PRESS-RELEASES

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s effort to enshrine the right to wear protective medical equipment without fear of retaliation passed the Senate today.

“We cannot allow politics to get in the way of an individual’s access to protective medical equipment,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “This bill preserves choice, access and public health in Illinois.”

The Protective Medical Equipment Freedom Act – or Kiki’s Law – would give all individuals the right to wear protective medical equipment in public accommodations without having to disclose personal health information. It prohibits discrimination, harassment, denial of service, eviction, retaliation, or employer penalties related to wearing protective medical equipment, with limited exceptions for security and operational safety.

An initiative of Access Living and the Right to Mask Coalition, the legislation honors the legacy of Colette “Kiki” Walkington, who had complex medical needs. Following a kidney transplant from her father, Kiki relied on immunosuppressants and was at risk of serious illness. Medical masks worn by her family provided protection and allowed Kiki to live a fuller life.

“Kiki was a person with a disability who was immunocompromised and her family wore protective medical equipment every single day to keep her safe especially when leaving the house,” said Sebastian Nall, policy analyst at Access Living. “Kiki’s family is a perfect example of a family that would be positively impacted by the passing of this legislation.”

“Folks should not be intimidated for using equipment that makes themselves and their community safer,” said Guzmán. “Harassment based on medical decisions and mask bans have no place in our state.”

Senate Bill 3340 passed the Senate and heads to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán is working with Planned Parenthood to preserve contraceptive services or supplies for minors through legislation that recently passed the Executive Committee.

“Contraceptive rights are under attack across this country,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Illinois needs to preserve and protect access to contraceptive care and keep reproductive choices in the hands of the individual.”

Senate Bill 3341 would provide that any minor may give effective consent for contraceptive services or supplies and the consent of no other person is required. According to KFF, several states require parental consent to obtain contraceptive care and many states do not guarantee the rights of minors to consent to contraceptive services.

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education.

"In recent years, we have seen a concerted effort to stigmatize birth control use and spread misinformation,” said Marissa Jackson-Donnell, senior manager of legislative affairs at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action. “As these attacks on reproductive health care continue on the national level, Illinois must do more to protect the bodies, lives and futures of our youth. Illinois can protect the current level of access in our state by removing antiquated language and explicitly affirming that the right to consent to care includes the right to consent to contraception."

Senate Bill 3341 has passed the Executive Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

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CHICAGO – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill, in partnership with Chicago Women in Trades to provide sanitary conditions, reasonable accommodations and menstrual products on job sites has passed the Senate.

“Women and anyone who menstruates have a right to care for their bodies in a dignified and sanitary way,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Whether in the office or on the job site, we need commonsense accommodations for those who menstruate and those who are lactating. This legislation uplifts women which in turn will support the trades and their hard work.”

Senate Bill 3465 would advance health, safety and economic participation for workers on Illinois construction sites — especially those who are menstruating or lactating. The bill is about safer, more humane workplaces and about ensuring our skilled Illinois workforce can participate fully in our state’s economy.

The measure would provide that if a woman or individual who menstruates is present on a worksite and there are 10 or more workers of any gender present, then a separate toilet facility shall be provided and designated for use by women and individuals who menstruate.

The bill would establish minimum sanitary conditions and require menstrual hygiene products to be available at no cost. It would further require employers to provide construction workers who are lactating with reasonable accommodations needed to express breast milk upon request and other reasonable accommodations. It also allows construction employees to call the certified local public health agency to request an inspection and prohibits retaliation by employers for such calls and provides for fees for violations of the proposal.

"For too long, the basic needs of tradeswomen and their families have been ignored by the industry,” said Cristina Barillas-McEntee, Journeyworker Plumber with Local 130 and Director of Tradeswomen Initiatives with Chicago Women in Trades. “Clean washrooms, menstrual products, and private space for nursing mothers are not special requests — they are what an inclusive worksite requires. This bill makes that the standard in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 3465 passed the Senate and heads to the House for further consideration.

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SPRINGFIELD – In the face of growing threats to higher education from the Trump administration, State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s bill to establish academic freedom at Illinois universities passed committee.

“Places of higher education learning should be sanctuaries of free learning, debate and challenging ideas,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “Students and faculty should not be pressured to suppress their political or academic opinions.”

Guzmán’s measure would provide that a faculty member of a public institution of higher education may not be directed, coerced or penalized concerning the specific content, viewpoint or method of teaching. The bill would require the Illinois State Board of Higher Education, State Community College Board and individual community college districts to adopt and enforce new rules.

These rules include creating a right for students and faculty members to freely discuss the subject matter of teaching material without fear of discipline. It also would create a right affording students and faculty members full freedom in research and in the publication of the results of that research without fear of discipline. Finally, the bill would affirm the right of faculty to publicly or privately express views on university policies and practices without fear of discipline and the right of faculty to attend a political rally, comment on political issues while off duty, without fear of discipline.