ROCKFORD – A bill sponsored by Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman to strengthen the protection of adults in need of a legal guardian was signed by Governor Pat Quinn this week.

Senate Bill 1051 amends the Illinois Probation Act of 1975 by emphasizing that judges consider the welfare of the dependent adult when appointing a guardian. The bill also requires the inclusion of contact information for physicians providing evaluations, reports or opinions on a person's mental or physical disability for the purpose of naming a legal guardian.

"The legislation now specifically states 'best interest and well-being' of the dependent adult shall be the court's main concern in selection of the guardian," said Stadelman, D-Rockford "The goal is to help prevent guardianship from being used in a convenience or retaliatory manner."

Stadelman worked with Sylvia Rudek, director of the National Association to Stop Guardian Abuse, to pass the legislation, which both houses of the Illinois General Assembly approved unanimously. Rudek, who lives in Mouth Prospect, Illinois, was subsequently named by Money Magazine to its "50 Heroes: 50 States" list for her efforts on SB 1051 and other reforms.

"SB 1051 provides clear language along with protections for the elderly and disabled adults of Illinois who are under guardianship," Rudek said. "Senator Stadelman is to be commended for reaching across the aisle and working with Rep. David Harris to gain bipartisan support. NASGA looks forward to working with Senator Stadelman in the future to further protect Illinois seniors and infirm adults."

ROCKFORD – A bill sponsored by Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman that provides for more aggressive prosecution of repeat domestic abusers was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn this week.

The legislation allows prosecutors to upgrade charges from misdemeanor to felony for offenders with prior convictions for the same or substantially similar violent crimes, even if the prior convictions occurred in other jurisdictions. Prosecutors already had the ability to issue felony charges for abusers whose past offenses occurred in Illinois, but convictions outside Illinois didn't always come into play.

"Domestic violence has a devastating impact that extends beyond the direct victims and that often leaves deep emotional scars," said Stadelman, D-Rockford. "As a community, we need to prevent abuse by having serious consequences for repeat offenses – and it shouldn't matter if an abuser's prior offenses occurred in another state."

Winnebago County State's Attorney Joe Bruscato recommended the change, and Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives.

ROCKFORD – Anyone interested in learning more about passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago is encouraged attend an Amtrak Town Hall Meeting hosted by Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman.

Stadelman, a Rockford Democrat, has invited Illinois Department of Transportation experts to give a 45-minute report on the status of the $223 million project. A question-and-answer session will follow.

"Passenger rail service to and from Chicago holds tremendous potential for economic growth and enhanced quality of life in the Rockford area," Stadelman said. "The public is excited about the prospect of a rail link with Chicago, and I think it is important to keep the public fully informed and to involve as much public input as possible."

Construction is expected to begin in October 2014, with one daily round trip anticipated to be running by the end of 2015, two daily round trips by the end of 2016 and eventual service to Dubuque, Iowa. Amtrak will provide the restored Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) service from Chicago to Rockford, using Metra & Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Track and bridge upgrades, increased capacity, a layover facility, a UP/Metra connection and new stations – including one in Rockford -- are among the improvements being funded through Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program.

IDOT Project Manager Elliot Ramos will lead an overview discussion of Amtrak service and preparation work before fielding questions with Senator Stadelman and other transportation, engineering and municipal representatives.

stadelmanAmtrak.pdf (click to view flyer; right-click and select "Save Target As..." or "Save Link As..." to download)

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman's (D-Rockford) measure allowing the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to make grants for safety and security improvements to various public K-12 school districts and area vocation centers was signed by the governor.

"This plan increases safety and ensures that our K-12 schools are adequately prepared in the case of an emergency," Stadelman said. "Now, IEMA can make safety grants to K-12 schools just as they can for colleges and universities."

IEMA wanted the ability to issue grants schools providing K-12 education and inter-district special education cooperatives.

Upon learning of this, Stadelman sponsored a measure to allow IEMA to issue safety grants to schools. Like the safety grants to institutions of higher education, the funding would come from the Illinois Bond Fund.