CHICAGO– State Senate Bill Cunningham announced two social service providers in Alsip and Oak Lawn are set to receive a combined total of $432,000 to offer reliable and accessible transportation options for people living with disabilities.

“People with disabilities are valuable members of our community, and we need to look out for opportunities to increase accessibility in transportation wherever possible,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This is vital funding because it ensures residents have access to reliable transportation for things like medical appointments, the grocery store and service programs.”

Through the Consolidated Vehicle Procurement Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, more than 500 paratransit vehicles valued at $57.1 million have been awarded to 113 transit providers. The vehicles are delivered to public transportation providers as well as nonprofit organizations serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Park Lawn School and Activity Center in Oak Lawn was awarded $240,000 for two vehicles. The nonprofit organization provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including community day services and supportive employment.

SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to shield Illinois employers from costly lawsuits without rolling back the state’s strict digital privacy protections, State Senator Bill Cunningham filed Senate Bill 2979, which makes changes to the liability guidelines in the Biometric Information Privacy Act.

“Given the rash of cybersecurity breaches we hear about, Illinoisans should be proud that we have arguably the strongest digital privacy laws in the nation. However, our laws have not kept up with changes in technology, which has left some small businesses facing overwhelming financial liabilities,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “SB 2979 will keep the current privacy restrictions in place and hold violators accountable, as well as ensure businesses are not unfairly punished for technical violations of the law.”

Under BIPA, private entities must obtain written consent before collecting and storing biometric information, such as an employee’s fingerprint. If a business is sued for violating BIPA, they can be ordered to pay damages for each instance where biometric information is collected — even if they repeatedly collect the same information. This has led to situations where an employer can be ordered to pay millions in liquidated damages, and in a case involving White Castle, billions of dollars, because each collection counts as a separate violation. For instance, businesses that use digital fingerprinting systems for employee timekeeping often take swipes of each employee’s fingerprint multiple times per shift — like when the employee arrives for work, leaves for and returns from a lunch break, or checks out at the end of the work day. Under BIPA, each of those swipes can qualify as a violation of the law if the employee has not provided written consent, exposing the business to a minimum of $1,000 in damages every time a swipe is taken.

OAK LAWN – State Senator Bill Cunningham announced that the Oak Lawn Park District is set to receive $2.1 million in state funding to remodel the Memorial Park Recreation Center.

“Investing in public recreation is about investing in the well-being and shared experiences of every member of our community,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “I will continue to push the state to provide more funding for local projects.”

The proposed remodel of the Memorial Park Recreation Center will include converting smaller rooms, such as locker rooms, shower facilities and storage areas, into larger multi-purpose rooms and new restrooms. The entry vestibule will be changed to a lobby and reception area.

“We’ve had great success this past year with getting grants to offset the cost to the taxpayer for some exciting, high-profile projects,” said Tom Hartwig, Oak Lawn Park District Executive Director. “This added space allows us to expand our program offerings and utilize a space that has sat dormant for years.”

The funding comes from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction grant program, which is part of the Rebuild Illinois capital improvement program. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources administers the program.

For more information about the PARC grant program, visit the IDNR website.