SPRINGFIELD – Veterans deserve companionship – that’s why State Senator Loughran Cappel passed a measure out of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Thursday that would waive fees for veterans adopting dogs or cats.

“There is a special bond people share with their animals,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “For our veterans, this bond can help their health and happiness.”

Across the state, pet adoption fees vary widely depending on the organization, ranging from $50 to $275. Loughran Cappel’s measure would require animal shelters and animal control facilities to waive the adoption fee for military veterans in Illinois.

For our returning troops, the benefits of bonding with a pet is important to aiding the transition back to civilian life. The bond created between people and animals can reduce grief, lessen loneliness, and improve mental health and overall well-being. Pets have the ability to improve the lives of veterans and, likewise, veterans can improve the lives of sheltered animals by giving them a home.

“Showing recognition and appreciation to military veterans and active duty service personnel goes a long way,” said Loughran Cappel. “This is a small expression of that.”

House Bill 2500 passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To increase access to state resources, State Senator Loughran Cappel passed a measure through the Senate Executive Committee that would create a program for grandparents raising their grandchildren in Will County to have a better understanding of what state programs are available.

“Grandparents often take on the responsibilities to raise their grandchildren,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “There are a number of resources that people don’t know about and this initiative addresses that by streamlining the process and giving caretakers a direct, local contact to utilize the resources available.”

House Bill 780 would create the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Pilot Program in Will County. The measure would designate an intake coordinator to collect resources offered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services, Department on Aging, Department of Healthcare and Family Services and State Board of Education, and provide coordination and education services at Senior Service Centers to serve Will County residents.

Loughran Cappel’s measure requires the intake coordinator to be knowledgeable about the Extended Family Support Program, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, Children’s Health Insurance Program and be a designated point of contact at each agency within 14 days of appointment.

An annual report would be required to be submitted to the General Assembly including the number of families who received referrals to relevant services, specific services each family was referred to and received, and related information regarding frequency of calls and visits to the coordinator's office in the previous calendar year.

“I’ve worked closely with Leader Natalie Manley to help Will County residents better understand what is available for those who are raising their grandkids,” Loughran Cappel said. “This is an easy way to address the needs of caretakers and ensure our youth have every opportunity for a bright future.”

House Bill 780 passed the Senate Executive Committee and now heads to the Senate floor.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to continue addressing the teacher shortage, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a measure to increase the number of days substitute teachers can be in a classroom in an emergency situation.

“To make sure our students are getting the best education they can, we have to keep them with a familiar face,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Increasing the number of days a substitute teacher can teach allows students to continue to learn and grow, and provides consistency in the classroom.”

House Bill 3442 would allow a substitute teacher who has filled a vacancy left by a licensed teacher to teach in an emergency situation for 90 days or until the end of the semester, whichever is greater, if the school distinct files a written request with the appropriate regional office of education.

Under current law, a substitute teacher may only fill a vacancy left by a licensed teacher under contract in an emergency situation for up to 30 days.

“As a strong advocate for teachers, I have seen and heard the struggles that many districts face when trying to find a substitute,” Loughran Cappel said. “We have to work with school districts to give them the ability to adapt during certain situations.”

House Bill 3442 passed the Senate Education Committee and heads to the floor for further consideration.

CREST HILL – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel’s office will be traveling to the Troy Public Library on Thursday, April 27 to host satellite office hours and remain accessible to residents throughout the 49th District.

“It is imperative I remain a voice for the people and the best way to do that is to hear directly from constituents,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Assuring they know they are heard and where to find state and local resources has always been a priority of mine.”

The event will be held on Thursday, April 27 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Troy Public Library, located at 650 Deerwood Drive in Shorewood.

This free event is another effort from Loughran Cappel’s office to increase government accountability, accessibility, and assist with state resources by hosting office hours at different times, locations and days of the week in hopes of reaching working families across Will and Kendall Counties.

People with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Loughran Cappel’s office at 815-267-6119 or visit her website at www.SenatorLoughranCappel.com.