Teen e-cigarette users are facing some bad news: A proposed law could soon close the loophole that allows them to legally vape.

“Two years ago we made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18,” said State Senator Julie Morrison, the measure’s sponsor. “It’s common sense that if it’s illegal to sell these products to kids, it should be illegal for kids to have them.”

Though current law bans smoking for everyone under 18, it is silent on e-cigarettes.

Cracks down on treatment center employees who allow child abuse

Under a recently proposed law, employees of child care facilities that endanger kids or fail to report abuse would face immediate discipline. The measure, introduced by state Senator Julie Morrison, cleared the Illinois Senate’s Human Services Committee on Tuesday.

“The state is responsible for the kids in the care of DCFS. When they are beaten, raped, allowed to run away or allowed to prostitute themselves in a facility with a state contract, we’ve failed them,” Morrison said. “Any employees of a child care organization who are not keeping these abused and neglected children safe should be disciplined – up to and including losing their jobs.”

A measure to ban using drones for hunting cleared the Senate Agriculture committee this morning, paving the way for a vote in the full Senate.

The proposal’s sponsor, state Senator Julie Morrison, argues that drones can give hunters an unfair advantage.

“A lot of the hunters I’ve talked to see using drones as cheating. They want to keep the hunt challenging,” the Deerfield Democrat said. “Other groups, like the Humane Society, believe the animals deserve a chance to escape that drones would eliminate.”

While small animals that fear birds of prey run when they see unmanned aerial vehicles, big game animals like deer are unfazed by the small aircraft, making them easy pickings for high-tech hunters.

Targets unethical appointment to Illinois Sports Facilities Authority

 A plan to prevent future governors from engaging in last-minute patronage has cleared a key committee, setting the stage for a vote in the full Illinois Senate.

State Senator Julie Morrison introduced the proposal after former Gov. Pat Quinn appointed a political operative to a $160,000-per-year state job at the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority a month after he lost his election last year.

Her plan would affect any director appointed to a governor-controlled board or commission after the governor loses an election. They would be limited to 60 days in the position, allowing the newly elected governor to find the best person for the position. Morrison’s legislation extends beyond the ISFA to include similar government organizations.

“The people should be able to trust their government,” Morrison said. “I don’t blame the taxpayers for being upset when a lame-duck governor uses his position to provide campaign staff with golden parachutes. I’m gravely disappointed, too.”

The Illinois Sports Facilities Authority – a government entity – owns U.S. Cellular Field, home of the White Sox, and provided the majority of the financing for the renovation of the Bears’ Soldier Field. It receives subsidies from the state and the city of Chicago, income from the White Sox rental agreement, and revenue from a 2 percent tax on all hotel rentals in Chicago.

Morrison’s legislation, Senate Bill 1369, is only part of her effort to reform state government. She’s also introduced plans to prevent legislators from becoming lobbyists until at least one year after they leave office and to create term limits for the House speaker and Senate president.