SPRINGFIELD – A new law backed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel will highlight future career opportunities for children with disabilities.

“I spent 15 years in the classroom as a special education teacher and I saw first-hand the importance of planning cohesively with parents and the student,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s crucial to create a plan that paves the way for students with disabilities to succeed.”

Individualized education plans – or IEPs – are plans that describe education instruction, support and services that students with disabilities are entitled to receive. Under the new law, students with IEPs and their parents will be provided information on the school district’s career and technical education and dual credit opportunities.

According to the National School Boards Association’s 2019 analysis, students with disabilities who were in career and technical educational programs had an 89% graduation rate nationwide during the previous school year, which was 20% higher than the overall graduation rate for students with disabilities.

“Career and technical education can give students the training needed to build a meaningful career,” said Loughran Cappel. “I will continue working to ensure children with disabilities have every opportunity.”

House Bill 3224 took effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – The annual pay cap for teachers who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors will be increased under a new law championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“During the 15 years I spent in the classroom, I relied on my colleagues to make me the best teacher I could be,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Having qualified mentors within each school is important to keep young, new professionals excited and satisfied with their work.”

The new law increases the annual pay cap from $1,500 to $2,250 for teachers with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designations who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors.

To receive National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation, a teacher must have a bachelor's degree, hold a state license and have at least three years of teaching or counseling experience. The candidate then takes a computer-based assessment and completes three portfolio entries. If the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards deems that a teacher passes all of the components, the teacher receives the designation.

“Many educators will spend over 30 hours a year participating in mentoring and professional development,” said Loughran Cappel. “Providing compensation to the teachers who continuously work to uplift new teachers will encourage them to stay within the profession longer, ultimately benefiting our students the most.”

House Bill 1291 takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to expand access to hospice care, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a measure that will increase the number of people hospice residences can serve and the number of licensed hospice locations per county, which was signed into law Friday.

“As someone who has cared for loved ones, I know the stress and exhaustion that comes with it,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s a role many of us have taken on because we want our family to have the care they need during their final months. That’s why I worked to expand hospice care so everyone can have access to quality health care.”

The Loughran Cappel law allows hospice programs that own or operate separate hospice residences to serve up to 24 people per location, rather than the current 20 people per location cap. Additionally, the law expands the number of licensed hospice locations per county from five to 16.

“As the shortage of hospice care workers has grown, State Representative Natalie Manley and I worked to expand the number of residents they can care for without creating a burden on hospice care workers,” said Loughran Cappel. “We have to continue working together to address the shortage but this is a step in the right direction to providing the essential health care people deserve.”

House Bill 1117 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.

SPRINGFIELD – Crest Hill residents will have access to clean drinking water under a measure championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel that was signed into law Friday.

“Everyone deserves access to clean drinking water,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This was an easy fix to make sure Crest Hill residents have safe, clean drinking water that will have a lasting effect on the city.”

Crest Hill's switch to Lake Michigan as a source of treated water needs to be finished by the end of 2029. The new water supply operation, once finished, will be able to serve both the city's water system pressure zones and will be capable of meeting all of its water supply needs.

The Loughran Cappel law authorizes the City of Crest Hill to buy land that will be used to construct a Lake Michigan water station. The proposed site for the water receiving station is on land owned by the Illinois Department of Corrections, which is near the city's largest water customer, Stateville Correctional Center.

"I am extremely grateful to Senator Loughran Cappel for her help and assistance with the passage of the Land Transfer Bill through the Senate,” said City of Crest Hill Mayor Raymond R. Soliman. “This will be a tremendous tax savings for all of the residents of the City of Crest Hill and will also help us secure our allocation to obtain Lake Michigan water."

House Bill 2097 takes effect immediately.