Measure to assist military students next returns to House for approval

SPRINGFIELD - May 19, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon on Monday applauded the Illinois Senate for passing legislation crafted by her office to ease the transitions of military students moving in and out of Illinois schools. Sponsored by state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) and state Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson (D-East St. Louis), House Bill 3939 will align Illinois with national standards on the treatment of military students, many who transfer schools three times more often than their civilian peers. The legislation now returns to the Illinois House for final consideration.

"This measure has the potential to ease the transition for military students and keep defense jobs in our state,"  said Simon, chairperson of the Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee. "By better aligning with national standards, we can assist thousands of military students in Illinois and show how much we value their families. I commend Sen. Bush and Rep. Jackson for their work to pass this legislation."

In 2010, Illinois joined the Interstate Compact for Military Children and adopted the state's first-ever law recognizing the unique educational challenges of military students. In the 45 other Compact states, military students enter the same grade level at their new schools, retain previously earned credit and are offered opportunities for extracurricular activities. Illinois' law does not currently offer the same assurances. The Simon-backed legislation brings Illinois into alignment with other Compact states, providing protections military students deserve while also preserving local control. They include :

• Grade Level: Students must be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level in the receiving state at the time of transition; subsequent evaluation to verify placement is allowed.

• Course & Program Placement: Schools shall initially honor course and program placement for military students at the time of transition, including Advanced Placement and ESL, provided that the courses are offered and space is available; subsequent evaluation to verify placement is allowed.

• Extracurricular Activities: Schools shall facilitate the opportunity for inclusion in sports and other activities to the extent that children are qualified and space is available as determined by the school principal.

The state of Illinois is home to approximately 10,000 military students, most of whom have at least one parent on active duty at major installations in North Chicago, the Quad Cities and Metro East. They may transfer schools up to nine times between kindergarten and high school graduation, a rate three times that of their civilian peers.

Simon added that with potential federal defense spending reductions and potential base closures on the horizon, this measure positions our bases for expansions, not drastic cuts.

During a series of listening posts hosted by the Simon-chaired Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee (IMBSEDC) held last year near Scott Air Force Base, Naval Station Great Lakes and the Rock Island Arsenal, families and military leadership consistently raised the issue of improving school transition.

As chair of the IMBSEDC, Simon helps coordinate the state's activities and communications relating to current and former military bases in Illinois.

Lt. Governor addresses food access, farmers markets at Governor's Rural Affairs Council Meeting

SPRINGFIELD - April 16, 2014. Building on her work to provide local and healthy food to Illinois residents, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon joined advocates and stakeholders to discuss ways to combat food insecurity throughout the state, upcoming policy issues and pending legislation impacting farmers markets during a Governor's Rural Affairs Council meeting in Springfield on Wednesday.

"No one in Illinois should be experiencing food insecurity," said Simon. "Children should not be going to bed hungry and families should not have to worry about where they will get their next meal."

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. An estimated 14.5 percent of American households were food insecure at least some time during the year according to the most recently available statistics, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.

Simon recently visited the Carbondale Community Farmers Market to urge farmers markets across Illinois to accept Link cards via new wireless technology provided by the state. The Carbondale Community Farmers Market is the first market in Illinois to receive a free wireless point-of-sale terminal through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Xerox, MerchantSource and Total Merchant Services.  Simon noted that these machines help promote acceptance of the Link card for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.  Currently, about a quarter of the nearly 400 Illinois farmers markets in the state are accepting these benefits.

Simon also discussed legislation passed out of the Illinois House last week aimed at standardizing the fees and regulations related to farmers markets in the stats. Currently, rules for farmers markets are set by local health departments. A uniform set of regulations concerning food samples, labeling a product's origin, and vendor fees would be put into place under House Bill 5657. The measure unanimously passed the House and has been sent to the Illinois Senate for further consideration.

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon chairs the 25-member Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC). Under Simon's leadership, the GRAC has worked to expand access to locally grown, healthy foods and emergency medical services (EMS) in rural areas, as well as other rural issues.

Urges officials to pass Senate Bill 1361, disclose more about personal finances

CARBONDALE - April 14, 2014. Illustrating her commitment to government transparency, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today released her 2013 tax returns along with personal financial statements for herself and her senior staff. Simon said the financial data goes beyond the disclosure required by law and is necessary for taxpayers to determine if she or her staff harbors any conflicts of interest. For a copy of Simon's returns click here.

