Morrison: Shameful that legal action necessary to care for vulnerable Illinois children

• Human Services

A lawsuit against the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) regarding the continuing problem of children being held in psychiatric hospitals longer than medically necessary was filed recently by the Cook County Public Guardian.

Senate Human Services Chair Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) has been working with advocates on solutions to the issue for months.

“It is shameful that is has taken legal action on behalf of abused or neglected children for the state to do what is both morally and legally right,” Morrison said. “No child should languish in a psychiatric hospital for longer than necessary. These children are vulnerable and the state needs to step up and start taking their care seriously.”

After a ProPublica Illinois report was released this summer highlighting the problem, Morrison convened a hearing in Chicago to seek solutions to the issue. The hearing highlighted the lack of adequate placements for children when leaving hospitals and the lack of front-end community resources to support children suffering from mental illness.

Morrison first brought attention to the issue in 2015, when she filed Senate Resolution 140 seeking an audit to determine just how pervasive the issue of longer than necessary psychiatric stays. At the time, the DCFS did not track and could not provide information requested in Morrison’s resolution.

Morrison responds to Justice Department decision to ban bump stocks

• Gun Safety
• Bump Stocks

SPRINGFIELD - State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) issued the following statement this afternoon after news that the U.S. Justice Department is banning bump stocks. Bump stocks are attachments used to increase the rate of fire of semiautomatic weapons, allowing them to fire nearly as fast as a machine gun. The device was used in the deadly Las Vegas shooting in 2017 that killed 58 people at a country music concert.

“Today’s decision by the Justice Department is long overdue. Bump stocks have no place in our streets or in our communities. These devices were created for one purpose – to inflict as much human carnage as possible.”

While the Illinois Senate passed a ban on bump stocks in April, the bill was never called for a vote in the Illinois House.

Under today’s announcement, bump stock owners will have 90 days after the new regulations are published in the Federal Register to either destroy or turn in their bump stock to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Celebrating Illinois' Bicentennial

• Video
• Highland Park
• Bicentennial
• History

Two-hundred years ago today, Illinois became the nation’s 21^st state.

In recognition of our bicentennial, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) highlighted The Ravinia Festival, its history and impact on Illinois’ rich past and its bright potential.

Senate advances township consolidation proposal

• Government Consolidation
• HB 4637

A plan co-sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) to allow for the consolidation of townships and the elimination of township road districts in Lake and McHenry Counties passed the Senate yesterday on a bipartisan vote.

House Bill 4637 would require that township road districts in Lake and McHenry Counties with less than 15 miles of roadway be abolished, with their responsibilities transferred to the local township.

“Anyone who has glanced at their property tax bill knows there are simply too many units of local government in Illinois,” Morrison said. “Having a layer of government to take care of less than 15 miles of roadway is outdated and wasteful. This is a commonsense reform that over time will save resources and streamline the delivery of services to taxpayers.”

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