The Illinois Senate unanimously passed a plan to protect seniors from health care workers who have a history of taking advantage of the elderly. State Senator Mattie Hunter sponsored a measure to require the Department of Human Services’ Inspector General to add employees undergoing financial abuse investigations to the Department of Public Health’s registry of unqualified workers.

“Documenting people with a history of taking advantage of seniors is absolutely necessary. Not only is taking advantage of seniors illegal, but it is downright ruthless and disrespectful,” said Hunter, Vice-Chair of the Illinois Public Health Committee. “We need to protect vulnerable seniors from health care workers with dubious records.”

Illinois seniors will benefit from a new task force aimed to end disparities based on race, geography and native language. Chicago Democrats, State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins and Mattie Hunter, successfully pushed the task force plan through the Senate without opposition today.

“Regardless of geography, native language or race, every senior should receive the same level of care,” said Hunter, Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee. “The legislation passed six-to-one in Human Services and I’m glad to see my colleagues voted for it unanimously in the full Senate.”

State Senator Mattie Hunter’s (D-Chicago) hard work in the Senate was acknowledged by Governor Pat Quinn during his State of the State address today.

Gov. Quinn spoke about the great progress the state has made this past year.  He highlighted the achievements of Majority Caucus Whip Mattie Hunter by noting that her efforts to establish a new revolving loan fund has led to an increase in minority state contracts.

Illinois has increased state contracts to minority and women-owned businesses by nearly 60 percent since the governor took office.