SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) passed a new law to provide greater safety protections to police dogs.

House Bill 1671, signed by the governor last week, creates the Police Service Dog Protection Act. It requires a vehicle transporting a police dog to be equipped with a heat sensor that remotely alerts law enforcement if the vehicle reaches 85 degrees. Vehicles will also be equipped with a safety mechanism to lower the temperature.

“Police dogs are extraordinary animals that play an integral role in law enforcement,” Morrison said. “It’s important for us to have a law that offers necessary protections in the treatment and transportation of our police K-9s.”

SPRINGFIELD – With continued high-profile failures at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) is continuing her efforts to reform the agency that is tasked with protecting neglected and abused Illinois children.

Morrison, who is chairwoman of the Senate Human Services Committee, recently passed new initiatives into law that would help turn around the troubled agency including:

• Senate Bill 293, which requires DCFS to maintain a central register of all unfounded reports for five years following the date of the final finding.
  
  
• Senate Bill 2461, which requires DCFS to enter into contracts with agencies or to complete development for specialized placements for youth in the Department’s care who victims are of sex trafficking.
  
  
• House Bill 4887, which requires DCFS to assist youth in care in identifying and obtaining documents necessary to function as an independent adult prior closing the court case ending the youth’s time as a ward of the state under the Juvenile Court Act.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans will now receive stronger protections under the Human Rights Act, thanks to State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield).

When the current Human Rights Act was enacted, the statutes recognized only one type of order of protection. Senate Bill 2826, signed into law last week, expands the law’s protections to include persons protected under No Contact Orders, No Stalking No Contact Orders and Civil No Contact Orders.

That clarification will afford victims of workplace stalking and harassment further protections by aid such as reasonable, unpaid leave for court dates.

“Clarifying and strengthening the definition of the Illinois Human Rights Act is the right thing to do,” Morrison said. “We have to ensure that everyone has the strongest protections when it comes to discrimination in the workplace.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) joined Wheeling Village President Patrick Horcher earlier this week in touring three Wheeling manufacturing facilities.

“Manufacturing is a major industry in the area, with hundreds of local residents working in the field,” Morrison said. “As a state legislator, I believe it’s important to talk to local employers and make sure the state is doing everything possible to attract and retain good businesses like these.”

Morrison toured Creation Technologies, Wieland Metals and Argon Medical Devices. Together, the companies employ more than 500 individuals at their Wheeling facilities.