Governor Quinn Signs New Laws to Make Schoolchildren Safer and Healthier
CHICAGO – August 8, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today signed three new laws designed to make Illinois schoolchildren healthier and safer through immunizations, anti-bullying measures and alternative education programs. Today's action at Pershing West Magnet School is the latest by Governor Quinn to further strengthen education in Illinois.
“We are working every day to strengthen education in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "As millions of students prepare to go back to school later this month, these new laws will put vital public health data in the hands of parents, protect our children from bullying and improve their health."
House Bill 5013, sponsored by Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) and Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) is designed to boost vaccination rates. The new law requires public and registered nonpublic schools to make immunization and health exam statistics publicly available. While such data is now posted on the State Board of Education (ISBE) website, this reform will make it easier for parents to see just how many of their children’s classmates are not vaccinated. August is National Immunization Awareness Month.
The State of Illinois requires vaccinations to protect children from a range of diseases. Failure to be properly immunized can lead to high absenteeism, heart problems or even brain damage. According to ISBE, more than 60,000 students (about three percent) were not in compliance with immunization or health exam mandates during the 2010-11 school year. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers and is supported by public health advocates, the Chicago Teachers Union and the March of Dimes. The law is effective Jan. 1.
Governor Quinn also signed House Bill 1473, sponsored by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) and Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago), which allows the Chicago Board of Education to implement a program to break down barriers between students of different backgrounds. The law is inspired by the successful “Challenge Day”, which employs a carefully-designed, day-long series of trust-building exercises to foster new levels of empathy and respect. The law is effective immediately.
In addition, Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 3259, sponsored by Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) and Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), which creates the Commission for High School Graduation Achievement and Success to help boost high school graduation rates. The Commission will examine alternative education programs in Illinois and other states, as well as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Learning Exchanges, the Illinois Pathways Initiative and other tools for keeping at-risk teens in school. The Commission’s report is due to the governor and General Assembly by November 1, 2012 in advance of veto session. The law is effective immediately.
Governor Quinn continued to emphasize the need for public pension reform to ensure adequate resources for education in Illinois. Unless comprehensive pension reform is enacted, a new analysis prepared by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) shows that Illinois is on track to spend more on pensions than education by Fiscal Year 2016. Governor Quinn has proposed a comprehensive plan that will eliminate the unfunded liability over 30 years. The governor recently called a special session dedicated to pension reform on August 17.
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/PressReleasesListShow.cfm?RecNum=10454
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Illinois Governor signs SB 820 to enhance early intervention services and supports for infants and toddlers with special needs
Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) August 08, 2012
Health & Disability Advocates applauds Governor Quinn and Senator Heather Steans and Representative Robyn Gabel for working to pass a law that will enhance early intervention (EI) services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
The goal of the Early Intervention Services System Act (SB 820) is to make it easier for young children with special needs to receive the services they need to live full and integrated lives. The new law establishes key requirements for implementing the 2011 Federal Regulations for the Part C Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, and includes standards for delivering quality services in the child’s natural environment and codifying a smooth transition to preschool programs for children receiving early intervention services.
Amy Zimmerman, Project Director at Health & Disability Advocates, has spent her legal career focusing on issues that impact children. Her expertise includes children’s health advocacy, program and policy analysis and community-based partnerships. As an experienced attorney and leader of one of the nation’s first “medical-legal partnerships” for children, Ms. Zimmerman is quick to praise the newly amended law.
“The importance of interventions in the earliest years of life of children with special health needs cannot be overstated. I see huge potential for improving communication, collaboration and coordination on behalf of children with disabilities and their families. We look forward to working with the Governor's office and the legislature to ensure that all young children receive the services and supports they need to develop and transition throughout their educational career,” Zimmerman says.
Each year, Ms. Zimmerman’s project, The Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children, provides free direct legal assistance to families medically complex children in Cook County at four partner sites: Lurie Children’s Hospital, La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Friend Family FQHC and the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital. The project has a successful track record for using law to improve health outcomes in children with special health care needs.
Health & Disability Advocates will attend a signing ceremony today (Aug 8) at John. J. Pershing West Middle School, located at 3200 S. Calumet Ave. in Chicago. SB 820 was officially signed into law by Illinois Governor Quinn on Monday, August 6, 2012.Health & Disability Advocates is a national organization, based in Chicago, Illinois, that promotes income security, work and educational opportunities, and improves healthcare access and services for vulnerable populations, including children, people with disabilities and low-income, older adults. Its team of legal and policy experts provides a range of services including individual legal representation and custom trainings and technical assistance to consumers, businesses, service providers and state agencies.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9778987.htm
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