SPRINGFIELD – Victims of domestic violence no longer have to include addresses on court documents starting Jan. 1, thanks to a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

The law allows an address to be omitted from documents filed in court if disclosing the address would risk abuse or harm. The victim will also be protected from having to include a domestic violence safe house address or an address that was changed as a result of a protective order.

“Victims of domestic violence shouldn’t have to worry that their address may be released to their abuser during legal proceedings,” Murphy said. “They’ve already taken a huge step to get out of a traumatic situation. They deserve to feel secure.”

Murphy introduced her measure in response to an incident where a judge included the address of a domestic violence safe house in a court order between the abuser and the victim regarding custody over their child.

“I’m proud to see that our state is taking action to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens,” Murphy said.

The law is Public Act 101-211.

SPRINGFIELD – Students are now allowed to self-administer prescribed medication while at school under a law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

Murphy’s measure requires schools to allow students with an action plan to self-administer prescribed medication with permission from their parent or guardian.

“No parent should have to wonder whether their child will be able to access their medication when they need it,” Murphy said. “When we give kids the right to self-administer their medicine, we not only give them control over their own health—we also make it easier for them to focus on school work, and we reassure parents that their kids are well cared for at school.”

Gwynne Ryan, a teacher at Maine West High School brought this issue to Murphy. Ryan faced opposition from her child’s school when she requested that her child be allowed to self-administer medication.

"Helping kids to manage all aspects of their lives and medical needs, in and out of school, is essential for lifelong good health and a sense of individual responsibility. This is what I want to teach my child and what Senator Murphy has helped make possible for many more parents,” said Ryan. “Senator Murphy’s action on issues that directly impact her constituents shows her dedication to public service."

Public Act 101-205 went into effect Jan. 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – Prompted by a recent report detailing the appalling misuse of “quiet rooms” in Illinois schools, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) has announced her support of a House bill that aims to end the use of isolation and seclusion as punishment in Illinois.

In response to the report, Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook), a former special education teacher, has filed House Bill 3975 to ban Illinois schools from using isolation, a measure Murphy strongly supports.

“Putting a child in a quiet room is an extreme, potentially traumatizing course of action, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly,” Murphy said. “It’s time to end the abuse of this practice in Illinois schools.”

Join me on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Des Plaines Public Library for my Silver Beat Seminar. The event is free to seniors and the Attorney General's Office will be there to answer any questions regardinfinancial exploitation and to help you learn about the Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP)Project and health care fraud.