DES PLAINES – After the Property Tax Relief Task Force met for the first time this Monday, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) reported that the task force is ready to reform the state’s regressive property tax system.
As part of the Fair Tax legislative package, the bipartisan task force will determine ways legislators can reform the state’s regressive property tax system to reduce taxes on low- and middle- income earners. The task force will produce their final report by Dec. 31, 2019.
“No matter what your political affiliation is, everyone knows that the property taxes in Illinois are a regressive burden on low- and middle-income families,” said Murphy. “I’m thrilled to be part of a bipartisan team that will solve a real problem for working people in our state. Addressing our backward property tax system will keep people in Illinois and more importantly give our working families a path to economic stability.”
DES PLAINES – A measure that was signed into law today will add an extra protection for victims of domestic violence, thanks to Des Plaines Democrat State Senator Laura Murphy.
Senate Bill 399 will allow an address to be omitted from documents filed in court if disclosing the address would risk abuse or harm. The victim will also be protected from having to include a domestic violence safe house address or an address that was changed as a result of a protective order.
“It’s already hard enough for victims to take that first step and get out of their situation,” Murphy said. “They shouldn’t have to live in fear of their address being released after being brave enough to get away. I am happy to see this signed into law.”
Murphy introduced her measure in response to an incident where a judge included the address of a domestic violence safe house in a court order between the abuser and the victim regarding custody over their child.
Senate Bill 399 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
DES PLAINES – Students will be allowed to self-administer prescribed medication while at school under legislation sponsored by Des Plaines Democrat State Senator Laura Murphy that became law this week.
Murphy’s measure will require schools to allow students with an action plan to self-administer prescribed medication with permission from their parent or guardian.
“Giving children permission to self-administer their medicine while at school allows them to focus on their school work and offers parents reassurance,” Murphy said. “I am happy my bill was signed into law because no parent wants to worry that their child might not be safe at school simply because they don’t have access to their medication.”
Gwynne Ryan, a teacher at Maine West High School brought this idea for legislation forward after fighting the school her child attends on allowing her child to self-administer
"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."
Senate Bill 1250 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
DES PLAINES – A bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) that would make partisan appointments to the Task Force on Human Services Contracting equal was signed into law earlier this month.
House Bill 2487 requires appointments to the task force to have the same number of Democrats and Republicans. Previously, the majority party was allowed to appoint one more member than the minority party.
“Human services should not be a partisan issue,” said Murphy. “We need to bring all sides together to ensure that the challenges faced by human service agencies are adequately addressed.”
The task force was implemented to study State contracting with private, nonprofit human service providers and the challenges they face. The new law extends the task force’s study by one year, and at that time the task force will make recommendations to the General Assembly on how to improve contracting relationships so that human services needs are addressed efficiently.
“In order to understand the issues that these vital service providers are facing, the task force should be given more time to study the full range of challenges,” said Murphy. “I am confident that when the task force makes their recommendations from the balanced, bipartisan study group that we will begin to see positive changes to the way we contract with human service providers.”
House Bill 2487 is effective immediately.
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