Simmons legislation expanding access to liver disease screenings passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To expand coverage for preventative screenings for liver disease, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced legislation out of the Senate on Thursday. 

“Liver disease is a silent killer. Often there are no symptoms for years until the disease is very advanced, so early detection can be vital in ensuring people with liver damage get referral to specialty care and treatments that can improve long-term health outcomes and save lives,” said Simmons (D- Chicago). 

Senate Bill 1282 requires Medicaid, private insurance plans and government employee insurance plans to cover preventative screenings for liver disease for individuals who are at high risk for liver disease, ages 35-65 years old. Those screenings can include high quality preventative screenings such as liver ultrasounds, liver function tests, and other screenings that can help with early detection and management of liver disease.

According to the CDC, in 2021, 56,585 adults in the U.S. died from liver disease, making it the ninth leading cause of death.

“Our goal is to improve health outcomes for people who are both underinsured and at-risk for liver disease, especially those who struggle with substance abuse and addiction,” said Simmons. “Those who are both underinsured and at-risk for liver disease need to know what is going on with their bodies. The cost of any screening should never be a reason to forgo care. Liver disease is a leading cause of death; this bill will prevent avoidable and premature deaths by providing equitable preventive health care.”

Senate Bill 1282 passed the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House.

Simmons bill to increase youth access to mental health care passes Senate

SPRINGFIELD – To increase the availability and accessibility of mental health resources for students, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced an initiative out of the Senate on Wednesday.

“Mental health has become a leading concern for parents and children today, yet there are still gaps in mental health care,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This legislation will help to support youth, their families, and schools by providing support, access and resources so students can find mental health care while they are at school.”

Senate Bill 1709 would require the Illinois Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance for mental health care during school days to help increase the access students have to mental health services.

This initiative will complement the recently launched Illinois Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative, specifically recommendation 5 in the report, by identifying and filling in gaps that exist in school-based mental health care. 

“Our students’ mental and physical well-being must be our top priority,” Simmons said. “We will need to triple our commitment in the next five years to shore up unmet mental health needs our youth have, and this legislation helps us move in that direction.”

Senate Bill 1709 passed the Senate on Wednesday and now heads to the House floor.

Senate passes Simmons’ bill requiring safer bicycle crossings

SPRINGFIELD – Following two fatal cycling accidents in the 7^th District, State Senator Mike Simmons advanced a measure out of the Senate to increase the safety of pedestrians and cyclists by requiring permanent vehicle crossing signs be added to bike trails.

“All pedestrians and cyclists should know that they are safe when choosing a mode of transportation alternative to a motor vehicle,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Last summer we tragically lost two toddlers in two separate cycling accidents. This bill is in direct response to those preventable tragedies, addressing the need for greater protections overall for bicyclists and pedestrians.”

Senate Bill 1710 expands the responsibility of any entity that owns a bike trail, requiring them to erect warning signs along the path warning pedestrians and cyclists of a vehicle crossing at least 150 feet before the crossing. The bill ensures cyclists on a trail have ample warning to know when to slow down and stop before a busy intersection. Permanent signage on state roadways warning vehicles of bicycle trail crossings will also be erected within 150 feet of a trail crossing so vehicles can yield. 

The signage will also be erected along bike trails to warn cyclists of other trail hazards, damage to the trail, and maintenance being performed on the trail. 

“Alternative forms of transportation, whether it’s children going for a bike ride with friends or an employee biking to work to save on gas, should know they are just as safe and secure as traveling by car,” Simmons said. “Required crossing signs on bike trails and roadways is a common-sense action we can take to keep everyone - motorists and non-motorists, safer.”

Senate Bill 1710 passed the Senate on Wednesday and now heads to the House for consideration.

Simmons passes bill to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety

SPRINGFIELD – To make our roads safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of public transit, State Senator Mike Simmons passed a measure today requiring the Illinois Department of Transportation to make bike and pedestrian safety improvements to non-highway roadways under its jurisdiction whenever routine maintenance is being done on those roads.

“Biking along a path or road can be stressful enough when worrying about oncoming cards, especially for parents biking with their children,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). “This initiative will help ensure bike and pedestrian safety improvements are completed in tandem with routine work such as pothole or street lighting repairs.”

“Our state is moving ahead in embracing complete streets statewide, ensuring cyclists, pedestrians, and riders of public transit can use roadways safely while commuting, exercising, or just getting some time outdoors,” said Simmons. “This legislation will reduce traffic violence and save lives while making our roadways and their peripheries more livable, more safe, and more accessible for multiple modes of transportation.”

Senate Bill 2014 requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to develop a policy which ensures the safety of pedestrians and cyclists on roadways in Illinois. The policy will require that improvements — such as high-visibility signage, crosswalk upgrades, curb bump outs, barrier-protected bike lanes and bus shelters — are made during routine maintenance and within 1,000 feet of the maintenance work to any state roads located within a municipality.

“More and more people are choosing greener forms of transportation, choosing to bike or walk to get to work, run errands, and other activities. This bill builds on the recent MOU signed by IDOT and CDOT and expands road improvements at scale so that other municipalities can benefit from these infrastructure upgrades,” said Simmons. SB2014 is part of a larger package of transportation bills Simmons has introduced this session that aims to provide all travelers with one of the safest, most accessible, and sustainable transit ecosystems in the country.

Senate Bill 2014 passed the Senate and now heads to the House for consideration.