SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Thursday, which included an investment for crisis response efforts, an expansion of housing support and an increase of job opportunities for homeless individuals.

 State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) released the following statement in response:

“Inflation and the economic hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for hardworking families. Illinois has delivered a responsible budget to provide greater assistance to low- and middle-class families.

“By creating and expanding existing programs that provide housing support and increase job opportunities for the homeless, our state is making an effort to assist those in need of housing and employment assistance. I am proud of our collective efforts to make Illinois a more welcoming, inclusive state.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson led a measure through the Senate to allow people with previous felony convictions to serve as an executor of someone else’s estate if expressly named.  

“We are taking a vital step to restore dignity and honor to families throughout Illinois to carry out the last wishes and affairs of loved ones,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “Families should be free to choose who takes on this sacred duty. This measure will be one less domino in the effects of permanent punishments that devastate children, families, and communities of color across Illinois.”

House Bill 1268 would allow people with previous felony convictions to act as executor of someone else’s estate. Under the measure, a convicted felon could only serve as an executor if the deceased person expressly names that person in their will and acknowledges they know the person is a convicted felon.

“This was personal for me because my father trusted me enough to appoint me his executor before he passed away and I was unable to carry out his last wishes due to a now over 25 year conviction,” said Marlon Chamberlain, Fully Free Campaign Manager. “HB 1268 restores the right to choose during one of the most difficult moments in life.”

Under the measure, the executor could be disqualified if they have been convicted of financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, financial identity theft or a similar crime in another state or federal court may be disqualified as an executor of an estate in Illinois.

"We are living proof that we are where we are supposed to be. We are living proof that system-impacted people have the capacity to do this work,” said Gregory Chambers, Live Free Policy and the Fully Free Governing Board. “We are living proof that we deserve to live free – fully free.”

“The passage of the FREE Act is not only about the elimination of one permanent punishment,” said
Avalon Betts Gaston, from the Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice. “But it is also about giving agency to the people who know us best to have us perform the final act of love for them. This is a victory for us, our families, and our communities.”

House Bill 1268 awaits final approval in the House. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson championed a measure to improve access to residential treatment for youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.

“We must uphold our promise to protect and support youth in care,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This measure will ensure more efficient and timely treatment for our youth in care.”

Johnson’s measure would require the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to develop a strategic plan to improve timely access to in-state residential treatment, evidence-based alternatives to treatment, and specialized foster care for youth in care with significant behavioral health needs.

According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois has only 13.8 behavioral health care professionals for every 10,000 residents. The erosion of the mental health care network in Illinois has a significant impact on access to care, increasing hospitalization for extended periods in emergency wards, and increasing expense for families of youth with complex intellectual or developmental disabilities. Most severely, it can lead to the willing relinquishment of a child into DCFS custody in order to fund psychiatric care.

“We have a duty to support youth in DCFS care,” said Johnson. “Unfortunately, these children are far too often forgotten – we must give them the immediate care they need.”

House Bill 439 passed the Senate Wednesday.

WAUKEGAN – Following the tragic death of Waukegan High School volleyball coach and middle school counselor Niolis Collazo, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) released the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened by senseless violence that has taken Niolis Collazo’s life all too soon. Our community sends its prayers, love and comfort to her family and friends.

“I would like to thank our first responders and our community in their efforts to assist the family during this devastating time.”