Vella’s bill aims to create more 24-hour day care services for first responders
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our newsletter
LOVES PARK — State Rep. Dave Vella hopes a new bill he’s introduced will help create more opportunities for people to work as police, firefighters or other first responders.
House Bill 5001 sets out to create a grants program for licensed day care facilities that operate 24 hours a day and give priority to serving the children of first responders.
Vella, a Democrat from Loves Park, said he was inspired to file the bill while on a ride along with Rockford police officer Sherell Woods. He asked her what he could do to help encourage more people to become police officers.
“She said there’s a lot of friends of hers who want to be officers but they can’t because it’s just too hard to find child care,” Vella told the Rock River Current.
Related: Illinois bill would provide incentives for people to work as police officers in their home communities
The Rockford Police Department is now looking to hire more than 20 officers for entry-level jobs. Vella said this bill, along with a previous one that aims to provide incentives for people to work as police in their home communities, could help expand the pool of candidates.
“You’ll probably get a different kind of officer, too,” he said. “We can get a different kind of officer and more officers, and our streets will be safer.”
Related: Vella proposal would commit $15M to Rockford area career and technical college
The bill, which was introduced earlier this year, was assigned to the House Appropriations-Human Services Committee earlier this month.
Legislators return to session in Springfield on Tuesday.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.
