Ellman backs budget demonstrating fiscal discipline

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) released the following statement in response to the passage of the state budget for fiscal year 2022:

“I am pleased that the budget passed by the General Assembly takes essential steps to improve our state’s fiscal status while continuing to invest in areas that promote growth for our state: health care and social services, education, and business development. This budget puts Illinois back on a path to financial stability.

“By paying down the entire $3.2 billion in short-term loans Illinois took out during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will save tens of millions of dollars in interest payments for taxpayers. This should send a strong message to the nation and to bond rating agencies that Illinois is serious about fiscal discipline.”

Ellman measure preventing ISAC student commissioner vacancy passes General Assembly

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would allow the student member of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to retain their seat until a new member is appointed passed the General Assembly on Thursday, May 27.

“It’s important that there’s always student representation on the Student Assistance Commission,” Ellman said. “It can’t truly perform its mission without the student perspective.”

ISAC’s mission is to provide Illinois students with information and assistance to help make education beyond high school accessible and affordable.

The legislation would allow the student member of the commission to retain their seat beyond the expiration of their term until a new and qualified student member is appointed. The measure would also replace gendered pronouns when referring to the student member.

“When ISAC doesn’t have a student commissioner, important policy discussions miss out on a student perspective,” Ellman said. “This ensures that Illinois students will always have a voice.”

Currently, the student commissioner's term is two years. If a vacancy occurs during the term, a new student appointee filling a vacancy may serve only for the remainder of that term. This has led to gaps between student commissioners, leaving the commission without a student perspective. It also contributes to delays in the commission's work when meetings have to be rescheduled due to lack of quorum.

House Bill 1802 passed the General Assembly and now heads to the governor’s desk.

Ellman legislation allowing college savings plans to be used for educational loans and vocational programs advances

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that would allow students to use 529 college savings accounts for other education-related purposes without additional taxation passed the General Assembly on Thursday, May 27.

“This legislation would allow college savings plans to be used in more ways to reflect the realities of modern-day higher education,” Ellman said. “Students need and should be able to use their savings plans to pay for loans or job-training programs.”

The legislation would allow up to $10,000 to be used for additional education-related purposes without being taxed, making Illinois law consistent with federal law.

The additional education-related purposes are:

1. To cover interest payments on the student’s qualified education loan, and
2. To cover expenses for fees, text books, supplies and other materials needed to participate in certain vocational apprenticeship programs registered and certified with the secretary of labor.

“Every student in Illinois, regardless of background, deserves a chance to succeed and decide their future,” Ellman said. “Expanding how students can use this savings program provides them with more options for the future.”

House Bill 741 passed the Illinois Senate on Thursday, May 27.

Ellman passes Alex's Law to prevent opioid overdose deaths

SPRINGFIELD – Alex’s Law, a measure sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that aims to decrease deaths from opioid overdoses passed the Senate on Saturday. The legislation would ensure that people who seek emergency assistance for an individual experiencing symptoms of an opioid overdose will not be arrested for any crime related to the use of drugs at the scene.

“Saving lives has to be our first priority,” Ellman said. “Fear of criminal charges should never prevent someone from seeking help.”

The idea for the measure came from the death of a 25-year-old Naperville resident, Alex Green, who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018. Alex had been with others at the time of his overdose, but none of the others on the scene called 911 for assistance. This meant the officers who arrived on scene were not able to identify what had happened until it was too late, despite having Narcan (a medicine used to treat opioid overdoses) with them at the time.

“Had an unknown person who was on hand accompanied Alex into a public business and alerted staff that his friend was overdosing, proper 911 calls may have been made,” said Bill Green, Alex’s father and the original proponent of the legislation. “Friends, strangers and passersby need to know that it’s always safe to help someone in distress, so they may see those they love at least one more day.”

Ellman, Green, and other proponents hope that Alex’s law will lead to more people contacting 911 when others around them suffer an opioid overdose, potentially saving lives.

House Bill 3445 passed the Senate by a 40-16 vote.