Cunningham, Burke to hold "Hiring Fair" on September 17

• cunningham
• district event
• Hiring Fair

CHICAGO - State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-18th Senate), along with State Representative Kelly Burke (D-36th Representative) and the Illinois Department of Employment Services, will be hosting a "Hiring Fair" on September 17 a the Chicago Ridge Village Hall, 10455 South Ridgeland Avenue in Chicago Ridge. Doors open for Veterans looking for employment starting at 9:00 AM. The general public is invited starting at 10:00 AM. The event runs until 1:00 PM.

Job seekers are asked to register by clicking here.

Employers are asked to register by clicking here.

For more information, please view the flyer attached or call either (773) 445-8128 or (708) 425-0571.

Cunningham sponsored legislation to protect DCFS wards signed into law

• cunningham
• DCFS
• protecting children

SPRINGFIELD - Wards of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services who run away or go missing from the system will now have additional protections to help find them and keep them out of the hands of predators. Two pieces of legislation, sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, were signed into law to help create a system to locate missing wards that are reported as well as enhancing penalties for criminals who exploit those missing wards.

“The protection of our children, regardless of circumstance, is a priority. With the passage and signing of these important pieces of legislation, our most vulnerable children will have better protection and, hopefully, a better life,” said Cunningham, a Chicago Democrat.

Senate Bill 1775, also known as the Safeguard our Children Act, spells out what is required from DCFS once a youth in their custody is reported missing. The legislation states that DCFS must report the missing youth to local law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The Illinois State Police must also develop a network to help with locating missing DCFS wards.

From 2011 to 2013, residential DCFS facilities reported 29,425 incidents of missing wards, averaging 27 runaway reports per day. Many residential facilities do not report the runaways to local law enforcement.

“There have been numerous cases of DCFS wards going missing, where, unfortunately, law enforcement was not made aware of the missing child,” Cunningham said. “This new law will help us to find runaway wards as quickly as possible, helping protect them from possible exploitation.”

Also signed into law was Senate Bill 201, which allows sentencing courts to consider a defendant’s knowledge of a prostitution victim’s DCFS status when sentencing. Many wards of the state are extremely susceptible and are in need of extra judicial protections. The legislation specifically states that judges may consider the fact that a criminal knew their victim to be a ward of DCFS and consider that knowledge as an aggravating factor when imposing sentences.

"A series of recent articles reported that human traffickers often specifically target and recruit wards of the state who reside in group homes. Predators see them as especially vulnerable and susceptible to being lured into a life of prostitution," Cunningham said. "The new law would enable judges to enhance the sentences they impose on pimps and traffickers in those cases."

Cunningham has worked closely with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart over the years to help craft good public policy in the criminal justice and corrections field. These two new laws are a direct result of that good working relationship.

“I’m proud to have worked with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office on this. We will continue to work together to protect our most vulnerable children and make their protection a priority,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham, Hurley to hold "Gun Lock Give Away" on July 25

• cunningham
• district event

CHICAGO - State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-18th Senate), along with State Representative Fran Hurley (D-35th Representative) and the village of Worth Police Department are holding a "Gun Lock Give Away" on Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM at the Worth Village Hall, 7112 West 111th Street in Worth.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a free gun lock. Village of Worth Police Officers will be on hand to demonstrate how to safely use and install the locks.

For more information, please contact the Constituent Services office of Senator Cunningham and Representative Hurley at 773-445-8128 or view the flyer attached.

Cunningham, Hurley, Dart to hold “Recycle & Shred” Event

• cunningham
• recycling
• district event

CHICAGO - State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-18th Senate) is hosting a "Recycle & Shred" event on Saturday, August 1 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM. The event will be held at the Orland Hills Public Works Building, 16533 S. 94th Avenue and is co-hosted by State Representative Fran Hurley, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and AT&T.

Electronics recycling and residential shredding will be available until the trucks reach capacity.

For more information, please view the attached flyer for the event.

WHO: State Senator Bill Cunningham, State Representative Fran Hurley & Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart

WHAT: Recycle & Shred Event

WHEN: August 1, 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM

WHERE: Orland Hills Public Works Building, 16533 S. 94th Avenue