It’s just a (dormant) bill
Friday, Jul 9, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Workers Center for Racial Justice…
Today, we’re calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker to ensure the SAFER Communities Act is funded by the federal ARP assistance.
The SAFER bill would reduce mass incarceration in Illinois, as well as create a job training program for formerly incarcerated people. This would not only keep people out of prison, but help them get jobs so they can take care of themselves and their families. This is a win-win for the community!
Take 30 seconds to send prewritten emails urging Governor Pritzker to ensure that the SAFER Communities Act is funded by the federal ARP assistance.
Our collective efforts have powered this important proposal forward in Springfield, but there is still work to be done.
Help push the SAFER Communities job program over the finish line by taking part in today’s digital action!
In Solidarity!
The language for the SAFER Communities Act is contained in House Floor Amendment 1 to HB3215. That amendment was sent to a committee in April and never moved. The whole thing is now sitting dormant in the Rules Committee.
I’m not sure how a governor is supposed to fund a program that isn’t in the statute books.
This was, by the way, the second such email I received from this group in the past few weeks.
- EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham - Friday, Jul 9, 21 @ 12:22 pm:
If that group wants that bill passed, they would be much better off incessantly contacting all Rules Committee members daily in order to get them to move it again.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jul 9, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
They should file witness slips in support for the next Rules Committee hearing
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Jul 9, 21 @ 1:19 pm:
This is a pretty harsh fiscal note from Revenue:
“the Department is unable to provide a fiscal impact estimate for House Bill 3215 because the legislation, as introduced, contains multiple drafting ambiguities, errors, and incomplete definitions.”
- Louisa Manske - Tuesday, Jul 13, 21 @ 11:05 pm:
WCRJ has split up the original SAFER Communities Act into two distinct policy initiatives.
First, WCRJ and the bill’s sponsor are working with state departments to ensure that ARP funding that was allocated in the 2022 budget is used to finance the jobs creation program contained in the SAFER Communities Act. Last month, the Biden Administration released updated guidance from the Department of Treasury specifying that ARP assistance can be directed toward job creation programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Second, WCRJ is working to advance the re-sentencing portion of the SAFER Communities Act in a new bill to be introduced this summer.