Senator Fine Promotes Compost Awareness Week

SPRINGFIELD – To highlight the benefits of composting and the importance of adopting more sustainable practices, State Senator Laura Fine introduced a Senate Resolution declaring May 7th through May 13th of 2023 “Compost Awareness Week” in Illinois.

“There are many sustainable practices we can adopt to better support our environment and our planet,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This week, we are highlighting the benefits of composting, including preventing waste and replenishing our natural resources, to inspire people to adopt composting in their daily lives.”

Composting is an effective form of waste reduction and recycling. Organic materials, such as yard trimmings, vegetable cuttings, biosolids, food scraps, manure and hay shavings make up approximately 30% of the material going to landfills. Organic materials can be converted into compost, which prevents further waste being unnecessarily added to landfills. It also has beneficial properties when added back into soil, such as conserving water, decreasing dependence on chemical fertilizers and reducing erosion.

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Senator Fine ensures victims of human rights violations have more avenues to seek justice

SPRINGFIELD – To provide all victims of human rights violations the opportunity to seek justice, State Senator Laura Fine is working on legislation with the Illinois Department of Human Rights to improve how they investigate possible violations.

“With this law, we are assuring Illinoisans who have a human rights complaint that we hear them and are willing to fight for them,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “There will be more avenues to pursue justice with this measure and will help ensure no one slips through the cracks.”

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Senator Fine to improve 988 call center operations

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Laura Fine is launching an initiative to review data from the first year of operations and recommend updates for the future in order to make the 988 hotline as effective as possible for hotline operators and people experiencing a mental health crisis.

“The 988 hotline is the most accessible form of mental health care in Illinois and can be lifesaving in times of crisis,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is vital that we work to make the operation of care as effective as possible to best support Illinoisans struggling with their mental health.” 

Last year, Illinois launched the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a three-digit dialing code for a national suicide prevention and mental health hotline, offering 24/7 access to trained counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. The hotline has been beneficial to many Illinoisans, but currently there is no method of collecting data on the hotline that may be used to improve the 988 system.

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Senator Fine makes specialty services more accessible for HMO patients

SPRINGFIELD – Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging and time consuming, especially for patients with HMOs.  Currently, to see a specialist, HMO patients first have to visit their primary care doctor to get their specialist appointment covered by their insurance. State Senator Laura Fine has introduced legislation in order to eliminate this hurdle.

“When it comes to your health, getting the right care in a timely manner can make a tremendous difference,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “With this initiative, people will be able to get the specialized care they need as soon as possible.” 

House Bill 1186 would allow HMO patients to have appointments and care with in-network specialists covered by their insurance, eliminating the requirement to get a referral from a general practitioner. This will allow HMO patients to get the care they need in a timely manner.

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