* Capitol News Illinois…
State lawmakers are considering changes to an internet privacy law that recently led to a $650 million settlement between Facebook and more than 1 million of the website’s users in Illinois.
A state House judiciary committee advanced House Bill 559 on Tuesday, a measure that would revisit the Biometric Information Privacy Act of 2008, known as BIPA, to include provisions which sponsors say will protect small businesses but detractors say will render the privacy law obsolete.
House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, introduced the bill, saying thousands of BIPA related lawsuits have been filed against big businesses and small businesses alike, hitting the “small guys” the hardest. […]
“Since that case (Rosenbach v. Six Flags), we’ve seen an explosion,” Kearicher said. “As of last month, we were up to 1,076 cases filed, both open and closed, in a two year period here in Illinois alone.”
* Also from CNI…
A bill that would expand the use of political campaign funds to include child care and elderly home care expenses advanced out a state Senate committee on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 536 would amend the state election code to allow candidates to spend political committee funds on part-time or full-time child care or dependent elder home care expenses, as long as those expenses are “necessary for fulfillment of political, governmental or public policy duties, activities or purposes,” the bill states.
The bill would also apply to candidates running for political office, as well as officeholders, campaign staff or volunteers.
Sen. Melinda Bush, a Democrat from Grayslake who sponsored SB 536, said the measure “helps us level the playing field for people that want to run for office, and maybe don’t have the financial wherewithal to cover those childcare, and eldercare expenses.”
* WICS…
Another proposed bill, HB374, would allow community colleges and local housing authorities to collaborate and build affordable housing for college students.
“I was in discussions a few years ago with our local community college board here, Danville Area Community College, about maybe trying some affordable housing projects for the college,” Rep. Michael Marron, R-Danville, said. “I think we came to realize it wasn’t legally possible at that time.”
Marron says he believes the Danville community is interested in pursuing more affordable housing for local community college students.
* Press release…
An Illinois law that requires a young person seeking an abortion to involve an adult family member is dangerous for youth in the state, violates their human rights, and threatens their health and safety, Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois said in a report released today. The Illinois General Assembly should repeal the law, the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act, as a matter of urgency according to the report.
Under the Parental Notice of Abortion Act, a doctor providing care to a young person under age 18 seeking an abortion in Illinois must notify a designated adult family member – a parent, grandparent, step-parent living in the home, or legal guardian – at least 48 hours beforehand. If there is a reason that the young person is not able to have one of these family members notified, the young person can go to court and ask a judge for permission to have the procedure without this forced family involvement, in a process known as “judicial bypass.”
The 73-page report, “‘The Only People It Really Affects Are the People It Hurts’: The Human Rights Impacts of Parental Notice of Abortion in Illinois,” is the product of a collaboration between Human Rights Watch and the ACLU of Illinois. The groups found that young people often seek judicial bypass because they fear physical or emotional abuse, being kicked out of the home, alienation from their families or other deterioration of family relationships, or being forced to continue a pregnancy against their will. The groups also documented the hardships faced by young people forced to involve unsupportive family members in their abortion decision or navigate an unfamiliar court system to obtain a judicial bypass, and the additional stress and delays in seeking care this caused.
The report is here.
* Almost three weeks after it’s filed and suddenly it’s an issue? Also, no co-sponsors and it’s still in Rules Committee…
“I’m flabbergasted;” New bill proposal would require bachelor’s degree for officers
A bill proposed by Rep. Jaime Andrade (D – 40th District) would require police and corrections officers to have bachelor’s degrees with majors or minors in social work in order to move from probationary to permanent officers.
He filed it February 22, the same day Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill into law.
Some law enforcement officials are worried this legislation doesn’t reflect the realities of the job.
*** UPDATE *** A zinger from Kyle Hillman, the Director of Legislative Affairs for the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter…
While we appreciate the sponsor’s acknowledgement of the importance of social workers for their knowledge of human development and behavior, of social, economic, and cultural institutions, and their understanding of how all these factors interact—we also recognize that today’s modern law enforcement would never agree to abide a social worker’s code of ethics. And likewise, today’s social worker would never agree to have their profession co-opted by today’s law enforcement.
