URBANA – In her first stop on a state-wide tour, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) convened the Senate Special Committee on Housing Thursday to look for ways to make housing more affordable throughout Illinois.

“The need for affordable housing is immense,” Hunter said. “We know that having a safe, decent and affordable home is woven into better opportunities for children and their families. It’s necessary to secure the economic well-being of all Illinoisans.”

Illinois is one of 35 states across the country with a rent control ban. Hunter discussed a bill she has in the Illinois Senate which aims at lifting that ban, which has been in place since 1997 to prevent state and city governments from enacting any measure that would regulate or control rent prices on private residential or commercial property.

Hunter’s version, Senate Bill 3512, would establish elected rent control boards in every county that would have the power to adjust rents every year.  These boards would have the ability to regulate how much a landlord could raise rents and be used as a tool to support rent-burdened households.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) championed a plan which was signed into law this week to prevent children with serious mental health illness from being separated from their family.

For years, the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) has required parents of children with mental health conditions or behavioral disorders that require residential treatment to give up custody of their children in order to get the residential placements the children needed.

“In these situations, the goal is always to get children out of the hospital and into community and family settings,” Hunter said. “This new law works toward keeping families together and ultimately providing therapeutic homes and placements for children.” 

Senate Bill 2655 will provide additional funding for residential treatment for children with serious mental illnesses and reduce the likelihood of lockout or custody relinquishment that leads to a psychiatric hospital stay beyond medical necessity.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mattie Hunter’s (D-Chicago) plan to prevent future school closures in Chicago without proper warning was signed into law this week.

“For years, CPS has made decisions about opening and closing schools without engaging communities,” Hunter said. “It’s long overdue but I’m glad that we now have a practice in place that will help bring transparency and valuable community input into the capital improvement process.”

Under the current school code, CPS is expected to create and implement a 10-year facilities plan. However, in recent years they have failed to do so.

“As we’ve seen in the news lately, CPS has been closing school doors without notice and leaving thousands of students without a neighborhood school to go to or require them to travel to a consolidated new school,” Hunter said. “That’s unacceptable.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Students and parents will now have more access to research and prevention materials regarding influenza, thanks to a new law passed by State Senator Mattie Hunter.

Hunter (D-Chicago) worked to expand influenza research and prevention after a rapid increase in the number of people going to see their doctors or health care providers with flu related symptoms this year.

According to reports, there have been a total of 114 pediatric deaths related to the flu, with 30 deaths so far this year. Doctors' offices and emergency rooms experienced visits at levels almost as high as during the 2009 swine flu epidemic.

“Influenza is a dangerous illness that can have serious consequences,” Hunter said. “I am glad that we now have additional steps in place to protect children and families by providing them the information they need to live healthy lives.”

Senate Bill 2654 requires the Illinois Department of Health to develop information materials about influenza and flu vaccines for school districts. Additionally, school boards are now required to provide that information to parents when notifying them of other health related matters.

The governor signed Senate Bill 2654 this week. It takes effect immediately.