Rauner vetoes Tobacco 21, sides with Big Tobacco over state’s children

• Tobacco 21
• SB 2332

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) released the following statement this afternoon after Governor Rauner vetoed Senate Bill 2332 that would have made Illinois the sixth state to raise the age to legally buy tobacco products to 21:

“I’m stunned that Bruce Rauner, the governor of the state of Illinois, sided with Big Tobacco instead of our children. We have known for decades the dangers of tobacco use. The Illinois communities that stepped up and adopted Tobacco 21 on their own have seen a dramatic decrease in high school smoking rates.

“At a time of increased vaping use among teens, the governor had an opportunity to make a real investment in the health of our next generation. Instead, he favored political considerations over the health of our children, and in doing so failed us all.”

New law ensures minors have access to hearing aids

• Health
• Children
• HB 4516
• Hearing Aids

Pictured (left): Brothers Hunter and Owen Martin join State Senator Julie Morrison after testifying in support of HB 4516.

SPRINGFIELD – Insurance companies will be required to cover prescribed hearing aids for minors in Illinois under a new law sponsored by State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) that was signed today.

“When a child cannot hear properly, a host of problems can arise, including falling behind in school and behavioral challenges,” Morrison said. “Hearing aids are medically necessary for children to successfully go to school and grow. We must ensure they are available to all children who need them.”

The new law, passed under House Bill 4516, requires insurers in Illinois to cover prescribed hearing aids to minors as well as cover related services and repairs when necessary. While the number of children in Illinois who need hearing aids is relatively small at fewer than 5,000, the nature of children’s hearing disabilities is usually different from adults and requires different kinds of hearing aids.

In May, Morrison was joined by two Illinois brothers who both have bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and testified in the Senate Insurance Committee about the importance of hearing aids in their daily life.

Read more …

Coming Up: Shred and Share Event

• Events
• Deerfield

Join State Senator Julie Morrison for a Shred and Share Event, offering shredding for personal documents and collecting outerwear and non-perishable food for those in need.

The event is being held on Saturday, September 29 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot of Deerfield Road and Rosemary Terrace in Deerfield.

Questions?

Contact Senator Morrison's office in Deerfield at (847) 945-5200.

Click on the flyer for more information

Coming Up: Mobile Secretary of State Event

• Events
• Buffalo Grove

Join State Senator Julie Morrison and the Illinois Secretary of State's Office for a Mobile Secretary of State Event. The free event will offer area residents the chance to interact and obtain important Secretary of State services without having to travel to the nearest DMV location.

The Buffalo Grove Commission for Residents with Disabilities will have wallet cards available for people who have trouble communicating with first responders. There are no forms to fill out to obtain this. In addition, residents are encouraged to provide medical information and communication challenges that can be stored in driver’s licenses or state ID cards. The information is stored in the state’s Emergency Contact Database, accessible by law enforcement in the event of an emergency.

Bill Bogdan, Disability Liaison at the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, will be in attendance and presenting information at 11:00 a.m. on the various services provided by the Secretary of State’s office, including handicap parking rules, use of the Emergency Contact Database and more.

Morrison’s event will offer a range of services, including: Driver’s license renewals, state ID card renewals and replacements, state disability ID cards (doctor certification required), parking placards for persons with disabilities, vehicle sticker sales, collegiate license plates, passenger, B-truck and motorcycle license plates and organ and tissue donor registration.

Read more …