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SPRINGFIELD—Local communities will soon have new protections to stop squatters from legally taking possession of abandoned homes or businesses thanks to a measure signed into law this week.
The new law, sponsored by State Senator Bill Cunningham, was introduced when a squatter attempted to take control of an abandoned building in Beverly by utilizing a loophole in an obscure housing law.
"An individual moved into an abandoned storefront on a commercial street and attempted to claim ownership of the property under a law designed to improve dilapidated housing," Cunningham said. "If alert neighbors hadn't called the police, the scheme might have succeeded in civil court."
Introduced by Cunningham as Senate Bill 1562, the new law requires that local government zoning boards be alerted by the court if any group or individual attempts to claim ownership of property under the Abandoned Housing Rehabilitation Act.
"Local government officials and zoning boards have a much better idea of what's going on with residential and commercial properties than a judge in a downtown courtroom," Cunningham said. "The new law will allow those local officials to intercede in court almost immediately if someone is improperly attempting to take ownership of an abandoned house or place of business."
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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
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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SPRINGFIELD—Senator Bill Cunningham issued the following statement regarding Christine Radogno’s decision to step down as Republican Leader:
“Leader Radogno has not only been a top-tier public servant, but she has been an outstanding role model for legislators on both sides of the aisle,” Cunningham said. “Her time as a state senator has been one of finding the right bipartisan path forward to good solutions for Illinois. I wish her all the best.”
Senator Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.
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SPRINGFIELD – School districts throughout the southwest suburbs and the state, ignored by Illinois’ worst-in-the nation education funding formula, could soon see an increase in state aid under a reform measure that passed the Illinois General Assembly last week.
“I was proud to stand in support of Senate Bill 1, a measure that will fix the worst funding formula in our country. We needed a real solution that not only properly funded our schools but also delivered property tax relief to high-tax districts—and we have done that with this legislation,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham.
Senate Bill 1 was vetted by multiple organizations throughout the state. It had the support of superintendents, school boards and teachers. If signed by the governor, it would be the first significant update to the funding formula in more than 20 years.
Earlier this week, the Illinois State Board of Education released estimates for each school district and showed that no school district in the state would see less state funding under Senate Bill 1 when compared to the current funding formula.
It also provided extra support for those in need and offered additional property tax relief.
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
In addition, Senate Bill 1, high-tax school districts would be eligible for property tax relief up to 1 percent of their EAV. Estimated relief for five area school districts:
- Chicago Ridge School District 127-5 -- $573,844
- Community High School District 218 -- $6.62 million
- North Palos School District 117-- $4.01 million
- Oak Lawn Community HS District 229 -- $2.51 million
- Worth School District 127 -- $1.11 million
Senator Cunningham represents portions of Worth, Orland and Palos Townships in the southwest suburbs and the neighborhoods of Mt. Greenwood, Beverly, Morgan Park and Auburn-Gresham in Chicago.
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SPRINGFIELD – A bipartisan measure to close a conflict of interest loophole in Illinois state law passed the Illinois Senate on Tuesday.
“No one should be exempt from good government,” said State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago). “This will close a loophole that could have caused severe conflicts of interest.”
The bipartisan measure, House Bill 2439, would not allow members of the Illinois Energy Conservation Advisory Council to receive any state grants for teaching continuing education regarding any rule proposed by the council.
“It is unethical to receive state funds to teach about rules you are creating,” Cunningham said. “Illinois needs to continue to close these loopholes and today we took a strong step towards doing that.”
The measure now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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