DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy is urging communities across the 28th District to apply for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants.

“By investing in our local parks, we can create spaces that foster happiness, health and memorable moments,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “I encourage local agencies to apply for the OSLAD program to invest in our local parks so that our communities can continue to enjoy them for years to come.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.

The program offers state-financed funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. A total of $56 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. In addition, IDNR will once again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 31 and should be submitted to IDNR. For more information on the OSLAD program, visit IDNR’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Laura Murphy will allow after-school program employees to administer lifesaving medication to kids, such as inhalers and EpiPens.

“After-school programs don’t often have trained nurses on staff, which can leave children who have asthma or allergies without access to lifesaving medication,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Parents deserve to have the confidence that their children will be safe if they are enrolled in sports, art classes and other enriching programs just as they are in school.”

To ensure continuity between regular school hours to after-care, the law allows after-school program personnel to administer an EpiPen or asthma medication to children in distress. It ensures that the current training requirements of schools are carried over to after-school programs.

Prior to the legislation, if a child suffers an asthma attack, allergic reaction or other condition at school that prevents them from being able to self-administer, a school nurse or other trained personnel must be on hand to administer the medication. There was no such requirement for after-school programs.

“This law will empower after-school staff and provide them with the confidence to act in the event of an emergency situation,” Murphy said. “After-school programs offer incredible opportunities for our kids. They should be free to enjoy their time without the fear that they won’t have access to medicine if they need it.”

House Bill 2949 was signed into law on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – To address racial discrimination in schools, State Senator Laura Murphy championed a new law to increase protections for students.

“Equal education means a commitment to combat racism and discrimination head-on,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “Written policies in public schools are the foundation for change, ensuring that no student faces prejudice or retaliation for speaking out against injustice.”

Under the law, each school district will be required to create, implement and maintain at least one written policy that prohibits discrimination and harassment against students based on race, color or national origin. Additionally, the policy includes language prohibiting retaliation against students for submitting a complaint.

In a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, an estimated 5.2 million students aged 12 to 18 were bullied in the 2018-2019 school year. One in four of those students experienced bullying related to their race, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation. In the same school year, the report says there were 1.6 million students who were subjected to hate speech due to their identity. Among those incidents, half targeted students’ race and 24% targeted their national origin.

“We need to create a nurturing space where students feel empowered to report without any bias,” Murphy said. “It is a critical step in fostering an inclusive, accepting community where diversity is celebrated and all students thrive. Students need to feel comfortable and safe, it is the school’s responsibility to provide this environment so kids can learn.”

Senate Bill 90 was signed into law on Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law will increase transparency between schools, students and parents regarding transfers to alternative schools thanks to support from State Senator Laura Murphy.

“Alternative schools are necessary for some students to thrive. These schools are designed to help educate those who need an extra push outside of traditional environments,” said Murphy (D-Des Plaines). “However, students and their parents are often left in the dark when it comes to the nature of the programs, or even when they can return to regular school.”

Alternative schools are designed to educate students who have not been successful in regular schools, due to either behavioral or discipline issues. Both the sending school and the alternative school hold meetings regarding the student and establish an alternative education plan for them. Murphy’s measure will ensure that students and their parents or guardians are invited to participate in the meetings.

Before the effective date of the student’s transfer, the parents or guardians must be provided with the specific nature of the curriculum, number of students in the school, available services, disciplinary policies, typical daily schedule and extracurricular activities, under Murphy’s measure.

In addition, a meeting will need to be held with the student's parent or guardian at least 30 days prior to the student’s planned return to regular schooling.

 “We want all of our students to flourish,” Murphy said. “Establishing expectations and keeping open lines of communication will help ensure that students and their parents can make choices that are best for the student.”

Senate Bill 183 was signed into law on Friday.