Morrison plan expanding local government consolidation passes Senate

• Local Government
• Government Consolidation
• House Bill 607

SPRINGFIELD – Voters would be empowered to decide local government consolidation measures under a plan passed in the Senate yesterday and sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield).

“Illinois has the most units of local government of any state in the country,” Morrison said. “By empowering local voters, who know the needs of their communities, we are providing the opportunity to increase efficiencies and reduce costs to taxpayers.”

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Morrison to convene summer hearings in response to DCFS failures (VIDEO)

• DCFS
• Children
• Video

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) announced a series of summer hearings today in response to continued high-profile failures at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

"Recent reports of another child abuse investigation that ended in tragedy highlight that there is something terribly wrong going on in an agency whose sole mission is to protect kids,” Morrison said. “These hearings are not meant to place blame on any one person. But it is imperative we work to find out where this agency is failing. If we don’t look, we will never see.”

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Morrison passes plan increasing financial disclosure by politicians

• Ethics
• SB 1289

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) that would increase transparency and modernize financial disclosure forms filled out by politicians, judges and certain state employees passed the Senate this morning.

“Our current financial disclosure process is antiquated and not built to properly disclose vital information that is the purpose behind this process,” Morrison said. “Taxpayers should be assured that their lawmakers are operating under the highest levels of ethics and transparency.”

Morrison’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 1289, updates the Statement of Economic Interest form, a financial disclosure form meant to increase transparency among elected officials and state employees involved with bidding and state contracts. The form has undergone few changes since it was enacted in 1972.

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Morrison: Increased role for court system vital to keep children safe

• DCFS
• Children
• SB 931
• SB 1791

SPRINGFIELD – For children under the care of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), finding an environment where minors are safe and protected is of the upmost importance.

Several reports have highlighted shortcomings at the state agency, however, in ensuring abused or neglected children are placed in appropriate living situations in a timely fashion. State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) is working with child care advocates on two proposals that would increase the court system’s role in preventing children from languishing in temporary or inadequate settings. 

“Abused children require stable environments to resume any sense of normalcy to their lives,” Morrison said. “When temporary placements turn into long-term living situations, children cannot get the kind of treatment they need, making it even harder to recover from their abuse or neglect.”

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