NEW LAW WILL CHANGE CEMETERY REGULATION

On January 19, Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation that will impose new regulations on cemeteries.

House Bill 1188 (PA 96-0863) was introduced in response to the scandal at Burr Oak Cemetery in Chicago. Cemetery workers are currently awaiting trial on felony charges that they dug up bodies and then resold burial plots.

Though religious and government cemeteries have been partially exempted from the legislation, approximately 12 percent of the cemetery industry will be fully regulated under the new law.

Republicans and several downstate Democrats opposed the measure. I understand the desire to ensure Illinois’ cemeteries are operating appropriately, but the legislation was rushed, and lacks specific information on new fees and licensure and education requirements, or how much they will cost.

KUDOS

Congratulations to the 335 students in the 44th District who have been named as Illinois State Scholars for 2010.

These students rank in the top 10 percent of the state’s high school seniors from 725 high schools across Illinois. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of their junior year.

High school guidance counselors work with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to determine which students have earned this honor.

A LOT OF HISTORIC FIRSTS

Governor Pat Quinn presented his first State of the State address January 13 to a joint session of the General Assembly.

This Governor has the dubious honor of presiding over an Administration that has achieved a number of historic firsts: the largest deficit, the worst credit rating, the worst backlog of unpaid bills, and the largest taxpayer debt.

Adding oversight to the state’s inmate classification system, and forestalling the early release of prisoners who should spend more time behind bars, is the intent of legislation introduced January 14 by Senator Bill Brady.

Senate Bill 2588 requires that the initial inmate classification and placement system within the Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) be reviewed and approved by the state’s Prisoner Review Board.

“Inmate classification is a key component of the correctional system, in which offenders are assessed and grouped together with other like inmates for purposes of security and custody. Classification can be used for decisions on inmate housing, access to programs, placement location, level of privileges and amount of liberty within prison,” Senator Brady said. “It also can also be used as a resource management tool to move inmates through various levels to address institutional population pressures. Many have expressed concerns that Corrections is resorting to a more arbitrary approach to address fiscal constraints.”