ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Recognizing the cultural, economic and historical importance of the Arlington International Racecourse for their districts, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) and State Representative (D-Arlington Heights) recently championed the Racecourse and its application for an organization license and 2020 race dates to the Illinois Racing Board.

Gillespie and Walker recently sent a letter to the board advocating for the Racecourse and have issued the following statement:

“Arlington International Racecourse holds important historical and cultural significance in Arlington Heights and the surrounding area. The Racecourse is a national destination for racing fans and the crown jewel of horse racing in Illinois and the Midwest.

The Racecourse is critical to the economy in our communities. The reduction or loss of an organizational license or race dates will impact over 800 working people. Moreover, such a decision would place a significant burden on the tax revenues of the Village of Arlington Heights and our local school districts. The FY20 budgets for the Village and school districts have already been finalized and the loss of this revenue will have an immediate impact on their ability to deliver basic services.

On behalf of our neighbors, we have urged the Illinois Racing Board to support Arlington International’s applications and grant them their requested organizational license and racing dates.”

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Students seeking a master’s degree in social work will be able to take their licensing exam sooner thanks to a new law introduced by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

“Students of social work will now be licensed upon graduation and able to apply for jobs sooner,” said Gillespie. “Our state is facing a social worker shortage, so this new law will allow us to mitigate that much quicker.”

Senate Bill 1888 allows students in a master’s program for social work to take their licensing exam in their final semester. Before this amendment, students needed to wait until after their degree was awarded.

The legislation was an initiative of the National Association of Social Workers and passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 1888 takes effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – A harmful chemical found in most common receipt papers is now prohibited from being used in Illinois thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical used in thermal receipt papers to develop color that has been found to have negative reproductive and developmental side effects in animals.

“Retail employees and consumers are exposed to BPA every time they handle a receipt,” said Gillespie. “We must protect our workers, and ensure a safe work environment free from potential harm.”

BPA has been banned from being used in other products such as water bottles and packaging for infant care products. Illinois is the second state to ban BPA in receipt papers, following a similar ban in Connecticut.

House Bill 2076 takes effect immediately.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – Students will be able to more easily find local job opportunities with a work-based learning database that was created under a new law sponsored by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights).

House Bill 2868 requires the Illinois State Board of Education to develop and maintain a work-based learning database to help facilitate relationships between schools and local businesses.

“Making these jobs easily accessible to young people will allow them to earn money and gain valuable industry skills,” said Gillespie. “Schools and employers will also develop working relationships that will be mutually beneficial, creating a school-to-work pipeline.”

House Bill 2868 is effective immediately.