Fine joins Senate in passing fair tax, trusts Illinois voters with final say

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) voted in favor of a proposal to put the implementation of a fair tax system in Illinois on the 2020 ballot.

“I’m proud to have supported this proposal, which puts us one step closer to implementing a Fair Tax in Illinois,” Fine said. “This new tax structure is sound fiscal policy that will give us the freedom to invest in key areas across the state.”

The Fair Tax system would replace the current flat rate system, under which every taxpayer in Illinois pays the same rate regardless of income. The new Fair Tax introduces a tiered rate structure similar to the federal income tax.

Fine was one of 36 members of the Senate to vote in favor of the legislation, which will now be sent to the House. Should it pass the House, it will still face one additional hurdle: The Illinois Constitution. A flat tax rate is codified in the Constitution, and any effort to remove it requires 60 percent of Illinois voters who vote on the question to approve a Constitutional amendment in the 2020 general election.

“I’m confident that the voters of Illinois will make an educated decision on this ballot measure,” Fine said. “Taxpayers have called for a fairer tax system, and today the Senate did its part in providing them the opportunity to vote for one.”

Fine moves to require insurance companies to cover more mental health care

SPRINGFIELD – Patients will have improved access to mental health care under a bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“In Illinois, 2.5 million people have a mental health condition,” Fine said. “Unfortunately, only about a third of these patients receive treatment. This legislation will improve care for people who otherwise may not have access to a psychiatrist.”

Senate Bill 2085, mandates insurance providers include a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) in their coverage. A creates a team approach consisting of a primary care doctor, a care manager such as a nurse or social worker, and a psychiatric consultant. This approach treats common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety that often require frequent and systematic follow-ups.

The bill was approved by the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support and now heads to the House of Representatives.

Fine looks to add residency requirement for state employees

SPRINGFIELD – Certain state employees would be required to live within the state of Illinois according to a bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

“Since the salaries of state workers are paid by the taxpayers of Illinois, the workers should be subject to those same taxes,” Fine said. “This also ensures that every state employee has the state’s best interests in mind, since any decisions made will affect them as well.”

Senate Bill 1639 establishes a state residency requirement for state workers hired after Dec. 31, 2019. If a new hire is not a resident of the state, they will have a three month grace period to establish residency. In addition, the bill gives the Director of Central Management Services the discretion to waive the residency requirement if the employee can prove that their non-residency has a just and reasonable cause.

The bill would not affect third-party contractor employees or any employee hired before Jan. 1, 2020. It was approved by the Senate with 53 votes and will be sent to the House of Representatives.

Fine moves to close loophole affecting abused minors

SPRINGFIELD – A possible loophole affecting abused minors in DCFS care would be closed under a bill sponsored by State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview).

Senate Bill 1116 fixes gaps in the language of a current statute that leaves open the potential for abuse to go unpunished if the survivor reaches their 18^th birthday before the scheduled court date.

“This is an unfortunate example of an unforeseen circumstance creating an issue, and I’m glad to help fix it,” Fine said. “Abusers shouldn’t get off scot-free just because of the date on the calendar.”

This has happened in the past in rare circumstances. SB1116 closes the loophole to allow the cases to be brought to trial, regardless of when the minor comes of age. The measure passed the Senate with unanimous bipartisan support, and will move to the House of Representatives for consideration.