SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced legislation to improve responses to sexual assault and abuse cases in Illinois.

“Our number one goal is to end cases of sexual abuse and assault,” Bennett said. “However, if a case occurs, clear and concise guidelines give victims a comprehensive path to justice.”

Senate Bill 3096 is the result of the work done by the Joint Sexual Assault Working Group. The goal is to improve responses to sexual assault and abuse cases with victim-centered policies and practices that have been demonstrated to minimize traumatization and encourage victim participation in the criminal justice process.

Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted. Each year, there are approximately 293,000 victims of sexual assault.

Senate Bill 3096 does two things.

First, it outlines the information that must be included in a police officer’s report, as well as what information needs to be made available to victims.

Secondly, the initiative outlines procedures for collection of sexual assault kits from hospitals to ensure victims’ rights are protected.

Senate Bill 3096 passed the Senate’s Committee on Criminal Law with bipartisan support and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

DANVILLE- State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is hosting experts from the Citizens Utility Board to conduct a free clinic where local consumers can learn ways to reduce their gas, electric and landline telephone bills.

The event will feature free one-on-one analysis from CUB experts on gas, electric and landline phone bills, information on spotting billing errors and incentives designed to help people improve energy efficiency.

To receive counseling participants are advised to bring their gas, phone and electric bills for a one-on-one consultation by CUB representatives.

Danville

Date: Tuesday, March 29
Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Location: Danville Public Library (319 N. Vermilion St., Danville)

Please click here to register for the free workshop or call Senator Bennett’s Danville office at (217) 442-5252.  

SPRINGFIELD- In 2013, more than 5 million riders at Illinois stations took over 20,160 Amtrak trains in Illinois.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) voted to give Gov. Bruce Rauner the financial ability to honor the contract he recently signed with Amtrak to keep trains running in Illinois.

“Amtrak service in Champaign-Urbana draws prospective students and employees to the University of Illinois,” Bennett said. “I’m glad the governor abandoned his plan to eliminate Amtrak funding. Cutting funding for Amtrak is counterproductive.”

The Illini-Saluki rail service is the third most traveled route in Illinois. University students and their families rely on trains to visit Champaign-Urbana and return home.

“We need to continue to look for ways to grow rail systems in Illinois to draw more students and attract economic opportunities to central Illinois,” Bennett said.    

SPRINGFIELD- Homeowners in Gifford, Washington and Brockport have made progress in rebuilding their homes after the Nov. 17 tornadoes in 2013.

State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) moved legislation today to help those rebuilding and repairing their homes receive relief from an unknown technicality.

“The devastation left by the Nov. 17 tornadoes created unplanned expenses for Gifford homeowners,” Bennett said. “The cost of rebuilding and repairing is high enough without the additional expenses of higher property taxes.”  

Senate Bill 3314 changes the Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption. Under current law, to receive the exemption a home must be rebuilt within 110 percent of its original size following destruction due to a natural disaster.

However, many homeowners did not know about this technicality and built larger homes. Now their applications for exemptions have been denied. Bennett advanced this initiative to allow those homeowners to receive the exemption.  

“The residents of Gifford have already been through enough,” Bennett said. “We need to do what we can to allow them to ease through the recovery process.”

On Nov. 17, 2013, tornadoes destroyed nearly 30 homes in the village of Gifford. More than 40 other homes suffered major damage, and about 125 had minor damage. Total damage was estimated at $60 million.

The area was denied federal disaster relief because it was determined too small to qualify.

Senate Bill 3314 passed the Senate’s Committee on Revenue and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.