SPRINGFIELD – Leading efforts to promote responsible gun ownership and enhance public safety in Illinois, State Senator Laura Ellman outlined legislation at a press conference on Tuesday, joined by One Aim Illinois Advocacy, survivors of gun violence, and advocates encouraging safe gun storage.

 “Unsecured firearms in homes pose serious risks, including unintentional shootings and suicides,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Illinois has seen climbing numbers of firearm-related tragedies involving youth accessing unsecure guns, and our state has a clear need to prioritize preventive efforts.”

Studies consistently link unsecured, lost, and stolen firearms to suicides, unintentional shootings, mass shootings, and escalating crime. Nearly 54% of gun owners do not securely lock all of their firearms, and in 75% of school shootings, the shooter obtained the gun from a parent or relative. An estimated 82% of adolescent firearm suicides involve a family member’s gun.

SPRINGFIELD – Ensuring middle school students receive equal opportunity to earn high school credits, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring a measure to provide seventh- and eighth-grade students with the option to earn high school credit for high school level courses.

“Students statewide work diligently to achieve success in their academic careers,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “A middle school student, whose course is not taught by a teacher with a certain certification level, may not receive the necessary high school credits to enroll in the next level of their education.”

Under current Illinois law, middle school students are able to receive credit for high school level courses, as long as the course is offered by the high school in the student’s district and the instructor holds a professional educator license and is endorsed for the grade level and content area of the course.

SPRINGFIELD – To offer clarity for patients and pharmacies, State Senator Laura Ellman is sponsoring a measure to ease restrictions on medication containing ephedrine – a drug commonly used to treat allergies and low blood pressure – if it is prescribed by a physician.

“Medical providers want to give their patients the best course of treatment, but current Illinois law does not make it clear if physicians can lawfully prescribe a drug containing ephedrine to treat certain conditions,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This puts providers and order pharmacies at risk of violating existing restrictions and places patients at risk of delayed care.”

To reduce the chance of abuse as a stimulant, ephedrine products are currently prohibited from being advertised in Illinois if they are labeled as enhancing stimulation, mental alertness, weight loss, appetite control, muscle enhancement, or energy. House Bill 2874 would ensure the law is clear that these restrictions do not apply to ephedrine medications that have been prescribed by a licensed physician for a legitimate medical reason.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman announced seven local school districts have received over $47,000 to provide essential library resources.

“School libraries offer essential tools to help students succeed and enrich their learning experience,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “Thanks to this funding, our local school libraries are receiving investments that directly support the academic future for our local youth.”

More than $1.3 million was awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. Resources and services supported through the grant include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.