I want to start by wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year. I would also like to take a moment to thank each of you for your continued support this year. Below is a recap of legislation I sponsored and/or supported that will be taking effect on January 1, 2022. As a reminder, please stay safe and healthy. Our COVID rates are rising.
The below bills are bills that I've sponsored and are set to take effect January 1, 2022:
HB 2784: This bill will require that when a person seeks help for a mental health crisis, the 911 operator will dispatch a mental health response rather than a law enforcement one. Although, this will be effective January 1, I must highlight that there will a be longer implementation phase. Systems need to be created along with connections with the planned roll out of the 988 mental health line that is coming on line nationally next year.
HB 3265: This bill makes a technical change to the definition of Rape Crisis Organization to close a loophole exploited by defendants in an attempt to access confidential treatment records for organizations that do not exclusively focus on sexual assault.
SB 626: Creates a pilot program for Cook County Circuit Clerk's office to waive repayment of court fines and fees for defendants in traffic court who have been prevented from accessing this relief. The bill also increases the credit defendants receive for community service hours in lieu of court costs from $4/hour to minimum wage.
SB 1079: This bill expands requirements for sexual harassment training for all licensees that obtain a license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
SB 2129: Since 2017, I have been introducing versions of this bill that will allow a prosecutor to file a motion for re-sentencing hearings for cases where justice would be best served by revisiting the case, for example inmates serving longer sentences than they would serve if they were convicted today as the result of criminal justice reform efforts.
SB 2204: This bill expands the definition of stalking. With this expansion a person can commit stalking when he or she knowingly makes threats that are a part of a course of conduct and is aware of the threatening nature of his or her speech.
SB 2339: This bill reaffirms that the identities' of adult survivors of sexual assault are protected.
SB 2340: This bill reaffirms that the identities' of child survivors of sexual assault are protected.
SB 2567: Provides that it is unlawful for any person to knowingly make a video record or transmit live video of another's intimate parts. Provides that in any criminal proceeding, any property or material that constitutes child pornography shall remain in the care, custody, and control of either the state or the court.
While it doesn’t go into effect until June of next year, today Governor Pritzker signed the repeal of the Parental Notice of Abortion Act, removing the last barrier to safe access to reproductive healthcare in Illinois. I am proud to be a leader in the fight to protect access here in Illinois and am thankful to all of my colleagues, Governor Pritzker, and the countless advocates whose work has brought us to this point.
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Our office will be closed for the holiday season from December 17th through January 3rd. Although our office will be closed, we will be monitoring all emails and voicemails daily, other than on the holidays themselves. If you need to contact us urgently, please leave a message or email us at repcassidy@gmail.com. |
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Businesses and universities have begun mandating COVID-19 booster shots. Our very own Loyola University this week announced they will require all students, faculty, and staff to have received a booster shot. Health officials continue to see cases rise and warn that Omicron will become the most dominant variant in the nation.
Boosters have recently been shown to offer significant protection against the Omicron variant. Please continue protecting yourself and limiting the spread as much as possible as we enter the holiday season!
Get vaccinated. Get a booster. Get tested. Wear a mask indoors.
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To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.
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COVID-19 Count as of Friday, December 17th:
Statewide Totals: 1,933,291 confirmed cases, 27,065 deaths and 41,823,332 tests performed
If you have questions related to COVID-19 you can contact the
Illinois Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 800-889-3931
Email: dph.sick@illinois.gov
City of Chicago's Department of Public Health:
Hotline: 312-746-4835
Email: coronavirus@chicago.gov
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IDES Stops Issuing Unemployment Benefits on Debit Cards |
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Starting December 27, 2021, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will stop sending payments via KeyBank debit cards to unemployment insurance claimants. Claimants who don’t select direct deposit as their payment method will receive their benefits by paper check. All claimants are encouraged to select direct deposit as their payment method. Direct deposit is free, easy, fast, and can be updated at any time. For more information, visit ides.illinois.gov/payment.
