CHAMPAIGN – More than $215,000 in funding has been released to Parkland College to update and repair campus buildings, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced Friday.

“Parkland College is an integral part of the community here in Champaign,” Bennett said. “This investment will help Parkland continue to provide a safe and secure environment for students and faculty.”

The capital funds will go to the construction of an addition to the student services center and other improvements throughout campus. The two projects, totaling $215,000, will maintain and update infrastructure.

“Nothing is more important that the health and safety for our students, and I will continue to advocate for funding so that we can provide the learning environments they deserve,” Bennett said. “I’m thrilled that Parkland received these funds from the State and can help maintain an educational environment that will help students achieve the best opportunity for success.”

The General Assembly approved the Fiscal Year 2019 capital budget in May. It includes more than $100 million to address the needs of higher education facilities to complete ongoing construction projects and begin new ones.

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

Senate Bill 3240 will increase fines for amusement park companies for failing to check the criminal history of new hires. Right now, only ride operators must undergo background checks.

“This is a matter of public safety,” Bennett said. “If a carnival company is bringing someone into our community to interact with our children, it doesn’t matter whether or not they are operating a ride or a carnival game; they should have a background check to make sure they are not a criminal.”

In 2014, Blayne Benefield was killed in Farmer City by two brothers who were employees of Big H Amusements, formerly known as A & A Amusements. While the amusement ride company was required to perform background checks on employees that operate rides, it did not have to do so for other employees.

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CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett’s (D-Champaign) plan to protect East Central Illinois’ primary water source from underground natural gas leaks was signed into law today.

In December 2016, there was a gas leak from a natural-gas facility near the Mahomet Aquifer, the underground water source which underlies 15 Illinois counties. However, Peoples Gas failed to notify residents and government officials of the leak for several months.

Bennett co-sponsored House Bill 4746 to require that Peoples Gas must immediately notify residents, businesses and government officials of any gas leaks at its gas storage field located above the Mahomet Aquifer.

“We have to take steps to prevent disasters like the one in Flint, Michigan from happening in our backyard,” Bennett said. “Maintaining clean and safe drinking water for our citizens is vital to protecting the public health and development of our communities.”

The new law also requires Peoples Gas to pay for annual inspections of its gas storage field conducted by the Department of Natural Resources.

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