It’s just a bill
Thursday, Feb 2, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
Every morning before sending her two kids off to second and third grade, Sadiya Zackria checks the school’s breakfast and lunch menu to see whether she’ll have to send along a brown bag. […]
According to the Halal Food Standards Alliance of America, zabiha refers to meat that comes from an animal that was hand-slaughtered instead of machine-cut in a way that aims to ensure the animal does not suffer and is treated humanely. Also, the Muslim individual who cuts the meat must recite tasmiya, or the name of God, when doing so. Halal is an Arabic word that means “permissible” and refers to foods and other things that are allowed in Islam. […]
But a new Illinois bill, slated to be voted on in the spring legislative session, would be a game changer for students and parents, and any individual who requires food from a state-operated facility, said Maaria Mozaffar, director of advocacy and policy at the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition.
If passed, the Faith By Plate Act would ensure that any state-owned or state-operated facilities such as hospitals, schools and prisons that provide food services or cafeteria services also offer zabiha-halal and kosher food options upon request when provided with notice. […]
The bill was co-sponsored by State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, who said that a piece of legislation that was passed last year — the plant-based lunch bill that will go into effect in August — gave them a few pointers.
* Brenden Moore picked out a baker’s dozen of new bills to glance at. Here are some…
* Senate Bill 43, introduced by state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-Chicago, would remove the 2024 sunset date on the state law permitting bars and restaurants to sell to-go cocktails. Lawmakers approved the measure on a temporary basis in 2020 as a means of helping the state’s hospitality industry survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The law, initially in effect for one year, was extended for another three years in 2021. […]
* Senate Bill 95, introduced by state Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Park Ridge, would prohibit a legislator from engaging in paid lobbying of a municipality, county, township or the executive branch of state government.
* Senate Bill 100, introduced by state Sen. Laura Fine, D-Evanston, states that starting in 2025, a retail establishment may not use a disposable food service container that is composed of polystyrene foam. […]
* House Bill 1110, introduced by state Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, would give people the option to carry a digital driver’s license. A person would not be issued a citation for driving without a physical driver’s license if they present a digitized driver’s license. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has also expressed support for the concept.
* The time may have finally come for another bill on that list: HB1113…
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that, beginning with the next registration year after the effective date, the Secretary of State shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles and the registration plate shall be attached to the rear (instead of front and rear) of the motor vehicle.
Secretary of State Jesse always resisted efforts to make this change. The Tollway has also expressed concern because of their plate reading technology, but Florida has rear-only plates and they have a large toll system.
* And, finally, a bill from Tennessee, introduced by state Rep. Joe Towns, Jr. (D-Memphis)…
As introduced, removes Columbus Day as a legal holiday; designates the first Monday after the Super Bowl as a legal holiday.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:11 am:
=the Faith By Plate Act=
My question, and I have emailed our contractor, is how easy is it to find compliant meals/food. I think the bill is good and food should be compliant with needs, I just am not sure how rural schools like us who have observant muslim students (we have several families) will find compliant supplies if requested.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:13 am:
===As introduced, removes Columbus Day as a legal holiday; designates the first Monday after the Super Bowl as a legal holiday.===
Cue the howling from the Italian American community and the cheering from Cook County Correctional Officers.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:19 am:
I tend to just order vegetarian when I’m out and about and kosher is not available because vegetarian is by its very nature kosher (unless there are a lot of insects in the vegetables!) I think the same would be true for halal.
Of course, there are Jains. They are vegans and they do not eat roots (becuase to eat a root is to kill the plant).
- Stones - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:36 am:
I live in Florida and the rear license plate system works great. We’ve never had an issue with the toll system, the state will save money by not having to issue front plates which are really unattractive to everyone except the bugs. To me this is a tap in putt for Illinois.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:44 am:
- vegetarian is by its very nature kosher -
As long as there is a vegetarian option I’m not in favor of this bill. I’m all for religious freedom and reasonable accommodations, but this strikes me as public funding of religious practices.
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:49 am:
Jesse White was correct about the front license plate. One time in his tenure he said it was there for the benefit of law enforcement. The implication, which I agree with, is removing it handicaps law enforcement.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:55 am:
==but this strikes me as public funding of religious practices==
So too bad so sad for these students? A school has a responsibility for ALL of it’s students in terms of providing them a meal while they are at school. I see no problem giving these students an option. You are taking the religious argument to the extreme here.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:57 am:
- So too bad so sad for these students? -
What part of vegetarian option do you not understand?
- Stuck in Celliniland - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:58 am:
==designates the first Monday after the Super Bowl as a legal holiday.==
How about the NFL moves the Super Bowl to the Sunday of Presidents’ Day weekend instead? (Cue the howling from NASCAR fans upset that this will lead to the Daytona 500 date change).
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 11:59 am:
==What part of vegetarian option do you not understand?==
I just happen to believe your argument about funding religion is just a bit ridiculous. Please.
- Retired SURS Employee - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:04 pm:
=The Faith by Plate Act=
60 years too late for me! Although I do not keep kosher, my Mother and Grandmother did, so I had a sandwich from home throughout high school. (I went home for lunch while in grammar school). Of course, the high school entrees tended to look inedible anyway.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
== A person would not be issued a citation for driving without a physical driver’s license if they present a digitized driver’s license. ==
I thought current law, or at least practice, was to allow something like 24 hours to produce a physical copy of you didn’t have it on you.
