CHICAGO – State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, is leading the House efforts to reform law enforcement hiring practices in response to the 2024 murder of Sangamon County-resident Sonya Massey.

“Last year, Sonya Massey lost her life because our process for hiring law enforcement has fundamental flaws,” Buckner said. “The man responsible for her murder concealed serious indiscretions and, as a result, he was given a badge, which he used to gain entry to Sonya Massey’s house, and a gun, which he used to shoot her. Reforms we are putting in place will close the loophole that put Sean Grayson, a person clearly unfit to be a member of law enforcement, in a position to perpetrate this tragedy.”

Continuing his record of fighting for safer and more equitable policing in Illinois, Buckner is sponsoring Senate Bill 1953. This measure requires the release of personnel records between law
enforcement agencies and hiring boards prior to the hiring of police or law enforcement officers.

Senate Bill 1953 was written with input from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs Association. It has the support of the ACLU, the Attorney General’s Office and numerous law enforcement organizations. Senate Bill 1953 was passed with unanimous support in the Senate and is currently being considered in the House.

“When we talk about fighting for equity in policing, policies like this are what we should be focused on,” Buckner said. “It’s encouraging that law enforcement leaders have shown their commitment to getting bad officers like Sean Grayson off the streets and put a stop to more tragedies like this.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will be led by an accountable, elected school board under legislation passed by state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, transitioning CPS from an appointed school board to one that answers to parents and taxpayers.

“Chicago students and their families have lived for far too long under a school system run by people accountable to political insiders. Today, that begins to change,” Buckner said. “An elected school board will be accountable to Chicago families, who will be able to vote on their representation for operating city schools and providing a diverse, well-rounded education to the children of Chicago.”

Buckner sponsored House Bill 2908, which passed the House on Wednesday. The measure will transition the CPS school board from a mayoral-appointed board to a fully elected board that is selected on a nonpartisan basis. The transition period will see CPS adopt a hybrid board featuring some elected members and some appointed members before becoming fully elected after the 2026 general election. Under Buckner’s legislation, 2024 will be the first year in which Chicago parents and families will be able to elect school board representatives, with 10 of 21 seats up for election. Additionally, 10 seats will be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the Chicago City Council, as will the president of the board. After the transition to a fully elected school board, there will be 20 seats elected by districts and a board president elected citywide. HB 2908 includes additional accountability measures including an independent financial review of CPS, restrictions on CPS employees serving on the board, and provisions to prevent self-dealing in contracts by board members.

“An elected school board for CPS is not just a matter of accountability to parents, students, and families, it is a matter of equity for communities that CPS has left behind,” Buckner said. “Instead of a school board accountable to political insiders, communities across the city will have a school board that represents their neighborhoods and makes sure the needs of students and parents are put first.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, issued the following statement after the end of the 2021 Legislative Session:

“The pandemic created a very unique situation for legislators, but we were able to come together and build a budget that lays the groundwork for more responsible funding for the future by putting working families first.

“A priority of mine this session was to ensure we continued to invest in our future by supporting job training and development and expanding opportunities for all Illinoisans. Pandemic relief for our small business, equitable opportunity for our women- and minority-owned businesses, and improved access for education and professional development were highlighted throughout my legislative agenda this session, and I will continue to support legislation that will accomplish these goals.

“This session I had the pleasure of being a key contributor to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda to combat systemic racism. As House Chair of the ILBC, to have such a historic and comprehensive package become law under the leadership of Speaker Welch shows that the decision makers in Springfield are ready to lead the way to a better tomorrow for all the communities of Illinois.”

“As we continue through the 102nd General Assembly, I stand ready with my colleagues to build upon the progress made this legislative session by protecting the critical services families rely upon.”

CHICAGO – To protect residents from entering unwanted loan agreements, state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, advanced legislation that will prohibit the distribution of unsolicited loan checks to consumers.

“As we’ve seen over the last year, people are in the need of financial help to recover from the effects of the pandemic,” said Buckner. “Banks, utility companies and other institutions have taken advantage of Illinois residents by providing unsolicited checks that intend to trap consumers into high interest loans that must be paid back unbeknownst to the person cashing the check.”

Buckner’s legislation, House Bill 272, will make it illegal for institutions to send residents these unrequested checks that forces the consumer to repay the amount of the check plus interest and fees. Unsolicited checks, also called “live checks”, look similar to personal checks but come with terms and agreements in fine print. Once a consumer cashes the check, the consumer enters into an agreement with the lending institution to repay the loan, plus interest and fees based on the terms of the loan in fine print. According to the National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter (NASW), it is typically the elderly who cash unsolicited checks; however, anyone could unknowingly cash an unsolicited check not realizing it is a loan. 

“The practices displayed by financial institutions are predatory and do not provide solutions for individuals who may be in need of financial relief,” said Buckner. “Putting an end to these practices will protect Illinoisans from unwanted debt and predatory practices.”

Buckner’s legislation passed out of the House of Representatives unanimously and is awaiting consideration in the Senate.