CHICAGO – State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) welcomed legislators and staff to the second tour of two safety-net hospitals last Wednesday. The group of bipartisan lawmakers, advocates and safety-net experts attended the tours.

“This group was able to see the crucial role safety-net hospitals    play in underserved communities,” Gillespie said. “Uninsured    people, Medicaid and Medicare recipients make up the vast    majority of the patients treated in these hospitals.”

The group toured Swedish Hospital and Thorek Memorial Hospital    in Chicago. Representatives from multiple other safety-net    hospitals joined to explain the essential services they offer. Safety-net hospitals serve low-income communities where a majority of patients receive coverage from Medicaid.

“The state's network of safety net hospitals is vitally important to all our health and safety, especially now, during a pandemic,” said State Senator Heather Steans. “It was informative to visit these crucial hospitals, and should remind all of us in Springfield that we need to make their continued operation a priority.”

During the shortened legislative session this past May, lawmakers passed the Hospital and Health Care Transformation Program. The program will provide $150 million in funding for individual projects for safety-net hospitals to advance health equity and address systemic health disparities in Illinois.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — In efforts to protect Illinois’ most vulnerable population and spare them a trip to the driver services facility, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) is alerting drivers age 75 and older that their driver’s license expiration dates have been extended by one year.

“Extending the expiration date for older drivers will help our most at-risk population avoid or delay a visit to the driver services facility during this pandemic,” Gillespie said. “This will give these Illinoisans the opportunity to plan a visit when they are comfortable and safe without being penalized.”

In addition to being 75 years of age or older, the driver must have a valid license—drivers whose licenses have been suspended or revoked do not qualify for the one-year extension. Drivers who are eligible should receive a letter from the secretary of state as proof of their qualification.

For drivers under age 75, expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and license plate stickers have been extended until Nov. 1, 2020. Customers who choose to visit a facility need wear a face mask. Additionally, customers are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and should be prepared to wait outside in various types of weather.

Gillespie encourages drivers to visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com to avoid waiting in line and take advantage of online services, including replacements and renewals of registrations, driver’s licenses and ID cards.

To find the closest driver services facility near you, visit cyberdriveillinois.com, click on the facility finder, and enter your ZIP code in the search bar.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – In an effort to provide support to small business owners facing economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) announced 34 local businesses will receive over $500,000 through the Business Interruption Grant program.

“The small business community in our area and across the state    are the backbone of the economy,” Gillespie said. “As legislators,    it’s our job to do everything we can can to assist them.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a total of $46 million to 2,655 small businesses in the first round of BIG funding. The BIG program offers grants to businesses hit particularly hard by pandemic-related closures and restrictions.

First round grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 and may be used to help businesses with working expenses, including payroll costs, rent, utilities and any other pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, new technology and training. To ensure ongoing support for Illinois small businesses, the State of Illinois has planned future rounds of funding.

“COVID-19 has effected minority-owned businesses especially hard,” Gillespie said. “They need this grant money, and I’m pleased that the state is doing what’s necessary to help our small business community stay afloat. That’s also why this program helps ensure that businesses in disproportionately affected areas take priority when grants are being awarded.”

The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the COVID-19 economic downturn. The full list of grant recipients is available here.

CHICAGO – Standing with essential workers, State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) commended a labor package signed into law on Friday that will increase first responder benefits, protect retail employees and expand collective bargaining rights.

“Essential employees and first responders have been on the front lines fighting for us, and we need to look out for them,” Gillespie said. “A workplace free from harassment, with livable wages and time to recuperate from injury are all rights that every employee should have.”

This historic labor package expands paid disability leave for first responders by 60 days due to decreased access to rehabilitative services. It also elevates the charge of battery of a retail employee to aggravated battery if the incident took place during or up to six months after a declared public health emergency. Aggravated battery charges would also apply to incidents that occur while an employee relays directions for health and safety precautions, among other duties.

Senate Bill 471 also requires existing racetracks with 10 or more employees to engage in collective bargaining if the track wishes to expand to include a casino. While the horse racing industry is excluded from federal collective bargaining laws, Illinois has extended similar protections to most businesses. The new law is effective immediately.