Lake County Gazette

Illinois state Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, met with local leaders and police officials to discuss how legislation can help address mental health and domestic violence prevention.

"Yesterday, I met with local police chiefs and leaders in the fields of domestic violence prevention and mental health to discuss their needs and gain input on how we can best change and develop legislation to address the pressing issues facing our state and move Illinois forward," the senator said on Facebook.

Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation in June to increase the number of mental health professionals in the state and expand access to mental health services, according to a news release. The bill, SB 3617, removes some barriers for former mental health professionals who have been out of practice for under five years, which would make it easier for them to reenter the workforce. 

The bill also allows advanced practice registered nurses to conduct psychiatric visits to patients who are in special mental health rehabilitation facilities and established a recovery and mental health tax credit for qualified employers with workers who are recovering from substance abuse or mental health issues.                  

"Adding a recovery and mental health tax credit to employers' human resources arsenal will help reverse the pandemic-driven loss of workers and to help rekindle their ability to recruit new workers," Jud DeLoss, CEO of the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, said in the news release. "It will also help reduce stigma for those in recovery by demonstrating that they are part of the community and should be back working alongside other Illinoisans, and I am proud that the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health helped write the legislation and get the bill over the finish line."              

Pritzker signed several bills related to domestic violence in August, some of which took effect in January of this year, according to a news release. HB 3317 establishes a Domestic Violence Taskforce Act, also called Colton's Taskforce. Colton's mother worked to help get the bill passed after her 18-month-old son, Colton Miller, was killed by his father. The task force will review the state's domestic violence laws in order to identify gaps and make recommendations about where improvements are needed to protect victims and survivors and hold offenders accountable.

 "Colton's Taskforce will have inclusive membership, including domestic abuse survivors, law-enforcement officials and legal experts," state Rep. David Welter, R-Morris, said. "This will allow the state to take a more comprehensive look  at its domestic violence laws, including best practices and laws from  across the country."                 

HB 3223, which will take effect in July 2025, adds support and protections for Illinois students who have been victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse, as well as students who are parents or expecting parents. The bill aims to help these students stay in school, be safe and complete their educations. One measure of the bill requires all schools to have at least one staff member who is trained in responding to domestic and sexual violence disclosures. Another provision requires school districts to conduct a comprehensive review of all policies and revise any that are barriers to students' success.