August 19, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, IL – At the request of State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Naperville), a moment of silence was held on the Senate floor on Tuesday, August 19, to honor the memories of Marine Lance Corporal Tony Mihalo and Army Corporal James Hale, who were recently killed while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    Dillard said that the Senate completely halted business for several minutes on a busy special session day to honor these brave men, and noted that their tragic deaths put things into perspective.

August 18, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Two laws sponsored by State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), which would protect children from sex offenders, and identify sex offenders who fail to register with Illinois’ Sex Offender Database, were signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday, August 14.

House Bill 1998, now Public Act 95-0817, would identify missing sexual offenders and make them known to the general public in a new Statewide Missing Sex Offender Database, said Dillard.

The Statewide Missing Sex Offender Database will be made available on a Web site where the public can access information on sex offenders who have failed to register or provide an accurate address. Dillard said that sometimes sex offenders may provide a name, but they will supply a false address to intentionally mislead law enforcement. Creating a way for the public to identify who is not complying with the law is a way to make sure Illinois’ sex offender tracking system is as good as it can be.

 August 12, 2008

 Springfield, Ill. – A resolution cosponsored by State Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) rejecting a recent Compensation Review Board recommendation urging a Cost of Living Increase (COLA) for General Assembly members, judges, constitutional officers, the Auditor General and certain appointed officers was adopted by the Illinois Senate, Tuesday, August 12.

 Dillard voted in favor of the measure, noting that it would be irresponsible of lawmakers to approve their own pay increases considering the state’s current fiscal condition.

July 24, 2008

Springfield, Ill. – Senior citizen homes will be eligible to receive grants under the new Community Technology Center Grant Program, established under the provisions of a recently signed law (PA 95-0740) that was sponsored by State Senator Kirk Dillard.

Dillard said he hopes the grants will encourage senior citizen homes to purchase computer technology as a way to increase the residents’ access to the Internet.