STATUS UPDATE: This Bill was originally named – House Bill 163 Senate Amendment 2 – when filed last week but it has been moved and it is now House Bill 3653.

I stand with the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition in opposition to Illinois House Bill 3653 which was filed on Tuesday (1/5/21) in Springfield. The coalition released a statement last week which reads in part:

“The so-called “reforms” that are part of House Bill 163 as amended would destroy law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe. The authors of this legislation are not law enforcement professionals with hundreds of years of combined experience and this bill was drafted without law enforcement input, and because of that the long-term unintended consequences of this legislation would be dire. The Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition recently enumerated its Safe Communities plan, a sensible approach to modernizing Illinois law enforcement, but House Bill 163 as amended would lead to unsafe communities in Illinois. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to avoid making a sudden, rash decision in the Lame Duck Session and instead work carefully with all stakeholders to truly examine what needs to be done regarding law enforcement in Illinois.

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police comprise the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition and have been working on these strategies since summer to improve community safety and enhance the trust between community members and law enforcement.”

It is totally unacceptable to attempt to rush through passage on a significant piece of legislation (600+ pages) like House Bill 3653, especially in the Lame Duck Session. This bill will impact public safety in every single community across Illinois. House Bill 3653 deserves an honest and transparent vetting process. The legislative process should include input from all interested parties including law enforcement and the public. All outreach tools should be employed for public vetting of House Bill 3653 including public hearings, tele-town halls, surveys, editorial boards, and others. This legislation deserves attentive review and vigorous debate.

It is my hope that the Illinois General Assembly will take the prudent approach and fully engage their constituents in dialogue – that includes municipal bodies and residents alike – before any approval of House Bill 3653 is considered.

• I would urge you to contact your state legislators immediately as a vote on HB 3653 is imminent.

• TO FIND YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS: CLICK HERE

— Commissioner Sean M. Morrison, 17th District

I stand with the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition in opposition to Illinois House Bill 163 Senate Amendment 2 which was filed on Tuesday (1/5/21) in Springfield. The coalition released a statement this week which reads in part:

“The so-called “reforms” that are part of House Bill 163 as amended would destroy law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe. The authors of this legislation are not law enforcement professionals with hundreds of years of combined experience and this bill was drafted without law enforcement input, and because of that the long-term unintended consequences of this legislation would be dire. The Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition recently enumerated its Safe Communities plan, a sensible approach to modernizing Illinois law enforcement, but House Bill 163 as amended would lead to unsafe communities in Illinois. We urge the Illinois General Assembly to avoid making a sudden, rash decision in the Lame Duck Session and instead work carefully with all stakeholders to truly examine what needs to be done regarding law enforcement in Illinois.     

The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police comprise the Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition and have been working on these strategies since summer to improve community safety and enhance the trust between community members and law enforcement.”

It is totally unacceptable to attempt to rush through passage on a significant piece of legislation like House Bill 163, especially in the Lame Duck Session. This bill will impact public safety in every single community across Illinois. House Bill 163 deserves an honest and transparent vetting process. The legislative process should include input from all interested parties including law enforcement and the public. All outreach tools should be employed for public vetting of House Bill 163 including public hearings, tele-town halls, surveys, editorial boards, and others. This legislation deserves attentive review and vigorous debate.

It is my hope that the Illinois General Assembly will take the prudent approach and fully engage their constituents in dialogue before any approval of House Bill 163 is considered.

– Commissioner Sean M. Morrison, 17th District

The Forest Preserves of Cook County is permitting snowmobiling this winter season. However, permits can only be obtained online at https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/snowmobiling/ and not in person this year. Snowmobiles are allowed at four designated locations in the Forest Preserves under certain winter conditions.

Snowmobile areas are open from 10 am to 10 pm on days when the soil is frozen with a minimum snow depth of four inches and temperatures are constant 20 degrees or less.

Public safety requires the temporary closing of some Forest Preserves parking areas during the winter season. However, our maintenance department prioritizes the clearing of parking areas serving winter activities. Always call ahead to make sure snowmobile areas and parking areas are open.

Please click on the link for details: https://fpdcc.com/things-to-do/snowmobiling/.

The Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program is a $636 million program developed by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois General Assembly to provide economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. BIG leverages federal funding provided by the CARES Act to help offset COVID-19 related losses for Illinois small businesses.

BIG is the largest program of its kind in the nation – leveraging federal CARES Act funds to establish economic recovery programs: over $270 million for small businesses, and another $270 million exclusively for childcare providers, administered jointly by DCEO and IDHS.

Funding may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs; rent; utilities; and other operational costs as defined in the eligible cost list found below.

Important Application Updates: Applications for a second round of funding are now live. A total of $220 million will be made available for small businesses of all types in Illinois. If you have questions or are experiencing technical difficulties, please submit a question to the BIG Helpdesk via the following forms for assistance with your application in either English or Spanish. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with funding priorities outlined below. Please take care to submit a complete and correct application. Additional time needed to submit will not impact your eligibility or chances of receiving a grant.

CLICK ON THE LINK FOR DETAILS: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx