Legislation
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 2009
State Legislation
Community Schools (H.B. 684)
This community schools bill amends the School Code to support new and existing community schools in Illinois. Community schools bring communities, families, and schools together in pursuit of establishing programming at the schools after the traditional school day comes to an end and that is linked to the in-school curriculum, so that students succeed at school and in life. In addition, community school programming coordinates new and existing community resources at the school that benefit students, their families and local community members. The bill includes a clause for community school grants that the State Board of Education would make available. A request-for-proposal process would be used to award such grants. ICAH supports.
Expedited Partner Therapy (S.B. 212)
Expedited partner therapy, recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, would allow medical professionals to treat the partners of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea without requiring a physical examination. The medical professionals can provide antibiotics or prescriptions to patient for the partners, to be delivered by the patient. Along with medications or prescriptions, the provider would include written materials with allergy warnings, medication directions, information on treatment and prevention of STDs, and the need for a follow-up medical exam. ICAH supports.
Privacy Protections for HIV-Positive Students (H.B. 90)
The bill would repeal an outdated law requiring health department to notify schools principals about any HIV-positive students enrolled in their schools. The principal may then disclose the student’s HIV status to the classroom teach, school nurse, and other school personnel. The discriminatory law serves no public health purpose given that universal precautions are already required by school personnel to prevent the spread of all communicable diseases. ICAH supports.
Protection Governing Sterilization of Adults with Disabilities (H.B. 2290)
The bill would ban the sterilization of adults with disabilities under guardianship without due process. The bill would update the Probate Act of 1975 to require a guardian to obtain a court order before a doctor can perform a sterilization on a ward with a disability. Illinois law does not currently protect people with disabilities under guardianship from involuntary sterilization. ICAH supports.
Reproductive Health and Access Act (H.B. 2354)
The bill would bar the government from interfering with anyone’s ability to use birth control, carry a pregnancy to term, or terminate a pregnancy. The bill requires all
Federal Legislation
Prevention First Act (H.R. 463/S. 21)
The Prevention First Act is an omnibus prevention bill that includes increases to the Title X family planning program, funding for a national education program about emergency contraception, a mandate that all hospital emergency rooms provide information and access to emergency contraception for sexual assault victims, funding for comprehensive sex education, and an accuracy in contraception information section that would ensure young people receive medically accurate information about the health benefits of condoms and contraceptives. ICAH supports.
Responsible Education About Life Act (H.R. 1551/S. 611)
The Responsible Education About Life Act (REAL) would provide grants to states for the purpose of conducting comprehensive sexuality education programs. Programs funded under the REAL Act must be age-appropriate and medically accurate, stress abstinence as the only sure way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and provide information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives. The REAL Act would ensure that taxpayer dollars are used appropriately by requiring evaluation of all programs receiving grant money by both the Secretary of Health and Human Services and individual states. ICAH supports.