Paper checks take longer to arrive, can sometimes be lost or stolen, and typically require a fee to be cashed. Would you like to receive your unemployment insurance payment more quickly, securely and for free? Consider opening a Bank On certified account in order to receive direct deposit. Bank On certified accounts are safe, affordable & convenient. They allow you to receive your money faster, have NO overdraft fees, and low minimum balance requirements. There are over 30 certified, no overdraft Bank On account options in Illinois. To view the list of all the Bank On partners and each bank product’s specific details, visit the Bank On Illinois site at https://illinoiscomptroller.gov/about/bank-on/. If you live in Chicago, you can visit Bank On Chicago’s site at https://bankonchicago.com/accounts/. Please make sure to review the account name and ask for the specific product by name when opening your account. Some account products can even be opened online.
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Driver's License and ID Extension Extended |
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Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended an additional three months – from Jan. 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022. This extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) and CDL learner’s permits. White noted this will be the final extension. |
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This year's coat drive was a tremendous success! We collected over 200 coats to distribute to local schools, social service agencies, and residents of the 14th District. We are so thankful for the outpouring of support from the community. The continued generosity of our neighbors and partners continues to astound me and all that I love about my community. However, we are still in need of kids' coats (sizes ranging from 2T-14). We are asking anyone who can donate to drop off at our district office next week. For details on drop-off or if you would like a pick-up arranged, please email wade.repcassidy@gmail.com.
We are also accepting Target gift cards to purchase kids' coats. You may email them to wade.repcassidy@gmail.com.
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Thank you to those who are continuously donating to our Dignity Drive to help support the inmates at Logan Women’s Prison.
Residents of the Logan Correctional Center are in need of clean underwear, bras, and socks. You can find their wishlist of supplies by clicking here. Supplies will be shipped directly to the warden for distribution. If you’d prefer to donate items directly, you’re welcome to purchase items for drop-off at our office, but it’s important that the items comply with regulations (no thongs and no brand names or patterns). Please only provide:
- White socks (any style)
- White underwear
- White or off-white sports bras (no underwire)
We’ll deliver the items once the drive is complete.
We would also appreciate you joining us in supporting House Bill 4218 sponsored by my colleague Barbara Hernandez. This bill will require prisons and jails to supply menstrual products free of charge to all in both prisons and county jails, and will additionally define underwear as a menstrual product to ensure that people are able to maintain good hygiene.
Again, we are so thankful for the generosity of our community in providing support for our supply drives! If you have any questions, please contact our office at (773) 784-2002 or email wade.repcassidy@gmail.com.
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Free Winter Gear Drive Event on December 18th |
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The West Ridge Community Response Team collected a bunch of winter gear that they seek to give out on Saturday, December 18th, from 10 am to 12 pm at Northtown Library. |
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Education Advocacy Program: Rogers Park Project |
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Eli Tea Bar To Open December 18th |
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I was delighted to join the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce in celebrating the opening of Eli Tea Bar at 5507 N Clark. The bar smelled amazing and the owner Eli Majid will be a great asset to the community.
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#ChildrenCarryOn Vaccine Event on January 7th |
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Alderman Harry Osterman and I have partnered with Senator Mike Simmons on this important vaccine event. The event will take place on January 7th at the Broadway Armory. Children are critical for our future and we must do all we can to provide them protection and opportunities. |
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13th Annual Cookie Exchange |
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R Public House will be hosting their 13th Annual Cookie Exchange this Saturday, December 18th at 2 pm. If you love baking cookies and eating cookies this is the event for you! I’m currently finishing up some chocolate chip cookies to share and am looking forward to serving as one of the judges of the RPH Ugly Sweater Coloring Contest tomorrow! |
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Northside North Pole Holiday Pop-Up Market |
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The market continues for one more week, running Thursday through Sunday with a final market day on Sunday, December 19th. Vendors rotate frequently so there is always a new item to check out each time you stop in! Come visit with local artists, makers, and businesses and check out their wares!
For more info click here.
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Live Love Shop Rogers Park Rebate Program |
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RPBA kicked off their Live Love Shop holiday rebate program this weekend. Save your receipts as you shop through Rogers Park all month long.
Spend $150 or more in receipts from at least 4 different INDEPENDENTLY- OWNED businesses within Rogers Park and you will receive a $50 rebate.
Spend $200 or more and you will receive a $75 rebate.
For more information, rules & details on boundaries, click here.
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Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
5533 N Broadway
Chicago IL 60640
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773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)
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