This is the fourth consecutive year in state office that she released the data, a tradition she started as Carbondale City Council Member and will maintain while holding elected office.

"Transparency and accountability go hand in hand," Simon said. "I invite residents to view my financial information and learn that I have no conflicts of interest. I urge state lawmakers to strengthen our disclosure laws so that taxpayers can trust their leaders."

According to the tax returns, Simon and her husband, Perry Knop, a community college professor, reported adjusted gross income of $207,522 in 2013. They paid $44,393 in federal and state taxes, which equates to an effective tax rate of almost 27 percent (22 percent federal, 4.7 percent state).

Simon and Knop contributed more than $3,300 to charity, including support for Southern Illinois University Foundation and various arts, health and women's organizations. Their primary debts include a mortgage for their Carbondale home and a car loan for a Ford Focus, and they sold stock to help pay for a daughter's college tuition.

State law does not require elected officials to release tax returns, but they are mandated to file a Statement of Economic Interests each May. Simon, the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform and other good government advocates have criticized the mandated form for being too confusing and riddled with loopholes.

Simon backs legislation, SB 1361, that would overhaul the questions for the first time in 40 years. It passed the Senate with overwhelming support and is now in the House Rules committee.

The Chicago Tribune editorial board has called for passage, stating in a December editorial: "Disclosure statements, as they stand now, are a joke. Speaker Madigan, let this bill out of Rules and bring it to a vote. This kind of sunlight is really needed."

Until the law changes, Simon encouraged lawmakers to voluntarily disclose their finances.

Military student transition measure now moves to Illinois Senate

SPRINGFIELD - April 10, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon on Thursday applauded the Illinois House for the passage of legislation crafted by her office to ease the transitions of military students moving in and out of Illinois schools. Sponsored by Rep. Eddie Lee Jackson (D-East St. Louis), House Bill 3939 will align Illinois with national standards on the treatment of military students, many who transfer schools three times more often than their civilian peers.

"This legislation provides a chance for Illinois to strengthen our commitment to our brave military families,"  said Simon, chairperson of the Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee. "We want to make sure these students are prioritized and transition smoothly into their new classes. It's right for our kids and  important for keeping defense jobs in the state of Illinois."

In 2010, Illinois joined the Interstate Compact for Military Children and adopted the state's first-ever law recognizing the unique educational challenges of military students. In the 45 other Compact states, military students enter the same grade level at their new schools, retain previously earned credit and are offered opportunities for extracurricular activities. Illinois' law does not currently offer the same assurances. The Simon-backed legislation brings Illinois into alignment with other Compact states, providing protections military students deserve while also preserving local control. They include :

• Grade Level: Students must be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level in the receiving state at the time of transition; subsequent evaluation to verify placement is allowed.

• Course & Program Placement: Schools shall initially honor course and program placement for military students at the time of transition, including Advanced Placement and ESL, provided that the courses are offered and space is available; subsequent evaluation to verify placement is allowed.

• Extracurricular Activities: Schools shall facilitate the opportunity for inclusion in sports and other activities to the extent that children are qualified and space is available as determined by the school principal.

The state of Illinois is home to approximately 10,000 military students, most of whom have at least one parent on active duty at major installations in North Chicago, the Quad Cities and Metro East. They may transfer schools up to nine times between kindergarten and high school graduation, a rate three times that of their civilian peers. During testimony in front of the Illinois House Elementary & Secondary committee, Simon noted the importance of ensuring these transitions are as seamless as possible, out of respect for their families' sacrifices, the children's learning opportunities and the economic future of our state. Read her testimony here.

Simon added that with potential federal defense spending reductions and potential base closures on the horizon, this measure also levels the playing field for military students and positions our bases for expansions, not drastic cuts.

"I am proud to have drafted and negotiated this bill as part of my role as chairperson of our state's military base retention committee," said Simon. "I want to commend Rep. Jackson and the Illinois House for their quick work to pass this important legislation. I hope the Senate and governor will also work quickly to make this the law of Illinois. House Bill 3939 sends a strong message to military families and our federal leaders that Illinois is a strong and supportive education state."

During a series of listening posts hosted by the Simon-chaired Interagency Military Base Support and Economic Development Committee (IMBSEDC) held last year near Scott Air Force Base, Naval Station Great Lakes and the Rock Island Arsenal, families and military leadership consistently raised the issue of improving school transition.

As chair of the IMBSEDC, Simon helps coordinate the state's activities and communications relating to current and former military bases in Illinois. A copy of the legislation can be found here.