Springfield, IL —State Representative Jennifer Sanalitro (R – Bloomingdale) is excited to announced that her co-sponsored Drug Education and Youth Overdose Prevention Act (SB2223), successfully passed the Illinois House of Representatives on Friday, May 12. The bill passed third reading with a unanimous and bipartisan vote of 109-0 marking a significant step forward in solving the state’s ongoing opioid crisis, particularly as it affects young people.
“I am proud to co-sponsor this vital legislation,” said Rep. Sanalitro. “From rural farmlands to busy cities, overdose deaths are an epidemic that impact families across the entirety of Illinois. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated and we are taking decisive action to ensure our children and youth are educated and prepared.”
SB2223 creates the Drug Education and Youth Overdose Prevention Act where it directs the State Board of Education to collaborate with several state departments and advisory councils to develop improved K-12 health education standards that are comprehensive, evidence-based, safety-focused, and designed to reduce substance abuse risk factors.
The bill also requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Human Services to work with stakeholders, such as the Illinois Opioid Crisis Response Advisory Council, to develop and update substance use prevention and recovery resource materials for public schools by July 1, 2024. This resource guide will be available on the State Board of Education’s website and will be emailed to all regional offices of education and school districts.
“SB2223 is a reasonable step and slowing the rate of overdose deaths and is an urgently needed measure,” said Sanalitro. “It ensures our education system is doing everything it can to prevent substance misuse and to equip our young people with the information they need to stay safe.”
The legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on May 19th, and further details on the bill’s future will be released as they become available.
For more information on SB2223, please visit RepSanalitro.com or contact her office at 630-349-0645.
Rep. Sanalitro is the State Representative for House District 48 which includes the communities of Addison, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Hanover Park, Itasca, Medinah, Roselle, Schaumburg, and Wood Dale in suburban DuPage and Cook counties.