ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is expanding his popular Labor Day basketball tournament to include a drive to collect gently used athletic shoes for needy young sports enthusiasts.

Now in its fourth year, the free 3-on-3 competition also is adding two more courts to accommodate an anticipated increase in players over the 400 who participated in 2015. Boys and girls in 3rd through 8th grades will face off on 10 courts in Davis Park during Senator Stadelman’s HoopStars 2016.

Registration is open until Aug. 31 at www.senatorstadelman.com/hoopstars.

Stadelman announced at a Sunday news conference that HoopStars has teamed up with Sole Ballers to supply “legit kicks” to kids from low-income families. Christian Life High School sophomore Treye Tucker has collected and distributed 500 pairs of athletic shoes since he founded Sole Ballers as a 7th-grader.

Tucker joined Stadelman in inviting the public to visit the HoopStars event, watch a game or two and drop off spare athletic shoes. Players’ families also were encouraged to donate shoes for any sport in reasonably good condition.

“I’m grateful to be able to offer a positive, no-cost, end-of-summer activity for kids, especially those from inner-city neighborhoods,” Stadelman said. “With the shoe drive, I’m asking those who can to help pay that generosity forward.”

Families attending the tournament may again enjoy music and kids rides courtesy of Rockford United Labor, which holds its annual picnic for union members at the same time and place. Event sponsors also operate interactive courtside information booths with giveaways, and all players receive free commemorative event T-shirts.

SPRINGFIELD – Earlier this year, State Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) advanced legislation through the Illinois Senate to allow recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) to count high school and high school equivalency courses toward the core requirement of hours needed to receive benefits.

This proposal, Senate Bill 2906, was signed into law today by the governor.

Previously, recipients of the benefits had to work or participate in job-training programs for 20 hours a week, but high school equivalency classes could not count toward the core hours needed.

“This is a bipartisan solution that will help parents finish their degrees and improve their circumstances through education,” Stadelman said.   “It is critically important to encourage individuals to finish high school or receive their GED so that they can gain employment and be self-sufficient.”

There are roughly 45,000 adults in the Rockford area who have not completed high school.

The TANF program provides temporary financial assistance for pregnant women and families. TANF provides financial assistance to help pay for food, shelter, utilities and expenses other than medical.

Senate Bill 2906 is effective Jan. 1, 2017.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation that will require law enforcement officials to accept cash to post bail was signed into law today by the governor.

This initiative, Senate Bill 2252, was sponsored by State Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

The idea was brought to the senator by Rockford-area resident Kevin Lunsford, whose minor son was arrested for a traffic offense last year. When Lunsford arrived at the Winnebago County Juvenile Center to bail out his son, the credit card machine was broken and the county has a policy to refuse cash.

Because of a technology malfunction, Lunsford’s son was forced to sit in the juvenile center the entire weekend – significantly longer than the law requires and at taxpayer expense.

“With this common-sense new law, we have ensured that nobody will have to stay in custody longer because of a technology malfunction or a refusal to take cash,” Stadelman said. “I would like to thank Kevin for contacting me about this issue, and I look forward to sponsoring legislation in the future that is brought to me by my constituents.”

The governor also approved another legislative proposal sponsored by Stadelman today.

Senate Bill 2907 provides that, for the offense of criminal damage to property, institutional vandalism and criminal defacement of property, the damage must exceed $500 to increase the offense to a felony.

This legislation stems from a constituent case in Stadelman’s district that brought into question why criminal damage to property had such a low threshold for being a felony.

Senate Bill 2252 and Senate Bill 2907 are effective Jan. 1, 2017.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation that will ensure members of the armed forces and reservists receive designation as a veteran on their driver’s licenses and state IDs was signed into law today.

State Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was a chief co-sponsor of the measure in the Senate. It was initiated because some Illinois National Guard members were concerned that they would not be designated as a veteran because they were not called to active duty.

“People who serve our country and make sacrifices for our freedoms deserve to be identified as veterans and have access to benefits,” Stadelman said. “Besides giving these veterans some well-deserved recognition, the new law will also save them a little money.”

Under the new law, Illinois National Guard members and reservists who have not been called to active duty can receive the veteran identification on their drivers licenses and identification cards.

“This bipartisan initiative is good for veterans, and I am glad the governor signed it into law,” Stadelman said.

Last year, the governor signed into law a bill Senator Stadelman sponsored that requires the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to set up a program allowing those with a veteran's driver's license to qualify for discounts at some businesses.

The legislation approved today, Senate Bill 2173, is effective immediately.