CHICAGO – State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Chicago) recently saw legislation he sponsored signed into law. The new law provides protections for tenants living in foreclosed buildings.

“Although the economy is on the upswing, the effects of the decline are still being felt by homeowners statewide,” Sen. Harris said.  “Continuing to offer these protections and services to keep people in their homes is imperative to continuing our economic recovery.”

Currently, tenants living in foreclosed properties are protected under federal law, but those protections are set to sunset in 2014. An owner who acquires a property in a foreclosure proceeding can evict a tenant only at the end of the lease or, if there is no lease, with 90 days’ notice. If the new owner intends to use the property as his or her primary residence, he or she may terminate the lease but must give 90 days’ notice. A bank foreclosing on a rental property also must inform tenants of where they should pay their rent.

Each day, nearly three million men and women in Illinois are denied decent employment and housing due to prior convictions. On Friday, legislation supported by Senator Napoleon Harris III was signed into law that allows the courts to seal criminal records for eight non-violent offenses. Current law and practices prevent hard-working, law-abiding individuals the chance to move forward from past mistakes.

“Sealing records for ex-offenders removes a barrier for those who made mistakes in the past and are now trying to contribute to society,” State Senator Napoleon Harris said. “This legislation allows mothers and fathers who at one point made a mistake the opportunity to find meaningful employment and support their family.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Flossmoor) saw his first major piece of legislation sponsored as a new senator signed into law on Sunday, requiring schools to offer catastrophic insurance coverage for student athletes.

Inspired by Rasul “Rocky” Clark, Harris’ Senate Bill 2178 ensures student athletes will have insurance coverage if they sustain injuries that leave them paralyzed while representing their schools in athletics. The measure was signed by the governor at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island, where Rocky went to school and played football. His mother Annette Clark was on hand for the occasion, along with other family, friends, and lawmakers who cosponsored the legislation.

“These injuries are rare, but when they happen it’s devastating for young athletes and their families,” Harris said. “These students’ lives are dramatically changed in cases of catastrophic injuries, and they deserve access to health care coverage.”

Harris, a former NFL and Northwestern University football player, knows the importance of this legislation. He sought and achieved bipartisan support in the Senate on this measure.

Under the new law, the minimum policy for a school will cover $3 million in aggregate benefits or five years of coverage, whichever comes first, for injuries resulting in medical expenses in excess of $50,000. All schools will have this insurance except for those who already require athletes to have private insurance. Before this new law, there was no requirement in Illinois that schools carry insurance for their athletes, though some do voluntarily.

The Illinois High School Association provides students with this catastrophic insurance for state tournaments. To acquire this coverage for the entire season, officials estimate the cost for schools to be less than $5 per athlete.

“Illinois student athletes and their parents have a victory today,” Harris said. 

Economic development continues to lift Illinois out of fiscal uncertainty. Thursday, legislation supported by State Senator Napoleon Harris was signed by Governor Quinn. The measure includes several economic development projects aimed at increasing business opportunities throughout Illinois. The new law also boasts developments to benefit residents in the 15th Legislative district, namely construction projects at McCormick Place, a Peotone airport and incentives for small businesses.

“These projects represent opportunities to foster a business-friendly environment while providing good paying jobs to increase revenues for local governments,” State Senator Napoleon Harris said. “This measure is an example of the types of initiatives community leaders need to bring to the General Assembly so the public and private sectors can work together to build a strong economy.”