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* Center Square…
With lawmakers back in Springfield this week, bipartisan working groups have begun discussions on how lawmakers plan to appropriate taxpayer dollars.
Lawmakers have a May 31 deadline to pass an approximately $42 billion spending plan. That’s just the state’s side of the spending. There’s also the nearly $53 billion in federal funds the state is expected to appropriate this year. The total spending plan, including state and federal sources, is $95.5 billion, up 2.2 percent from the previous fiscal year, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.
Then there’s the $7.5 billion the state is getting in federal COVID-19 stimulus funding.
State Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, said there has been an ongoing discussion among Democrats about the state’s budget, but this week they brought in Republicans. […]
Several measures at the statehouse would drop that [trailer license registration fee] from $118 to where it was before the 2019 change to $18, but those measures have not advanced despite having bipartisan support.
Zalewski declined to comment on the fee. But, lawmakers are expected to adopt the overall revenue estimate.
“In a year when federal stimulus is a concern of ours, to not interfere with it with tax credits or tax deductions or tax cuts, I think it makes sense to wait for the federal government to offer guidance on that,” Zalewski said.
* WUIS…
A proposal moving through the Illinois General Assembly would require video game developers to warn players of the financial and psychological risks of a particular in-game microtransaction — “loot boxes”.
“Loot boxes” are randomized digital items that either improve a player’s gameplay, like unlocking weapons, or alter a player’s aesthetics.
However, State Rep. Barabara Hernandez (D-Aurora) believes many younger players may not realize the virtual currency they use to purchase additional content like loot boxes are tied to real money, and as a result kids can run up substantial bills.
* Press release…
Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) passed legislation out of a Senate committee today to give community college boards of trustees and local housing authorities permission to develop affordable housing for community college students.
“This is about bettering the college experience for every student in this state,” said Sims. “Research shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs. When students live on campus they are more plugged-in to the campus community and have more opportunities to join clubs, attend events and meet new people.”
A Chicago state senator wants to withhold funding from schools that apply dress codes to hairstyles. School associations and the Illinois State Board of Education are worried the bill’s punishment mechanism goes too far.
In the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Mike Simmons, D-Chicago, said policies that ban certain hairstyles in schools are outdated. He said he thinks schools will want to be on the right side of history if the amendment to SB817 becomes law. […]
Under the bill, districts out of compliance would have their names listed on the state board’s website, in addition to having their state funding kept at the previous school year’s level. Districts would receive the additional funding once they comply with the bill.
Amanda Elliott, the director of legislative affairs for the state board of education, said there are a variety of already-existing enforcement mechanisms that can be used when schools don’t comply with legislation, including a process to revoke recognition from a district. Elliott said in almost a decade with the board, she hasn’t seen a district have their recognition, and thus their funding, revoked.
“We have threatened it several times, which results in pretty quick compliance,” said Elliott. “Districts generally don’t want that to happen and come into compliance with the mandate.”
…Adding… Sen. Simmons is amending his bill.
* Press release…
A bill that would allow some public benefit recipients to purchase feminine hygiene products with their respective benefits introduced by state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, recently passed unanimously out of the Illinois House of Representatives and is awaiting consideration in the Senate.
“Feminine hygiene products are not optional luxuries that most women can neglect to use, but unfortunately many low income women find themselves in situations where they cannot afford these products, which could result in very serious health concerns,” said Hernandez. “I am working to ensure that all women have access to feminine hygiene and menstrual products, no matter their income.”
Hernandez introduced House Bill 155, which would allow recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infant, and Children program (WIC) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF) to use their benefits to purchase feminine hygiene products, including tampons, sanitary napkins and feminine wipes.
Addressing menstrual inequalities has been a top priority of Hernandez’s throughout her time in office. In addition to passing House Bill 155 with bipartisan support, Hernandez also brought forward legislation that would require schools to provide menstrual products in bathrooms for students. She has also hosted a handful of local events about this issue including menstrual equality town hall events and feminine hygiene product donation drives to help support local women’s shelters.
“Feminine hygiene products are necessities that many low income women lack, and they should not have to choose between buying food or other goods and affording these products,” said Hernandez. “Denying access to feminine hygiene products to anyone who needs them is denying a basic human right, and we must continue to work on this issue to ensure all women have access to feminine products.”
