SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) released the following statement after voting yesterday in support of Senate Bill 2038, a bipartisan spending plan that would allocate $714 million to Illinois’ struggling human service providers:

“Yesterday’s vote is crucial for the hundreds of nonprofit organizations that are struggling to maintain services and keep their doors open. Programs serving individuals with autism, the homeless and sexual assault survivors are vital to thousands of Illinoisans who rely on their care and support. I urge the governor to sign this bill immediately and provide relief to our struggling providers.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ colleges and universities have begun receiving funding from the state for the first time since June thanks to a plan supported by Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) and signed by the governor. A similar plan to provide nearly $450 million to struggling human service providers, however, has yet to receive a vote in the House.

“Every day that goes by, another provider is that much closer to announcing staff layoffs, service interruptions or even closure,” Morrison said. “I urge the House to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and pass funding for our human service providers immediately.”

The Senate sent Senate Bill 2047, which passed without opposition, to the House on April 22. The proposal provides nearly $450 million in funding to a host of human service providers, including funding for autism services, sexual assault programs and mental health supportive housing.

Plan ensures mentally ill do not have access to firearms

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) ensuring individuals with mental illness do not have access to firearms passed out of the Senate late last week.

“Individuals struggling with mental illness should in no way have access to firearms,” Morrison said. “Guarding against guns getting in the wrong hands is as important for the safety of the general public as it is for the safety of the individual with mental illness.”

Currently, Illinois law requires circuit court clerks to relay information to the Illinois State Police when a person passes through the court system and is deemed to have a mental disability or is involuntarily committed to a mental institution. The information is used to ensure FOID cards, which are required to legally own a firearm in Illinois, are not administered.

SPRINGFIELD – A plan by State Senator Julie Morrison (D – Deerfield) that would empower townships and local residents to dissolve or consolidate certain services passed the Illinois Senate yesterday.

“Illinois law currently prevents many proposals that would make local government more efficient and have the potential of saving taxpayers’ money,” Morrison said. “My proposal, while entirely permissive, would empower townships and local residents to make decisions that are in the best interests of local residents.”

Morrison’s plan, contained in Senate Bill 389, would remove the state cap on the size of townships, currently set at 126 square miles, giving townships that want to merge the ability to do so. The plan also allows townships to absorb a road district with less than 15 miles of road. In many areas of the state, especially in the suburbs, municipalities have annexed and grown to include many areas once maintained by townships.