SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would require the Illinois State Board of Education to create an unused food program for schools passed the State Senate on Thursday.

“No child in Illinois should go to bed hungry,” Belt said. “This      program will build on the success of the free lunch and breakfast program the state already has in place.”

The program would allow public schools to provide their leftover food to students who already receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast. Like the free lunch and breakfast program, the food must be free to the students.

Currently, every school in Illinois must offer its free lunch and breakfast program to all eligible students. To be eligible, a student must be the recipient of SNAP benefits or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The new program would use the same eligibility requirements.

Similar programs already exist in states like Indiana. School districts partner with non-profits to take leftover food and prepare frozen take-home meals for students over the weekends.

“Right now, the state makes sure that our students in need do not go hungry during the school day,” Belt said. “This measure would ensure that those same students have food when they go home.”

Senate Bill 805 passed the Illinois Senate with a vote of 56-0 and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure introduced by State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) that would simplify the certification process for certified nursing assistants working at the Illinois Department of Corrections passed the State Senate on      Wednesday.

“Being a nurse is admirable,” Belt said. “They have fearlessly      served the residents of Illinois during this pandemic, and now it’s time we serve them.”

The measure would make it easier for CNAs working for IDOC to keep their certification while working for the department. By categorizing IDOC as a health care employer, it would allow CNAs to maintain their certification while working there.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, if a CNA has a gap of at least two years without employment by a health care employer, they will lose their registration status and no longer be listed on the Health Care Worker Registry. Currently, IDOC is not considered to be a health care employer, meaning that CNAs working for the department as a CNA for more than two years will lose their registration.

Right now, a CNA working for IDOC has to work a second job for another health care employer in order to maintain their certification. By modifying the act’s definition to include IDOC as a health care employer, CNAs employed by the department would no longer face this barrier.

“Right now, the Department of Corrections is not considered to be a health care employer,” Belt said. “This simple change will remove an unnecessary barrier for nurses serving their state.”

Senate Bill 1771 passed the Illinois Senate without opposition and now heads to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – To enhance employment opportunities for women, minorities and people with disabilities in the state of Illinois, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) passed legislation in the Senate Wednesday to change the job interview process at state agencies.

“More diverse state agencies not only benefit our government and the people they serve, but they help create a more inclusive Illinois,” Belt said. “The workforce of state agencies should reflect our diversity.”

The measure would create the Equal Opportunity Employment Interview Initiative and require state agencies to implement hiring goals for certain target groups, including women, minorities and people with disabilities.

During a multiple stage or panel interview process, if an applicant has a disability or identifies as a minority, a woman, or bilingual, state agencies would have to assign an interviewer who represents the same group.

In addition, in an annual report to the governor and General Assembly, state agencies would be required to disclose:

• the number of interviewees from target groups,

• the number of interviews in which both the applicant and an interviewer were representative of the same target group, and

• the number of applicants from target groups who were hired under the Equal Opportunity Employment Interview Initiative.

“In Illinois, we want the best candidates to serve the residents of this state,” Belt said. “More diverse interviewers will ensure that we no longer overlook talented applicants who would make our government look a lot more like the citizens it serves.”

Senate Bill 1765 passed the Illinois Senate without opposition and now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) released the following statement in response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trail:

“We must acknowledge that since the inception of this nation, our justice system has and continues to fail millions of Black Americans each day. Collectively, we have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us. Although the system still doesn’t work for millions, this afternoon it worked for one. Today’s verdict is a testament to what we can accomplish when we stand together as the United States of America, when we make our voices heard and demand change, when we refuse to accept the status quo. While the promise of liberty and justice for all has yet to be fulfilled, today’s news represents the progress we have made toward a more just nation."