Hi Everyone!
This is a longer edition of Capitol Corner that recaps the last legislative session (Spring 2023).
Please take your time and read through the whole issue – this is a longer issue and includes recap of legislative session, National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Advocacy Day, and ICADV’s in-person advocacy summary for the year.
You already know that our state line item for domestic violence services in the Department of Human Services budget is steady into FY24. It is important to see this as a success and not receiving cuts in the general revenue fund.
We continued and we are proud of our collaborative work with our partners in support and opposition to several bills.
Our collaborative partners include Women’s Justice Institute, Ascend Justice, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence, Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Equality Illinois, Planned Parenthood, Cook County State’s Attorney Office, Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and others.
I went to the NNEDV Advocacy Day in Washington, DC in June. This year I was fortunate to attend with and work alongside Sayeed Sanchez, Advocacy Coordinator, Mujeres Latinas en Acción and Carrie Ward, President and CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Our focus was on federal appropriations. We had the opportunity to meet with staff of two new Congress members: Nikki Budinski (who is also my Congress member) and Eric Sorensen. We re-established relationships with Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Mike Quigley, and Rep. Sean Casten. More information about our visit is below.
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In Peace,
Christine Raffaele
Director of Policy and Systems Advocacy
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SAFE-T ACT (PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT)
Ending Cash Bail Upheld by Illinois Supreme Court
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On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 the Illinois Supreme Court issued their decision to uphold the Pretrial Fairness Act or ending money bond in Illinois, in Rowe v. Raoul. This is a victory for ICADV as we, along with several other survivor-based advocacy organizations, were at the table negotiating survivor protections early on in the drafting of the language. ICADV is grateful to the End Money Bond Coalition, Sharone Mitchell, Senators Robert Peters, and Elgie Sims for including us in the process.
The Illinois Supreme Court indicated that implementation is to take place within sixty days after the filing of the opinion which is September 18, 2023. We will keep you updated on implementation news from the Illinois Pretrial Implementation Task Force. A very large thank you to the Advocacy, Funding, and Accountability Committee that created a work group who walked through all the details of the multiple drafts of the original bill, offered ideas, suggestions, and changes many of which many made it into the final act - without all of you ICADV would not be here today celebrating this victory.
There is really good analysis of the decision already out there so I will leave it to those who did the heavy lifting in reporting on the decision:
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The Illinois Supreme Court Pretrial Implementation Task Force was created in 2020 to prioritize and implement the recommendations of the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices Final Report and help prepare the justice system for the changes coming once the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) takes effect in 2023. The PFA was passed as part of the Public Act 101-0652, signed into law by the Governor in February 2021.
➤ Pretrial Implementation Task Force
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BILLS: WHAT PASSED & WHAT DID NOT | |
➤ HB2297, Gender Inclusive Data Reports
➤ HB2493, Victim Econ Security and Safety
➤ HB2607, Crim Pro Child Testimony
➤ HB2841, Vital Record Certify Letter
➤ HB3103, Order of Protection Military
➤ HB1197 Charit Org Report
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➤ HB1347, DHS-Diaper Allowance
➤ HB3596, Crime Victims Compensation
➤ SB1478, DCFS Due Process Youth in Care
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ICADV was in Washington, DC June 5 through June 8 for Advocacy Day on the Hill on June 7, 2023. It so great having Carrie Ward, President/CEO, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Sayeed Sanchez, Advocacy Coordinator, from Mujeres Latinas en Acción. Christine, Carrie, and Sayeed attended the preparation day on June 6. On June 7, the three attended a record high of 13 meetings in one day with Illinois Congressional members and staff including both Senators. During the meetings, the group highlighted the need for federal appropriations that support domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. Highlighting two key issues that the Family Violence Prevention Services Act needs appropriation without the reauthorization passing through last year and for the Victims of Crime Act to be funded at a higher level that was is currently in the Crime Victims Trust Fund. Christine followed up with thank you letters to all that included offers for Congress members to visit their local service provider since many districts have changed and with the new Congress members. If you have an interest in hosting your Congress member and would like Christine to help facilitate, please contact Christine. | |
Christine Raffaele (ICADV), Carrie Ward (ICASA), and Sayeed Sanchez (Mujeres) at the NNEDV Advocacy congressional reception. | | |
Christine Raffaele at the NNEDV Advocacy Day. | | |
Sayeed Sanchez (Mujeres), Congressman LaHood, Carrie Ward (ICASA), and Christine Raffaele (ICADV). | |
IN-PERSON ICADV MEMBER ADVOCACY RECAP | |
The Advocacy, Funding and Accountability (AFA) Committee has a workgroup to help support membership in developing their own in person advocacy efforts. The Committee was engaged in several activities this last fiscal year. The Committee kicked off legislative session with a training on Legislative Advocacy in January that featured lobbying vs. advocacy, the legislative process, and in person advocacy and building relationships. ICADV had 85 registrants and overall feedback was positive. If you would like access to the training, please contact Christine.
After the Legislative Advocacy training, there were seven members that came to Springfield and participated in 25 separate meetings with their legislators. To end the legislative session, we had a legislative town hall and had 47 attendees, 7 legislators attend, 6 Representatives and 1 Senator.
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Vickie Smith (ICADV), Lori Mitchell (ICASA), Mutual Ground with Senator Cristina Castro | | |
Vickie Smith (ICADV), Mutual Ground with Representative Maura Hirschauer | | |
Christine Raffaele (ICADV), Lori Mitchell (ICASA), Western Illinois Regional Council - Community Action Agency Victim Services (WIRC-CAA) with Representative Norine Hammond | |
Christine Raffaele (ICADV), YWCA Sauk Valley with Representative Bradley Fritts | | |
Mujeres Latinas en Accion with Senator Ann Gillespie | | |
Christine Raffaele (ICADV), Family Resources with Representative Greg Johnson | |
Western Illinois Regional Council - Community Action Agency Victim Services (WIRC-CAA) with Representative Dan Swanson | | |
Christine Raffaele (ICADV), Carrie Ward (ICASA), Susan Bursztynsky (Safe Journeys) with Representative Dennis Tipswood, Jr. | | |
Carrie Ward (ICASA), Susan Bursztynsky (Safe Journeys) with Representative Jason Bunting | |
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