SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) advanced legislation out of the Senate to create a Children’s Mental Health Council in Illinois.

The council would provide recommendations to the governor and General Assembly each year regarding children with mental health conditions and behavioral disabilities.

“As a former special education teacher in Joliet, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of addressing our children’s mental health,” Loughran Cappel said. “I am proud to be the Senate sponsor of this legislation to address this issue and help our students and their families better cope with their mental health conditions.”

The council would be tasked with collaborating to more effectively meet emergency and residential placement for all children with severe mental and behavioral challenges and include recommendations on how the state can provide better support for children with mental health issues in their annual report.

Senate Bill 3889 moves to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – As school districts around the state continue struggling to fill teaching positions, Senate Democrats hosted a press conference in Springfield on Thursday announcing a number of legislative measures that would help address the void.

“Illinois is facing an overall teaching shortage and an immediate staffing shortage in schools,” State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) said. “Over the past two years, we’ve seen school districts take an all-hands-on-deck approach and our schools can no longer operate under that system. We need to take steps toward alleviating the teacher shortage through legislative action.”

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are more than 4,000 unfilled positions in schools. In an attempt to address the vacancies and increase the substitute teacher pool, Loughran Cappel introduced a plan – Senate Bill 3915 – that would waive the application fee for short-term substitute teaching licensees when the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency.

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SPRINGFIELD – A measure co-sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) to require the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to issue state licenses in four weeks passed the Senate.

“We have a variety of professionals waiting months for their licenses to be issued by the state, which is delaying them from getting to work” Loughran Cappel said. “By expediting the licensing process, we are making life and finances just a little easier for our vocational workers.”

The legislation was introduced after hearing word from local residents that the professional licensing process was taking too long. Under the legislation, IDFPR will be required to process applications within four weeks as long as there were no deficiencies submitted. The measure would expedite licenses for health care workers, accountants, speech pathologists and other professionals.

“We need to keep people working,” Loughran Cappel said. “This legislation will speed up the process for residents to get their licenses and help them enter the work force sooner.”

Senate Bill 670 moves to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation spearheaded by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) to waive application fees for short-term substitute teaching licenses cleared the Senate Wednesday.

“As a parent and former teacher, I believe we have an obligation to ensure our children have access to a high-quality education,” Loughran Cappel said. “A student’s education should not stop when their teacher is sick or unable to be in the classroom, which is why we need to simplify the process for qualified individuals to substitute teach.”

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, there are more than 4,000 unfilled positions in schools. In an attempt to address the void, Loughran Cappel’s plan would waive the application fee for short-term substitute teaching licensees when the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency.

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