DES PLAINES — A new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) requires the governor to appoint two individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board.

“Individuals with disabilities need to have a seat at the table and an opportunity to make their voices heard on how to address the needs of Illinois’ workforce,” Murphy said. “I believe that as a state, we need to do more to utilize individuals with disabilities within the workforce. I hope that by having advocates on the board, they will help develop a strategic plan to increase employment among disabled Illinoisans.”

The Illinois Workforce Innovation Board seeks to evaluate and meet Illinois’ workforce needs. It includes a variety of members from the public and private sector who represent the interests of the business community, workers and educational field.

Senate Bill 3222 requires the governor to appoint two individuals who self-identify as individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities to the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board. Currently, nearly 50 members serve on the board.

According to theUnited States Census Bureau, about 7 percent of Illinoisans under the age of 65 have a disability.

This legislation, which was signed into law yesterday, takes effect immediately.

DES PLAINES —Mid-sized convention centers will continue to benefit from a state grant which helps them compete with other states under a new law sponsored by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

“This legislation is designed to spur tourism, economic activity and competition with convention centers in other states,” Murphy said. “Hosting conventions helps local hotels, restaurants and retail merchants. I am pleased that Illinois will benefit from another four years of this grant and hope to see increased economic growth around our convention centers.

House Bill 4990 extends the Municipal Convention Center and Sports Facility Attraction Grant until 2022. Through this program, mid-size convention centers can receive up to $200,000 in reimbursements for incentivizing business. This legislation applies to convention centers in: Schaumburg, Lombard, Tinley Park, Peoria, Springfield, Collinsville, Quincy, the Quad Cities and Rockford.

“My district has already greatly benefited from this program,” Murphy said. “I encourage mid-size convention centers across the state to take advantage of this grant and apply for funding.”

The grant is funded through the Tourism Promotion Fund, housed within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This law takes effect immediately.

DES PLAINES — State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME:

“Throughout our history, unions have fought for the rights of all workers. They have negotiated better salaries and workplace protections, helped establish the minimum wage and set limits on the number of working hours each day. Their efforts created a path for the middle class to prosper.

Today the Supreme Court decided that non-public union members who benefit from organized labor’s bargaining power should not have to contribute to the cost of providing those benefits. This decision will chip away at collective bargaining rights for public sector employees including teachers, firefighters and state workers.

Though the Supreme Court sided with corporate interests, I will continue to fight for workers’ rights.”

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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Laura Murphy, a Des Plaines Democrat, today supported a bipartisan balanced budget plan that supports local communities and prevents a backdoor property tax increase.

“It was imperative to me that we did not shift massive pension costs onto local school districts and create a backdoor property tax increase as the governor proposed,” Murphy said.

“Shifting pension costs onto school districts would have undermined the new evidence-based school funding formula and forced many local communities to raise taxes. That was not something I could stand for.”

The governor’s proposed budget sought to push nearly $500 million in normal pension costs onto school districts this year.

The plan also includes $25 million for a new pilot grant program for Illinois undergraduate middle class students who choose to pursue higher education in the state. Through the AIM HIGH grant, the state would provide matching funding to public universities that award scholarships to Illinois students for both merit and financial need.

“Illinois has a serious problem with students leaving the state once they finish high school to pursue their college education elsewhere,” Murphy said.

“Many of them never return, representing an enormous brain drain with significant financial implications. I hope this new program will encourage more students to attend college in state.”

In addition to the AIM HIGH program, the budget includes nearly $60 million in additional funding to support Illinois colleges and universities over last year’s funding level.

The budget package now moves to the House for consideration.