WE DID IT! The expansion to the Illinois Victims’ Economic Security & Safety Act (VESSA) was signed into law today by Gov. Pritzker, along with many other critical DV bills.
The VESSA expansion will make it possible for *all* survivors of violence in Illinois —including homicide survivors and victims who survive injuries from gun violence —to have the critical workplace policies and protections needed to access trauma recovery support and safety services.
Thank you to Governor Pritzker and to Rep. Robyn Gabel and Sen. Robert Peters for your leadership on HB3582.
A special thank you to Senator Peters for saying Yakez’s name in his speech (watch video starting at the 30-minute mark). If my son had survived his gunshot wounds, the VESSA workplace protections would have helped him keep his job as he recovered. No survivor should face job loss as they are trying to heal and rebuild safety in the wake violence.
This is for you, Yakez. 💛
Thank you to Dr. Traci Kurtzer for working tirelessly to support my vision for this law, and to all the survivors, organizers, and advocates –including all of you!– who made this law a reality.
#HB3582 #SurvivorsSpeak #SurvivorsWork #VESSA #KezsLaw
Stay Gold Movement 