FRANKFORT – State Senator Michael E. Hastings announced on Thursday, thanks to funds distributed by the Illinois State Board of Education, school districts in the 19^th District will be receiving $550,000 for critical infrastructure improvements.

“Investing in our children, is a direct investment in our state’s future,” Hastings (D-Frankfort) said. “These grants will go toward critical infrastructure improvements and maintenance that will help promote a healthy and safe learning environment for our students.”

A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants was distributed to districts across the state. To be eligible for the grants, applicants were required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.

Projects made possible thanks to these grants include updates to heating and cooling, improvements to ventilation, increased accessibility throughout buildings and more.

The following school districts in the 19^th District will each receive $50,000 grants:

• New Lenox School District 122
• Mokena School District 159
• Summit Hill School District 161
• Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210
• Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843
• Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144
• Arbor Park School District 145
• Community Consolidated School District 146
• Elementary School District 159
• Matteson Elementary School District 162
• Rich Township High School District 227

“These grants will allow schools to make essential upgrades and help make schools more energy efficient in order to save vital taxpayer dollars while giving students a space to support their academic success,” Hastings said.

A full list of grantees and awards can be viewed on the ISBE website.

ORLAND HILLS — State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) is partnering with Orland Hills Mayor Kyle R. Hastings and Moraine Valley Community College Trustee Bernadette Barrett to host a free community Touch-A-Truck event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 18.

The event will allow children and their families the opportunity to touch, sit in and explore real vehicles from a number of different trades.

There will be a wide variety of vehicles such as a PACE Bus, vehicles from the Cook County Sheriff's Office, Orland Fire Protection District and more.

The family-friendly event is open to local residents.

Date: Saturday, June 18

Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Location: Orland Hills Recreation Center (16553 S. Haven Ave., Orland Hills)

For more information, call Hastings ‘office at (815) 464-5431.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois now has a new law on the books to address the growing need for mental health services for first responders, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) sponsored House Bill 1321, which creates the First Responder Behavioral Health Grant Program to provide grants to municipalities, law enforcement agencies, fire protection and school districts, hospitals and ambulance services. It was signed into law on Friday.

“Every day our brave officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Hastings said. “First responders across Illinois have difficult jobs and often find themselves in high stress situations. This new program will help provide municipalities and law enforcement agencies among many others offer better services for officers looking for the tools to check in on their mental health.”

Hastings championed this initiative to ensure that first responders, including police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and public safety telecommunicators across Illinois have full access to supportive and responsive behavioral health services and treatment.

“Officer wellness is the proper foundation for all things law enforcement,” Chief Mitchell R. Davis, from the Hazel Crest Police Department said. “Being proactive about ensuring that the well-being of those that see the unthinkable for a living is intact ensures that they are able to carry out their responsibilities in a way that is best for them, their families, and those that they serve. Thanks to Senator Hastings for being a proactive force in ensuring that mental wellness is a top priority and that effective resources are equitably accessible to all law enforcement officers in the State of Illinois.” 

During Hastings’ time in the Senate, he has supported various initiatives to fully fund law enforcement including this year’s budget which allocates funding for three state police cadet classes, the largest in state history, to hire and train 300 new troopers to address the rising need of law enforcement officers across the state, particularly in the Chicago metropolitan area.

House Bill 1321 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2023.

SPRINGFIELD -- A measure furthering State Senator Michael E. Hastings’ work to make Illinois a leader in preventing climate change is now law.

Hastings (D-Frankfort) championed Senate Bill 3866, which makes necessary improvements to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) implementation and administration of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to help create a pipeline for Illinois residents to train and help Illinois residents pursue careers in clean energy construction and building trades.

“This new law sets up Illinois to tap into clean energy jobs,” Hastings said. “We are furthering the state’s mission to end climate change while embracing innovative technology to create good paying jobs in our own backyard.”

Senate Bill 3866 enable DCEO to award multi-year grants to Climate Works Hubs. It also requires hubs that receive funding to provide preapprentices with stipends no less than the minimum wage to ensure workers have the resources to support their families.

The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program receives $21 million annually and consists of 13 geographically diverse hub sites that rely on community-based organizations to provide job training and a career pipeline for equity-focused areas.

This new program is projected to preserve nearly 28,000 direct and indirect jobs and $149 million in local economic impact.

“As businesses look to Illinois to set up shop, they can rest assure that our workers will be well trained and ready to hit the ground running,” Hastings said. “I am committed to looking for ways to modernize the state’s economy and securing good paying jobs for the people of the South Suburbs.”

Senate Bill 3866 passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support and goes into effect immediately.