munoz1107SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) passed legislation today that will help local communities recover from facility closures throughout the state.

“After suffering numerous state facility closures last year, I felt this measure was necessary to help communities get back on their feet,” said Munoz. 

Many communities have been directly affected by various state facility closures for more than a decade.  The State Surplus Property Revitalization Tax Credit Act, Senate Bill 341, aims to provide economic development opportunities for businesses interested in leasing or buying state-owned property that has been shuttered within the past two years.

This legislation aims to help communities with state facilities that have recently been closed, such as those in Jacksonville, Tinley Park and Joliet. 

State Surplus Property Revitalization Tax Credits will be awarded and managed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and will only be available for state facilities shuttered within the last two years that employed at least 100 people.  The credit will be equal to 30 percent of the expenditures for redevelopment but cannot exceed $10 million on any single project. Only a total of $40 million of credits can be issued.  The credit can be transferred and can be used against income taxes or insurance taxes.

“Joliet Correctional Center was a beautiful facility before it was closed 11 years ago,” said Joliet Mayor Tom Giganti.  “I had the opportunity to tour it 4 years ago and was surprised to see the dramatic level of deterioration. We are concerned that IYC-Joliet will meet the same fate at JCC.”

State Senator Tony Munoz spoke on the Senate Floor today to honor the men and women who have served their country and sacrificed for our freedom. To listen to the audio click below:

 

FloorShot2SPRINGFIELD - As Co-chair of a bipartisan effort to educate and inform members of the General Assembly and the public about the need to do more to combat diabetes in our state, Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) is reminding the community to learn more about the symptoms of this disease, and how early detection is crucial to successfully managing the disease.

Recent estimates project that as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes in 2050, and an additional 79 million Americans are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes treatment is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of those afflicted.  The impact of unidentified and untreated diabetes conditions can be felt in every community and in every sector of state government including Medicaid, child and family welfare, public education, and others. 

Currently, the outlook for our state’s health is grim.  Diabetes will affect one of every three children born after the year 2000.  Type 2 Diabetes represents 18 percent of all newly diagnosed cases of Diabetes for people under the age of 20.  Considering that obesity is the main contributor to Type 2 Diabetes in children, the state must act now to address these serious medical conditions with far-reaching physical, public health and fiscal implications.   

The Illinois Legislative Diabetes Caucus is working to support sound Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes policy development, elevate diabetes to a higher focal point, and create a forum for dialogue among the General Assembly, community stakeholders, and participating corporate and medical sponsors.

101513 Munoz Mandatory Minimum Press Conference 041CHICAGO – State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy for a press conference today urging the General Assembly to pass House Bill 2265, a measure that would increase penalties for several gun crimes.

“Criminals are not deterred by the current penalties for illegal gun possession,” Munoz said.  “The proposed legislation that I am sponsoring in the Senate will impose a mandatory minimum sentence.  My hope is that this harsher sentence will ensure that those committing gun crimes are held accountable.”

Under current law, illegal gun possession carries penalties along the same lines as those for repeated retail theft. As a result, more illegal guns are recovered in Chicago every year than in any other city in the country. CPD has recovered more than 5,500 guns to date.

Despite claims of exorbitant costs by the Department of Corrections, House Bill 2265 will pay for itself five times over by saving lives. According to an analysis completed by the University of Chicago, in one year this bill would have prevented over 400 violent crimes by keeping the offenders in prison.

“As of today, there are more than 100 people who have been involved in shootings and murders that would have been in prison if tougher sentencing policies were already in place,” Munoz said. “This law will keep people in our neighborhoods from becoming potential victims and I believe that is worth the monetary cost of this legislation.”

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