Vote by mail program expanded, thanks to Senator Morrison

DEERFIELD — Illinoisans across the state will receive an application in their mailbox to vote from the comfort and safety of their home, thanks to a measure spearheaded by State Senator Julie Morrison.

“If you’re eligible to vote, you should be able to do so safely and securely. No one should have to worry about jeopardizing their health to practice their civic duty,” Morrison said. “It is vital that no eligible voter — regardless of age or health — end up disenfranchised by the current health crisis.”

Morrison (D-Lake Forest) successfully passed an elections package which, among other things, expands the state’s vote by mail program for the November 2020 election, amid concerns COVID-19 could discourage people from visiting the polls.

Any person who has voted in the past two years —in the 2018 General Election, 2019 Consolidated Election or 2020 Primary Election — will receive an application for a vote-by-mail ballot in their mailbox for the 2020 General Election.

People who registered to vote after the 2020 Primary Election will also receive an application.

Election authorities are expected to mail out applications no later than Aug. 1, so people can expect their applications in early August. They can also expect to receive periodic reminders form the secretary of state’s office to submit their application.

However, people who aren’t automatically sent an application will still have the chance to apply for a ballot via the State Board of Elections’ website.

“More voters will be able to participate in a very important aspect of their citizenry — their right to vote — because we have a plan in place to allow them to do so safely,” Morrison said. “We must be prepared, because we don’t know how safe it will be for people to be this fall.”

This does not preclude in-person voting opportunities on and before Election Day.

The measure also makes Election Day, November 3, a state holiday.

Senate Bill 1863 was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday and took immediate effect.

Morrison: Without safe and reliable child care, many families won’t be able to return to work

DEERFIELD — In an effort to ensure families have a safe place for their kids to return to as parents return to work, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is urging child care providers to apply for the Child Care Restoration grant program, which she supported as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 state budget.

“Without safe and reliable child care, many families won’t be able to return to work at a time when they need steady income more than ever to get back on their feet,” Morrison said. “Child care programs want to be able to serve families, but they are strapped for cash due to lack of money coming in during the pandemic. These grants will allow these facilities to be able to keep their doors open.”

The Child Care Restoration grant program will dedicate at least $270 million of the state’s Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency Fund to support the economic health of child care providers as the state’s economy continues to reopen in the coming weeks and months. 

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, is charged with developing the grant program for licensed child care providers. The Child Care Restoration Grants will be administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies.

The “Intent to Apply” survey launched Wednesday and is available online here. The information gathered will help grant writers create the grants, to be released in July. Eligible providers will receive their first installments later this summer. The opportunity to respond to the survey will close on June 19 at 5 p.m.

More information will be added to https://www.ilgateways.com/financial-opportunities/restoration-grants. People are encouraged to continue to check back frequently for information and resources.

Morrison applauds additional DCFS funding in state budget

• DCFS
• Budget

DEERFIELD — State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) released the following statement after Gov. JB Pritzker signed the Fiscal Year 21 budget, which provides more funding for DCFS:

“No state agency has gone through more turmoil over the past decade. While not every problem revolves around funding, many of the Department of Children and Family Services’ high-profile failures come from a lack of resources.

“This additional funding is necessary to boost the workforce, which would reduce caseloads for investigators and allow more attention to go toward services. More funding means the ability to hire more highly trained workers who have the determination and stability to take on one of the state’s toughest jobs.

"I will work diligently with DCFS to hold them accountable and make sure the additional funding is used appropriately for resources to best help our state's most vulnerable children.

“Children should not have to suffer — especially at a time when they are home more often in situations that could be dangerous. We must be there for them. More money for DCFS will protect our children — and that’s the best investment we can make.”

 

 

Property tax relief measure supported by Morrison signed into law

DEERFIELD — In an effort to provide financial relief to Illinoisans as they work to get back on their feet during the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) supported the legislature’s comprehensive property tax relief measure.

“People across the state are struggling financially, and implementing property tax relief will take some financial burden away from families who are having a hard time,” Morrison said. “Illinoisans need to know we have their backs during this unprecedented crisis. This measure is a small but substantial step toward providing them with help and economic relief.”

Under this legislation, local businesses and residents would see property tax relief in the form of:

• Empowering county governments to approve 2020 homestead exemptions for those with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and senior citizens, as long as the property had been granted this exemption for 2019.
• Allowing counties with less than 3 million residents to waive interest penalties and fees for late property tax payments due in 2020.
• Deferring property tax sales.

County assessment officers can still conduct audits of taxpayers claiming an exemption in order to verify the applicant is eligible to receive the senior citizen’s assessment freeze through the homestead exemption.

The measure — found in Senate Bill 685 — also defers tax sales and gives Lake County the authority to waive property tax interest penalties.

The measure was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Friday and took immediate effect.