Koehler’s measure to expand sales opportunities for at-home food operations passes the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) to expand the venues where home-cooked food operations may sell their products passed the Senate on Sunday.

“Not only will this legislation provide home cooks with the opportunity to earn additional income, but it will help to preserve traditions and small bits of history in our communities through the sharing of recipes and dishes that may have been passed down for generations,” Koehler said.

Cottage food operations are vendors that prepare products in a kitchen in a primary domestic residence. Senate Bill 2007 permits cottage food operations to sell their products at farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals or public events, as well as online. If signed into law, this legislation would require these producers to submit recipes and food safety plans to local public health departments in order to be permitted to sell their products to the public. It also sets a framework for the Illinois Department of Public Health to provide statewide guidance on how to regulate cottage foods to local health departments.

"We should be doing everything we can to help to create more income opportunities for our residents," Koehler said. "This legislation has the potential to benefit many families in my district and around the state, and I'm very pleased to have it pass."

SB 2007 passed the Senate with 59 votes.

Measure by Koehler to support special education students advances out of the Senate

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) that would ensure that special education students in Illinois are able to complete their schooling passed out of the Senate on Wednesday.

“Students all across Illinois have faced significant challenges over the last year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Koehler said. “It is no different for special education students, except that an interrupted school year may mean that they are unable to finish their education under current regulations.”

Current legislation states that students with disabilities may attend public school up to the day before their 22^nd birthday. At that point, regardless of when that is in the school year, they are no longer eligible. This legislation would allow students who turned 22 between March 17, 2020 and the end of the 2021-2022 school year who faced 3 or more months of COVID-related interruptions to their education to finish their school year.

“Students of all ages and abilities deserve the same opportunities when it comes to their education,” Koehler said.

House Bill 2748 passed out of the Senate with 56 votes.

Koehler calls for hearings on legislation requiring MCOs to return excess profits

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) pledged to continue work on his initiative to demand that excessive profits received by Managed Care Organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic be returned to the state.

“As we begin to move into a post-COVID-19 world, we’re seeing that managed care organizations brought in record-breaking profits while many communities across the state struggled to receive basic care and necessary resources during the pandemic,” Koehler said. “If we are able to reallocate excess profits from these companies, we can help hospitals stay open and keep providing lifesaving care in our low-income and rural communities.”

The legislation was filed in response to decreased health care service use during the period where elective surgeries and procedures were postponed. Decreased use resulted in MCOs paying fewer claims and therefore retaining unprecedented amounts of enrollment-based profit, the scope of which was revealed via a Better Government Association investigation. Those wishing to read more about the results of the investigation can visit the BGA’s website.

Koehler was joined in this initiative by State Representative Fred Crespo (D-Hoffman Estates), who introduced identical legislation in the House.

Koehler intends to request continued hearings on SB 455.

IDNR seeking qualified applicants for the position of Conservation Police Officer

Offering competitive pay and benefits, including affordable, employer-sponsored health care, dental, and vision. Employer-furnished equipment, take-home patrol vehicle, flexible scheduling, and much more.

The job posting and application may be found at: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job/Springfield-CONSERVATION-POLICE-OFFICER-TRAINEE-0934500-IL-62702/737132600/Image

Applications must be signed and post marked/digitally submitted by May 31, 2021.  If submitting application via email, please scan and submit all pages as one document.

Criteria:  Must be at least 21 years of age upon date of hire, 4-year Bachelor’s Degree (any major), OR Associate’s Degree AND three years of Law Enforcement experience (single agency), OR Military service (Active, Reserve, or National Guard), currently serving or honorably discharged, with one or more of the following medals:  Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal

Hiring Process: Application Submission (CMS 100), Physical Fitness and Swimming, Proficiency Tests, In-person Interview, Psychological Examination, Medical Examination, Background Investigation 

Applicants who are currently employed as a full-time police officer with full law enforcement authority in the State of Illinois may be eligible to participate in a “fast-track” training process that would waive the 14-week Basic Law Enforcement Academy.  An additional paid, 14-week Conservation Academy must be completed as a condition of employment.   During these training academies, selected applicants will be provided meals and lodging on-site, Monday-Friday.

For further information please visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/LawEnforcement/Pages/ConservationPoliceOfficerCareerOpportunities.aspx or call or email your respective OLE recruiting officer listed on page 2.

 

CPO Tom Davis (McHenry Co)- Northeast Zone Recruiting Officer

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Phone Number: (847) 404-3596

 

CPO Isaac Gerard (Woodford Co.)- Northwest Zone Recruiting Officer

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Phone Number: (309) 214-0203

 

CPO Chase Sanford (Vermilion Co.)- Central Zone Recruiting Officer

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Phone Number: (217) 361-9982

 

CPO Roberto Macias (Clinton Co.)- Southern Zone Recruiting Officer

Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Phone Number: (618) 713-2705