SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci’s measure that would modify how individuals with developmental disabilities are made aware of critical money-saving resources through the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program is one step closer to law.

“The Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program is a critical resource that can provide tangible relief for individuals with disabilities who are looking to save for their futures; however, like any resource, it is only helpful if residents know it exists,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By ensuring individuals with disabilities and their families are aware of programs like the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program, we can safeguard their ability to build financial independence without violating the eligibility rules set for SSI and Medicaid benefits.”

Under Faraci’s measure, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be required to provide informational materials about the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program to all individuals receiving or applying for IDHS-funded disability services. This would include individuals who are placed in a facility licensed under specific Illinois statutes, such as the ID/DD Community Care Act – which governs immediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced an initiative that would honor the legacy and lasting impact of the late State Senator Scott Bennett by renaming the railroad trestle bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail.

“Scott Bennett was not only a mentor to me, he was also a dear friend whose dedication to his communities has inspired much of my work in the Senate to date,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Renaming the bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail in honor of his life and work is common sense. He made tangible, necessary and valuable change for our communities with our residents’ best interest always at the forefront, and nothing deserves recognition more than that.”

Faraci’s proposal would honor Bennett’s memory in Vermilion County by designating the railroad trestle bridge on Kickapoo Rail Trail as the Senator Scott Bennett Memorial Bridge. The measure would also allow the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to erect plaques in recognition of the designation, pending the agency’s funding availability.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Paul Faraci advanced a measure that would modify how individuals with developmental disabilities are made aware of critical money-saving resources through the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program.

“This program allows individuals with disabilities to save and invest money in tax-advantaged accounts to pay for disability-related expenses without losing eligibility for benefits like SSI or Medicaid,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “We have obligations to empower residents with disabilities, to commit ourselves to inclusion and to support those most in need, and improving how we advertise this service would help us fulfill those obligations.”

Under Faraci’s measure, the Illinois Department of Human Services would be required to provide informational materials about the Senator Scott Bennett ABLE Program to all individuals receiving or applying for IDHS-funded disability services. This would include individuals who are placed in a facility licensed under specific Illinois statutes, such as the ID/DD Community Care Act – which governs immediate care facilities for people with developmental disabilities.

DANVILLE – Thanks to expanded state funding for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, State Senator Paul Faraci helped secure a $550,000 grant for the Danville Area Community College to boost the local pipeline of diverse candidates in the construction and building trades.

“I’ve been proud to support the Illinois Works Program since I first entered the Senate in 2023, and it’s truly been rewarding to see the opportunities the program offers for residents of our communities – helping close employment gaps by supporting high-paying careers in the trades,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “Through this partnership with DACC, we’re fostering a diverse, skilled workforce right here in East Central Illinois that directly combats the long-term shortage of trade workers currently facing the U.S.”

The Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program launched in 2021 with the goal of increasing diversity and access to apprenticeship programs. Comprehensive pre-apprenticeship programs help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide a greater opportunity to obtain employment in the construction trades and secure a lifelong career.

Through Illinois Works, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is expanding its statewide network of providers to recruit, prescreen and provide pre-apprenticeship skills training. Equally important, the program providers offer structured pathways and manage the program graduates' transition from the pre-apprenticeship program to a full apprenticeship program in construction and the building trades.  

Click here to learn more about the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program.