It’s just a bill…
Monday, Mar 16, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* But it’s not a bad idea at all…
Illinois is on track to join nearly two dozen other states that forgo citations for underage drinkers who call 911 to get medical help for those who have had too much to drink.
Proponents say the measure, which passed the Illinois House this month and was recently introduced in the Senate, would help remove the fear of legal trouble that prevents teens from calling for help for a friend who has passed out after drinking too much. The state enacted similar legislation several years ago for drug overdoses after a spate of heroin-related deaths.
State Rep. Scott Drury, D-Highwood, said the law would not give all underage drinkers a pass but would help minors in dire need of medical attention get help. Drury relayed a story about parents in his district who said their teenager needed medical attention after drinking too much.
“People were reluctant to call for help, but someone did. And then both the teenager and the friend who called ended up getting a citation for the situation,” Drury said. “The parents felt that was wrong, because we ought to be trying to protect kids rather than deter them from seeking medical help.”
* In other “It’s just a bill” news, this Illinois Policy Institute story leaves out a key fact…
A suburban legislator has softened his proposal to end a partial tuition waiver for the children of state university personnel, but influential unions remain opposed.
State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Oswego, is the sponsor of House Bill 403, which would end the 50-percent tuition waiver for children of university employees with seven or more years of service.
Franks this week amended his bill to delay elimination of the waiver until after the 2015-16 academic year and to allow students who now have a waiver to keep it until they graduate or have received the waiver for four years.
University Professionals of Illinois and the Illinois Federation of Teachers are among those who oppose the measure, and Franks said he understands their position.
“They’re opinion is that this this is something they bargained for, this is something they worked for, and this is something they should be able to keep,” Franks said.
“And they make a strong argument, certainly, but it’s a different world than what we had just a few years ago, with the governor now talking about cutting almost $400 million from higher education.”
One difference between Franks and the UPI is whether the estimated $10 million cost is a “real” expense or “hard” cost, as the state does not reimburse the universities for the waivers.
Unions aren’t the only opponents. The U of I and other universities are also opposed, believing the benefit helps recruitment and retention efforts. With budget cuts, pension reforms, etc. all being bandied about, the schools will struggle to attract and hold people.
* Other stuff…
* Mautino wants to strengthen ethics laws for elected officials
* ‘Zalazinski bill’ sponsored in Illinois House, Senate
* Beiser Wants To Ease Conceal Carry Restrictions
* Wheeler: Human trafficking closer to home than you think
* House bill: Enough already with new plates
- JustSaying15 - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 11:59 am:
Out of all the things to worry about, our leaders focus on underage drinking.
- anonin' - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 12:24 pm:
Mr/Ms JSin’15
They are mostly worried about IL becoming Scabistan….but the DUI stuff fills the time between BVR speeches
- Ryan - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
If they get rid of the employee tuition waiver, they should also get rid of the Illinois Veteran’s Grant. Those grants are also not reimbursed by the state. I wonder if any legislator is brave enough to put that out there…?
I spoke with my legislator this weekend, he doesn’t think the bill will make it out of committee. I’m pretty confident that I’ll be taking advantage of the 50% discount to send my two kids to college. Nice try Jack. It’s a pretty pathetic way to try and score political points with voters.
- thechampaignlife - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 12:28 pm:
Universities could still offer the child tuition waivers as an employee benefit, they’d just have to fund it out of pocket as a direct cost (reimburse the employee for actual tuition incurred) rather than an indirect cost.
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 12:39 pm:
Three things I’d ask for in exchange for expanding conceal carry.
1. There be a system put in place that automatically pulls an individual right to own or possess a firearm if s/he demonstrates bad judgment with a firearm.
2. The full chain of ownership published online for all firearms used in crimes.
3. Mandatory insurance on firearms. If someone is shot without legal cause or is illegally shot at, the firearms insurance pays out. Let the insurers figure who is a good risk and poor risk.
- Just Observing - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
It’s hard to believe the state is issuing identical plates numbers/letters among all the various plates. For example, license plate number “100″ can be issued under the regular plate, the environmental plate, the autism plate, etc. That is crazy.
- Just Observing - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 1:15 pm:
=== Out of all the things to worry about, our leaders focus on underage drinking. ===
Did you even read the article? It’s not a bill aimed at increased enforcement, it’s a bill aimed at decreased enforcement.
- hold on - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 1:39 pm:
D-Oswego?
- The obvious - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
I guess kids of university personnel will now have to decide whether to attend the university based on the school’s merits like every other kid and pay full tuition. So unfair.
- Filmmaker Professor - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 3:06 pm:
Why don’t we start by eliminating the $700,000 per year in tuition waivers the public has to pay for athletic scholarships. If they can pay $2 million per year for coaches, they can pull their own weight everywhere else.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 3:15 pm:
Wow. Seems we have a few bitter people around here. It’s amazing how ticked off people get at benefits offered to people simply because they don’t have access to those same benefits. Instead of griping about what you don’t have, go get a freaking job where you can get those benefits because it’s pathetic to watch people whine about stuff like this.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 3:17 pm:
And, no, I have don’t have a dog in this fight, nor any personal connection to anybody that does.
- Jake From Elwood - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 5:24 pm:
Did I miss something or did Oswego Willy just annex Jack Franks into his legislative district?
- The Levee - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 6:49 pm:
There should be one plate only for cars (like livery has like we used to have but with room for decals) one for commercial trucks and one for government. Period. No front plates. Waste of resources. If you like abortion or the Blackhawks, get a bumper sticker. Not a plate.
- The Levee - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 6:50 pm:
Decals meaning expiration not politic statements.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 16, 15 @ 6:51 pm:
===State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Oswego===
Rep. Franks;
Two important questions.
Do you golf?
When are we going to get 9 holes in?
Email me your answes. Thanks, OW
BTW, Rep. Batinick, welcome to the GA, I look forward to see your progress.
To the Post;
Drury has a good start to a good idea. When we worry about tickets and “trouble” more that saving lives, a discussion needs to begin, this bill is trying.