- Published: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 03:47 PM
When Julie Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat, arrived at the state Capitol of Springfield, she made her it her first priority to improve boating safety. Motivated by a family tragedy, she passed a law to help crack down on drinking and boating. As the year progressed, Morrison was involved in other safety issues and started a concentrated push to improve the Department of Children and Family Services – one of her top legislative priorities.
“Keeping people safe is one of the government’s basic functions,” Senator Morrison said. “When the government isn’t doing everything it should be – especially when it comes to protecting children – I’m going to do what I can to make things better.”
Morrison’s key legislative victory in 2013 was a law that requires boat operators who cause an accident that results in death or serious injury to submit to a test for drugs and alcohol. A similar law is already in place for suspected drunken drivers. Morrison introduced the law because one of her nephews was killed by a boat driver who was using drugs and alcohol, and the family was outraged that there was no law requiring him to submit to chemical tests.