Galesburg Reporter

The Illinois Legislature has passed a bill sponsored by State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha) that amends several state laws regarding emergency medical dispatchers and also categorizes them as first responders.

Senate Bill 3127 now awaits the governor's signature.

"These are essential workers that help residents and first responders through their most critical moments," Swanson said in an April 13 news conference, quoted by the Galesburg Reporter. "They help save countless lives and help people from every walk of life navigate through the most traumatic of times. There is a shortage of these employees as there's a shortage of many first responders. My hope is that as we shine a light and give thanks and appreciation to their important work more people would be called to serve. Where we can help facilitate more people being interested in this kind of life-saving work with legislative action, we should."

Swanson expressed pride in the Legislature for passing the bill.

"There's more work to do but today we pause and thank our telecommunications and first responders and thank our colleagues in the General Assembly for their support," he said.

Senate Bill 3127 passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House. In both houses of the Legislature, it was sponsored by members of both parties. In the Senate, sponsors were Sens. Neil Anderson, Win Stoller, Darren Bailey, Robert Martwick, Sue Rezin, Terri Bryant, Brian Stewart, Patrick Joyce and Dale Fowler. House sponsors included Reps. Swanson, Amy Elik, Tony McCombie, Jackie Haas, Tim Ozinga, Lance Yednock, Norine Hammond, Jonathan Carroll, Charlie Meier and Avery Bourne.

The bill was introduced in the Senate on Jan. 11. It went to the House on Feb. 23 and passed on March 30. The bill then returned to the Senate for approval of an amendment.