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.

Pam Feinberg, Executive Director of the Tri-Con Day Care, and Linda Hinde from Lake Bluff look over the collection of sweats and games that were donated by residents of the 29th District. We are so grateful for the generous response to our appeal to help those in need!

CHICAGO – On December 10, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) convened a special hearing of a Human Services subcommittee to investigate why Illinois saw a sharp spike in deaths resulting from child abuse and neglect last year and to look into a particularly troubling case in which a young Cook County girl – Gizzell Ford – died despite DCFS involvement in her short life.

Morrison was looking not to assign blame, but to find solutions.

“I was troubled by a number of recent media reports that indicated children were slipping through the cracks of our system,” said Morrison, who has been working to find ways to improve the Department of Children and Family Services’ performance for months. “I know we’ll never prevent every death, but we should always strive to do better.”