Stadelman support brings $800,000 to local museums

• IDNR
• Museums
• Museum Capital Grants
• Recovery

ROCKFORD – Thanks to support from State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) three local museums will receive a combined $838,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits.   

“Museums provide extraordinary opportunities for education and are great environments to explore and learn about our history,” Stadelman said. “The grants going to these museums will provide the resources necessary to serve the community.”

The Department of Natural Resources announced three museums in Rockford that will be receiving grants. The Rockford Art Museum will receive $301,000, the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens will receive $104,000, and the Discovery Center Museum will receive $433,000.

Read more …

Stadelman-sponsored measure to promote public trust in local government passes Senate

• Local Government
• Accountability
• SB 3460
• Public Trust

SPRINGFIELD – To restore public trust in local government officials, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is sponsoring a measure alongside Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), to create a process to place local officials on administrative leave for those accused of violating their oath.

“This will ensure that when criminal charges are pending results against a government official, residents can trust their government to act,” Stadelman said. “Townships, counties, and local governments will be able to remove bad faith actors and restore trust in the system.”

Senate Bill 3460 creates a process in which countywide elected officials or township officers can be placed on administrative leave in the wake of a criminal charge for a crime or any offense in violation of their official oath. Specifically, this measure allows county or township boards to vote to determine if the official should be placed on administrative leave with a three-fifths vote.

The vote would then be sent to the state’s attorney for review of the crimes, and if it is determined the crimes were relevant to their duties, the state’s attorney would file a motion to place the elected official on administrative leave.

Read more …

Stadelman works to alleviate weight of trauma survivors carry when filling orders of protection

• SB 3667
• Protective Order
• Abuse
• Accessibility
• Survivor of Abuse

SPRINGFIELD – Leading legislation to give survivors of abuse     more comfort and accessibility filing a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) hosted a press conference Wednesday to bring more awareness to the ongoing issues survivors face.  

“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors the opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their      own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”

Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.

“As legislators, it is our responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of survivors of domestic abuse through the entirety of the reporting process,” said State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport), a chief co-sponsor of the legislation. “The justice system should provide support for any trauma survivor attempting to find peace.”

Any and all types of protective orders would be covered under this legislation.

Read more …

Stadelman-sponsored measure to promote public trust in local government passes committee

• Local Government
• Accountability
• Corruption
• SB 3460

SPRINGFIELD – To restore public trust in local government officials, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is sponsoring a measure alongside Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford), to create a process to place local officials on administrative leave for those accused of violating their oath.

“We are ensuring that while criminal charges are pending, residents can have trust in their government to act appropriately,” Stadelman said. “This allows townships and counties the ability to remove bad faith actors within the system.”

Senate Bill 3460 creates a process in which countywide elected officials or township officers can be placed on administrative leave in the wake of a criminal charge for a crime or any offense in violation of their official oath. Specifically, this measure allows county or township boards to vote to determine if the official should be placed on administrative leave with a three-fifths vote.

The vote would then be sent to the state’s attorney for review of the crimes, and if it is determined the crimes were relevant to their duties, the state’s attorney would file a motion to place the elected official on administrative leave.

Read more …