SPRINGFIELD – Following through on her commitment to provide greater accessibility for all Illinois voters, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) championed a newly signed law to allow people with certain disabilities to electronically mark their ballots using their own assistive technology.

“While we have expanded vote by mail in many ways, we have yet to provide the same opportunities to voters who cannot read print because of a visual, physical, perceptual, developmental, cognitive or learning disability,” Morrison said. “Equal access at the voting box is a keystone to our democracy. The inclusion of this process into state law will provide safe, private and equal voting opportunities for voters.”

The law will allow voters with a print disability to receive and mark their ballot electronically on an assistive device. It will be printed, sealed and signed before being returned through the mail. The voting procedure will be in place for the November 2022 General Election, and all subsequent elections.

“For years, Illinois law required voters with print disabilities who chose to vote by mail to fill out a paper ballot, necessitating assistance by a person without a disability.” said Cheryl Jansen, Public Policy Director of Equip for Equality.  “As a result, unlike voters without disabilities, they were denied the right to vote privately and independently.  SB 829 is a very important step towards addressing this disparity.  We highly commend Senator Morrison for her leadership and support of this legislation and look forward to working with her on additional steps to ensure that voters with print disabilities have full privacy and independence when voting by mail.”

Senate Bill 829 was signed into law Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after an audit of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found the agency failed to implement multiple reforms.

“The Performance Audit of the DCFS Child Safety and Well-Being findings released yesterday are, once again, disheartening. I continue to stand ready to assist the governor in his commitment to protect the most vulnerable children in Illinois. The time has passed for more legislative hearings where we hear the same thing on ‘rinse and repeat.’ It's time to take decisive action and I am ready to assist in any way I can.”

LAKE BLUFF – State Senator Julie Morrison secured $1.25 million in the Fiscal Year 23 budget to bring a pedestrian bridge to Lake Bluff – building on her commitment to make her district a safer, more accessible community.

“Safety of the community is – and always has been – my top priority,” said Morrison (D-Lake Forest). “We must do all we can to make our communities safer – and that starts with ensuring people can travel safely through the area.”

Morrison led efforts to allocate $1.25 million from the upcoming state budget to bring a pedestrian bridge to Lake Bluff after local residents expressed safety concerns to the Senator. The bridge will be over the train tracks located on Green Bay Road, south of Buckley Road and north of Rockland Road.

Green Bay Road – a main thoroughfare in the area – is highly trafficked by both drivers and pedestrians. However, a pedestrian bridge doesn’t currently exist – leaving people to commute by foot on a busy road.

"We applaud Senator Morrison for securing this funding," said Gavin Farry, executive vice president for finance and administration at Rosalind Franklin University, which sits just north of the bridge. "This pedestrian bridge will have multiple benefits to the residents of Lake Bluff and North Chicago. Our students and campus community can utilize this bridge to safely commute, walk, bike, and enjoy the trail systems between the Village of Lake Bluff and City of North Chicago."

By building a bridge, residents will be able to walk or bike to Lake Bluff Elementary School, Lovell Federal Health Care Center, Rosalind Franklin University, trail system, Metra Station, and other areas safely.

“I am extremely grateful to Senator Morrison and her team who have worked exceptionally hard in collaboration with the Village of Lake Bluff to garner the funding to complete this project,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “The pedestrian bridge will solve very real safety issues not only for students going back and forth for school, but also for walkers and bicyclists. It will increase safe access for residents and visitors to the community to enjoy nature and partake in living a healthier lifestyle.”

The $1.25 million allocation championed by Senator Morrison is part of the Fiscal Year 23 budget, which takes effect July 1.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison’s (D-Lake Forest) newly signed law will provide police officers with additional tools and training opportunities to help keep communities safe. 

“One message that I frequently hear across the district is that public safety and a rise in crime continue to be a major concern,” Morrison said. “Yet staffing shortages are hindering police from best protecting their communities.

Morrison championed House Bill 3863, which creates the Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Fund to support departments through the hiring and training processes and help with retention strategies.

The measure will provide grants to law enforcement agencies for hiring and retention of officers. Funds could also be used for mental health care for officers, safety equipment and training, or improvements in jails. Mental health services for inmates could also be funded through this grant.

“This law will help keep our communities safer,” Morrison said. “These efforts support the valuable work that law enforcement does in our communities and in our state every day and every hour.”

Morrison also co-sponsored a number of other measures at providing relief and assistance to law enforcement officers, including House Bill 1571, which requires the DHS to establish and administer an Off-Hours Child Care Program to help first responders and other workers identify and access off-hours, night, or sleep time child care. 

She also supported House Bill 1321.The measure creates grants through the Department of Human Services related to behavioral health care services for first responders that units of local government, law enforcement agencies, fire protection districts, school districts, hospitals, and ambulance services that employ first responders may apply for.

Morrison’s House Bill 3863 was signed into law Tuesday and takes effect immediately.