Loughran Cappel to host shred event in Romeoville

• Shred Event

CREST HILL – In partnership with State Representative Natalie Manley, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel is hosting a shred event for residents to safely destroy personal documents at no cost.

“To help prevent fraud and identity theft, I encourage residents to take advantage of this free event to dispose of old personal documents,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Many of us have unnecessary papers in our homes and this is a great opportunity to get rid of them in a safe way.”

The shredding truck will be available in the parking lot of the Ovation Center, located at 349 S. Weber Road in Romeoville, from 10 a.m. to noon, or until the truck is full on Saturday, July 22. A limit of two boxes of documents per car is encouraged.

Examples of documents with personally identifiable information that should be safely discarded include bank statements, outdated medical records, tax returns, bills, junk mail, credit card applications and receipts.

Local law enforcement officials will be available to collect old prescription medications.

If residents have questions about the event, Loughran Cappel urges them to contact her office at 815-267-6119.

Loughran Cappel expands career opportunities for children with disabilities

• HB3224

SPRINGFIELD – A new law backed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel will highlight future career opportunities for children with disabilities.

“I spent 15 years in the classroom as a special education teacher and I saw first-hand the importance of planning cohesively with parents and the student,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s crucial to create a plan that paves the way for students with disabilities to succeed.”

Individualized education plans – or IEPs – are plans that describe education instruction, support and services that students with disabilities are entitled to receive. Under the new law, students with IEPs and their parents will be provided information on the school district’s career and technical education and dual credit opportunities.

According to the National School Boards Association’s 2019 analysis, students with disabilities who were in career and technical educational programs had an 89% graduation rate nationwide during the previous school year, which was 20% higher than the overall graduation rate for students with disabilities.

“Career and technical education can give students the training needed to build a meaningful career,” said Loughran Cappel. “I will continue working to ensure children with disabilities have every opportunity.”

House Bill 3224 took effect immediately.

Loughran Cappel law incentivizes mentoring, professional development for teachers

• Teacher Shortage

SPRINGFIELD – The annual pay cap for teachers who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors will be increased under a new law championed by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

“During the 15 years I spent in the classroom, I relied on my colleagues to make me the best teacher I could be,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “Having qualified mentors within each school is important to keep young, new professionals excited and satisfied with their work.”

The new law increases the annual pay cap from $1,500 to $2,250 for teachers with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designations who mentor or provide professional development for classroom teachers or counselors.

To receive National Board for Professional Teaching Standards designation, a teacher must have a bachelor's degree, hold a state license and have at least three years of teaching or counseling experience. The candidate then takes a computer-based assessment and completes three portfolio entries. If the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards deems that a teacher passes all of the components, the teacher receives the designation.

“Many educators will spend over 30 hours a year participating in mentoring and professional development,” said Loughran Cappel. “Providing compensation to the teachers who continuously work to uplift new teachers will encourage them to stay within the profession longer, ultimately benefiting our students the most.”

House Bill 1291 takes effect immediately.

Loughran Cappel expands hospice care under new law

• HB1117

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to expand access to hospice care, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel led a measure that will increase the number of people hospice residences can serve and the number of licensed hospice locations per county, which was signed into law Friday.

“As someone who has cared for loved ones, I know the stress and exhaustion that comes with it,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “It’s a role many of us have taken on because we want our family to have the care they need during their final months. That’s why I worked to expand hospice care so everyone can have access to quality health care.”

The Loughran Cappel law allows hospice programs that own or operate separate hospice residences to serve up to 24 people per location, rather than the current 20 people per location cap. Additionally, the law expands the number of licensed hospice locations per county from five to 16.

“As the shortage of hospice care workers has grown, State Representative Natalie Manley and I worked to expand the number of residents they can care for without creating a burden on hospice care workers,” said Loughran Cappel. “We have to continue working together to address the shortage but this is a step in the right direction to providing the essential health care people deserve.”

House Bill 1117 takes effect Jan. 1, 2024.