Koehler votes to free up social service funding

• Mental Health
• Budget
• Health Care
• SB 2038

SPRINGFIELD – Today, the Illinois Senate passed a bipartisan plan to restore the state's critical social services. State Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) voted to restore nearly $715 million for seniors, the homeless, residents with medical concerns and social service providers.

"Authorizing dollars to be passed from the state to local level so they can provide services is particularly important," Koehler said. "This is the first step in the right direction to not only helping seniors, urban and rural families in central Illinois but in solving the budget impasse."

Senate Bill 2038 would help human service providers from having to shut their doors. Dollar amounts for key components are below:

•    Nearly $250 million to the Department of Human Services for homeless assistance and prevention programs and services, sexual assault programs, autism programs, mental health services, addiction services and after school programs.

•    More than $240 million to the Department on Aging for the Community Care Program, elder abuse and neglect and home delivered meals.

•    More than $20 million for breast and cervical cancer screenings, AIDS/HIV services, prostate cancer research, children's health programs and SIDS services.

Senate Bill 2038 passed the Senate 56 to 0 and now goes to the governor’s desk.

Koehler on education funding proposal: Local schools to receive fairer funding

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Senate passed Sen. Andy Manar’s proposal to overhaul the state’s outdated education funding formula. Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) supported the measure that would change the way school districts receive state funding based on need rather than geography.

“Senator Andy Manar’s education funding reform gives every student in Illinois a chance for success regardless of their ZIP code or socioeconomic background. The current formula, created more than 20 years ago, no longer fits the issues many of our communities are currently facing, especially in many urban and rural areas.

“I voted in favor of Senate Bill 231 so that we can continue to find real solutions that provide relief and give stability to our most underserved communities. The overhaul of classroom funding would start us on the right path of education funding stability, which many of our school districts need.”

Senate Bill 231 now goes to the House for further consideration.

Sen. Koehler advances emergency funding for MAP recipients, higher ed, human services

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Senate passed an emergency funding bill to keep public universities open and help MAP grant recipients attend classes.

“Students should be able to attend college without worrying about piling up excessive amounts of debt,” said Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “Funding MAP grants and helping our public universities remain open will allow thousands of students to learn and grow in a stable environment.”

Senate Bill 2059 will provide $600 million in funding for public universities, community colleges, city colleges and MAP grant recipients.

The Illinois Senate also passed Senate Bill 2047, which provides emergency funding for human services.

“Today, my colleagues and I passed emergency funding in the Senate to give human service providers a necessary relief while we work to end the budget impasse,” said Koehler.

Senate Bills 2059 and 2047 passed the Senate 55-0. Senate Bill 2047 now goes to the House for further consideration.

Ensuring quality care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia

SPRINGFIELD - Elderly care facilities along with community programs may soon be required to have staffs that are adequately trained to deal with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Under new legislation proposed by State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), elderly care facility and community program staff persons will undergo special training if the staff person cares for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

There is an expected 25 percent increase in dementia patients in the next decade because of aging Boomers. This has created the need for reforms in care. With SB 2301, Sen. Koehler has answered the call to ensure these facilities have trained professional staffs to deal with these increases.

“Over 200 thousand Illinois residents are affected by Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia,” Koehler said. “My plan will make sure elderly care facilities along with community programs’ staffs are trained to properly take care of our most vulnerable elderly.”

The measure, Senate Bill 2301, sets a standard of a minimum of 6 hours of initial training within 3 months of the law’s effective date for staff with direct access to clients with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Senate Bill 2301 passed out of the Illinois Senate today. It now goes to the Illinois House for approval.