OAKBROOK TERRACE – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) commends the nearly 900 high school students in the 24th District who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

“This prestigious award is a reflection of hard work, dedication and resilience throughout the pandemic, and I couldn’t be more proud of the students from our community who earned the honor,” Glowiak Hilton said. “With the support of their families, teachers and administrators, these students have shown an unwavering commitment to achievement despite the many challenges they’ve faced over the last year.”

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

The 24th District’s 896 Scholars include students from 11 area high schools: College Preparatory School of America, Glenbard East High School, Glenbard South High School, Glenbard West High School, Hinsdale Central High School, IC Catholic Prep, Lyons Township High School, Montini Catholic High School, Timothy Christian High School, Westmont High School and York Community High School.

State Scholars will receive a digital badge issued by ISAC that can be displayed on online profiles, exhibited on social media and shared with prospective colleges and employers.

“The college admissions process and qualifying for financial assistance is typically competitive, but this award will give our students an edge,” Glowiak Hilton added. “The Illinois State Scholar recognition rewards students for their outstanding efforts by providing an advantage in attending and affording the college of their choice.”

More information about the State Scholar program can be found at ISAC’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – More survivors of violent crime would be able to keep their home addresses private as participants in the Illinois Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) under a proposal from State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) to expand protections for survivors of human trafficking.

“Violent crime survivors undergo substantial emotional and mental trauma,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By adding human trafficking to the list of crimes protected by the ACP, we’re offering survivors some peace of mind that their sensitive personal information is safe and protected against abusers.”

Glowiak Hilton’s measure strengthens the ACP managed by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office by allowing survivors of human trafficking to participate and keep their addresses private. The legislation also clarifies the process for ACP participants to register to vote.

Originally, the ACP was established to protect the locations of domestic violence survivors. Last year, Glowiak Hilton passed a law expanding protections for survivors of sexual assault and stalking, and she has now advanced Senate Bill 593 to allow human trafficking survivors to opt in as well.

Currently, the ACP provides survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and their household members with a substitute address to use in place of their actual home, school and work addresses in public records. This helps survivors prevent their former abusers from being able to locate them.

For example, the ACP substitute address can be used by participants when creating or updating public records, such as driver’s license or state-issued identification card.

“Expanding the ACP is an integral part of a safety plan for survivors to feel protected in their communities,” Glowiak Hilton said. “This proposal works to ensure survivors have a sense of security to allow them to heal without fear of retaliation from their abusers.”

Senate Bill 593 passed the Senate and now heads to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To protect residents from being misled by phone scams, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) has advanced a bipartisan initiative out of the Senate to outlaw scam call operators from disguising their identity by having a false telephone number show up on caller ID.  

“As more aspects of our lives become digital, scammers use deceitful tricks to persuade residents into giving them personal information,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By prohibiting automated solicitors from falsifying caller ID, we can help protect residents from falling victim to telephone scams.”

In Illinois, the Telephone Solicitations Act requires a live operator to state his or her name, the organization they are representing, and the purpose for the call. The law also prohibits a solicitor from manipulating caller ID, commonly known as spoofing. However, current state law does not address when the caller is not a live operator.

To protect consumers, Glowiak Hilton’s initiative requires the operator of any soliciting telephone call to immediately state the affiliated business and the purpose of the call, and to confirm consent from the receiver.

“Deceitful business practices like spoofing are wrong and must be outlawed,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Call authentication is critical for protecting consumers against scammers who mask their identity and intentionally seek to defraud vulnerable residents.”

Senate Bill 2225 passed the Senate and moves for further deliberation in the House.

SPRINGFIELD – To ensure students experiencing homelessness are aware of available resources, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced a bipartisan initiative out of the Senate to require higher education institutions to designate one employee to serve as a housing insecurity liaison.

“Oftentimes students without permanent housing are not aware of the resources available to them on campus and in their communities,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By creating a housing insecurity liaison, we are working to prevent homeless students from falling through the cracks by connecting them with aid.”

A study by the University of Chicago found that 4.2 million youth and young adults experienced homelessness during a 12-month period, and that nearly 29% of all young adults who experienced homelessness were enrolled in college or another educational program at the time.

Glowiak Hilton’s legislation requires each institution to appoint a Housing and Opportunities Useful for Students' Excellence (HOUSE) liaison. Their responsibilities would include identifying appropriate services, understanding aid eligibility, tracking graduation and retention rates, reporting the number of students using homelessness resources, and developing a plan to provide access to on-campus housing between academic breaks to homeless students enrolled at the institution.

Under the legislation, higher education institutions would also be required to provide information about available services and assistance regarding homelessness in financial aid and admission packets, as well as on the institution's website.

“Stable housing is foundational to academic and social success,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Creating this position is one step toward combatting homelessness for students and ensuring they have access to better opportunities.”

Senate Bill 190 passed the Senate and moves for further consideration in the House.