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.

Join Senator Morrison and Representative Nekritz for a Town Hall Meeting at the Northbrook Public Library on Monday, April 25.

Questions?

Contact Senator Morrison office at 847-945-5200

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SPRINGFIELD – Efforts to consolidate emergency dispatch services in Illinois led to the passage of a state law last year requiring dispatch agencies serve at least 25,000 residents. The new law was meant to ensure all communities have access to responsive emergency services while providing efficiencies for taxpayers.

For the Village of Deerfield, which already operated a consolidated emergency dispatch service with neighboring Bannockburn and Riverwoods before the state law, the minimum population requirement would require additional consolidation and cost to the community.

State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) passed a proposal out of a Senate committee this week that would allow the Village of Deerfield more time to comply with the new state law.

Plan ensures mentally ill do not have access to firearms

SPRINGFIELD – A proposal by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) to ensure individuals with mental illness do not have access to firearms passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

“Unfortunately, we have seen what can happen when firearms get in the wrong hands,” Morrison said. “While Illinois is fortunate to have a strong mental health reporting system already in place, we must ensure information for every county is being reported.”

Currently, circuit court clerks are required 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.