Expansion of pretrial services pending Pritzker’s signature
Ois is investing an additional $40 million in state parks and recreation areas.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the investment on Wednesday, saying it will go toward renovating facilities and infrastructure, and investing in new recreational facilities.
The additional funds come from a state program that relies on revenue from real estate taxes and fees for hunting and fishing licenses. It will be used to improve facilities like picnic areas, campgrounds, and hiking trails, as well as to purchase new land for conservation efforts.
Illinois is dedicating an extra $40 million to improve and maintain state parks and recreational areas. This money will be used for various purposes, such as upgrading facilities and infrastructure, investing in new recreational facilities, and acquiring new land for conservation efforts. The funds come from a program that uses revenue from real estate taxes and fees for hunting and fishing licenses. This investment shows the state’s commitment to preserving and improving its natural resources for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.
(The Center Square) – The state of Illinois may be getting into pretrial services as a result of changes prompted by the Safety, Accountability, Fairness, Equity-Today Act.
House Bill 4621 was sent to the governor’s desk for signature and would create the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services, allowing it to provide pretrial services to circuit courts and counties that don’t currently have pretrial services agencies. There has been an explosion of pretrial hearings since cash bail was eliminated with the Pretrial Fairness Act, a component of the SAFE-T Act.
“We must ensure that every individual, regardless of background or circumstance, is afforded the same rights and opportunities during the pretrial phase,” said state Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago.
State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, said the bill is in response to the Illinois Pretrial Services Act.
“Which became effective July 1, 1987, and requires every circuit to have a pretrial services agency,” said Slaughter.
Slaughter acknowledged during debate of the bill that the issue of pretrial services has come into more focus with increased numbers of people being released through the Pretrial Fairness Act approved in 2021 as part of the SAFE-T Act. Cash bail didn’t end statewide until court cases were settled by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2023.
State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, said the system has worked fine at the local level.
“Some of the problems I have with the bill are philosophical,” said Windhorst. “I think these offices are better handled either in the counties or at the circuit level.”
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The measure would provide pretrial services at no additional cost to the counties, but state taxpayers would see an increase cost of $2.7 million initially.
The measure awaits the governor’s signature.
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