It’s just a bill
Friday, Apr 12, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) was not pleased when Gov. Pritzker did not appoint a single Lake County resident to the Tollway board. So, she introduced SB764…
Increases the number of directors of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority appointed by the Governor from 9 to 11. Provides that, of the 11 directors of the Authority appointed by the Governor, at least one shall be from Cook County, at least one shall be from Lake County, at least one shall be from DuPage County, at least one shall be from Will County, at least one shall be from Winnebago, Boone, or McHenry County, and at least one shall be from Kane, DeKalb, Ogle, or Lee County. Provides that no more than 6 (rather than 5) directors shall be from the same political party. Provides that, within 30 days of the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Governor shall appoint one director from Lake County and one director from Winnebago, Boone, or McHenry County. Effective immediately.
The bill passed today 48-0.
* This House bill lost big today, 40-60…
Provides that a public university or community college may not inquire about or consider an applicant’s criminal history information at any time during the admission decision-making process, except as required by federal law or specified provisions of the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois or the Medical School Matriculant Criminal History Records Check Act, if applicable.
Daily Herald…
Aaron Woodruff, chief of police at Illinois State University, told us they’re not against second chances and notes that most who admit to a conviction on their college application still get admitted. But they want exceptions carved out in the law that would require applicants to disclose convictions for sex crimes and other violent offenses.
“The universities and police recognize that education can be a key component in rehabilitation, but we have to do it with some common sense,” he said, adding the campus law enforcement community hopes to negotiate a compromise with the bill’s proponents in the legislature.
Woodruff said police have found allies on this issue among women’s and LGTBQ organizations.
“They’re asking, ‘Why are we more concerned about someone convicted of a sex crime than other students on campus?’” he said.
* One more…
The House will soon take up a measure to allow high school students old enough to vote to take time out of class to vote.
State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said his Senate Bill 1970 will help get young people to vote.
“We are trying to make sure that we encourage our young people to participate and exercise our civic duty,” Sims said.
Under state law, high school students who are 18 years old at the time of a general election can vote in the primary when they’re 17.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said there should be some way to ensure students leaving school to vote are actually casting a ballot.
* Other bills…
* Proposed parking fee for Starved Rock State Park rejected by Illinois Senate: Opponents questioned a provision that would have exempted residents of LaSalle County, where the park is located, from paying the fee. The vote on the bill was 29-8, but 30 votes are required to pass any legislation in the Senate.
* House bill offers student financial aid to undocumented immigrants, transgender individuals
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
Require kids who want to vote to learn about early voting, mail in ballots, absentee ballots and the fact that polls are open before school and after school
- wordslinger - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
–State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said there should be some way to ensure students leaving school to vote are actually casting a ballot.–
What do you suggest, Big Brother?
- lakeside - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
==there should be some way to ensure students leaving school to vote are actually casting a ballot.==
Man, what if the small-to-medium proportion of high schoolers that will turn 18 between Nov and March very rarely got two hours off school and they *weren’t using it to vote*? Let’s design an entire infrastructure to deal with this pressing concern, and it is also very important to me to cut government waste and red tape.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:39 pm:
The so-called “ban the box” bill was very well-intentioned but based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the college admissions process. There are many valid reasons for asking about an applicant’s criminal and/or disciplinary history prior to granting admission. But colleges are in the business of enrolling students, not turning them away for no good reason.
I realize that some applicants believe if they check the box, their application gets thrown away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Colleges just want to know the circumstances to assess if there is a potential threat. If a student with a criminal record can pay tuition, there will be a college that welcomes that student, assuming there is no risk of further criminal behavior on campus.
- Huh? - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 12:44 pm:
“allow high school students old enough to vote to take time out of class to vote.”
The opportunities to vote are numerous. Polls are open long enough to allow for voting to occur before or after school hours. There is no need for special consideration for high school students to vote. This is a waste of time.
- JoanP - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:11 pm:
Illinois law requires employers to give workers time off to vote. I have no problem requiring schools to do the same for students.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:12 pm:
=Require kids who want to vote to learn about early voting, mail in ballots, absentee ballots and the fact that polls are open before school and after school=
Elgie, maybe talk to educators about this rather than more pandering.
Many of us are in an all out war to keep kids in school. The insane crap that we here and address to keep kids in schools is mind boggling. They have numerous opportunities to vote outside of the school day.
- Amalia - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:15 pm:
Like the Tollway bill. spread around the work. don’t like the criminal history bill. transparency in information sharing on criminal history information is important. not a deal breaker, but important.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
A detention if they don’t turn in their “I Voted” sticker?
- Wensicia - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:20 pm:
No, students have plenty of time and opportunity to vote outside school hours. We even offer in-school registration sponsored by our Civic’s department and County Clerk’s office, no law required or needed.
- Just an idea - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
Use high schools as polling centers and use some of the students as election judges.
- Anonymous - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:27 pm:
tollway bill cook,dupage,will and lake get one each the rest of the counties not so much
- Hieronymus - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:37 pm:
Hmm, could go either way, but what about this: Make it an official, chaperoned outing for those who are eligible. Think of it as Applied Civics, tied in with existing classroom instruction on the process.
- titan - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 2:06 pm:
+++ - JoanP - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 1:11 pm:
Illinois law requires employers to give workers time off to vote. I have no problem requiring schools to do the same for students. +++
The time off requirement only kicks in for employees if they don’t have a full 2 hours block of time to vote (i.e. they start before 8 AM and work past 5 PM). School hours aren’t that long.
- Hal - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
I’d like to propose a bill that ensures I’m on any commissions or boards I choose. How dare there be something where I’m not represented in the manner I demand.
- JS Mill - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
=Use high schools as polling centers and use some of the students as election judges.=
Both are already happening in some schools and have been for a while.
- Klaus VonBulow - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
In regards to the Tollway bill; didn’t the Governor’s office reach out to the legislatiors regarding these appointments? In the past that was protocol to reach out members and various community leaders.
- revvedup - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 3:41 pm:
It’s comical that we’ve given high school students the responsibility of voting, but we won’t let them smoke, drink, or own firearms until they’re 21. Now why do they need two hours off to vote, as others said there’s plenty of time after school…
Tollway board should be broader based; let each county the tollway(s) run(s) through have a seat.
- wondering - Friday, Apr 12, 19 @ 3:57 pm:
The Rock bill should have gone down. Exempting LaSalle County residents is goofy. These are the people, because of proximity, who use the park the most. Resin pandering again. I live in LaSalle.