An initial approval of a $5.5 million security upgrade for
the Capitol of Illinois has been given by a legislative
panel. The plan comes in the wake of a shooting death of a
security guard. The Illinois House General Services
Appropriations Committee approved the plan that calls for
hiring 60 new secretary of state police officers and
purchasing security equipment for the building, according
to the Copley News Service.
Since the shooting, the office of Secretary of State Jesse White has purchased $300,000 worth of metal detectors and X-ray machines.
In the $5.5 million plan, $1.9 million will cover the cost of hiring private security guards. Another $600,000 will cover the cost of an access card reader system. If the bill is approved, White hopes to have the security measures installed by Dec. 1.
