SPRINGFIELD – PFAs, also known as “forever chemicals”, are of great concern to the environment and people’s health. To prevent these chemicals from further contaminating our environment, State Senator Laura Fine is leading a measure that will establish a “take-back” program for existing firefighting foams that contain these hazardous substances.

In 2021, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 561, which ends the manufacture and sales of firefighting foam with PFAs by January 2025. To further protect from these chemicals, Fine sponsored House Bill 3508, which will establish a take-back program for firefighting foam that contains PFAS. This program will run for five years or until the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal finds that no more firefighting foam contains PFAS. This is an important step to protect our environment and our ecosystem.

“Research has shown that the PFAs in firefighting foam can seep into our water supply and cannot be removed in the water treatment process,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “It is vital to stop the ongoing use of products with PFAS to preserve our environment and prevent adverse health effects.”

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are human-made chemicals that have been used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water and oil. Most PFAS do not break down and remain in the soil, water and air, causing potentially harmful health effects in humans and animals over time.

"While we continue to learn about the potential harmful health effects from PFAS chemicals, we must take steps necessary to prevent these compounds from contaminating our environment. HB 3508, which I introduced in the House, is one step towards that goal,” said State Representative Moeller (D-Elgin). “I thank Sen. Fine for sponsoring this bill in the Senate and look forward to having the legislation signed into law."

House Bill 3508 passed the Senate Wednesday. It now goes to the House for a concurrence vote.

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

“As the 988 hotline is the most accessible form of mental health care in Illinois, it is imperative that we are operating it in the most effective way to provide the best care for Illinoisans struggling with their mental health,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This study will provide more insight into where we can grow and adjust our operations to better serve people experiencing a mental health crisis.”

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 a mental health-related crisis. The hotline has been beneficial to many Illinoisans, and this study will ensure we continue to improve the 988 system.

House Bill 1364 would create a task force to review existing information about the first year of the 988 call center operations in Illinois and examine the recommendations and decisions of previous state-led workgroups on transforming the mental health crisis response system. The task force would develop a path forward to improve services provided by the network of 988 call centers in Illinois that will best promote connection to care and obtain sustainable funding for the 988 call centers in future fiscal years.

"Collaboration across agencies and providers will be critical to the ongoing success of 988," said State Representative Guzzardi (D-Chicago). "This working group will chart a road map for the future of crisis response in our state, and I'm eager to begin the discussion."

House Bill 1364 passed the Senate on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – A new initiative from State Senator Laura Fine will require the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to maintain a database on the safety of consumer products, making safety information much more accessible to protect Illinois children.

“It can be difficult for parents to know where to look for the most up-to-date information about product safety,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Having a standard database that caregivers trust will bring peace of mind to parents, as well as prevent tragedies from taking place.”

Currently, families and caregivers do not have a clear resource to check if a product or toy is safe for their child to use, or if there were any recalls of the product. DCFS is currently only required by state law to contact childcare facilities without internet access about relevant product recalls. Those facilities with internet access must research recalls through their own means.

House Bill 3363 requires DCFS to establish and maintain a public database on their website on the safety of consumer products regulated by the department. Additionally, the bill changes the definition of children’s products to include products intended for the use of a child under age 12. This puts DCFS in compliance with the federal Consumer Product Safety Act.

“This consumer friendly resource will help better inform parents and caregivers about recalls of dangerous or hazardous toys on the market,” said Fine. “This initiative is a convenient way to protect our children.”

House Bill 3363 passed the Senate on May 4.

SPRINGFIELD – To bring awareness to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), which impacts one in every 6,000 newborns in the U.S., State Senator Laura Fine introduced Senate Resolution 60 commemorating May 15 as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day.

“TSC can cause long-lasting complications on a young person’s health and is unfortunately often misdiagnosed,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “Observing Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day will increase knowledge of this disease and hopefully help people find a correct diagnosis to get the most effective treatment to improve their health.”

TSC is a multi-system genetic disease that causes non-cancerous tumors in the brain and other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs and skin. It can also affect the central nervous system leading to seizures, impaired intellectual development, autism, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities and kidney diseases. Most people with TSC start experiencing symptoms when they are a year old. However, identifying symptoms of the disease take longer to develop so TSC can be misdiagnosed or missed for many years.

Approximately 40,000 to 80,000 people in the U.S. have TSC. There is no cure for TSC; however, treatments are available based on individual symptoms. Observing Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day urges those in Illinois to support research to find a cure in addition to assisting individuals and families affected by this disease.

Senate Resolution 60 establishes May 15, 2023 as Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day in Illinois.