CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham and State Representative Mary Gill announced a substantial victory for the dedicated men and women who serve and protect our communities following the Senate’s approval of Senate Bill 1956.

“Despite having one of the most dangerous jobs in the state, Chicago police officers have never received the same level of retirement benefits enjoyed by other public employees,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This new law is a big step toward changing that by ensuring the pensions of Chicago police officers will grow at a modest rate, which will help them deal with the increasing cost of living.”

Senate Bill 1956 removes the birth date requirement that was previously in place (born before Jan. 1, 1966) for Tier 1 retirees to be eligible for an annual 3% cost-of-living adjustment. The legislation also ensures that police officers born after Jan. 1, 1966, who received a retroactive increase of 1.5% in any year, will receive a proportional increase for that year so that the total increase is equal to 3% for each year.

“CPD officers who spent their career serving our community were getting the short end of the stick, and we wanted to change that,” said Gill (D-Chicago). “I will continue to be a fierce advocate for Chicago police officers and every working person who calls Illinois home.”

This monumental achievement will have a major impact on the lives of retired Chicago police officers. It means that they will now receive a 3% COLA, doubling the previous 1.5% rate. This boost in benefits not only recognizes the dedication and sacrifices of Chicago police officers, but also provides them with greater financial security and stability in their retirement.

This legislative action will bring retired Chicago police officers in line with the current Chicago firefighter retirement standards.

Senate Bill 1956 passed both chambers of the General Assembly and advances to the governor for final approval.

Join Representative Mary Gill and I for a coffee and conversation event at Genetti Bistro this Saturday in Palos Heights!

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.