SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, released the following statement today calling on DCFS to immediately release data on child abuse and neglect. The agency, that has released monthly child abuse data every month for 35 years, has not released any information since July of last year.

“It is completely mind-boggling that DCFS would arbitrarily stop reporting data on child abuse in Illinois. At a time when calls to the child abuse hotline are up, it is important for lawmakers and the general public to know that the agency tasked with protecting children is receiving and investigating claims of child abuse and neglect. I am publicly calling on DCFS to immediately begin releasing this data without delay.”

Read more: Groups call DCFS out for delay of stats (WCIA)

SPRINGFIELD – Family members concerned about dangerous behavior in a loved one with access to a firearm would be able to take action and potentially prevent tragedy under a measure passed today by the Senate and sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).

“Too often, family members of an individual displaying threatening or self-harm behavior do not know where to turn for help,” Morrison said. “We cannot wait for Washington to act to stem the horrific toll of gun violence in our country. We need to ensure there are tools available in our court system to step in and respond before a tragedy occurs.”

Morrison’s proposal, called the Lethal Violence Order of Protection Act, empowers a close family member or law enforcement officer to alert the court system when an individual with access to a firearm is displaying threatening or unsafe behavior that could lead to injury to themselves or to the general public.

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD - Suicides, gang conflicts and mass shootings similar to the South Florida school shooting last week account for approximately 30,000 firearm deaths in the United States every year.

In some cases, individuals displayed signs of dangerous behavior prior to a shooting that, if identified, could have thwarted tragedy. State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) advanced a proposal today that would empower families and law enforcement to take steps to protect their loved ones and the general public.

“We know that family members and those close to an individual displaying threatening behavior can be the difference between life and death,” Morrison said. “We need to ensure there are systems in place to respond to these calls for help and step in before a tragedy occurs.”

Read more ...

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal to increase the age to legally purchase tobacco products in Illinois to 21 passed the Senate Public Health Committee this afternoon. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is sponsoring the plan and was joined by Highland Park High School Assistant Principal Dr. Steven Tucker, who testified in support of raising the age to purchase tobacco.

“From my lens, as a school leader and administrator, there is nothing more important that my deans have to deal with than the discreetness, the violation and the consequences for students who are using and abusing tobacco or tobacco-related products,” said Dr. Steven Tucker, Assistant Principal at Highland Park High School.

Morrison’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 2332, would make Illinois the sixth state to raise the age to buy tobacco to 21. Fourteen Illinois jurisdictions – including Highland Park, Deerfield, Buffalo Grove and unincorporated Lake County – have all adopted local Tobacco 21 ordinances.

Read more ...