Halpin bill to ensure homeowners receive attorney’s fees passes committee

• Consumers

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to ensure defendants in a home repair or remodeling contract dispute receive attorney’s fees passed committee today.

“If homeowners have a genuine dispute and receive a favorable ruling, they should receive full coverage of attorney’s fees,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “This will make sure a resident will have one less cost barrier to enforce their rights against a contractor.”

State law already requires consumer contracts in cases under $10,000 to pay out attorney’s fees to a consumer if the consumer prevails in their action. This initiative would ensure that if a home repair and remodeling contract allows attorney’s fees then the contract will permit the award of attorney’s fees to all parties in the contract.

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Halpin secures funding for Western Illinois school libraries

• Education
• Libraries

ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin secured more than $27,000 in grants to provide resources for 15 public school libraries in Western Illinois.

“It is vital we continue to ensure our school libraries have the tools and staff they need to uplift Illinois students,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “Our children’s educations warrant access to the very best resources, reading materials and technology we have available. This money will bolster Western Illinois schools and help nurture bright young minds.”

More than $1.3 million was awarded to 2,484 Illinois public school libraries through the Secretary of State’s School District Library Grant Program. Resources and services supported through the grant include library books, e-books, audiobooks, periodicals, multilingual materials, technology and programs.

The following school districts in the 36th District received a total of $27,792:

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Halpin secures $374,000 for Rock Island County Pre-Apprenticeship Programs

• Labor

ROCK ISLAND – State Senator Mike Halpin has secured $374,000 to expand Rock Island County’s job training program.

“This program gives folks a shot at hands on experience with the financial support and guidance to get their foot in the door of a respectable career,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “If we want to rebuild our Western Illinois economy, we need the work force to do it. With plenty of bright young people looking for work, the trades offer a chance to support themselves, their families and their communities.”

The goal of the program is to create a qualified talent pipeline in the construction and building trades. Participants of the program attend tuition-free and receive a stipend and other support services to help enter the construction industry. Upon completion of the program, pre-apprentices receive industry-aligned certifications, which prepare and qualify them to continue to a registered apprenticeship program in one of the trades.

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Halpin higher-education librarian task force gets nod from the Senate

• Higher Education

SPRINGFIELD – Libraries are an important cornerstone of a college students’ education and they require professional, union librarians to staff them. State Senator Mike Halpin championed a task force to study the impact of professional librarians on student and university outcomes.

“We must ensure our higher education institutions offer the most competitive and comprehensive learning tools,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “A fully staffed, professional, union library faculty can direct a young mind to diverse, authoritative sources and instruct navigation of evolving data bases. This task force will give us a deeper understanding of professional librarians’ impact on a student’s education and give universities insights on how they can improve their library access.”

Halpin led Senate Joint Resolution 13 to create a University Library and Professional Librarian Access and Transparency Task Force alongside the Illinois Federation of Teachers. This task force would o study the impacts of professional librarians on student and university outcomes.

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