SPRINGFIELD – Taking into account bipartisan input from lawmakers regarding the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s role in the state’s pandemic response, the Senate approved revisions to the agency’s unemployment benefits process with the support of State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs).

“Shortly after the pandemic started, IDES’s system was overwhelmed by applications, fraudulent claims and scammers,” Glowiak Hilton said. “These initiatives will work to ensure residents are protected against scammers and better equip IDES to handle a high volume of requests.”

The proposal was drafted using input from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to address concerns and enact solutions to IDES’s handling of the unemployment benefits application process.

Glowiak Hilton contributed a number of ideas to the plan, including a measure to protect applicants’ private information by prohibiting IDES from disclosing full social security numbers and requiring the agency to develop a process for providing identifying information other than a social security number.

“IDES has a responsibility to protect applicants’ identities against fraud and scammers,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Using an identifiable factor other than a social security number will help protect the privacy of already vulnerable applicants.”

House Bill 2643 passed the Senate Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD – To make sure students know the potentially life-threatening risks of vaping, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced an initiative through the Senate with bipartisan support to teach the dangers of e-cigarettes in school.

“As e-cigarettes become more popular among children, Illinois has a responsibility to educate our youth on the dangerous, potentially fatal side effects,” Glowiak Hilton said. “In order to keep kids from developing harmful nicotine addictions, it’s critical to teach students about the proven health risks associated with vaping.”

Glowiak Hilton’s proposal expands Illinois’ current tobacco health curricula taught in elementary and secondary schools to include health concerns associated with e-cigarettes and other vapor devices.

“Vaping can be detrimental to development for teens and young adults,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Adolescents are vulnerable to tobacco companies’ deceitful marketing ploys, and adding to the school tobacco health curricula is a strong defense to prevent children from becoming addicted at an early age.”

House Bill 3202 passed the Senate Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD – After it passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) hopes her initiative will improve student access to mental health education and resources by allowing partnerships between state agencies.

“As our schools recover from numerous pandemic-related challenges, our state must prioritize our students’ well-being,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To ensure children are receiving the best mental health services at school, this proposal allows two key state agencies to work together to improve prevention and treatment resources.”

An initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education, Glowiak Hilton’s proposal allows board officials to collaborate with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership (ICMHP) to give students access to a wider range of mental health resources at school.

In 2003, Illinois passed the Children’s Mental Health Act to create the ICMHP. The agency advocates for children and their mental health by promoting and ensuring access to services.

“The ICMHP uses a team of experts to make recommendations for Illinois to provide coordinated mental health services for students,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By allowing this collaboration, we’re strengthening our state’s mental health care system and helping connect students with the best prevention and treatment services.”

House Bill 212 passed the Senate Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD – As businesses struggle to recover from pandemic-related financial hardship, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced a measure through the Senate Thursday with bipartisan support to help ease the burden.

“When making plans for economic recovery after the pandemic, local governments are capable of deciding what is best for the community’s financial future,” Glowiak Hilton said. “To provide support where it’s needed most, this measure allows units of local government to determine where waiving fees would be beneficial to a struggling business.”

The proposal creates an option for counties and municipalities to waive licensing, permitting or registration fees for local businesses and services. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate financial need from the pandemic.

Counties and municipalities regulate businesses in a multitude of industries that may qualify, including bars, restaurants, construction, insurance, transportation, tourism and entertainment.

“Numerous industries have faced unique challenges over the last year and a half,” Glowiak Hilton said. “This proposal allows governments to offer relief to any local business that demonstrates financial loss.”

House Bill 2454 passed the Senate Thursday.