SPRINGFIELD – Students are now allowed to self-administer prescribed medication while at school under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

Murphy’s measure requires schools to allow students with an action plan to self-administer prescribed medication with permission from their parent or guardian.

“No parent should have to wonder whether their child will be able to access their medication when they need it,” Murphy said. “When we give kids the right to self-administer their medicine, we not only give them control over their own health—we also make it easier for them to focus on school work, and we reassure parents that their kids are well cared for at school.”

Gwynne Ryan, a teacher at Maine West High School brought this issue to Murphy. Ryan faced opposition from her child’s school when she requested that her child be allowed to self-administer medication.

"Helping kids to manage all aspects of their lives and medical needs, in and out of school, is essential for lifelong good health and a sense of individual responsibility. This is what I want to teach my child and what Senator Murphy has helped make possible for many more parents,” said Ryan. “Senator Murphy’s action on issues that directly impact her constituents shows her dedication to public service."

Public Act 101-205 went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – Prompted by a recent report detailing the appalling misuse of “quiet rooms” in Illinois schools, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) has announced her support of a House bill that aims to end the use of isolation and seclusion as punishment in Illinois.

In response to the report, Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), a former special education teacher, has filed House Bill 3975 to ban Illinois schools from using isolation, a measure Murphy strongly supports.

“Putting a child in a quiet room is an extreme, potentially traumatizing course of action, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Murphy said. “It’s time to end the abuse of this practice in Illinois schools.”

Join me on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Des Plaines Public Library for my Silver Beat Seminar. The event is free to seniors and the Attorney General's Office will be there to answer any questions regardinfinancial exploitation and to help you learn about the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)Project and health care fraud.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy’s measure to fight human trafficking in Illinois by requiring more training on the issue as well as creating stronger penalties was signed into law Thursday. 

Senate Bill 1890 creates the Lodging Establishment Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which will require hotels and motels to train their employees on how to recognize human trafficking and how to alert authorities.

“Hotels and motels have been shown to be popular locations for human trafficking,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “I knew if we wanted to combat this issue head on, we had to ensure that hospitality staff were educated, aware and putting forth a conscious effort to save victims and catch traffickers.”

Murphy’s new law will also require the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to provide training for police officers to detect human trafficking. It also will extend the statute of limitations for all offenses related to human trafficking to 25 years.

“I am happy to see my bill signed into law, but I don’t think we should stop here,” Murphy said. “Human trafficking is unlike any other crime; it involves the selling of humans. Everyone needs to be educated on this growing epidemic because it doesn’t just happen behind closed doors – it can be anywhere.”

Senate Bill 1890 goes into effect immediately.