A bill creating a pilot Medicaid-funded program to treat adolescents and young adults in the early stages of serious mental illness or addiction was signed Aug. 21 by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

SB 2951, sponsored by Sen. Melinda Bush and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, was one of two Federation priorities aimed at curbing sources of gun-related violence: untreated mental illness in young adults and access to firearms by people viewed as capable of lethal violence.

The sponsors worked with the Healthy Minds/Healthy Lives Coalition to draft a team-based treatment model targeting youth with mental health or substance abuse problems. It would provide in-home and in-community clinic treatment to help them deal with everyday life triggers that may cause re-use.

Since the treatment would be funded by Medicaid, federal approval is required before implementation.

This spring, in response to the alarming rise in gun-related community violence in Chicago and in schools, community centers, and other public spaces across the country, a Federation mission travelled to Springfield to advocate for the legislation, and for a second anti-violence measure that later passed and was signed.

HB2354, the Lethal Violence Order of Protection, created a process for family members and local law enforcement to petition to have firearms temporarily taken away from people who pose a threat to themselves or others. It was sponsored by Sen. Julie Morrison and Rep. Kathleen Willis and, like SB 2951, passed with bi-partisan support.