SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to strengthen safeguards for children in the foster care system, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced legislation that would prevent individuals with a record of trafficking from being approved as foster or adoptive guardians.

“No child should ever be placed in a home where their safety could be in question,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “Clarifying the law will help ensure no one with a trafficking conviction can gain access to children under state care.”

House Bill 871 would prohibit the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from placing a child in a foster or adoptive home with an individual who has a record of human or sex trafficking.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois could soon join a growing list of states that have banned the sale of at-home sexual assault evidence collection kits — which experts say raise concerns about reliability and privacy — thanks to legislation from State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton.

“At-home kits are marketed with the misleading claim that evidence can be collected at home, only for survivors to find out the results aren’t admissible in court,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “These products may seem like a discreet option, but they fall short in terms of validity and the trauma-informed support a medical professional provides.”

At-home sexual assault evidence collection kits are marketed online as an alternative to medical forensic exams, but they lack the oversight and expertise needed for reliable evidence collection. In Illinois, professional exams not only address physical trauma but offer emotional support, with a trained crisis advocate explaining the survivor’s rights and options. Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners conduct the exams, collect evidence according to established protocols and can testify in court if necessary.

SPRINGFIELD — Women in Illinois would have greater access to information about fertility and family planning under legislation from State Senator Glowiak Hilton, which passed the Senate on May 21.

“Family planning is a personal decision, and women deserve to know all the options available to them,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “By making fertility information part of routine health care, we’re empowering women to make informed decisions based on their individual circumstances.”

According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the ability for a woman to get pregnant starts to decline at age 30. To assess a woman’s likelihood of getting pregnant on their own, health care providers can use ovarian reserve testing — a blood test and ultrasound — to estimate the number of healthy eggs in a woman’s ovaries.

SPRINGFIELD — To further protect children in state care from being placed in dangerous home environments, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton advanced legislation that would expand the list of individuals prohibited from taking on the care of a child in foster or adoptive capacities.

“Children under state care have already endured hardship, including the loss of their familiar living situation,” said Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs). “This legislation aims to close dangerous loopholes to ensure their placements are as safe and stable as possible.”

House Bill 871 would prohibit the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from placing a child in a foster or adoptive home with an individual who has a record of human or sex trafficking.