House approves bill that addresses epidemic for Blacks

The Illinois General Assembly unanimously passed a bill Thursday that will coordinate the efforts of several state agencies in addressing the AIDS crisis in the African American community.

House Bill 2578, also known as the African American HIV/AIDS Response Act, was introduced in February by Rep. Connie Howard (D-32nd).

Howard told the Chicago Defender the state now recognizes the "extreme emergency" existing in our community.

The bill provides for state agencies to coordinate with local health organizations to conduct HIV/AIDS testing and counseling; for Chicago State University's Research Department to study the connection between incarceration and HIV infection; …