COVER STORY
End of Session (Part 1)
Wow. It’s been less than 24 hours since I left Springfield, after a marathon final session that ended in the wee hours on Wednesday.
I’m going to have a LOT to say about this year’s budget process over the next couple of weeks, but I think I’ll wait until I’ve had a good night’s sleep before I tackle this crucial subject. Stay tuned!
For now, I’d like to highlight some of the bills I passed during this session, which I believe will have positive impacts on the people living in our district and all across Illinois:
SB3768: Allows the Philip J. Rock Center and School to serve some children who have only visual or hearing impairments; previously, enrollment was limited to children who have visual AND hearing impairments.
SB3420: The Prohibition of Unfair Service Agreements Act, which bans homeowners and real estate brokers from entering into open-ended service agreements for a property that bind future owners to keep on paying for services they may not want or need.
SB3432: Gives the State Board of Education and the Illinois Community College Board an extra year to finish revising the training curriculum for Direct Support Professionals, who care for people with disabilities.
SB3460: Allows use of email and text messaging to send and receive rental agreements for self-storage units, and sets up requirements for advance notice and other procedures at the end of the rental agreement.
SB3284: Updates the factors a judge must consider in assigning child support, such as the parent’s age, health, and work history, as well as the local employment market; also establishes that parenting plans and judgments are final unless the case is dismissed and makes court-ordered counseling subject to HIPAA protections.
SB3351: Establishes that an elderly parent and their adult child of the opposite sex with disabilities are not required to share a bedroom while living in federally subsidized housing; requires local housing authority to provide the largest permissible unit to the family.
SB3501: Requires the state to follow specialized outdoor lighting requirements to minimize light pollution when installing lighting in state parks, nature preserves, and recreation areas.
SB536: Expands the list of allowable investments of public funds that can be made by cities, counties, and other units of government.