Michael Hastings (politician)

Hastings sponsored Senate Bill 2591[3] to help combat the state's nearly $100 billion pension shortfall. The plan, created with help from the University of Illinois Institute for Government and Public Affairs, calls for workers at state colleges and universities to kick in an additional two percent to their pension funds. The increase would be phased in over a four-year period. Also under the plan, the three percent compound interest on cost-of-living-adjustments, or COLAs, would change to one-half of the inflation rate. Although the proposal involves the State Universities Retirement System, Glenn Poshard, President of Southern Illinois University, said it could "serve as an example for a more comprehensive pension reform plan."[4]

Hastings also sponsored HB 4691 which provides that, upon creation of a new downstate police pension fund by referendum or census, the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) shall transfer to the new pension fund the employee contributions for service as a police officer of the municipality that is creating the new pension fund, plus interest, and an amount representing employer contributions, equal to the total amount determined under item (1). Provides that the transfer shall terminate any further rights of such employees under IMRF that arise out of that service.[5] House Bill 4691 was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn on July 16, 2014.

Hastings co-sponsored Senate Bill 20, which was signed into law by Governor Quinn on July 25, 2014. The act, co-sponsored by Hastings, dedicated funding to the development of a new airport in Peotone. The airport will be built by the Illinois Department of Transportation and operate in a public-private partnership, known as a "P3". "I made a commitment to the residents of the 19th District that I would look for new opportunities to create jobs and foster growth in the Southland," Hastings said."[6]

In January 2022, after months of negotiations, the State of Illinois agreed to sell the Tinley Park Mental Health Center (TPMHC) to the village of Tinley Park. The deal required approval by the State legislature and needed to be introduced as a bill by Sen. Michael Hastings. However, in early 2022, Sen. Hastings failed to introduce the required legislation to the Illinois General Assembly, effectively killing the sale.[12]

Senator Hastings has received the following legislative and community service awards:

• Distinguished Legislative Service Award, The Link & Option Center
• Excellence in Leadership Award, Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Excellence in Leadership Award, South Suburban Park and Recreation Professional Association
• Environmental Champion, Illinois Environmental Council
• Elected Official of the Year, Matteson Chamber of Commerce
• Friend of Agriculture, Illinois Farm Bureau
• Humanitarian Award, Grand Prairie Services
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Association of Family Physicians
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Association of Park Districts
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Municipal League
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Public Transportation Association
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois State Crime Commission
• Legislator of the Year, Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association
• Legislator of the Year, Mental Health Association of Illinois
• Legislator of the Year, Sangamon County Farm Bureau
• Legislator of the Year, Southwest Community Services Foundation
• Legislator of the Year, Southland Health Care Forum
• Legislative Excellence Award, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Spirit of Excellence Award, Southland Ministerial Health Network
• Public Official of the Year, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police
• Alumni of the Year, the University of Illinois College of Business
• Alumni Hall of Fame Recipient, Consolidated High School District #230