Senator Harris working to improve minority business contracts

• minority business
• SB275
• SB276

Springfield, IL – Legislation sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) that would raise the state's contract goal for minority and women-owned businesses from 10 percent to 20 percent passed out of committee today.  

Senate Bill 275 increases opportunity for minority and women owned businesses to win state construction contracts. It would require building construction contracts in excess of $250,000 be unbundled or subject to separate and independent bidding processes for each of the five required subdivisions of work. For instance, it would separate plumbing from general contract work.

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Harris joins bipartisan effort to restore funding to social services

• budget
• social services
• SB274

Springfield, IL –Legislation co-sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey), which proposes a plan to undo the cuts to social services recently enacted by Gov. Rauner., passed the Senate today.

“This legislation is a product of a bipartisan effort to ensure services to the most vulnerable remain funded,” Harris said. “This plan uses surplus funds normally reserved for special interests, to restore funding for autism, epilepsy and substance abuse prevention. These cuts affect real people, and we must continue a bipartisan effort to ensure these programs remain funded.”

The legislation, Senate Bill 274, now goes to the house for consideration. 

Senator Harris working to improve better health care to athletes

• SB785
• healthcare

Springfield, IL –Legislation sponsored by Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey), allowing certain out-of-state health care professionals to practice medicine in Illinois while on contract to provide care to an athletic team, passed the senate today. 

Currently there is no exemption for health care professionals in contract with athletic teams to provide care to athletic team members, coaching staff or families traveling with the athletic team in Illinois without a license to practice in the state. 

“This measure would allow for teams to travel with their health care professionals, thereby allowing individuals to receive treatment from someone who is better informed on their medical history,” Harris said. “As a former professional athlete myself, I know firsthand the importance of traveling with a qualified physician who knows my medical history. This bill allows skilled health care professionals to provide the medical attention athletes need while they travel in Illinois.”

Senate Bill 785 gives exemption to health care professionals for 10 days per sporting event with an option to extend the exemption up to 30 days.

The legislation passed the Senate with 54 – 0 and will be sent to the House. 

Minority Business Summit is a huge success

On April 10 I joined State Senator Steve Stadelman, Representative Litesa Wallace and several state agencies for the first of many Minority Business Summits. The purpose of these meetings is to inform minority business owners about programs and opportunities offered by the state. These events create a space for open dialogue about issues minority owned businesses face and how we can foster an environment that is more welcoming for the expansion of minority owned businesses in Illinois.The event was a great success, and I am looking forward to being a part of more in the near future.

The next event will be April 27 with Senators Dave Koehler and Napoleon Harris, State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth and Larry Ivory, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce. The event is from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Peoria, IL.