KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce announced that 18 school districts across the 40^th District will receive over $8 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.

“I am dedicated to ensuring schools across my district get their fair share of state funds,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “From Park Forest to Bourbonnais and South Willy, evidence-based funding brings support to schools that need it most.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

SPRINGFIELD – Landowners and farmers will now have more flexibility when it comes to hunting on their own property after legislation from State Senator Patrick Joyce was signed into law on Friday.

“People only get so much time in a season to get out there and hunt,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This legislation will make sure hunters maximize their time hunting deer, instead of hunting for permits.”

House Bill 2340 allows landowner deer and hunting permits to be issued without charge to Illinois landowners who own at least 20 acres in a county where there is positively identified chronic wasting disease cases in the deer herd, resident tenants of at least 20 acres of commercial agricultural land where they will hunt, or an owner, shareholder or partner of a business that owns at least 20 acres of land.

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce is encouraging people to apply for the fifth round of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The program provides training opportunities, expands the talent pipeline and boosts diversity in the construction industry and building trades.

“The trades are an essential part of any community,” said Joyce (D-Essex). “This program strives to eliminate the obstacles keeping hard-working people from getting their foot in the door of vital industries.”

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce announced nine libraries in the 40^th District are set to receive a combined total of nearly $201,000 for library services and programming.

“The public library is a place where everyone is welcome and given an opportunity to learn," said Joyce (D-Kankakee). "Like with my summer book club, I am always looking for ways to get people going to their local libraries."

Through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Public Library Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants program, 639 public libraries statewide will receive nearly $18 million in grants. Libraries may use the funds to support resources and services for their communities, including books, e-books, online resources and internet access, personnel, public programming and capital expenditures.