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JCAR meets during pandemic

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Illinois

* Hannah Meisel at the Daily Line…

The Joint Commission on Administrative Rules met in the Stratton Building in Springfield despite federal recommendations banning large gatherings and Gov. JB Pritzker’s own executive orders

Commission Co-Chair State Sen. Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) said the lawmakers had no choice but to meet and extend emergency rules before they expire in the coming weeks in order to avoid possible legal battles down the road. […]

One of the most pressing set of emergency rules JCAR needed to vote to extend were ones approved by the Illinois State Board of Education in November after Tribune/ProPublica Illinois investigation into the use and potential abuse of isolation rooms in school settings for children who are deemed disruptive in classroom settings. The new rules prohibit the use of locked seclusion rooms and stop schools from using prone restraint. […]

“We would open things up to all sorts of legal debate about us renewing a rule after it was already expired,” Cunningham said. “Do we have ability to extend rule that already expired?”

The other emergency rule they extended was to collect parking tax revenues.

JCAR can meet, but the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform can’t.

Only 8 of JCAR’s 12 members attended, but a handful of staff were also in the hearing room. The public was not allowed into the room.

* Here’s something from Hannah’s story that I had missed…

A spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, which controls the Capitol Complex in Springfield — said the Capitol, the Stratton Building and the Howlett Building are closed to the public, though lawmakers, members of the media and state employees with identification are allowed in.

The SoS office closed the Capitol Complex to large groups on March 12. The entire complex was closed to the public on March 17.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:13 pm

Comments

so during Project Mayhem we ignore the state and federal recommendations. got it.

Comment by Baloneymous Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:25 pm
Of course, it’s extremely urgent and necessary to make sure rules stay in place governing activities at schools that currently sit empty. A true emergency.

Comment by fs Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:36 pm
===so during Project Mayhem we ignore the state and federal recommendations. got it.===

If only I could convey to you how important it is to extend emergency rules when most other rulemaking is shut down…

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:37 pm
== so during Project Mayhem we ignore the state and federal recommendations. got it. ==

No. State legislatures are deemed essential during the crisis. My nephew is an apprentice plumber who has continued to go to work on a construction site during the pandemic. They wear PPE when they can and try to maintain social distancing, just like they did at that JCAR meeting.

Legislators are part of the public safety/public health apparatus. They’re role isn’t as immediate as doctors and nurses or even supply-chain truck drivers. But they are part of it. They’re going to have to perform their duties at some point. As long as they meet as sparingly as possible and closely follow social distancing recommendations it’s okay.

Comment by Roman Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 2:43 pm
fs, there are schools for profoundly disabled students that continue to operate. These orders also apply to them and are vital.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 3:57 pm
Boloneymous - jeez dude, a dozen or 20 people in a room for what, a hour?, in order to keep the lights on is not outrageous. Calm down.

Comment by Perrid Wednesday, Apr 1, 20 @ 5:19 pm