SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, released the following statement this afternoon after news that Gov. Pritzker has nominated Marc D. Smith to lead the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS):

“Today’s announcement by the governor begins what I hope will be a new chapter for an agency that has been marked by instability for years. DCFS has failed to live up to its primary role, which is first and foremost the safety of children. Audit findings and high-profile deaths of toddlers who had been visited by DCFS staff only highlight the systemic dysfunction at this agency.

“In the weeks ahead, I look forward to learning more about Director Smith and working with him on the critically important task of restructuring DCFS from the ground up. The lives of Illinois children are too important for anything less.”

Join State Senators Julie Morrison and Ann Gillespie and State Representatives Mark Walker and Jonathan Carroll for a Town Hall discussion on Cannabis Legalization.

The event is being held on Saturday, March 30 from 10:00a until 11:30a at the Mt. Prospect Public Library (10 S. Emerson Street, Mt. Prospect).

Questions?

Contact Senator Morrison's office in Deerfield at (847) 945-5200.

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Caption: State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) discusses her proposal to incentivize organ donation with State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), a kidney transplant recipient.

SPRINGFIELD – A tax credit introduced by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that would incentivize businesses which offer paid leave of absences to their employees for donating an organ or bone marrow passed the Senate Revenue Committee this afternoon.

“Last year, 3,402 Illinois residents were candidates for a kidney transplant. By the end of the year, however, only 798 people actually received a transplant. That represents less than a quarter of patients who are on the organ donation waiting list,” Morrison said.

Morrison is sponsoring Senate Bill 68, which would create the Organ Donation Tax Credit, allowing private employees to take a 25 percent credit against their withholding taxes if they offer employees who donate an organ paid sick time for at least 30 days.

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SPRINGFIELD – Dental patients with an autism spectrum disorder or developmental disability will have access to expanded dental insurance coverage for anesthesia under a proposal passed today by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).

“Families will have options under this proposal to ensure that dental work is not distressing and is as pain free as possible,” Morrison said. “Unfamiliar environments can be an especially challenging experience for an individual with autism. We want to make sure that needed dental work is not left untreated, as additional health consequences can develop.”

Senate Bill 111 would require health insurance companies to cover anesthetics provided with dental care to patients who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or who have a developmental disability. The proposal would require coverage until an individual reaches 26 years of age. Currently, the insurance mandate expires once an individual reaches age 19.

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