Plan ensures mentally ill do not have access to firearms

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) ensuring individuals with mental illness do not have access to firearms passed out of the Senate late last week.

“Individuals struggling with mental illness should in no way have access to firearms,” Morrison said. “Guarding against guns getting in the wrong hands is as important for the safety of the general public as it is for the safety of the individual with mental illness.”

Currently, Illinois law requires circuit court clerks to relay information to the Illinois State Police when a person passes through the court system and is deemed to have a mental disability or is involuntarily committed to a mental institution. The information is used to ensure FOID cards, which are required to legally own a firearm in Illinois, are not administered.

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) that would empower townships and local residents to dissolve or consolidate certain services passed the Illinois Senate yesterday.

“Illinois law currently prevents many proposals that would make local government more efficient and have the potential of saving taxpayers’ money,” Morrison said. “My proposal, while entirely permissive, would empower townships and local residents to make decisions that are in the best interests of local residents.”

Morrison’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 389, would remove the state cap on the size of townships, currently set at 126 square miles, giving townships that want to merge the ability to do so. The plan also allows townships to absorb a road district with less than 15 miles of road. In many areas of the state, especially in the suburbs, municipalities have annexed and grown to include many areas once maintained by townships.

SPRINGFIELD – Current Illinois law allows an individual with an intellectual disability, who has been the victim of certain crimes involving physical or sexual assault, to designate someone to testify in court on their behalf. Known as a hearsay exception, the law is vague and excludes many vulnerable victims.

State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) passed a proposal out of the Senate today that would expand court protections for individuals with intellectual disabilities, cognitive impairments and development disabilities by more thoroughly laying out who qualifies for a hearsay exception.

“Victims of physical or sexual assaults often have a very difficult time taking the witness stand and confronting an accuser,” Morrison said. “Expanding the ability of a victim with a disability to have a trusted caregiver or other individual testify on their behalf ensures victims are able to seek justice under the law.”

Package would empower voters, local governments

LAKE COUNTY, IL – Local, county and state government officials joined together this morning in Libertyville in support of efforts by State Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) and State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to allow township government consolidation.

“Responsible township consolidation will make local government more efficient and put money back in taxpayers’ pockets,” said Sen. Bush. “I’m proud to put this long-overdue power in the hands of Illinois citizens.”

Bush’s proposal, contained in Senate Bill 388, would allow townships to merge or dissolve, empowering local voters to have the final say in the process. Current Illinois law doesn’t provide a method for township governments to merge or consolidate.