Blagojevich signs fall supplemental appropriation bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today signed a fall supplemental spending bill that includes $169 million in new federal dollars earmarked to improve the state's homeland security and provide life-saving prescription drugs to uninsured and underinsured persons living with HIV/AIDS.

 

The legislation is necessary to allow the state to spend new federal funds that became available after the fiscal year 2004 budget was passed in May.  No increased General Revenue Fund expenditures are included in the bill.

 

Dollar amounts and projects to be funded include:

 

· $113 million to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) for homeland security grants for bioterrorism preparedness, crisis response, and fire and law enforcement mutual aid.  The city of Chicago and Cook County will receive $60 million from IEMA for terrorism preparedness and training and about $50 million will be used on a county-by-county strategy for responding to weapons of mass destruction and terrorist attacks.

 

· $9.3 million to IEMA to build a new state-of-the-art State Emergency Operations Center that  will act as a secure location to protect the governor and house 25 state agencies on call during an emergency.  The federal funds require a state match of 25 percent, which is provided through a $3.1 million supplemental appropriation to the Illinois Capital Development Board.  Under terms of the grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the facility must be built within 18 months.

 

· $42 million to support homeland security activities at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).  IDOT will spend about $12.2 million, including the purchase of special equipment to screen cargo vehicles and implement a bridge security program. The state police will use most of its $14.2 million to purchase biological test equipment and protective gear designed to resist chemical and biological agents, and conduct specialized training. IDPH will earmark its $15 million for grants to local health departments and hospitals for bioterrorism preparedness and response, creating local distribution plans for drugs available from the national Strategic National Stockpile and laboratory equipment.