Bills on CIOGC’s 2017 Illinois Muslim Action Day (IMAD) agenda are advancing in the House and Senate and we need your help creating witness slips to move them forward! Bills must go through three readings in both the House and Senate, before they are presented to the Governor to sign or veto.
Illinois Trust Act (SB31)
This bill was introduced by Illinois Senate President, John J. Cullerton, and “provides that a law enforcement agency or official shall not (1) give any immigration agent access to any individual; (2) transfer any person into an immigration agent’s custody; (3) permit immigration agents use of agency electronic databases not available to the public, for investigative interviews or other investigative purpose in executing an immigration enforcement operation; or (4) respond to immigration agent inquiries regarding any individual’s incarceration status, release date, or contact information.”
The Trust Act was first presented and passed in the Senate and is now assigned to the House Executive Committee and scheduled for its first hearing on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 10:30am.
Ensuring Police Accountability (SB58)
This bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mattie Hunter and “Provides that: (1) each law enforcement officer who is involved in shooting must submit to drug and alcohol testing; and (2) the drug and alcohol testing must be completed after the officer-involved shooting but no later than the end of the involved officer’s shift or tour of duty.”
This bill passed in the Senate and is now assigned to the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee and scheduled for first hearing on Thursday, May 25, 2017 11:00am.
What is a witness slip?
A witness slip is a person or group’s position on a particular bill.
A witness slip can be filed by individuals on behalf of themselves, or on behalf of organizations.
A witness slip can be filed for any bill scheduled for a hearing in the Illinois Senate or House Committee, during the week prior to the hearing taking place.
You don’t have to be in Springfield to fill out a witness slip – you can fill it out easily online.
You only have to create a witness slip for the first hearing in each the House and Senate.
How to sign witness slips for these specific bills
Please follow these simple steps. It should only take about one minute to create the witness slip! 1. Fill in your personal information (name, address, agency) in part I marked “Identification.”
If you are submitting a witness slip on behalf of a particular organization, fill in the organization in part II marked “Representation.”
In part III marked “Position” select “Original Bill” from the drop down menu and click on the circle for “Proponent.”
In part IV marked “Testimony” select “Record of Appearance Only.”
Type in the text for the security check that ensures that a person is filling out the form.
Click the box marked “I Agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement.”
Click on “Create Slip.”
To call your representatives and ask them to support the TRUST ACT bill, please refer to this call script:
Script for Representative who has yet to commit:
“Hello, my name is ______________. I attend ______________ (Mosque) in your district. I am calling to ask _________(Representative) to support the Illinois TRUST Act (SB 31). It bars Illinois from participating in a Muslim registry, protects immigrants in general, and it will make me and my family feel more secure in my own State. Thank you.”
Script for Representative who has committed to support:
“Hello, my name is ______________. I attend ______________ (Mosque) in your district. I am calling to thank ______________ (Representative) for supporting the Illinois TRUST Act (SB 31). This is important legislation to me as it will make me and my family feel more secure in my own State. Thank you.“