TINLEY PARK – A new measure that is making its way through the Statehouse would ensure funds collected from the sale of the shuttered Tinley Mental Health Center will stay in Tinley Park and the surrounding area.

The measure’s sponsor, State Senator Michael Hastings (D–Tinley Park), explained that after the Mental Health Center closed, many of the facilities’ patients were placed in community-care settings that were not financially prepared to account for the influx of new patients.

“Before I entered office, the state failed to plan for displacing patients at Tinley Park Mental Health Center,” Hastings said.  “You put a financial strain on a community anytime you close a facility of that size.  With this legislation, proceeds from the sale of the facility will go back to the community to help pay for mental health services.”

Under current law, the proceeds of a state-owned mental health center would be spent at the discretion of the Department of Human Services.  There is no guarantee of any money coming back to the suburbs to provide for those with mental health or developmental disabilities.  Under Hasting’s plan, nearly half of the proceeds from the sale of a state operated mental health facility will go towards infrastructure improvements and mental health services, such as new technology to assist mental health providers, permanent supportive housing and programs to keep people with mental illnesses out of the criminal justice system.

The Tinley Mental Health facility was one of several closed by Governor Quinn in 2012 in an effort to save money and shift state resources for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled away from state-run institutions and into community-care settings.

The legislation, Senate Bill 822, received unanimous support in the Senate and now awaits action by the House.

SPRINGFIELD – Earlier today, the Senate passed a measure that will help the family of a law enforcement officer who takes his or her own life due to mental health issues stemming from active duty. 

Senate Bill 3042, sponsored by State Senator Michael Hastings (D–Orland Park), will expand the definition of “killed in the line-of-duty” to include suicides, allowing the family to apply for line-of-duty compensation – financial assistance given to the family of a fallen public safety officer. A mental health professional must establish that the suicide was a result of mental illness arising from the officer’s active duty service.

“Suicide is an unfortunate reality in our society,” Hastings said. “Not only do we have to ensure officers have access to treatment to help prevent these instances from occurring, but we also have an obligation to assist the families overcome these tragic incidences.”

Suicide rates for law enforcement officers are higher than the general population. According to a 2012 study, suicides occur 1.5 times more frequently among law enforcement officials than in the general population.

“Law enforcement officers perform their duties in constant, high-stress situations on a day-to-day basis,” Hastings said. “They interact with individuals suffering from physical and psychological trauma and are often put in high-risk situations where mistakes can lead to fatal results.”

Senate Bill 3042 passed the Senate 54-0 and now moves to the House for consideration.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D–Tinley Park) weighed in on the Governor's budget address:

"Past reckless spending decisions have left our state in a dire financial situation, and we have to be honest about how we are going to tackle this issue. We simply cannot cut our way out of this mess. We have already laid off thousands of teachers and closed vital health service centers throughout the state. More cuts will mean more reductions in aid to seniors and resources for our children.

I’m open to ideas to ensure our schools are adequately funded, our roads are properly maintained and that we continue to provide for our seniors. I think building a casino in the Southland is an idea we should seriously consider.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael Hastings (D–Orland Hills) and area leaders are hoping Country Club Hills will be one of five locations chosen to host a casino if a gambling expansion bill is approved by lawmakers in Springfield.

Hastings, a sponsor of the gambling expansion bill in the Senate, offered testimony Monday evening to a panel of House lawmakers in support of building a casino in Country Club Hills at a site near Interstates 57, 80 and 294.

“A new casino will generate new revenue for infrastructure projects and create hundreds of new jobs in the Southland area,” Hastings said. “But we have to choose a location that is practical for the area and our communities.”

The gambling expansion plan would add five casinos, including one in Chicago, as well as slot machines at horse tracks and O’Hare and Midway airports. Current and future casino licensees would also be allowed to apply for online gambling licenses.

The site for a Southland casino has not been chosen.

"A south suburban casino will have to compete with not only the existing casinos in Joliet and Aurora, but also with a proposed Chicago casino that will draw significantly from tourist traffic and citizens in the suburbs," Hastings said. "That is why it is important to choose a site-specific location that would best benefit the south suburbs. The gaming board needs to make a prudent business decision, rather than a political decision when choosing the location of a casino. In the end, Country Club Hills is the best answer."

This is the fourth time in as many years that the General Assembly has tried to expand gambling. Quinn vetoed bills in 2011 and 2012 based on ethical and regulatory concerns. Last year, the gaming expansion proposal only passed the Senate.