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.  

Castro works to expand Illinois Human Rights Act

SPRINGFIELD– Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) is pushing for stronger protections for Illinois workers.

House Bill 4572 would expand the Illinois Human Rights Act to cover employers with one or more employees. The bill would give these employees a remedy under Illinois law for work-related discrimination and retaliation.

Currently, only employers with 15 or more employees are covered under the Act.

“Expanding the Illinois Human Rights Act is the right thing to do,” Castro said. “We have to ensure that every employee in the state has the same protections when it comes to discrimination in the work place.”

Employees would be able to bring claims for discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, marital status, military status and sexual orientation.

There are currently exceptions to the Act for certain human rights claims, including sexual harassment and discrimination based on pregnancy or disability.

House Bill 4572 passed both chambers and now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.

Castro protects undocumented immigrant tenants from landlord harassment [VIDEO]

SPRINGFIELD – Senator Cristina Castro’s (D-Elgin) measure to protect undocumented immigrant tenants from landlord harassment passed the Senate today.

Senate Bill 3103 creates the Immigrant Tenant Protection Act, which prohibits landlords from questioning a tenant’s immigration status as a means of harassment or to force an eviction.

“Most landlords do the right thing, but some try to take advantage of their tenants,” said Castro. “We have to put a protection in place to ensure that landlords are not holding their tenants’ immigration status over their head to pressure higher rent or eviction.”

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Streamwood to get award from Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced yesterday that it has approved 54 projects across the state through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

 In Senator Cristina Castro’s (D-Elgin) district, the Village of Streamwood will receive over $650,000 in funding to widen Irving Park Road.

“It’s important to invest in our local infrastructure,” Castro said. “I am excited to see the finished project in Streamwood and the positive effect it has on the overall quality of life in the community.” 

These projects were approved and made possible by federal funds directed to IDOT and focus on improving alternative options for getting around local communities, including walkways and bike paths.

For more information regarding the Illinois transportation Enhancement Program, click here.