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Update from the Capitol 4/29/2024 Monday, April 29, 2024 Posted by Rep. Tom Bennett Legislation to Combat Food Deserts Passes Senate Republicans are working to combat food insecurity throughout Illinois by passing legislation to increase access to food in underserved areas. Senate Bill 3265, co-sponsored by Senator Bennett, creates a program within the Illinois Department of Agriculture tasked with developing strategies to ensure fresh, nutritious food is available in food deserts while also providing education on food preparation and nutrition. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, food deserts are areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food. The proposed legislation emphasizes a comprehensive approach, aiming not only to increase food access but also to strengthen local food systems and understand the root causes of food insecurity. Lawmakers are optimistic about the bill's potential to improve food access and education statewide. The proposal received unanimous support in the Senate on April 12 and now heads to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Provide Flexible Daycare Scheduling Options As families throughout the state struggle to make ends meet due to high inflation and other economic pressures, Senate Republicans have advanced legislation that would support working parents by providing greater flexibility in scheduling childcare. Most daycare centers operate from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, presenting a significant problem for shift workers who often work overnight or early morning hours. Republican legislation that recently cleared the Illinois Senate would create a more flexible childcare system to meet the different needs of working parents. Senate Bill 3207, co-sponsored by Senator Bennett, authorizes daycare centers to operate for 24 hours and provide childcare for up to 12 hours for parents employed in a position requiring regularly scheduled shifts. A 10-hour period must elapse between daycare visits. Senate Bill 3207 received unanimous support when it passed out of the Senate on April 12. The legislation now advances to the House of Representatives for further consideration. Illinois State Police Welcomes New Troopers from Cadet Class 146 The Illinois State Police (ISP) recently welcomed nine new troopers from Cadet Class 146 into the ISP family. The graduation ceremony took place at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield on April 12. Cadet Class 146 underwent a demanding 28-week program that covered various aspects of law enforcement, including cultural diversity, procedural justice, domestic violence, and firearms training. Additionally, they underwent a 14-week field training component with one-on-one mentoring. Since 2019, the ISP has grown its numbers by adding 512 new troopers to its ranks. The fresh recruits will be assigned to the following Troops across the state: Troop 3 Chicago: 7 troopers Troop 4 Peoria: 1 trooper Troop 7 Champaign: 1 trooper To encourage more individuals to join the force, the ISP has extended the application deadline for the next round of recruits to May 1, 2024. Aspiring candidates interested in joining the Illinois State Police are encouraged to visit the Illinois State Police Merit Board website at www.illinoistrooper.com for further application details. How much do we owe? As of the time of this writing, the State of Illinois owes $746,661,546.66 to state vendors, including 13,821 pending vouchers. This figure represents the amount of bills submitted to the office of the Comptroller and still awaiting payment. It does not include debts that can only be estimated, such as our unfunded pension liability which is subject to a wide range of factors and has been estimated to be more than $139 billion. At the same time last year, the state's accounts payable stood at a little less than $2 billion. Did You Know? Wednesday is May 1st, also known as May Day. May Day is also celebrated as International Worker's Day. It has its roots in the labor movement and commemorates the historic struggle for workers' rights. Throughout history, May Day has been marked by various events, including protests, marches, and demonstrations, advocating for better working conditions, fair wages, and other labor-related issues. This Week in the 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett - Working full-time to represent you Office Locations Morris District Office: 1715 N. Division Street, Suite E Morris, Illinois 60450 815-432-0106 Pontiac District Office: 305 W. Madison St, Pontiac, IL. 61764 815-844-9179 Tweet

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