House approves bill to protect prison nursing jobs

Illinois representatives approved a bill Thursday to prevent further privatization of health care jobs in state prisons.

The House voted 68-42 for the bill that was previously OK’d by the Senate. It will now be sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Reps. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, and Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, all voted for the bill. Reps. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, and Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, voted against it.

The legislation was sparked by a decision last month by the Department of Corrections to privatize the jobs of 124 union nurses working in state prisons. They are due to be laid off June 15. Corrections said the move will save the state $8 million a year.

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