Spring Session Legislative Agenda |
|
With next week’s in-person session canceled, remote committee hearings will continue, allowing us to continue to advance legislation in spite of the inability to convene in person. We will continue to evaluate the schedule weekly, and I anticipate a return to an in-person session soon as the case data indicates it’s safer. The ability to continue to advance bills via remote committee means we aren’t losing momentum in spite of the truncated session schedule. If you’re interested in following our work, the committee schedule, meetings, and bill assignments are posted here.
I plan to take on legislation that will further reform our criminal justice system. Below are a few of the proposed bills that I have chosen to pursue this session:
HB4164: Allows that a member of the General Assembly may visit the institutions, facilities, and programs of the Department of Corrections, upon request of the member, for the purpose of inquiring into the affairs and conditions of the Department. Currently, the law only allows this access to the Governor, and legislators must seek permission to visit which doesn’t allow for effective oversight.
HB4671: Will prevent juveniles under the supervision of the Department of Juvenile Justice from being sent to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice due to failing rehabilitation treatment. It takes many people multiple attempts to get clean and address their sobriety issues. Finding a way to offer an alternative to jail for minors with solely drug offenses will help solve the underlying issue. Jail is not a forever solution and can just cause more strain on our systems while creating potential future offenders who could have turned their life around if given appropriate responses to treatment challenges
HB3659: Our Mandatory Supervised Release system is often a series of tripwires leading to reincarceration without much meaningful programming to assist with re-entry. To better focus the limited services available, this bill proposes removing mandatory supervised release as a condition of release for Class 4 felonies (the lowest level felony), allowing prioritization of services for higher need offenders.
Upcoming newsletters will continue to update on the session schedule and process and feature both the bills we’re introducing as well as interesting bills being presented by colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
|
|
Free COVID PCR Testing Event This Sunday |
|
Need a PCR test to check if you have COVID? Don't have time to wait for a home test delivery? Well, you are in luck, free on-site testing will be available on Sunday, January 23rd, outside 1508 W Jarvis (R Public House) between 2 pm to 4 pm! Dress warmly as you may experience some wait time outdoors
Many people have faced trouble obtaining tests. By providing this opportunity, my office hopes to help ease the burden. Thank you, R Public House, for the space!
Orion Health Center will be administering the tests.
Please email or call my office with any questions.
773-784-2002
|
|
The Omicron surge appears to have peaked in Illinois. This week COVID-19 patients in hospitals have been declining per day. As of Wednesday night, the state was only averaging 6,258 COVID-19 hospitalized patients which is an improvement compared to the records set last week that saw our state averaging more than 7,300 hospitalizations. As shown in the graph above from IDPH's website hospitalizations have dropped this past week.
Before this latest surge, the record high was just over 6,000 hospitalizations per day. Dr. Ezike, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), says Illinois is heading back in the right direction but that we still have more work to do as many hospitals are still struggling.
Governor Pritzker announced last week that the state will be deploying more than 2,000 healthcare workers to hospitals around Illinois. Many of our facilities are still facing staffing shortages.
Boosters have recently been shown to offer significant protection against the effects of Omicron variant. Please continue protecting yourself and limiting the spread as much as possible.
Get vaccinated. Get a booster. Get tested. Wear a mask indoors.
Testing remains an issue. As many of you have seen or experienced the "pop-up" testing sites that have been riddled with issues of poor protocols, delayed results, etc. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) unfortunately does not have oversight over these facilities. However, IDPH does regulate labs that partner with these sites to perform the tests. The labs are required to meet Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) standards. Each pop-up facility should have a CLIA number so please ask for that number if you do use those facilities.
Please call the CLIA hotline at 1-800-252-4343 to report any bad practices and conditions
|
|
To find a vaccine clinic within the City of Chicago click here.
For questions or info regarding COVID-19 testing click here.
|
|
COVID-19 Count as of Friday, January 21st:
Statewide Totals: confirmed cases, deaths and 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
|
|
The Biden Administration to Begin Distributing Rapid At-Home COVID Tests |
|
Americans are now able to order their tests online at COVIDTests.gov, and tests will typically ship within 7-12 days of ordering. Every household is eligible to order 4 tests.
