Guzmán bill to allow authorized electronic monitoring in assisted living and shared housing facilities passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading a measure to give residents in assisted living and shared housing facilities the option to place electronic monitoring devices in their housing..

“We need to make this change because all residents in assisted living and shared housing should be allowed the same rights to electronic monitoring as those in other long-term care settings,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Folks and their loved ones deserve peace of mind when they are placed in a long care facility.”

"Electronic monitoring device" means a surveillance instrument with a fixed position video camera or an audio recording device that is installed in a resident's room and broadcasts or records activity or sounds occurring in the room.

These devices are often used by residents to protect against abuse and neglect that may come from staff or otherwise.

Current law has several provisions protecting resident rights including a requirement for roommate consent and the ability for the residents living in the room to request the camera be shut off at any time. 

Senate Bill 3071 has passed the Senate Insurance Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

Guzmán effort to decouple adult education from federal rules moves forward

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill that would decouple Illinois adult education funding from federal rules passed the Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday.

“We must ensure state education funds are governed by state law,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “With great uncertainty at the federal level, we need to make sure programs people need are not slashed.”

The measure comes as the Trump administration continues to threaten education funding and demand an unprecedented role in university admission, curriculum and operations. Without action from the state, federal threats to education programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act could limit Illinois residents’ access to higher education and key adult education programs.

Guzmán’s legislation would clarify and strengthen the administration of state-funded adult education programs in Illinois. The bill would ensure that Illinois law, not the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, governs state-only adult education programs. The state’s matching portion of WIOA funds – currently 25% – would continue to be subject to federal requirements.

Under Guzmán’s initiative, community colleges and educational institutions could use funding for additional purposes, including digital literacy education. The measure would further update eligibility for community college adult education programs to students age 17 and up.

“This legislation would preserve access to adult education programs while supporting our workforce development,” said Guzmán. “We need Illinois to be flexible and ensure services are not disrupted for people trying to improve themselves and their communities.”

Senate Bill 3698 has passed the Senate Higher Education Committee.

Guzman effort to bring transparency and fully staff nursing homes passes committee

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to require reporting on the number of vacant nursing home surveyor positions has passed committee.

“Protecting and supporting our elderly community members in long term care facilities must be a top priority if we are going to entrust these institutions with the care of our loved ones,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Making sure we have enough trained nursing home surveyors will ensure Illinois can stay on top of this issue and ensure our elderly are properly cared for.”

Nursing home surveyors are professionals who inspect nursing homes to make sure they meet regulations for care, safety and that residents rights are being respected. Oftentimes they survey through interviews, observations and record review.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois has approximately 200 surveyors, which employ teams of registered professional nurses, nutritionists and an environmental health practitioner. These surveyors will identify deficiencies and allows IDPH to push towards corrections from the deficient nursing home.

“The more surveyors we have, the better we can serve residents in these nursing homes,” said Guzmán. “By including the number of surveyors reported to the General Assembly by IDPH, we will have the tools to know if and how we need to address this issue.”

Senate Bill 3967 has passed Senate Health and Human Services Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

Guzmán bill to enhance sanitary options for women on jobsites

 CHICAGO – In order to uplift construction workers who are menstruating or lactating, State Senator Graciela Guzmán is leading a bill in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites.

“We must ensure women and anyone who menstruates aren’t left behind in the workplace – no matter the job,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “The hardworking people of the trades should not be worried their bodies will impact their work in a negative way or vice versa. The common sense requirements in this bill will ensure sanitary standards are met and job site work is unimpeded.”

Senate Bill 3465 would advance health, safety and economic participation for workers on Illinois construction sites — especially those who are menstruating or lactating. The bill is about safer, more humane workplaces and about ensuring our skilled Illinois workforce can participate fully in our state’s economy.

The measure would provide that if a woman or individual who menstruates is present on a worksite and there are 10 or more workers of any gender present, then a separate toilet facility shall be provided and designated for use by women and individuals who menstruate.

The bill would establish minimum sanitary conditions and would require menstrual hygiene products to be available at no cost. It would further require employers to provide construction workers who are lactating with reasonable accommodations needed to express breast milk upon request and other reasonable accommodations. It also allows construction employees to call the certified local public health agency to request an inspection and prohibits retaliation by employers for such calls and provides for fees for violations of the proposal.

"For too long, the basic needs of tradeswomen and their families have been ignored by the industry,” said Cristina Barillas-McEntee, Journeyworker Plumber with Local 130 and Director of Tradeswomen Initiatives with Chicago Women in Trades. “Clean washrooms, menstrual products, and private space for nursing mothers are not special requests — they are what an inclusive worksite requires. This bill makes that the standard in Illinois.” ”

Senate Bill 3465 passed the Senate Labor committee Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.