And even that seems a bit ridiculous in these days of instant access to databases with all the DL information, including photos.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:13 pm:
- I just happen to believe your argument about funding religion is just a bit ridiculous. Please. -
Oh. You must not have read where the article explains the meat has to be butchered by a member of a specific religion who is verified to have recited the name of specific god while doing the butchering. It’s pretty clear really.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:13 pm:
==designates the first Monday after the Super Bowl as a legal holiday.==
Although this is from Tennessee, in Illinois at least state employees will have the day after the Super Bowl off both this year and next. Due to Lincoln’s Birthday; it will be on Feb. 13 this year due to the 12th being on Super Bowl Sunday.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:14 pm:
== shall issue one registration plate (instead of 2) for newly registered motor vehicles ==
A lot of states get by with just one.
I don’t suppose there will be a reduction in the registration for only missing one plate instead of two.
- Guy Probably - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:16 pm:
==I just am not sure how rural schools like us who have observant muslim students (we have several families) will find compliant supplies if requested.==
If those students are able to find food that fits their needs, I imagine the school system would be able to as well.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:20 pm:
==It’s pretty clear really.==
For someone who’s trying to make a hysterical argument that this is funding religion, maybe. To the rest of us no so much.
- thechampaignlife - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:33 pm:
===I don’t suppose there will be a reduction in the registration for only missing one plate instead of two.===
Heck, I would take only having to renew every 3 years or so, even if there is no discount for the obvious savings. It saves me the hassle of dealing with it as often.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:35 pm:
==would give people the option to carry a digital driver’s license==
Not me, I’ll keep my plastic version. It’s easier to pull out my wallet and show it rather than thumb around my phone to find it.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:48 pm:
The school lunch items seems like a nightmare.
THe “to go” was designed to provide some balance for the restaurant shutdown while gas stations, groceries etc. could sell. Single plates probably puts workers out of a job. Same for digital license. Good way to bring down head count/
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 12:51 pm:
=…this strikes me as public funding of religious practices. =
I’m sure the fish patties they gave us in school lunches on Fridays during Lent were more expensive than the mystery “meat” we got the rest of the week. Yet somehow I don’t remember anyone making a religious argument out of it.
- froganon - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:04 pm:
==I just am not sure how rural schools like us who have observant muslim students (we have several families) will find compliant supplies if requested.==
The legislature needs to clearly define the limits of what efforts schools must undertake to acquire compliant foods. A butcher within a 5 mile radius that will deliver at a cost that is comparable to the cost of meat served to the others in the system or a butcher located anywhere in the State, at whatever cost, and send an employee to pick up the food weekly. Schools have a lot of unfunded mandates and many are struggling to hire enough staff to deliver education now. By defining exactly what level of service is required, legislators can avoid the legal wrangling that could pit observant families against their local school. Reasonable solutions where everyone’s needs are accommodated are there.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:13 pm:
- I don’t remember anyone making a religious argument out of it. -
Can you not read? They’re calling this the Faith by Plate Act. Are you under the impression it’s not related to religion?
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:26 pm:
=Are you under the impression it’s not related to religion?=
It is, but I don’t remember anyone arguing about it as you are right now. Are you equally vocal in your objection to fish patties on Fridays as you are about these proposed dietary accommodations?
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:41 pm:
- Are you equally vocal in your objection to fish patties on Fridays as you are about these proposed dietary accommodations? -
Is there a law that mandates schools provide fish on Fridays? If so count me as vehemently opposed. As a staunch atheist I’m against religious mandates of all stripes.
- ChicagoBars - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:45 pm:
Trying to keep open mind here but not looking forward to waiting to get into a bar on holidays or into a concert anytime while somebody ahead of me fumbles with their phone trying to pull up a digital ID.
- Mason born - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 1:58 pm:
Ignoring the fuss about the insane idea of accommodating a child’s religious beliefs to eat a hot meal at school.
I wonder if some of the beyond meat substitutes would be halal/kosher as they are not meat.
- Dysfunction Junction - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 2:35 pm:
=I wonder if some of the beyond meat substitutes would be halal/kosher as they are not meat. =
A quick Google search indicates that they are both Halal and Kosher. Of course, the more excitable critics out there may object to this accommodation, as Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat tend to be a lot more expensive than the regular meat on the other kids’ plates. Perhaps a Solomonic approach would be to give every kid Beyond Meat. That way everyone’s treated the same and the vegans are happy too.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 3:01 pm:
You are going to make all the Nextdoor users have to go to the back of the car that stopped too long at a stop sign to get the license plate number?
- Dupage Mom - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 4:29 pm:
Are Title 1 schools still required to accept the lowest food vendor bid? Maybe remove that requirement so that they can look at other vendors who may offer these religious-friendly meals?
- JoeMaddon - Thursday, Feb 2, 23 @ 4:36 pm:
**Are Title 1 schools still required to accept the lowest food vendor bid? Maybe remove that requirement so that they can look at other vendors who may offer these religious-friendly meals?**
I mean, if this law passed, the bids would have to include the ability to offer these meals.
The requirement isn’t to accept the lowest bid. Its to accept the lowest bid that meets the requirements of the RFP.