McHenry Times

Illinois state Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich) recently supported a bill that allows certain restaurants to join the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) sponsored House Bill 3343 in the Senate. The bill amends the Illinois Public Aid Code and requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a Restaurant Meals Program that would allow individuals who are elderly, disabled or homeless to redeem their SNAP benefits at private establishments that contract with the DHS to offer meals for eligible SNAP recipients at concessional prices.

It also requires the Restaurant Meals Program to be operational no later than Jan. 1, 2020. 

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Lake Zurich)

"As someone who is disabled, I find this interesting," McConchie said on the Senate floor. "There are a lot of times I am unable to prepare my own food because a kitchen is not accessible. This is an important thing for people who can’t safely prepare their own food. I commend the sponsor on this and I urge an aye vote."

The bill passed the Senate with 48 Yes votes and one No vote. It previously passed the House back in March and will now go to Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign.

A bill McConchie sponsored in the Senate also passed during the day's meeting, having previously passed in the House. It will also now go to the governor to be signed.

"House Bill 2982 allows the regional superintendent to share background information obtained for substitute teachers," McConchie said on the Senate floor.

House Bill 2982 amends the School Code regarding criminal history records checks and checks of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database. The bill allows for a criminal history records check or check of the databases to be performed by a regional superintendent for an applicant seeking employment as a substitute teacher with a school district.

The regional superintendent may disclose to the State Board of Education whether the applicant has been issued a certificate based on those checks.

The bill passed with 51 Yes votes and zero No votes.