While we can’t imagine a scenario where this bill passes in the Illinois General Assembly, and while we are focused on how to replace armed interventions with therapeutic ones, if this bill was ever to move, it would be a hard no from us.
Ouch.
* Arguing that a bill doesn’t solve all problems…
Opponents to the legislation, including Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said the bill would not relieve other pressures that lead to pharmacies closing, including financial pressures.
“A pharmacy could still have other business pressures that jeopardize their success, individuals could just choose not to go to a certain pharmacy and that could lead to their closure,” Demmer said. “There are a number of factors at play there.”
* Read to the bottom line…
An Illinois lawmaker wants to get rid of a required test for teachers before they can step into the classroom.
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The test is called edTPA. It’s a performance-based and subject-specific exam. […]
State Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Louisville, said the test is expensive, and requiring it is making the teacher shortage worse. […]
[Illinois Regional Superintendent Kyle Thompson] believes instead of requiring the edTPA exam, local schools should be allowed to evaluate the candidate and determine if they are qualified to teach in their classrooms.
* Related…
* Bill to make exceptions to Illinois eviction ban fails to pass committee
* Illinois Senator wants to tax your carpet [ADDING: Sen. Melinda Bush points out that the only carpet manufacturers which will pay this new fee are located in Georgia]
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 11:40 am:
The GOP has been hollering about Facebook, Twitter, et al, infringing on their rights and here they are trying to advance a bill that strips their constituents of their rights because apparently a lot of businesses went about collecting illegal data on Illinois residents.
===The test is called edTPA. It’s a performance-based and subject-specific exam.===
Getting rid of this test is a terrible idea. The requirement to make sure that the person who could be teaching 10th grade geometry can do 10th grade geometry is a good one.
Removing the state wide test puts rural school districts in a situation where they may be forced to hire candidates that are literally not qualified by our current standards, and unable to successfully study and cram to take a test that people interested in education know they have to take.
The end result is a situation where students in more rural districts are being taught by less qualified educators. People representing these areas shouldn’t be advocating for policies that stack the deck against the children that live in their district.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 11:52 am:
Always thought police officers should have to =minor= in law enforcement, with a major in something else. For example (as the FBI has discovered), maybe fraud investigators having a major in business / accounting? For larger departments with a greater number of officers, maybe youth officers having a major in psychology? Organized crime investigators having a major in business / economics?
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 11:54 am:
Smarter cops are a good thing. It’s even worth underwriting some of the expense. The long term benefits make it a good investment.
- Steve Polite - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 11:56 am:
“the bill would not relieve other pressures that lead to pharmacies closing”
But it does purport to solve the problem for which it was created: managed care administrators forcing medicaid patients to use a preferred pharmacy that may not be preferable or convenient for the patient. Patients should be able to go to the pharmacy of their choice.
- Interim Retiree - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 11:56 am:
edTPA is almost worthless IMHO. 90+% pass the test, costs $300 per student-teacher, and takes up a lot of time that one should be spending on actual classroom teaching.
Surprised somewhat that Republican legislators are on this. 2 years ago it was Will Guzzardi that proposed doing away w/it. It’s a chance for real bipartisanship for a change.
- JoanP - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:00 pm:
= Arguing that a bill doesn’t solve all problems =
I’ve always wondered if people making that argument take the same attitude towards repairs of their homes. “No, we can’t repair the boiler because that won’t stop the roof leak.”
- DuPage Guy - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:01 pm:
==HB374, would allow community colleges and local housing authorities to collaborate and build affordable housing for college students==
That’s an interesting idea. I don’t see why not?
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:02 pm:
Regarding the changes to the privacy law proposed by Durkin.
“hitting the “small guys” the hardest.”
This raises an important question of just how many ’small guys’ are collecting, using and selling for profit your biometric data without your consent.
Which seems to point to the fact that this law is very much still required in its current form.
- WillREz - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:08 pm:
The eviction moratorium is a year old. Left in its present form, the moratorium has now outlived most twelve month leases.
