SPRINGFIELD – A decades-old law that prevents Illinois from taking action to address harmful greenhouse gas emissions was repealed thanks to State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).

“By repealing the Kyoto Protocol Act, we're sending the signal that Illinois is ready to get serious about climate change,” Ellman said after her bill repealing the measure was signed into law today by Gov. JB Pritzker. “It's an outdated law that only served to tie lawmakers’ hands and it never should've been passed in the first place.”

House Bill 3481 repeals the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, which was intended to prevent the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Pollution Control Board from proposing rules to reduce greenhouse gases to address climate change.

“The Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998 was basically a gag order designed to prevent Illinois lawmakers from taking action to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions,” Ellman said. “Repealing this outdated law allows us to consider new options to cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect our environment.”

The Kyoto Protocol Act expressly prohibited Illinois from reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions beyond the goals set for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol. In 2001, the U.S. withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Illinois tied to goals that the federal government no longer intended to meet.

This legislation takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – Non-traditional students pursuing vocational training could be eligible for a new scholarship program under a new law from State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) that was signed into law on Friday.

“Education is economic development,” Ellman said. “This new scholarship program will help alleviate the financial burden of education and provide additional opportunities to non-traditional students.”

Senate Bill 1167 establishes the Adult Vocational Community College Scholarship Program, run by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. To be eligible, a student must be over the age of 30 and unemployed but actively searching for work.

The scholarship would be enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees to attend the community college without exceeding $2,000 per recipient per academic year. The program is subject to appropriation.

“By investing in education, we’re investing in the future,” Ellman said. “This scholarship program will help ensure that Illinois workers are trained for jobs of the future and that businesses aren’t struggling to find qualified employees.”

Fifty-three percent of Illinois jobs require more than a high school degree but less than a four-year college degree, yet only 43 percent of Illinois workers are trained at that level.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of a balanced budget:

“While Illinois’ financial problems can’t be fixed in one year’s budget, the plan we approved tonight puts us on track toward long-term fiscal stability. This budget is balanced and responsible. We’re making our full pension payments, providing stable support for our municipalities and investing in priorities that matter.

“This plan includes record investments in P-12 education, increased funding for grants that help working and middle-class families send their kids to college and new funding for workforce development programming so that workers can get the training they need and businesses are able to find qualified applicants to fill positions.

“By streamlining government services and cutting millions of dollars in administrative spending, we were able to balance our budget, invest in what matters most and give residents and businesses confidence in sticking with Illinois.”

 
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SPRINGFIELD – The Reproductive Health Act, which repeals outdated abortion laws that have been blocked by the courts and ensures that reproductive health care is treated like all other health care and not as a crime, passed out of the Illinois Senate today.

“The Reproductive Health Act maintains the status quo in Illinois and puts the right to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion, into Illinois law,” said State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville). “This is about protecting the rights of Illinois women.”

The Reproductive Health Act provides a critical update and modernization to Illinois’ outdated law. The Reproductive Health Act codifies regulations that reflect current standards of medical practice and repeals state laws that are not in effect and not enforced because of court rulings.

“By passing the Reproductive Health Act, we're codifying practices that are already in place and repealing the patchwork of outdated laws and court rulings on reproductive health care,” Ellman said. “The Reproductive Health Act guarantees that regardless of what happens at the federal level, Illinois women will still have access to safe, legal abortion.”

The Reproductive Health Act:
• Repeals felony penalties imposed on doctors for offering abortion care and some contraceptives
• Removes the requirement that a married woman be required to get her husband’s consent to an abortion
• Lifts disciplinary penalties adopted decades ago aimed solely at physicians who perform abortions
• Protects assisted reproductive techniques like in-vitro fertilization
• Treats the cost of abortion like all other medical expenses
• Requires insurance companies (not multi-state plans) to provide coverage for abortions without cost-sharing requirements

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