Turner advances measure to ensure university, community college employees receive pay during winter weather closures

• Higher Education

SPRINGFIELD – To protect university and community college employees, State Senator Doris Turner advanced a measure that would ensure employees and contractors receive their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a winter weather emergency.

“When campuses close for weather, it’s not usually planned and can leave workers without pay for a day or more,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “This initiative would protect the workers who often aren’t paid if campuses close but play an important role in the normal, day-to-day operations for universities and community colleges.”

Senate Bill 331 would require the Board of Trustees of each public university and community college to pay employees and contractors their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county or state declaration of a winter weather emergency. The measure would not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee would be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

Read more …

Turner measure to protect the public’s safety in an emergency advances

• Public Safety

SPRINGFIELD – To increase public safety, State Senator Doris Turner is sponsoring a measure that would suspend EMS professionals who have been charged with a crime while performing their duties.

“We have to ensure people’s safety is our number one priority,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “When there’s an emergency, we need to be able to trust the professionals who respond and take care of us.”

Senate Bill 3134 would allow the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, or their designee, to determine if the suspension of an EMS professional should extend statewide. This would apply in situations when an EMS professional has been charged with a crime while performing their official duties and continuing to practice poses the possibility of harm to the public.

Read more …

Turner advances measure to further tackle food deserts

• Agriculture

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to address food deserts, State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure that would provide grants for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets.

“Rural communities across Illinois are often in food deserts,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Everyone deserves access to fresh, nutritious foods no matter where they live.”

Senate Bill 3219 would expand on the 2023 Illinois Grocery Initiative by allowing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide grants for equipment upgrades for farmer-owned grocery stores or markets. Currently, DCEO provides these grants to existing independently owned for-profit grocery stores, cooperative grocery stores or not-for-profit grocery stores.

Turner’s initiative comes in response to a “self-service” grocery store in Riggston that sells products in the area, providing local products to consumers.

Read more …

Turner applauds nearly $2 million investment for Springfield, Decatur pre-apprenticeship programs

• Grant Funding

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner announced that four organizations in Springfield and Decatur have received funding through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship program.

"Growing diversity in the building trades is not just a Chicago priority — we are charging forward like never before with three programs between Decatur and Springfield," said Turner (D-Springfield). "Expanding the trades gives people a path to secure stable, good-paying careers in a high-demand industry.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded over $18 million in grants to 36 recipients through the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Macon County, Richland Community College and Sista Girls and Friends received a combined total of nearly $2 million to create a diverse pool of talented and qualified candidates in construction and building trades.

Read more …