- Perrid - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:11 pm:
The language around minors having to notify a parent/adult before having an abortion is just downright strange. Minors need their parents to sign off on most things. Of course we can have a discussion about whether that should be a universal rule, about how to handle the “transition” period that is adolescence, about what the consequences of such a policy might be, that all makes sense, but saying needing a parents permission to have a medical procedure a violation of human rights is ridiculous, and making a statement like that is counterproductive because it pours gasoline on your credibility and lights a match.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:15 pm:
“Some law enforcement officials are worried this legislation doesn’t reflect the realities of the job.”
I have yet to meet the politician that fully understands the realities of my job or most jobs. Legislation is never perfect.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:22 pm:
Perrid, it is not supposed to be permission, it is supposed to be notification. The reason permission is not required is because giving birth is something that will affect the now minor eventually adult long into their adult life.
Parental notification is supposed to be about informing the guardian so they can look for signs of post op infection etc. as well as have appropriate conversations about birth control etc. not so they can sign on or off on it.
I’d be curious about stats on this. How many girls have been prevented by their guardians from having an abortion (locked up, deprived of money for the procedure etc.) or how many have been harmed by guardians as a result of being informed about the pregnancy itself.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:23 pm:
Better educated Police is moving toward solution…better pay would also help.
- SouthSide Markie - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:24 pm:
== That’s an interesting idea. I don’t see why not? ==
I agree with this. However, when it was discussed about 20-plus years ago, the State’s 4-year college and universities were very opposed because they saw it as competition. The thought was that students may be less attracted to 4 year schools if they could pay less and still have a dorm-like experience at a community college. I don’t agree with that. But when Joliet Junior College partnered with its Foundation to do student housing, it turned into a spectacular failure that ended up with broken down buildings being taken over by a receiver. https://www.shawlocal.com/2018/05/30/jjc-foundation-loses-control-of-student-housing/a1r8laz/
- Frank talks - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:26 pm:
So can’t candidates already pay themselves a salary? A private company may give childcare as a benefit but its usually up to a household to decide what best options are for childcare and how to pay for it out of their salaries? Why doesn’t the candidate just take a salary from the campaign and pay the childcare expenses? It’s already the law.
I get candidates don’t want to look like they’re taking a salary while running for office but if you’re receiving financial benefits, like childcare, elder care or even insurance then officially you are taking compensation to run for office.
- Morty - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:35 pm:
It would certainly seem that Bailey has a conflict of intrest with the edTPA.
Noy arguing the merits or lack of merits of the test, but Bailey should acknowledge that it effects his ’school’.
- Frenchy - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
So, under the proposed bill, my brother in law who went straight from high school to the Air Force and served 8 years in the security force wouldn’t be qualified to be police?
- Perrid - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
cermak_rd, thanks for that clarification. I understand all the turmoil over it even less now. If a kid telling their parents they’re pregnant puts them at risk, it seems like there’s bigger problems going on than the pregnancy, to say the least. Making sure parents (guardians, whatever) are informed what minors are doing is important.
- Give Us Barabbas - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 12:45 pm:
I have no idea what they taught your brother in military training. If they gave him the equivalent of a bachelor degree in criminal justice and one in social work or psychology, I’d say he’d probably make it.
But I worry that too often a police department waives all that for people with weapons skills only. And the ROE and mission of a warfighter is not the same as being a civilian cop. There is overlap, sure, but two very different missions.
- Peters Piece - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 1:22 pm:
Holding two degrees in Social Work I cannot think why this would be the relevant degree for Law Enforcement. If Criminal Justice is not the most appropriate degree then create a Law Enforcement degree. That said, Social Work does have some relevance to the future of Law Enforcement.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 1:23 pm:
I much preferred the pre-Facebook/Twitter World…bigly.
- Payback - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 1:36 pm:
“…better pay would also help.” Last I knew, CPD started at least $60,000 annual salary, and up to around $80,000 within two years. The tired old 1960s argument was: “we as a society should pay police more, so they don’t take bribes.” All nonsense.
We as a society deserve the best qualified people we can find to work as police, since we pay them to make “life or death” decisions, right? Everyone else in the criminal court from the defense lawyers, to the prosecutors and judges, have at least the equivalent of a master’s degree (three years school after undergrad) so what’s the holdup here?
