Making roadways safer in the state

Sen. Brian Stewart
Posted 4/10/19

Citizens and advocacy groups from across the state crowded the Capitol during the week, voicing their support or opposition to hundreds of bills currently being considered by lawmakers.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Making roadways safer in the state

Posted

SPRINGFIELD — Citizens and advocacy groups from across the state crowded the Capitol during the week, voicing their support or opposition to hundreds of bills currently being considered by lawmakers.
Senators spent many hours debating and voting on legislation – such as providing a more affordable alternative to medicine for treating allergic reactions – as they work to meet an April 12 deadline for the third reading of Senate bills.
Also during the week, state officials and lawmakers urged motorists to pay more attention and be more careful while driving, as distracted-driving accidents resulted in the deaths of two ISP Troopers in just three days.
Making roads safer
State officials and lawmakers are asking the public to slow down and drive more carefully after two troopers were killed in recent distracted-driving accidents.
On March 28, Trooper Brooke Jones-Story was struck and killed by a semitrailer during a roadside inspection of another truck, along Route 20 near Route 75 in Freeport.  On April 3, Gov. JB Pritzker, ISP Acting Director Brendan Kelly and scores of ISP Troopers joined hundreds of people who paid tribute to Trooper Jones-Story, a 12-year ISP veteran, during a memorial service in the Warren High School gymnasium.

Trooper Gerald Ellis was on duty March 30 when he was killed in a head-on collision with a vehicle traveling the wrong way on Interstate 94. His funeral service was set for April 5 in Grayslake.
Their deaths brought to three the number of troopers killed in 2019.  On Jan. 12, Trooper Christopher Lambert was killed after being hit by a car on I-294 while at the scene of an accident.
Lawmakers from around the state are expressing concern about the number of ISP Troopers who have been hit by vehicles – 16 so far in 2019. 
EpiPen alternatives
Health insurance companies would be required to offer generic alternatives for EpiPens under legislation that passed by a unanimous vote of the Senate on April 4.
EpiPen is the brand name of a device that delivers the drug epinephrine, which is a life-saving medication used when someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction.  The cost of this drug, which can be in the hundreds of dollars range, often places it out of reach to those who need it most.
Senate Bill 2047 would require health insurance companies to offer generic alternatives for insulin auto-injectors.
The bill now heads to the House.