Funding for Rock Valley College renovation released
State Senator Steve Stadelman announced the release this month of $9.2 million for the construction of Classroom Building 1 at Rock Valley College. The release of funds by the Illinois Comptroller's Office reimburses RVC for the state's contribution toward remodeling of the classrooms, which began in 2015 but was stopped due to the budget stalemate. In 2016, the college restarted construction using its own finances.
“The two-year budget impasse negatively impacted every community in our state by delaying payments for vital services and halting money for important capital projects, like this one at Rock Valley College,” Stadelman said. “I’m pleased the state is finally keeping its commitment to Rock Valley College as it continues to improve the learning environment for students and staff in the Rockford community.”
Renovation of the 61,000-square-foot structure included upgrading plumbing, lighting and electrical work and building a two-story, 21,000-square-foot addition.
New fiscal year brings new state lawsJuly brings the beginning of a new fiscal year for the state, and several measures passed by the legislature and signed into law take effect on July 1. The most notably of the new laws, which was supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman, addresses Illinois' teacher shortage.
Rural and downstate school districts will have more tools to help overcome the challenges of a statewide teacher shortage under the that is based on input from Illinois educators. Among other things, the measure slashes red tape to encourage educators outside of Illinois to apply for hard-to-fill jobs here, creates a short-term substitute teaching license and allows downstate retired teachers to substitute in classrooms without jeopardizing their retirement benefits.
Other laws effective July 1 - click on each bill number to read more:
SB 312 Requires any entity selling "catfish" products to disclose on the packaging, menu or wherever applicable the fish's country of origin. The concern is food establishments offering swai fish (Pangasiidae family) as catfish (Ictaluridae family) without informing customers.
SB 1223 Requires school districts to have an accelerated placement policy that allows students to be referred and evaluated for possible early entrance to kindergarten or 1st grade, acceleration in a single subject, compacted curriculum, grade acceleration, grade telescoping or early high school graduation.
HB 303 Reforms the civil asset forfeiture process; places the burden of proof in forfeiture cases on the prosecution, instead of the property owner.
HB 2453 Requires the Department of Revenue to transfer funds directly from sales taxes into the Downstate Public Transportation Fund instead of first being deposited by the Comptroller into the General Revenue Fund.
HB 2963 Creates the Entity Omnibus Act, which takes the conversion and domestication processes out of various acts affecting business entities.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) announced today that the Comptroller’s office is releasing the $9.2 million reimbursement grant for the construction of Classroom Building 1 at Rock Valley College.
In 2015, rehabilitation work on the classrooms was halted due to the budget stalemate. In 2016, Rock Valley College opted to restart the construction and pay for it with their own finances. The grant reimburses Rock Valley College for the cost of the completed work.
“The two-year budget impasse negatively impacted every community in our state by delaying payments for vital services and halting money for important capital projects, like this one at Rock Valley College,” Stadelman said. “I’m pleased the state is finally keeping its commitment to Rock Valley College as it continues to improve the learning environment for students and staff in the Rockford community.”
The renovation work included renovating approximately 61,000 square feet in classroom building 1, including upgrading plumbing, lighting and electrical work. It also includes funding for an approximately two-story 21,000 square foot addition.
The Comptroller’s office is expected to release the funds later today.
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130 attend Second Chances Summit; repeat event being planned for 2019
Two dozen volunteer attorneys provided free legal assistance to 130 people hoping to expunge or seal their criminal records, opening the door for them to obtain better jobs, find better places to live or go back to school. Interest in the first Second Chances Summit was so high that a second annual event is likely to occur next year.
More than 400 people initially signed up, and 150 completed the registration process by obtaining fingerprint background checks. Attorneys reviewed the results of those checks, discussed them with summit attendees and drafted the necessary documents to request judicial relief for those determined to be eligible under Illinois law. Eligibility depends on the type of offense and length of time without a subsequent charge.
"If you listened to the stories of any of the people who attended the summit, you quickly realize they are haunted for years or even decades by a past transgression that often wasn't a serious enough offense to even warrant jail time," State Senator Steve Stadelman said. "As a result, they've been underemployed and lack the financial resources to engage a lawyer. In extending a hand up to them, we are lifting our community as a whole."
In addition to the attorneys who gave up their Saturday and offered their services at no charge, several local law firms donated funds to offset the cost of fingerprinting. Summit attendees, who normally would have paid $50, obtained the Illinois State Police report for $20. During the summit at the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford, attendees also could register to vote, apply for a library card and learn about employment opportunities and job retraining programs.
Stadelman organized the summit in partnership with Prairie State Legal Services, Rockford Public Library and United Way of Rock River Valley.
• WTVO-17 broadcast
• WIFR-23 broadcast
• Rockford Register Star article
Equifax breach prompts Illinois to take action
Illinois consumers no longer will be forced to pay to freeze their credit reports so they can protect themselves against identity theft thanks to a new law supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman. The law is a response to the massive Equifax data breach between May and July 2017. As many as 143 million Americans, including 5.4 million Illinois residents, may have been affected by the theft of private consumer information.
One way consumers can protect themselves from fraud is to freeze their credit reports.
During a freeze, no new credit may be issued under their name and Social Security number. Until now, credit reporting agencies had been allowed to charge Illinois consumers up to $10 each time they asked to freeze or unfreeze their reports. Under the new law, credit reporting agencies are barred from charging Illinois consumers to freeze their reports. The new law also helps consumers prevent or minimize damage to their credit by allowing them to place or lift a credit electronically or over the phone
In case you missed me on Facebook ...
Steve Stadelman
June 15 at 2:28 PM ·
Played in the inaugural bi-state softball showdown between the Illinois and Missouri General Assemblies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Even though I'm a die-hard Cubs fan, it was a thrill to play in the Cardinals ballpark. Unfortunately, we lost 7-4. Oh well, there's always next year.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) joined with both Republicans and Democrats to pass a fully balanced state budget.
“It’s great to see Republicans and Democrats working together to pass a bipartisan, balanced budget,” Stadelman said. “This is how state government should operate.”
Under the budget proposal, which passed the Illinois Senate today with a vote of 56-2, the state finally delivers on a grant promised to pay for the Rockford Airport a few years ago. While the airport is already built and paid for with private loans, the governor froze the grant from previous budgets.
School districts will also receive an additional $350 million. Due to last year’s historic school funding formula reforms needier school districts, including Rockford Public Schools and Harlem School District, will receive a significant increase.
“This year’s budget furthers our commitment to fixing the broken school funding formula,” Stadelman said. “Rockford-area schools are a clear winner under this plan.”
This year’s budget also increases funding for local governments by $120 million.
“These additional dollars for local governments will prevent a property tax increase and layoffs of first responders,” Stadelman said.
The budget proposal will now head to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.
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