SPRINGFIELD —Thanks to efforts from State Senator Julie Morrison, Illinoisans will have a more accessible way to cast their ballots from the safety of their homes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, standing in line to vote isn’t safe for many, specifically older populations and those at higher health risks.
“COVID-19 has made congregating in small and enclosed spaces more dangerous,” Morrison said. “Long lines to get to the ballot box would require people to choose between their health and their right to vote.”
Morrison (D-Lake Forest) successfully passed an elections package — found in Senate Bill 1863 — which, among other things, will expand the state’s vote by mail program for the November election.
Read more: Morrison: Vote by mail is essential for voter safety
DEERFIELD — As members of the General Assembly have arrived back to Springfield, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is urging her colleagues to take up her bill, a package that would expand the state’s vote-by-mail program for the November election among other changes related to elections.
“People should not have to worry about their health and safety when exercising their right to vote,” Morrison said. “If people don’t feel safe going to restaurants, they won’t feel safe standing in line to cast their vote.”
Illinoisans would have more options to forego traditional polling places and cast their ballots from the safety of their homes during the November 2020 election under a measure sponsored by Morrison. She would like to see everyone who has voted in the last two years receive a ballot, which would then be returned to the county elections office and counted on Election Day.
Read more: Morrison pushes for expansion of vote-by-mail program
DEERFIELD — As State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) and her colleagues returned to Springfield Wednesday, she has vowed to fight for human services funding in the Fiscal Year ’21 budget, especially for the Department of Children and Family Services.
“Many agencies that are tasked with helping and protecting our state’s most vulnerable populations already struggle with too few resources,” Morrison said. “Illinois should be a leader in showing all people are valuable and deserve to be treated with human dignity.”
Morrison is chair of the Illinois Senate Human Services Committee, where she fights for the beneficiaries of a number of human services agencies, most notably DCFS.
Read more: Morrison works to preserve human services funding
DEERFIELD — During Foster Parent Appreciation Month, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is expressing gratitude toward the thousands of foster families across the state who have opened homes to children who previously lived in unsafe conditions.
“At a time where children are home every day without teachers or daycare staff being able to keep an eye on their safety, it is more important than ever they live in strong, loving households,” Morrison said. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of families across the state have committed to keeping children safe for an unknown amount of time and have done so graciously.”
About 4,000 children across the state each year are taken into temporary care through the Department of Children and Family Services when they live in an abusive or neglectful home. Foster families provide protection and love while the agency works with families to make positive changes in the home, in an effort to reunite parents with their children.
“I have the utmost respect for people who have selflessly opened their arms to take care of the state’s most vulnerable children,” Morrison said.
To become a licensed foster parent, people are encouraged to call 1-800-572-2390 or fill out the online interest form on the DCFS website found at www2.illinois.gov/dcfs
DEERFIELD — The Illinois State Police announced Thursday new renewal requirements for Firearm Owner Identification cards, which State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) will allow for closer examination of people who have submitted renewal applications.
“The state police now has more time to analyze each renewal application to make sure no one slips through the cracks,” Morrison said. “The order from ISP also empowers them to prioritize the work they know will be most important in preventing gun violence.”
The emergency rule — which took effect upon announcement Thursday — extends the expiration date of FOID cards through the duration of the state’s disaster proclamation and for an additional 12 months following the termination of the disaster.
However, the Illinois State Police will continue to enforce FOID prohibitions.
Morrison has been a steadfast force behind gun control legislation since first joining the Illinois Senate. Most notably, she spearheaded and successfully passed the Red Flag Law, which allows a family member or law enforcement official to alert the court system when an individual with access to a firearm is displaying threatening or unsafe behavior that could lead to injury to themselves or to the general public.
“I applaud ISP’s decision and am confident it will lead to less senseless gun violence down the road,” Morrison said. “There is no doubt that a closer look into who is obtaining these licenses and firearms will be better for all of us.”
State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) applauds Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services for expanding services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors.
“Domestic violence and sexual assault survivors are living in constant fear,” Morrison said. “Right now, they have nowhere to go and no one to watch out for them. I can’t imagine how scared some of these people are in an already worrisome time.”
Read more: Morrison applauds expansion of domestic violence and sexual assault services
SPRINGFIELD – The price of EpiPens has greatly increased over the years, causing people with certain allergies to forgo purchasing the life-saving medication. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) strives to offset the burdensome cost by requiring insurers to cover medically necessary epinephrine injectors.
“With increases in food allergies and other serious allergic conditions, people are relying on EpiPens more than ever,” Morrison said. “Nobody with a serious allergy should go without an epinephrine injector simply because they cannot afford one.”
Senate Bill 2457 – sponsored by Morrison – requires insurers to cover medically necessary EpiPens for all people – regardless of age.
Read more: EpiPens for all one step closer to becoming reality
SPRINGFIELD – Since the demand for behavioral health services has grown and the behavioral health workforce is still experiencing shortages, a task force was created to study the crisis. Findings from the study were shared with State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and the Senate Human Services Committee Tuesday.
“This has been a major concern in Illinois for years, but as a demand for service grows and the workforce diminishes, it has gained an even greater sense of urgency,” Morrison said.
Among the recommendations outlined by the task force was a plan for creating the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center to lead a cross-agency, cross-sectorial strategy to improve access to a qualified, diverse workforce.
Read more: Morrison: Illinois needs centralized behavioral health plan
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