SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate to give students and teachers more materials to learn about American Sign Language.

“We have so many residents across Illinois who are either deaf or hard of hearing who use ASL to communicate,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “If we teach our children about ASL at a young age, we could foster a generation of people who can reach out to those in the deaf and hard-hearing communities.”

As of 2023, there are roughly 50 million U.S. residents who report significant hearing loss or no hearing at all. ASL has become the third most popular language taught in American higher education institutions and is estimated to be used by over 500,000 people in the country. Knowledge of ASL can pose many benefits to students by promoting open mindedness and tolerance toward different experiences and making them more valuable assets to companies once they enter the workforce.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner is leading a measure to mandate training for emergency medical dispatchers on how to provide CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

“We are losing too many of our friends and family to heart disease,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Ensuring that our emergency dispatchers are well-equipped to handle these situations will save lives.”

Senate Bill 1295 would mandate all 911 telecommunicators and emergency medical dispatchers to be trained in telecommunicator CPR. T-CPR involves a dispatcher providing over-the-phone CPR instructions to someone experiencing cardiac arrest. This process is a key part of the chain of survival for cardiac arrest.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the murder of Sonya Massey, State Senator Doris Turner is leading two measures that advanced out of the Senate Executive Committee Thursday.

“Sonya’s tragic murder brought to light the unjust hiring practices within the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “The legislative measures come from conversations with state and county officials, law enforcement and community members. We have to take the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again.”

Senate Bill 1953 would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a more comprehensive review of a prospective officer’s past employment to ensure his or her physical and psychological fitness for duty as a police officer before making an offer of employment. To ensure the highest degree of integrity and professionalism in the hiring process of sheriff’s deputies and other personnel, the legislation would expand the creation of sheriff’s merit boards and sheriff’s merit commissions for counties with a population of at least 75,000.

DECATUR – State Senator Doris Turner is inviting residents to attend a senior resource fair on Tuesday, April 22.

The event will take place from noon to 2 p.m. at Decatur Public Library, located at 130 N. Franklin St. in Decatur. It is free and open to the public.

“The upcoming event will give seniors a one-stop shop to learn more about state and local resources available in our community,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “People will have the opportunity to get information to help them stay safe, informed and healthy.”

Seniors will be able to ask questions and obtain information from a variety of service and health care providers, state programs and local groups.

People with questions can reach out to Turner’s office at 217-782-0228 or SenatorDorisTurner.com.