The dirty little secret is that lots of small towns want to hire thugs that are overpaid and underqualified, to keep “those people” out of “our town.” Rep. Andrade is really on to something- kudos to him.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 2:17 pm:
BIPA has some important protections around truly biometric data like fingerprints, DNA, and retina scans. Calling facial recognition biometrics is where I think the trouble lies. Literally, anyone with your photo can perform facial recognition with open source software. What protection does it give Twitter users when that same photo is being analyzed by Russia’s GRU ten ways to Sunday?
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 2:18 pm:
@Payback…Town’s don’t hire anyone… people do.
Your complaint is with them…I suppose.
- Str8Facts NoChaser - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 2:45 pm:
Thechampaignlife has a valid point. Substantive points aside though, the bipa bill is strictly about one law firm getting rich off of the issue and pretending to be a white knight advocate. the truth is, it is a sin and travesty that states attorneys and the attorney general didn’t step in and take control of that lawsuit so the state, as well as, the individual class members could have benefitted. facebook wouldve likely settled at the same exact level, or slightly higher, and the state would’ve got the money the firm did. we all should be wondering why county state’s attorneys and the AG didn’t step in on behalf of their constituencies, and what the relationship was that caused the AG office to sidestep the opportunity to enforce the law and recoup these damages for the taxpayers.
- DuPage - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
Who would pay for dorms for community colleges? Local property tax already pays for most of the community college funding already. The community colleges were set up so that students could take classes and save money by NOT having to live in a dorm.
- Merle Webb - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 3:51 pm:
I agree with State Senator Bailey (cannot believe I typed that) that edTPA isn’t worth the time or money. I have been a cooperating teacher for several student teachers and have found it is too time consuming and not relevant to classroom instruction.
- SouthSide Markie - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 4:10 pm:
== Who would pay for dorms for community colleges? ==
It’s a good point. When this idea was discussed 20 years ago, it was thought that the dorms would pay for themselves. But as was shown in the case of Joliet Junior College, that didn’t happen.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 4:35 pm:
Frenchy -
When ISP required a 4 year degree to be hired as a Trooper, for honorable discharge military veterans the requirement was a 2 year degree. Reasonable. Think law enforcement officers should have more than a high school diploma.
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 5:33 pm:
I encourage everyone to read the first link.
House Bill 559 would gut the Biometric Information Privacy Act.
– MrJM
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 6:22 pm:
Many very small towns cannot afford hiring only officers with Bachelor’s degree, and having a degree is not the same as having street smarts and the ever-hoped for common sense (which education is no substitution for, and vice versa). The FBI is hardly the professional model to follow, given that beat cops are not selectively investigating cases which may fall into their narrowly specialized degrees; they get whatever they roll up on or are dispatched to. Some academies already offer college credit upon successful completion of the academy through agreements with colleges and universities. The “dumb cop” is no longer as dumb as some people think, and not everybody with a degree is cut out to be out there.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Mar 11, 21 @ 8:54 pm:
thisjustinagain -
The “reason” to require college (or the military) is it shows the applicant has done something beyond High School. To be hired as a law enforcement officer in Illinois one must be 21. Sorry, don’t want my beat officer to be someone who graduated from High School and knocked around for 3-4 years.
- Chris - Friday, Mar 12, 21 @ 8:50 am:
Elective procedures and prescriptions for minors or “incompetent persons”, as the law refers to them, should only occur if the family is notified, unless there’s abuse, etc. In that case, there is a judicial bypass process and basically every minor who applies for that bypass gets a sign off by a judge. The ACLU has a hotline and has guided hundreds of minors through that process. Now they’re even doing the bypass through a zoom like meeting with judges. It’s as convenient as it can be while still protecting minors who do not know their health history as well as their parents do, who may be trafficked by someone who persuades them to get an abortion and hide it from their parents, and let’s parents know about this portion of the minor’s health history for future healthcare related things. I worry that handicapped girls in group homes could be abused, be pushed to get an abortion by their group home abuser, and the family will never know. We don’t make an exception for any other ELECTIVE procedure or prescription and I don’t think we should treat this one differently just because there’s big money behind it. Protecting minors and the disabled should be a sacred responsibility in our society and we should tell the lobbyists on this issue to pound sand.