Dear Neighbor,

There was overwhelming warmth under the Capitol Dome this week as people broke into cheers and tears of emotion after we passed the Civil Unions legislation, taking a historic step toward providing fundamental human rights to our LGBT friends, family, neighbors and colleagues.  Literally, thousands of people advocated to provide equal protection under the law to same sex couples to achieve this remarkable moment.  The privilege of being a part of our march for justice is transformative.  I am honored and humbled by the passion, dedication and hard work of so many people that is making Illinois a better place to live.

Once signed by the Governor (and he is a stalwart supporter of this Bill), the Civil Unions legislation will become effective June 1, 2011.  Both same sex and opposite sex couples ages 18 and over will be eligible for the same rights and responsibilities of married couples under state law.  The many protections that will now be provided include:

• Making medical decisions as a spouse would;
• Being able to visit partners in a hospital when visitation is limited to family;
• Sharing nursing home rooms;
• Receiving employer-based health insurance that provides spousal coverage and sharing in pensions;
• Accessing inheritance in the same manner a spouse would;
•  Filing suit over a partner's wrongful death; and
• Declining to testify against one's partner.

You can read the bill here, and I will let you know when the Governor has set a time and location to sign the bill.

While Civil Unions rightly dominated Springfield this week, the Senate took action on other significant bills as well, including:

• Fire/Police Pensions.  Similar to legislation passed last Spring for other pension systems, this bill creates a two tier system for police and fire fighters by reducing benefits for future hires and requires cities to have the systems 90% funded by 2041.  This bill is now sent to the Governor for signing.  Read SB3538 here.
• Gaming Expansion.  This bill adds gaming positions at racetracks and establishes five new casinos in the state, including one in Chicago.  The bill narrowly passed the Senate and will now be taken up in the House.  Likely more work will be done in the House and it will have to return to the Senate and gain support from the Governor.  Read SB737 here.
• Redistricting Reform.  This bipartisan bill provides greater protection for minority rights and establishes public hearing requirements to make redistricting more transparent.  Read SB3976 here.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these or other bills in Springfield.

Best,

Heather A. Steans

State Senator