SPRINGFIELD – To streamline a fair and just pretrial process, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is collaborating with the court system to enhance the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services.

“The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services will serve as a beacon of fairness, equity and efficiency in this critical phase of the legal process,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “By assessing risk rather than wealth, the office will ensure that pretrial decisions are rooted in principles of justice, not financial privilege.”

Following the passage of the Pretrial Fairness Act in 2021, the Illinois Supreme Court created the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services. It employs pretrial service officers who conduct pretrial investigations and provide pretrial supervision. To date, the office has completed 11,932 investigations and 11,607 defendants have been ordered to its supervision.

Sims’ measure would codify the office into law, allowing it to provide pretrial services to circuit courts and counties that don’t currently have pretrial services agencies. It further would ensure the office creates – and enforces – uniform standards to pretrial services.

Sims played an instrumental part in Illinois’ transition toward a new pretrial system that allows courts to hold violent offenders who would ordinarily be able to use cash to pay for release through the passage of the SAFE-T Act.

“We must ensure that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, is afforded the same rights and opportunities during the pretrial phase,” said Sims. “The Office of Statewide Pretrial Services will play a vital role in upholding the presumption of innocence, safeguards due process, and champions the values upon which our legal system was founded.”

House Bill 4621 passed the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is alleviating financial burdens on organizations that help vulnerable populations to ensure access to essential nutrition services by exempting home-delivered meals from sales tax for Medicare and Medicaid recipients

"For many Medicare and Medicaid recipients, home-delivered meals are a lifeline – providing essential nutrition and support," said Sims (D-Chicago). "However, the added burden of sales tax can create financial strain for those already facing economic challenges. Senate Bill 3476 aims to remove this barrier to access, ensuring that vulnerable individuals can receive the nourishment they need without additional financial burden."

Under Senate Bill 3476, home-delivered meals – like from Meals on Wheels – provided to Medicare and Medicaid recipients would be exempt from sales tax when payment is made by an intermediary, such as a Medicare Administrative Contractor, a Managed Care Organization, or a Medicare Advantage Organization, pursuant to government contract.

Home-delivered meals play a crucial role in supporting the health and well-being of seniors and individuals with disabilities, allowing them to remain independent and healthy in their own homes. By exempting these meals from sales tax, Sims’ measure seeks to promote equitable access to nutrition services and alleviate financial barriers for those most in need.

"Access to nutritious meals is fundamental to overall health and quality of life," said Senator. "By exempting home-delivered meals from sales tax for Medicare and Medicaid recipients, we can ensure that all Illinois residents have access to the support and resources they need to thrive."

Senate Bill 3476 passed the Senate Friday and heads to the House for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – Understanding the struggles first-time parents face, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. is leading a measure to provide them with more support and resources.

“Being a first-time parent brings a unique set of challenges and stressors,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “Mentorship helps people understand what they are capable of by opening up parts of them they may have never known existed.”

Sims’ measure would assist first-time parents in finding employment, donation centers and information to help them navigate parenthood through the First Time Parent Mentorship Program. Local nonprofits would host the program in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services and provide at least 10 hours of trauma-informed tutoring and mentoring to first-time parents.  

According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families, nearly half of new parents don’t feel they have the support they need. The mentorship program would bridge this gap, giving first-time parents more resources and a place to turn to for help.

“When my wife and I had our first daughter, we consistently found ourselves asking questions and wondering if we were doing the right things to set her on the path to success,” said Sims. “While we had a strong support system of friends and family to help us navigate this difficult yet exciting time, not everyone is that lucky.”

Senate Bill 2536 passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday.

SPRINGFIELD – Parents would have better understanding of the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in their children under a measure led by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr.

“Providing education on Type 1 diabetes isn’t just a tool – it is a lifeline that can give children guidance toward better self-care and resilience,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “Schools have an opportunity to make a difference both in students’ education and their health.”

Students and their families would be more educated on symptoms, intervention and treatment of Type 1 diabetes under a proposal led by Sims. Senate Bill 3473 would require the Illinois State Board of Education and Department of Public Health to put together informational resources on the disease and display it on ISBE’s website. Public and charter schools would also hand out the information to parents or guardians when enrolling their child.

Despite more than 300,000 children across the nation having Type 1 diabetes, many kids and their families are unaware for years of their life. It often isn’t until they’re older that they learn their symptoms – like feeling thirsty or losing weight – is due to the underlying cause of diabetes.

“When a child is diagnosed with diabetes, their parents are often left worried and not knowing where to turn,” said Sims. “A one-stop shop that contains education and treatment options will go a long way to help parents navigate the unfamiliar.”

Senate Bill 3473 passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday and heads to the full Senate for further consideration.