PRESS-RELEASES

SPRINGFIELD – Many residents in Illinois are struggling to keep up with their medical debt in the face of corporate greed. State Senator Graciela Guzmán has advanced legislation through the Senate to protect those burdened by health care debt from having a lien placed on their home during a health care debt collection.

“Housing and health care are human rights that Illinois must strive to protect and provide for its residents,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “While health care corporations make massive profits, they are attempting to threaten the homes of people who need treatment but cannot afford it. This practice cannot go on.”

This legislation came forward after the House sponsor heard from residents affected by the acquisition of St. Margaret’s Hospital in Peru by OSF HealthCare. After that acquisition, families saw more aggressive medical debt collection practices, including liens on homes for medical debts sometimes as low as $2,000.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Graciela Guzmán’s legislation to preserve contraceptive services or supplies for minors through legislation recently passed the Senate.

“Illinois has been, and must continue to be, a protector of contraceptive care,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “We have to create safeguards so that we have a choice when it comes our bodies.”

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."

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Guzmán’s bill to support survivors and strengthen higher education requirements when addressing sexual violence passed the Senate.

“We cannot allow sexual harassment to go unaddressed on our college campuses,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “If student survivors experience digital sexual harassment or otherwise, there must be protections for them.”

Guzmán’s bill would add definitions for sexual harassment and digital sexual harassment, requiring higher education policy regarding gender-based violence to address these major issues. The legislation would also specify that victims receive privacy protections when they meet with a campus confidential advisor.

In addition to survivor protections, the legislation would require higher education institutions to address retaliation in their policies and make supportive measures available as long as they are needed by a survivor. The bill provides guidance and gives examples of supportive measures, while ensuring that a particular course of study or major cannot be a reason to deny such measures. If an institution willfully fails to act in accordance with the policy, this legislation would create a civil cause of action, thus providing a mechanism of enforcement for survivor rights.

According to the American Psychological Association, campus sexual assault makes up the largest proportion of on campus crimes in the U.S., at 43%. Along with being a significant health and human rights concern, sexual violence can have a negative impact on academic performance. As of 2017, studies show up to 25% of female college students report being victims of sexual assault. Students who are LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities and those from minority ethnic communities are at an elevated risk. These statistics indicate sexual harassment on higher education campuses is a widespread and systemic problem.

"The impact of sexual violence is a lifelong burden for survivors and we should be doing all we can--both to prevent these crimes from being committed and to protect survivors from retaliation when they come forward about their experiences," said State Representative Mary Beth Canty (D-Arlington Heights). "This legislation requires our higher education institutions to be better prepared to assist and protect students who have experienced these situations, ensuring they don't have to face the fallout alone. I'm glad to have worked with Senator Guzman on a measure so vital for Illinois' young people.”

“Our higher education institutions need to make sure they are not exposing student survivors to further risk when they seek help,” said Guzmán. “This legislation bolsters protections for survivors while making sure our higher education institutions provide adequate support.”

House Bill 4990 passed the Senate Higher Education Committee Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – With Illinois residents facing skyrocketing health care costs and pressure on housing from property taxes and inflation, State Senator Graciela Guzmán has advanced legislation through the Senate to protect those burdened by health care debt from having a lien placed on their home during a health care debt collection.

“I condemn this practice of threating a family’s home because they are in medical debt,” said Guzmán (D-Chicago). “No person should have to go into medical debt in order to get the care they need in the first place, and placing a lien on that person’s home, that they have worked so hard for, is unacceptable.”

This bill came forward after the House sponsor heard from constituents affected by the acquisition of St. Margaret’s Hospital in Peru by OSF HealthCare. After that acquisition, families saw more aggressive medical debt collection practices, including liens on homes for medical debts sometimes as low as $2,000.