Fine: Budget address is a promising start for mental health care

SPRINGFIELD – Following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) is optimistic that the state will increase its investment for essential mental health care.

 “In these unprecedented times, many are facing new or worsening mental health concerns,” Senator Fine said. “It is vital that we prioritize making mental health care more accessible and higher quality for those with existing mental health needs in our budget.”

 The governor’s budget proposal includes $70 million in funding of the 9-8-8 mental health hotline. Senator Fine’s initiative created a fund to maintain the hotline in Illinois, which will go live in July. The program is reliant by the state for resources to hire caseworkers, operators, and provide training to ensure the hotline is a high-quality resource, making funding for the program crucial.

 “The 9-8-8 hotline will provide vital support to people in crisis,” Fine said. “I am glad that the governor is prioritizing mental health care accessibility by proposing to fund this life-saving service.”

The proposed budget also invests millions of dollars into the mental health workforce.  In addition, to help increase the number of people in the healthcare workforce, it also waives fees for licensing for hundreds of thousands of providers.

 Senator Fine is looking forward to advocating for mental health care with her colleagues and the governor in budget negotiations.

Fine, Villivalam disturbed by antisemitic vandalism

SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement after the West Rogers Park Jewish community suffered a series of targeted attacks over the weekend:

“This kind of hate is appalling and unacceptable anywhere, let alone in our own backyard.

“Illinois must live up to its commitment of being a welcoming state and prioritize protecting our most targeted neighbors. With hate crimes reaching the highest point in over a decade, Jewish and other diverse communities are in need of safe spaces to come together.

“To that end, we have introduced legislation to fully fund the Non-profit Security Grant Program so that the religious institutions, schools and support providers that serve marginalized communities have the necessary resources to protect their neighbors.”

Pre-apprenticeship grant awarded to local nonprofit to increase diversity

EVANSTON – The Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse is set to receive more than $500,000 to diversify pre-apprenticeship programs in the construction industry, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) announced Thursday.

“Women and people of color across Illinois are consistently underrepresented in the construction trades,” Senator Fine said. “Investing more than half a million dollars in diversifying the workforce at the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse will open the door for so many in our community.”

The mission of the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse is to invest in our communities by reusing building materials, reducing construction waste, and training, supporting and connecting people seeking careers in the building trades. They will receive $535,514 to increase diversity in the construction industry.

Funded by the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act as part of Rebuild Illinois, this program aims to open doors to career opportunities in the construction and building trades. Grantees will be offered structured pathways to help graduates transition from the pre-apprenticeship program to a full apprenticeship program in construction and building trades. A total of $9.6 million has been awarded to 23 organizations throughout Illinois that will provide pre-apprenticeship training and wraparound supportive services to more than 1,000 participants.

“The construction industry should be equitable and accessible, and we’re working to break down barriers,” Senator Fine said. “This commitment to supporting pre-apprenticeship programs for our historically underrepresented communities will help us create a stronger and more diverse workforce across Illinois.”

More information on Illinois Works can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website.

Senator Fine fights for students in debt across Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Student debt is the second leading source of consumer debt in America, just behind mortgage loans. Illinois students across the state would have more options to protect themselves from falling behind on their student debt under a measure championed through the Higher Education Committee by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) on Tuesday.

Under Senator Fine’s legislation, universities would be prohibited from withholding transcripts as a means of debt collection.

“Currently, students are not able to access their transcripts due to the student owing money to the university,” Senator Fine said. “Having access to their transcripts would allow students to seek the jobs necessary to pay off these loans.”

Universities would be required to offer debt repayment plan options for any student who has a balance of $250 or more immediately following the semester. Students who owe less than $2,500 who are on a repayment plan would also be able to avoid an academic hold.

“Student debt is an enormous burden on students and the economy,” Senator Fine said. “This bill gives students a pathway to economic stability by creating a debt repayment plan that will rein in fees and interest charges. It also prohibits withholding of transcripts that may inhibit students from seeking employment.”

SB 3032 passed through the Higher Education Committee and now goes to the full Senate for further consideration.