To ensure equity and access for all Americans, the Administration will also launch a call line to help those unable to access the website to place orders, and work with national and local community-based organizations to support the nation’s hardest-hit and highest-risk communities in requesting tests.
|
|
When people arrive at Logan and our other prisons, they are issued 2 pairs of underwear and 2 pairs of socks. Under typical circumstances, once they’ve been able to start to earn money for commissary purchases, they can purchase replacements. But these are not typical circumstances. Not only is it outrageous to expect 2 pairs of underwear to be sufficient, beyond how long it takes to earn enough money to buy from the commissary at inflated prices, now supply chain issues and procurement challenges have made it impossible to get some of the most essential items.
Please join us in purchasing clean underwear, bras, and socks for the residents of Logan Correctional Center by clicking here. The easiest way is to use this wish list, which 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
When your shopping is complete, please join 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.
|
|
Trilogy's New Mobile Crisis Response Service |
|
The Restore, Reinvest, & Renew Grant Program Re-Opened |
|
Governor JB Pritzker and Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton recently
announced $45 million in Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program funding to support community organizations that serve neighborhoods most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence, and the war on drugs. Organizations interested in applying for funding can review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) by clicking here.
|
|
Energy Assistance For Winter Applications Open Until May 31st 2022 |
|
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the Citizens Utility Board are reminding residents to apply for $200 million remaining in utility assistance under Gov. JB Pritzker’s Help Illinois Families initiative, an expansion of the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program under the American Rescue Plan.
This initiative remains available for all qualifying households with low income, regardless of how they may be affected COVID-19. The last day to apply online with the Request for Services form is April 15. After that date you can still apply through your local administering agency through May 31, 2022.
|
|
LIHWAP Applications Open Until August 31st, 2023 |
|
The LIHWAP benefit is a limited, one-time, assistance program designed to help households that are facing the threat of imminent disconnection, have already been disconnected or have past due (arrearage) balances over $250 for their water and wastewater services combined. Customers may apply one time for water and one time for wastewater for the life of the program, which is December 1, 2021 – August 31, 2023.
Applications will be accepted through August 31, 2023 or until funds run out. You can apply online here or call the hotline at 1-(833)-711-0374.
|
|
IDES Stops Issuing Unemployment Benefits on Debit Cards |
|
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.
|
|
2021 Exemptions Auto-Renewal |
|
In response to COVID-19, the Cook County Assessor’s Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions; the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year.
If a homeowner received any of the aforementioned five exemptions last year (tax year 2020), they do not need to reapply this year (tax year 2021). If the Assessor's Office requires additional information from a homeowner to process the auto-renewal, they will be sent a booklet in March 2022 with instructions on how to reapply.
|
|
Secretary of State Offices Closed |
|
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that all offices will be closed through January 24, 2022. Expiration dates for Drivers Licenses and ID cards have been extended until March 31, 2022. CDL's are extended until January 31, 2022. Read the full press release here.
|
|
Citizenship Class with Chinese Mutual Aid |
|
Senator Simmons Town Hall on Restoring Voting Rights for People Incarcerated |
|
State Senator Mike Simmons office is hosting a town hall on SB: 828 which is a bill that would restore the right to vote for people serving in IL state prisons.
|
|
#ChildrenCarryOn Vaccine Event On January 28th |
|
Alderman Harry Osterman and I have partnered with Senator Mike Simmons on this important vaccine event. The event will take place on January 28th at the Broadway Armory. Children are critical for our future and we must do all we can to provide them protection and opportunities.
|
|
George Bumbaris' goal was to create something unique that didn’t copy anyone else. He says, "We tried dozens of dough recipes, but in the end we developed our own based on a Greek flatbread called Lagana; it is similar to an Italian Focaccia." He credits his culinary school training and years as a chef for helping him with the process. It takes three days to make one pizza from start to finish. They have a small space, which is why they make the dough in small batches. It is a labor-intensive process, but truly a labor of love. The long fermentation process and the quality ingredients they use to make their pizza one of a kind and the favorite pan pizza for many Chicagoans.
Born and raised in Edgewater, George moved back to the area four years ago and it made sense to open a quality pizzeria within a five-minute walk from home. He says, "The residents of Edgewater are some of the kindest, outgoing, and supportive people that live in Chicago."
Be sure to pre-order your pizza today and try the local favorite, The Halas’ Classic!
|
|
Sincerely,
Kelly Cassidy
State Representative, 14th District
Office of State Representative Kelly Cassidy
5533 N Broadway
Chicago IL 60640
|
|
773-784-2002(phone)
773-784-2060(fax)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
