Cunningham votes to send necessary resources to local schools

• 2017
• SB 1
• Education Funding

SPRINGFIELD – School districts throughout the southwest suburbs and the state, ignored by Illinois’ worst-in-the nation education funding formula, could see much needed resources sent to them soon after the Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of significant education funding reform.

“Our worst-in-the-nation education funding formula needed to go,” Cunningham said. “But it shouldn’t go at the expense of economic development and punishing school districts. I voted to override to provide a new system that will deliver some stability and fairness in funding.”

Senate Bill 1 was vetted by multiple organizations throughout the state. It had the support of superintendents, school boards and teachers.

The estimated overall gain that area school districts would experience under Senate Bill 1 based on the current-year funding levels:

• Chicago Ridge School District 127-5 — $880,000
• Community High School District 218 — $409,448
• Cons High School District 230 — $209,950
• North Palos School District 117 — $315,924
• Oak Lawn Community HS District 229 — $135,174
• Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 — $146,644
• Worth School District 127 — $193,129

Measure to provide more resources to address mental health becomes law

• 2017
• HB 649

SPRINGFIELD – Custody of defendants with mental health issues will become more streamlined due to legislation being signed into law.

“We need to make resources readily available to ensure the mental health of anyone determined to be unfit to stand trial are dealt with appropriately,” State Senator Bill Cunningham said.

The legislation, House Bill 649, would create a formal process for the county sheriff and the Department of Human Services to handle custody of defendants found unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity. It provides requirements regarding the evaluation and transportation of the defendant to a secure facility.

“This new law will only keep our communities safer in the long run,” Cunningham said.

The measure was signed by the governor on Friday.

Cunningham disappointed by governor’s veto

• 2017
• SB 1
• Education Funding

SPRINGFIELD—Senator Bill Cunningham issued the following statement in response to the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 1:

“For far too long we have shortchanged communities throughout the southwest suburbs when it comes to equitable funding for schools. Instead of seeing the amount of good it would do for schools in communities like Chicago Ridge, Palos Hills and Worth, the governor put politics first. We need a path forward that will ensure all schools are properly funded this fall and that they won’t be harmed by this careless veto.”

Cunningham responds to budget action

SPRINGFIELD—Senator Bill Cunningham issued the following statement in regards to a bipartisan balanced budget plan passing the Illinois Senate:

“Finally, Illinois can start to repair the damage done by this impasse that was unnecessary and lasted too long,” Cunningham said. “We can start to repair the damage done to higher education and our social services. With this plan, MAP grant students can know that this fall they can attend the school of their choice without worry of not being able to afford it.”