Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Alan Greiman
Next Post: *** UPDATED x3 *** JCAR votes against extending school mask mandate rule, which means, as of now, there is no rule
Posted in:
* In this case, it’s not a bill yet, but may be soon. WCIA…
A panel of House lawmakers reviewed building code protocols and heard testimony from emergency management experts at a warehouse standards hearing on Monday in an effort to improve workplace safety during natural disasters.
The House Labor and Commerce Committee held the hearing in response to the EF-3 tornado that tore the roof from the Edwardsville Amazon fulfillment center last December. The building collapsed, killing six workers inside and seriously injuring another.
Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) and Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) both represent districts ravaged by the tornado.
“Our obligation as elected officials to look at whether or not there were things that could have been done with regard to the building code, with regard to the safety of workers,” Hoffman said. […]
State legislators have not yet filed legislation in response to the tragedy.
* Capitol News Illinois…
A bill in the Illinois House would do away with the sub-minimum wage paid to waitresses, bartenders and other tipped service workers.
Rep. Camille Lilly, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 5139 last month. If the bill becomes law, workers who supplement their wages with tips will receive the state’s minimum wage starting on Jan. 1, 2025, in addition to their tips.
Its passage may be a tall order, however, as the Illinois Restaurant Association successfully lobbied when lawmakers overhauled the minimum wage schedule in 2019 to allow businesses to continue to pay less than minimum wage to employees who earn tips.
Lilly’s bill has currently not received a full committee assignment and has no cosponsors.
* Mike Miletich…
An Illinois House Democrat hopes to help more people get previous cannabis charges expunged from their record. Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) says some still face a barrier because of the drug test required before expungement.
Recreational marijuana has been legal in Illinois since January 1, 2020. One of the major components of the legalization law was the automatic expungement of nearly 500,000 marijuana arrest records. Although, some people are still waiting to have a clean slate today.
Ammons says people not eligible for expungement right now may be rejected because of marijuana found in their system. She hopes to remove cannabis testing from the requirement for expungement to help speed up the process. Ammons told the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee that many also end up paying an extra $75-$100 to take the drug test while people across the state can legally use cannabis.
“It’s not going the way this legislative body intended it to go,” said Mark Mitchell, an advocate with Teamwork Englewood. “It’s not happening in four months. It’s taking 18-19 months to get this done on the regular.” […]
Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) said he believes the bill’s current language could be interpreted to expand the number of offenses eligible for expungement. Windhorst argues the bill could expand eligibility for people with any felony drug offenses, including the distribution of drugs.
* WQAD…
A new proposal would add armed security with caseworkers on visits they feel could turn violent.
“It’s definitely a potentially dangerous environment,” ACLU of Illinois member Heidi Dalenberg said.
“They are trained to support the staff that they’re with,” McCombie said.
McCombie, who’s been a strong advocate for DCFS, said she supports the bill.
The same cannot be said for the ACLU of Illinois.
“The best person to have with you is another social worker trained person,” Dalenberg said.
McCombie feels an additional worker would add more risk and that there are not enough workers to handle the current workload.
* Press release…
Following another murder of an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) employee, State Senator Steve McClure (R-Springfield) and State Representative Sandy Hamilton have filed new legislation designed to help these employees protect themselves.
“It is legal for people to carry pepper spray for their own protection, as many do all over this state. Yet DCFS workers who have to walk into abusive homes are not allowed that same protection,” said Senator McClure. “This is a common-sense step to help them stay safe while performing what is an incredibly important job.”
McClure has filed Senate Bill 4165 in the Senate and Hamilton has filed identical legislation as House Bill 5688 in the House. The bills would allow DCFS employees to carry mace or pepper spray for defensive purposes while investigating child abuse and neglect. The employees would be required to complete a short training program from the Illinois State Police on the proper use of pepper spray.
“It is sad that we have to make a law for our state workers to be able to protect themselves,” said Representative Hamilton. “It is the right thing to do so that those who are working to protect abused children can also have at least one tool to protect themselves in these situations. This is something they can keep on a key chain to disable an attacker long enough to get away and get help.”
The legislation is in response to the murders of two DCFS investigators. Deidre Silas was stabbed to death in January at a home in Thayer during the course of an investigation. In February of 2018, Pamela Knight died in the hospital from injuries sustained during a brutal attack that occurred while she was trying to take a child into protective custody.
The lawmakers unveiled their bills at a press conference at the Illinois State Capitol on Tuesday, February 15th. They were joined by other lawmakers from across the state, along with former DCFS employees who spoke in support of the legislation.
* Related…
* Extended Interview: Senator Robert Peters on public safety, ending cash bail
* Extended Interview: Senator Jason Barickman on state budget, crime
* Many Metro East warehouses don’t have tornado shelters despite a low price tag
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 1:58 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Alan Greiman
Next Post: *** UPDATED x3 *** JCAR votes against extending school mask mandate rule, which means, as of now, there is no rule
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
I used to think I understood tipping at restaurants. I tipped 20% for good service, 15% for average service, and 10% for lousy service when I paid the bill. Several years ago my family went out to a local restaurant to eat dinner. We all stood in line for 10 minutes waiting to place our orders. I was the last one to place my order and got ready to pay. The guy taking my order flipped his Ipad around and said “would you like to tip 10, 15, or 20% in front of my entire family and everyone else standing in line. I personally think that restaurants should pay people a living wage and the legislature should outlaw gratuity.
Comment by Southern IL Bob Too Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:43 pm
Another interesting bill that has been put forth by Guzzardi with no co-sponsors is HB5377. The basic jist is that it ups the minimum wage for higher education support employees beginning next fiscal year to a base of $20 per hour. I don’t know where this one will go but I feel like this one can be placed in the “no chance in hell of passing” pile. I know Dems love to raise the minimum wage but this definitely seems like a reach. Plus, I have a hard time seeing the justification of basically blowing past the rest of the minimum wage at this point by $8 an hour.
Thoughts Rich???
Comment by Jvslp Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 2:51 pm
I have had both very good and very poor service at restaurants (back before covid). What should be in the law is the person who actually is given a tip for their good service would get to KEEP their tip and not turn it in to the employer.
Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 3:26 pm
I’m for the improved building codes, but this would be a good time to get the insurance companies on board to tighten up their own standards for insuring these kinds of buildings. The financial issues will drive the improvements much faster than legislation would, and enforce them better.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 4:19 pm
@DuPage AFAIK it already illegal through FLSA for the employer to keep tips paid to employees. Managers are not allowed to share tips in any sort of tip pool either. I do not know how that would change though if Illinois changed it to tipped employees get paid the normal minimum wage though.
Comment by Aaron B Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 5:22 pm
DCFS still has hundreds of unfilled positions. In an ideal situation no one would ever go on one of those calls alone, regardless of whether or not they’re accompanied by an armed individual. DCFS needs a heavy lift to bring on board, train, and develop hundreds of employees. They need more trained professionals — hiring a bunch of rent a cops won’t get them any closer to meeting their agencies needs or successfully address their structural problems.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, Feb 15, 22 @ 10:59 pm