Press Releases

SPRINGFIELD – Private sector workers who experience sexual harassment and discrimination will have greater protections under the law thanks to a major piece of legislation from State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) that was signed into law today.

“This is one of the most important pieces of sexual harassment and discrimination legislation passed in decades,” Bush said. “It provides additional rights and protections to every Illinois worker and allows employees to seek justice should they be harassed or discriminated against on the job. Preventing and protecting individuals from harassment and discrimination is not just good for workers, it’s good for business.”

Bush introduced the measure after hearing from victims, advocates and members of the business community during the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention’s hearings last year. She served as co-chair of the task force.

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SPRINGFIELD – Single-occupancy public restrooms in Illinois will soon be identified as all-gender thanks to a measure from State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) that was signed into law today.

“Making single-occupancy restrooms gender neutral is inclusive, but it also just makes sense,” Bush said. “It's a small change that will make a big impact for thousands of Illinoisans.”

Senate Bill 556 requires any single-occupancy public restroom to be identified as all-gender and requires exterior signage that marks the restroom as such.

“This measure will also help cut down on bathroom lines and just make life easier in general,” Bush said. “It's a common-sense measure that will benefit individuals who don't identify as male or female as well as parents and caregivers who have dependents of the opposite sex.”

The bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

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GRAYSLAKE – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) released the following statement in response to the Illinois Tollway Board’s decision to cut funding for the Route 53 environmental impact study:

“The future of the Route 53 project may be uncertain, but it doesn’t change the fact that Lake County residents need transportation solutions that improve public safety, and provide congestion relief while protecting our environment,” said Bush. “It's time we fixed the existing Route 120. It's a feasible, cost-effective solution that will provide tangible benefits to Lake County commuters. The State of Illinois needs to build on the work of our local mayors and implement the 120 Corridor Capacity Plan, including the grade level separation at 120 and the 83 railroad crossing.”

GRAYSLAKE – Illinois will now have the strictest limits in the nation on ethylene oxide emissions thanks to legislation from State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) that was signed into law today.

“This is a major step forward to ensure the air we breathe is safe,” Bush said. “Ethylene oxide emitters will now have to follow stricter guidelines and will be required to be better stewards of the environment.”

Senate Bill 1852 puts restrictions on facilities like Medline and Sterigenics that use ethylene oxide for sterilization. The measure requires facilities to reduce emissions by 99.9 percent; sets emissions, dispersion and ambient air testing protocols; strengthens seal order implications; and prevents future facilities from being built near schools and parks.

Senate Bill 1854 requires Vantage Specialty Chemicals, a Lake County manufacturer that uses ethylene oxide in its products, to put in place several environmental safeguards in order to continue operating. It requires Vantage to have an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency-approved emission monitoring plan and dispersion modeling in order to receive a site-specific permit for ethylene oxide emissions.

Last year, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released a report showing that the areas around Sterigenics in DuPage County and Medline in Lake County have increased rates of cancer due to ethylene oxide emissions.

“Thank you to Gov. Pritzker for signing this legislation to keep Lake County residents safe,” Bush said. “These new regulations will allow the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to keep a close eye on Medline and Vantage and make sure they’re meeting these strict environmental safeguards.”

These laws have an immediate effective date.

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