State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago 13th) secured Senate passage today of legislation that will make it easier for people who were wrongfully convicted to obtain certificates of innocence and have their criminal records expunged. Under current law, a person able to prove his or her innocence by bringing forward newly discovered evidence must then initiate a civil proceeding in a different court to get a certificate of innocence; House Bill 821 directs the court to grant the certificate and expungement automatically after vacating the conviction.

“People who have already spent months or years in prison for crimes they did not commit should not have to jump through more hoops to finally put the nightmare of wrongful conviction behind them,” said Raoul, who has supported exoneration of falsely accused persons by sponsoring legislation abolishing the death penalty and creating a special tribunal for victims of police torture. “An innocent individual should be able to make a clean start with a clean record as soon as possible.”

Under HB 821, the court would automatically enter an order for a certificate of innocence upon vacating the person’s criminal conviction based on evidence not available to the defendant at the time of the original trial. The legislation also clarifies the process for having records expunged after the court issues the certificate of innocence. When a court expunges a criminal record, it physically destroys the documents or returns them to the person petitioning for expungement.

To listen to Senator Raoul's comments regarding HB 821 click below:

Western access to O’Hare International Airport has long been viewed as key to reducing chronic suburban traffic congestion and renewing economic growth throughout the entire western suburbs.

The project took a major step forward Thursday when the Illinois Senate approved a resolution 50-0 sponsored by state Senator Tom Cullerton, a Villa Park Democrat, that officially gives the Illinois Tollway Authority the authority needed to begin.

This projects dates back to the early 1990s and has support from local municipalities and the DuPage County Board. Currently there isn’t an easy, direct route for people traveling to O’Hare from northwestern suburbs. This project will initiate the construction of a new tollway on the western edge of O’Hare Airport, connecting I-90 in the north to I-294 in the south. This project will also connect the Elgin-O’Hare expressway to O’Hare Airport by widening Thorndale Avenue and turning it into a tollway.

Cullerton said the tollway aspect was pivotal if the project is ever to become reality.

“If we waited for the state, western access would never happen and the Elgin O’Hare Expressway would forever continue to never go to either Elgin or O’Hare,” Cullerton said.

According to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, this project, combined with the surrounding development and other infrastructure projects, stands to create as many as 65,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2040.

“With all the vacant small businesses in the western suburbs, this opens up warehouses for freight capacity, allows manufacturers to get their goods to market faster and will help these small business grow,” continued Cullerton.

Cullerton’s measure will allow construction to start on time in 2013 and will keep the project on budget.  The approval of this resolution can save the project up to $100 million in construction costs, which would be incurred if construction begins in 2014. The tollway will use toll revenue to fund the majority of the project’s costs.  

Drivers will not pay tolls on that road until the current work to widen existing portions of the roadway and erect sound barriers is complete, estimated to be by 2015.

For more information about the Elgin-O’Hare Western Access project, click here.

State Senator Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) passed a measure out of the Senate today repealing an antiquated law that requires the disclosure of HIV-positive students to school principals for grades K-12. The previous law was implemented in 1987 when little was known about the disease and no treatments were available.

“AIDS and HIV research and treatment has grown considerably over the past 25 years since the original bill was passed,” Martinez said. “Unfortunately, the stigma and fear that has always been associated with AIDS and HIV still exists and there is a lot of misunderstanding of the disease.”

Between 2003 and 2009, the number of 13-19 year-olds diagnosed with HIV increased 50 percent, and rose 20 percent for youth ages 20 to 29. Yet, there is concern that the percentage of children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS could be higher but many are not tested due to fear of bullying and discrimination from students, parents and school personnel. Martinez’s bill is an effort to bring Illinois in line with the National AIDS Strategy, which emphasizes the importance of testing as an integral part of the prevention and spread of HIV.    

“Due to other blood-borne diseases like Hepatitis A, B and C and their potential to spread easier, all school personnel must follow federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration precautions to avoid exposure to body fluids,” Martinez continued. “Studies have shown that HIV/AIDS does not spread through biting, sharing drinks, sports and other situations that are common in a school setting. So, there is no reason a child diagnosed with HIV/AIDS should be treated in an injury involving blood than any other child. In fact, with the advances in medication, today’s children living with HIV/AIDS live pretty normal lives.”

The measure, House Bill 61, has passed both chambers and now moves to Governor Quinn for his approval.

State Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), a constant champion for good health in the General Assembly, helped Illinois take strides toward improved public health when she passed out of the Senate four initiatives promoting awareness and education of important health issues such as asthma, breast cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

“These are all important health issues we must pay attention to and get serious about combating with increased understanding," Hunter said. "Education and greater awareness of these problems to better and save lives is our goal.”

Hunter passed House Bill 1455, which declares November COPD Awareness Month in Illinois.

Continuing her long legacy of advocating for breast cancer awareness, Hunter also passed House Bill 3175, which requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to organize and administer an education campaign that concentrates on minority women and informing patients awaiting surgery about opportunities and insurance coverage options regarding breast reconstruction and prostheses.

Hunter is additionally chief sponsor of legislation that would require doctors to inform individuals if dense breast tissue is found and provide them information about what it means. The proposal requires all mammogram providers to notify patients if they find dense breast tissue. The finding would be part of the mammogram reports already provided to patients. Furthermore, the patient would receive information prepared by the Illinois Department of Public Health regarding dense breast tissue.

Lastly, as someone who knows firsthand the challenges of asthma, Hunter is sponsoring Senate Resolution 237, which designates May 2013 as Asthma Awareness Month.

“Heightening disease awareness is the first step to improving health outcomes,” Hunter said. “That’s why I’m pushing these initiatives to proactively and progressively respond to these health crises in a way that produces results for the wellness of our communities.” 

SB 2314, HB 1455 and 3175 and SR 237 all received approval by the Illinois Senate. Hunter’s legislation, having passed both chambers of the General Assembly, now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler's plan to create state-run health insurance exchanges has passed the Illinois Senate and now moves to the House for further consideration.

One of the most important pieces of the federal Affordable Care Act is health insurance exchanges. These exchanges are the marketplaces where private individuals and small businesses can go to purchase their health insurance. Illinois has so far failed to create an exchange, leaving the important program to an agreement between the governor's office and the federal government.

"A one-size-fits-all approach just doesn't work well when it comes to something as important as health care," Koehler said. "We need a plan that can meet the unique geographic and demographic needs of Illinois."

Koehler's plan, House Bill 3227, establishes the following:

• Illinois will have a state-run health insurance exchange beginning January 1, 2015. It will be an online marketplace that will allow consumers to compare insurance prices, in much the same way that websites like Orbitz and Travelocity allow people to compare airfares.
• The Department of Insurance will review and recommend the health insurance plans that will be available on the exchange. All plans must meet state and federal insurance guidelines.
• An 11-member Exchange Board, appointed by the governor, will certify all plans approved by the Department of Insurance.
• Health insurance plans and dental plans must be available to individuals and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees in 2014. In 2016, businesses that have up to 100 employees will also qualify.
• The health insurance exchange will be paid for by Illinois health insurance companies, not taxpayer dollars or a fee on consumers.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) won Senate approval of legislation that will ensure that victims of rape who choose to carry a child to term don’t have to share parental rights with the men who violated them.

“When a woman is raped, becomes pregnant and chooses to carry the child to term, she shouldn’t have to worry about her rapist or his family pushing for parental rights,” Harmon said.

The proposal, House Bill 3128, establishes that rapists and their families are not entitled to visitation, custody or inheritance rights. It also gives the mother the right to refuse child support.

Read more: Harmon: Rapists don’t deserve parental rights