposal: This bill would change that, only needing prior authorization once. State Rep. Sonya Harper (D-Chicago) said the current system puts an “unnecessary burden on the patient.” The plan received some oral bipartisan support, with State Rep. William Hauter (R-Morton) saying he “hates prior authorization.” Republicans voted against the bill since the language of the bill may change.

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