SPRINGFIELD – A proposal to make Illinois the ninth state to mandate a minimum amount of time for play each day for students is one step closer to becoming law after the Illinois Senate approved it Thursday.

“Unstructured play is a critical part of a child’s development,” said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), the legislation’s sponsor. “I know this from experience, since it played a key role in my upbringing. When you add in the benefit that physical activity provides to growing children, it’s easy to see why guaranteeing time for play is something we need to do.”

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) allowing state’s attorneys to petition for sentence reductions passed the Illinois Senate Wednesday.

“There are several factors that go in to determining a sentence for a crime, but in time, some or all of those factors could change,” Peters said. “Giving state’s attorneys the ability to ask a court to reduce sentences will ensure that people aren’t locked up for longer than they should be.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is leading an effort to speed up the process when abused and neglected minors are moved between counties during the process of finding a suitable guardian.

“The kids we’re talking about here have already experienced abuse or neglect, or they’re otherwise dependent on the social services our state provides,” Peters said. “They shouldn’t get caught up in the court bureaucracy when they need to move between counties.”

SPRINGFIELD – Youth under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services might soon have an easier time applying for financial aid if a measure sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) requiring the DCFS to assist youth-in-care with the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid becomes law.

“If you’re a youth-in-care who is a senior in high school, you have to deal with the uncertainty of your imminent aging out of the system on top of the added stress of making decisions about college – including how it will be paid for,” Peters said. “This legislation is simply providing assistance in navigating the often confusing financial aid application process to kids in our state who could, quite frankly, use a break from things they have to worry about.”