CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham announced that 11 school districts across the Southwest Suburbs will receive over $8 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.

“Making sure that our schools are properly funded makes a big difference on student outcomes,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This evidence-based funding helps schools provide high-quality education that students and families deserve.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is implementing a new requirement that will assist law enforcement in quickly tracking stolen vehicles, thanks to support from State Senator Bill Cunningham and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. 

“Vehicle theft and carjacking incidents have become a growing concern in our communities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “With this new measure, law enforcement will be able to apprehend these malicious violators quickly and effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents.”

Law enforcement officers said they are at a disadvantage when it comes to putting a stop to carjackings because they can’t access real-time tracking information after the incident. With this new legislation, law enforcement will be able to contact auto manufacturers around the clock to ping where a stolen car is located—allowing police to find the perpetrator and arrest them before they get away.

If a driver hasn’t subscribed to the vehicle’s tracking service, the car manufacturer will waive all fees related to the tracking service during law enforcement response or investigation. The hotline will operate 24 hours every day of the week and will be available to state, county, and local law enforcement throughout the state for the purpose of tracking vehicles that have been carjacked or used in a kidnapping.

CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham is alerting his constituents about big changes to how Illinois issues driver’s licenses. Starting September 1st, anyone looking to renew their license, or get one for the first time, will have to make an appointment before visiting a Secretary of State office.

The new appointment-only program, called “Skip-the-Line,” is being introduced by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to end the dreaded ritual of waiting in line for hours to renew a driver’s license.

“This new approach should drastically improve the experience of getting a driver’s license in Illinois,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “However, it will take some getting used to for both motorists and the Secretary of State’s office, so it’s important that Illinois residents familiarize themselves with the appointment-only process to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

The easiest way to book an appointment is to visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.ilsos.gov. Visitors can easily search for appointments by facility, date and time. Those who do not have access to a computer or are uncomfortable using one can call (844) 817-4649 to schedule an appointment with an operator.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham and supported by State Representative Mary Gill, which provides mental health support and education for law enforcement officers who are facing post-traumatic stress disorder, was signed into law.

“This will provide law enforcement officers with the support and resources they need to manage their mental health,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “We created a supportive resource for officers seeking help after specific traumatic situations and for PTSD."

Cunningham’s legislation creates a Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator, who will be responsible for providing resources, information and assistance to law enforcement officers who may be experiencing PTSD symptoms or other mental health issues related to their work.