SPRINGFIELD – A measure backed by State Senator Paul Faraci that would provide ongoing, accessible railroad safety education to students in Illinois’ public schools passed the Senate Education Committee.

“We have students who cross a set of railroad tracks every school day, whether walking or biking, and I’ve heard from a number of community members in my district who are concerned with pedestrian safety, especially for students, at tracks near schools,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “By ensuring schools are providing education to keep students safe near railroads, we are directly empowering our youth and their families to take control of their well-being, in turn helping reduce the chance of future accidents.”

House Bill 3743 would require all K-12 public schools to include railroad safety information in their student handbooks. A school would be able to opt out of this requirement if the school board determines that railroad safety is covered in the school's curriculum.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci announced the Faith and Reasoning Learning Community in Urbana received funding to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources.

“Field trips are essential for the education of our state’s youth, helping to improve students’ retention and engagement, and no child should be denied the opportunity to obtain hands-on, real-world learning due to financial barriers,” said Faraci (D-Champaign). “I’m proud to see this funding coming to aid local students, ensuring we’re fostering not only academic success but also a sense of appreciation for our environment.”

Through this round of funding, the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation, awarded more than $101,000 for 108 field trip grants, allowing nearly 7,000 students across 34 counties to visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites. Since its inception in 2001, the program has distributed more than $1.7 million and awarded more 146,000 students the opportunity to take part in a field trip.

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.