SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) welcomed the much-accomplished Schlarman Academy girls’ basketball team to the Illinois State Capitol today.

Last month, The Lady Hilltoppers dominated the Class 1A state title game, easily defeating Stockton 53-31 to claim the program and Danville’s first-ever state championship.

Their win capped a magical 33-1 season for Schlarman as the Hilltoppers ended the season on a 19-game win streak.

“I would like to congratulate Coach Keith Peoples, Principal Gail Lewis and the entire team on their victory and on a superb end to a great season,” Bennett said. “The Hilltoppers were already winners in the way they represented their school, their families, Danville and Vermilion County so well during their season, but a state title is a great way to finish out the year.”

SPRINGFIELD – People with certain criminal convictions on their record would be banned from working at a carnival, amusement park or fair under a new measure by State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

Senate Bill 3240 will allow the Department of Labor to penalize and fine a person, firm, corporation or other entity that owns or operates a carnival, amusement park or fair that fails to conduct a criminal history check. The measure passed out of a Senate committee this week.

“Families go to fairs and carnivals to enjoy themselves and have fun,” Bennett said. “This bill ensures that members of our community can feel safe and protected doing just that.”

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SPRINGFIELD – Currently, there is no federal constitutional provision that expressly guarantees equal rights to women and men. Today, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) voted to change that.

Bennett co-sponsored Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 4 (SJRCA 4), which would ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the United States Constitution. It would shield the guarantee in the Constitution that a woman’s rights are equal to a man’s and shall not be denied or abridged.

“I am proud to be a sponsor of this monumental legislation,” Bennett said. “Ratifying the ERA isn’t merely symbolic or only a woman’s issue. This is a necessary measure for Illinois to take to guarantee equality under the law for both men and women.”

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DANVILLE – Danville School District 118 will receive more than $2.1 million in new money through the education funding overhaul passed by the Senate last year, announced State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

Under the school funding reform plan, schools will continue to receive the same state assistance they previously received.  However, the new formula is designed to ensure the most state assistance will be directed to school districts most in need.

“For far too long, many downstate school districts like those in Danville were being left behind by the state,” Bennett said. “Now, for the first time we have a funding formula that provides fair and adequate funding for students throughout the state.”

The distribution is based on detailed enrollment figures, district-specific student learning needs, available local resources and other data. No schools in Danville will receive less state funding than they do today.

“Every school in Danville is a winner under this plan,” Bennett said. “This new money is a good first step in giving students, teachers and parents in Danville the equitable and fair funding level that they deserve.”