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Comptroller Susana Mendoza Monday met with members of the state
legislature, law enforcement advocates and Romeoville city
officials. She said she knows the endless work and tireless hours
first responders put in and the impacts on their families.
“We must show that their lives are valuable not just through our
words, but more importantly through our actions. That is why I am
here today to talk about this legislation that would do just that,”
Mendoza said during a news conference.
Mendoza is championing a measure that’s been filed as House Bill
3388 and as Senate Bill 217 to ensure timely compensation to the
next of kin of fallen first responders and members of the armed
services. She said such urgency is needed.
“No family in Illinois should have to wait longer than it takes them
to apply for those benefits than to get them,” she said.
The synopsis of the bills say the measure amends the Court of Claims
Act to among other things allow “the amount of any continuing
appropriation used by the Court of Claims under the amendatory Act
for a given fiscal year shall be charged against the unexpended
amount of any appropriation for line of duty awards to the Court of
Claims for that fiscal year that subsequently becomes available.”
For families of fallen police officers, Mendoza said the need is
greater than legislators initially anticipated.
“The legislature had appropriated $5 million for benefits to the
families of fallen officers. That’s a lot of money, but that’s how
many officers died in the line of duty last year, that they under
budgeted by almost the exact same amount,” Mendoza said. “It was a
$4 million under budget.”
The legislation remains in committee in both chambers. The House
returns Tuesday. The Senate returns next week.
Greg Bishop reports on Illinois government and
other issues for The Center Square. Bishop has years of
award-winning broadcast experience and hosts the WMAY Morning
Newsfeed out of Springfield.
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