Castro legislation protects nurses from workplace violence

SPRINGFIELD – Both the Illinois House and Senate passed legislation sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) today to protect nurses from workplace violence.

“Health care providers devote their lives to helping their patients,” Castro said. “It is time that we help them. Nurses deserve to come to work and feel safe.”

This legislation is in response to an incident that occurred in Kane County on May 13, 2017 at Delanor Hospital. Two nurses were taken hostage by an inmate undergoing treatment who managed to obtain a handgun.

“The incident that happened in my home county at Delanor Hospital was both alarming and upsetting,” Castro said. “These nurses went to work that day to do their jobs and help their patients, but instead they were assaulted. That’s why I brought forth this legislation. Our nurses deserve to be protected.”

In Illinois, violence against a nurse is deemed a class three felony charge, but there are no laws that require health care employers to provide protection to nurses, staff, patients and visitors.

House Bill 4100 will create the Healthcare Violence Prevention Act to protect health care providers, put in place a violence prevention program and add whistleblower protections for nurses that report violence to law enforcement.

House Bill 4100 passed both the House and Senate and moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.

Castro cracks down on texting and driving

SPRINGFIELD – Both the Illinois House and Senate advanced legislation sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin)yesterday to create stronger penalties for texting and driving.

“Many people think texting one quick message while driving is harmless,” Castro said. “We have to get the message across that this can be life-changing.”

Under current law, first offenses of texting and driving are treated as non-moving violations. With House Bill 4846, a moving violation will be noted on the motorist’s driving record, along with fines and court costs.

Last year, Castro passed Senate Resolution 322 to establish an Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week. This piece of legislation will crack down on the epidemic in a more forceful way.

“There are countless distractions while on the road,” Castro said. “It’s important that we do our best to educate and bring attention to this issue because the consequences can be deadly.”

House Bill 4846 passed both the House and Senate and now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.

Castro bill would ban employers from asking applicants their salary histories

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate voted yesterday to approve Senator Cristina Castro’s (D-Elgin) legislation strengthening the Illinois Equal Pay Act.

House Bill 4163 would prohibit employers from asking about salary histories when interviewing job applicants. The measure would reduce the effects of pay discrimination from past jobs.

“This legislation addresses a wide range of people” said Castro. “Men and women of all ages and backgrounds should have an equal chance to succeed, and that is what I will continue to fight for as a member of this General Assembly.”

Employers can currently consider salary history when making hiring decisions and salary offers. This perpetuates wage inequality, especially since women, on average, earn less than men for similar work. It has also been found that women of color earn even less than white women when compared to men.

“I don’t believe that all employers consciously discriminate, but they need to become aware of this issue,” said Castro. “Many employers tend to set salaries for new hires using their previous salary rather than basing it off of the applicant’s worth to the company. Businesses shouldn’t see this legislation as a threat; it is the right thing to do.”

House Bill 4163 passed both the House and Senate and now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.

Castro: Children shouldn’t have to choose between medication and education

SPRINGFIELD– Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is sponsoring legislation to allow students to have access to medical cannabis on school grounds.

House Bill 4870 creates "Ashley's Law,” which would allow the administration of medical cannabis infused products on school premises or on the school bus to a student who is a qualifying patient.

“Children shouldn’t have to choose between their medication and their education,” Castro said.

This measure is a result of a recent case of an 11 year old who uses medical cannabis to alleviate symptoms of her leukemia treatment. Although she is a qualified medical cannabis patient, her school is legally bound to prohibit her from administering her medicine at school under current state law.

 Currently, medical cannabis is legal in Illinois, but it is still prohibited on school property.

“We have to make sure that state law is up to date,” Castro said. “Qualified patients have the right to have access to their medicine no matter where they are.”

House Bill 4870 passed both chambers and heads to the governor’s desk for consideration.