SPRINGFIELD – The Reproductive Health Act, which repeals outdated abortion laws that have been blocked by the courts and ensures that reproductive health care is treated like all other health care and not as a crime, passed out of the Illinois Senate today.

“The Reproductive Health Act maintains the status quo in Illinois and puts the right to make individual decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion, into Illinois law,” said State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville). “This is about protecting the rights of Illinois women.”

The Reproductive Health Act provides a critical update and modernization to Illinois’ outdated law. The Reproductive Health Act codifies regulations that reflect current standards of medical practice and repeals state laws that are not in effect and not enforced because of court rulings.

“By passing the Reproductive Health Act, we're codifying practices that are already in place and repealing the patchwork of outdated laws and court rulings on reproductive health care,” Ellman said. “The Reproductive Health Act guarantees that regardless of what happens at the federal level, Illinois women will still have access to safe, legal abortion.”

The Reproductive Health Act:
• Repeals felony penalties imposed on doctors for offering abortion care and some contraceptives
• Removes the requirement that a married woman be required to get her husband’s consent to an abortion
• Lifts disciplinary penalties adopted decades ago aimed solely at physicians who perform abortions
• Protects assisted reproductive techniques like in-vitro fertilization
• Treats the cost of abortion like all other medical expenses
• Requires insurance companies (not multi-state plans) to provide coverage for abortions without cost-sharing requirements

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) released the following statement regarding the Senate’s vote to legalize adult-use cannabis:

“When it comes to legalizing adult-use cannabis, safety has always been my top concern. Right now, cannabis is being grown, processed, sold and consumed without any regulations or oversight. I believe that legalizing and regulating cannabis is a safer alternative to our current system. This bill includes important regulations and provisions that ensure that cannabis is grown, processed and distributed in a safe, transparent manner.”

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) passed a bill today to repeal a decades-old law that prevents Illinois from taking action to address harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Kyoto Protocol Act should never have been signed into Illinois law. It only served to limit our state’s ability to make decisions and prepare for the future,” Ellman said. “By repealing this legislation, the General Assembly is signaling that Illinois is ready to get serious about tackling emissions that cause climate change.”

House Bill 3481 repeals the Kyoto Protocol Act of 1998, which was intended to prevent the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Pollution Control Board from proposing rules to reduce greenhouse gases to address climate change.

“The 1998 law is basically a gag order designed to prevent Illinois from taking important action to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change,” Ellman said. “Repealing this outdated law will allow us to consider options to curb greenhouse gas emissions and protect our environment.”

The Kyoto Protocol Act expressly prohibited Illinois from reducing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions beyond the goals set for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol. In 2001, the U.S. withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Illinois tied to goals that the federal government no longer intended to meet.

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NAPERVILLE – Non-traditional students pursuing vocational training would be eligible for a new scholarship program under legislation from State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).

“Let’s encourage more students, especially later in life, to take advantage of our trade schools by taking the financial burden off of their shoulders,” Ellman said. “This scholarship gives opportunity to those who are seeking new jobs thus fueling our markets and economy.”

The legislation establishes an Adult Vocational Community College Scholarship Program, run by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. To be eligible, a student must be over the age of 30 and unemployed but actively searching for work.

The scholarship would be enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees to attend the community college without exceeding $2,000 per recipient per academic year.
Senate Bill 1167 passed in the Senate this afternoon and will now go to the House for consideration.

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