…Adding… Another one…
State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is continuing an effort to decriminalize the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.
“Having HIV is a health care concern, not a crime,” Peters said. “People living with HIV don’t need to worry about facing criminal charges for simply living.”
A portion of the Criminal Code – referred to as the Criminal Transmission of HIV – provides that individuals living with HIV can be criminally prosecuted, charged with a Class 2 Felony, and jailed for having consensual sex, sharing needles, or donating organs or bodily tissues or fluids. Despite the reference “transmission” in the criminal code, actual transmission is not required. Peters’ proposal repeals this portion of the criminal code.
Currently, HIV is the only communicable disease in Illinois that is criminalized.
“Those living with HIV deserve to be able to receive treatment for their condition, and not risk arrest or incarceration,” Peters said. “It’s time we end the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted diseases and start treating them like the medical conditions that they are.”
House Bill 1063 had passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in April. On Wednesday, the Senate Executive Committee approved it, also with bipartisan support, and it will now be sent to the full Senate for further consideration.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:43 pm
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“Several measures at the statehouse would drop that [trailer license registration fee] from $118 to where it was before the 2019 change to $18, but those measures have not advanced despite having bipartisan support.”
Get that done. If they would have doubled it to $36, people would have whined but still paid the fee. In my neck of the woods, I would guess that there are more unlicensed trailers than licensed ones thanks to that.
Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 12:55 pm
===require video game developers to warn players of the financial and psychological risks of…loot boxes===
This is the sort of over-regulation people complain about. The market works well enough as-is. Some 9-10 years ago, my 4 year old bought $100 of virtual items not knowing it was charging real money (back then Apple left purchasing open for several minutes after using your password to “buy” a free app). A call to Apple got it reversed, and a call to the credit card company was the backup option. Easy enough of a fix, and parents who provide their cards bear some responsibility for protecting the PIN/password wherever their CC number is saved.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:02 pm
==“Loot boxes” are randomized digital items that either improve a player’s gameplay, like unlocking weapons, or alter a player’s aesthetics.==
How is this not just gambling?
Comment by Nuke The Whales Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:06 pm
I am old and don’t play video games. I have never heard of loot boxes but it sure sounds like a scam that takes money from kids and should not be allowed. Now I will go and yell at kids on my lawn. But I was serious about not allowing them
Comment by DuPage Saint Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:22 pm
===How is this not just gambling?===
You always get something. Sometimes it is a “low-value” item and sometimes it is “high-value”, but the value is somewhat arbitrary anyway. Sometimes a high cost item is not very interesting, and sometimes low cost or free items are more fun than the price would suggest.
You could call it gambling, but so is dropping $60 on a new game that may or may not be any good.
Comment by thechampaignlife Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:22 pm
Good for Rep. Hernandez. It wouldn’t even have occurred to me that you can’t use public benefits for feminine hygiene products. These are definitely not optional luxuries. The bill is contingent on the US Ag Dept offering a waiver option for such products. I’m guessing (hoping) Ag has such a waiver option available?
Comment by Leslie K Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 1:27 pm
It’s probably been 15 or 20 years that whenever we’ve done a food drive at work we’ve also don a concurrent feminine hygiene product drive. I don’t want to get into details but there’s a lot of papers online about the problems and organizations addressing it as well.
Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 2:10 pm
I might be wrong, but I think WIC and SNAP can’t technically be used for menstrual products according to federal regs. I imagine that the current federal administration wouldn’t necessarily pull funds though. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-menstruation-usa/even-in-the-u-s-poor-women-often-cant-afford-tampons-pads-idUSKCN1P42TX
Comment by Incandenza Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 2:42 pm
TANF could always be used to buy feminine hygiene products as it is a cash benefit. Take the money from an ATM and spend. That said the benefit is not sufficient to cover all the costs including clothes for growing children, rent, utilities, hygiene etc. SNAP and WIC are restricted to food items. They should be expanded to cover feminine hygiene as well as TP, laundry soap, bar soap etc. as all are necessities.
Comment by illinifan Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 3:14 pm
@Nuke the Whales - Belgium has indeed banned this type of game on the grounds that it violates gambling laws, so its not that out there.
Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, May 5, 21 @ 5:25 pm