Photo of Joyce Mason
D Illinois House · District 61 On the 2026 ballot

Rep. Joyce Mason

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Total votes
6,855
all sessions
Attendance
92%
459 missed
Lower than 77% of chamber peers
With party
99%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
0%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
1,836
bills & resolutions
Higher than 94% of chamber peers
Committees
5
assignments
1,836 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
1,836
Primary
254
Co-sponsor
1,582
This page
1,836
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Co-sponsor SB 1641
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
SNAP-COLLEGE STUDENTS

Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to identify and flag college students who are potentially eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Provides that the factors to be used to determine potential SNAP eligibility shall be prescribed by ISAC in consultation with the Department of Human Services, but at a minimum shall include income information reported on a college student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Requires ISAC, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a notice that ISAC shall make available electronically to institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program to provide the notice in writing to all students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment and are identified by ISAC as potentially SNAP eligible. Requires ISAC to adopt rules. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 305 ILCS 5/12-4.13b Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but with the following changes and additions: Provides that the Department of Human Services shall consult with the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (rather than with the Illinois Workforce Investment Board) to establish a protocol to identify and verify all potential exemptions to certain federal eligibility rules under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Provides that a career and technical educational program approved by the Illinois Community College Board that could be a component of a SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) program, as identified by the Department of Human Services, shall be considered an employment and training program under a specified provision of the Code of Federal Regulations, unless prohibited by federal law. In provisions requiring the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to adopt rules concerning SNAP eligibility notifications to college students, requires ISAC to adopt the rules on or before October 1, 2020 (rather than on or before October 1, 2019). Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Requires the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) to annually include information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the language that schools are required to provide to students eligible for the Monetary Award Program grant (rather than requiring ISAC to identify and flag college students who are potentially eligible to receive SNAP benefits). Provides that the language shall, at a minimum, direct students to information about college student eligibility criteria for SNAP, and direct students to the Department of Human Services and to the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline for additional information. Requires Illinois institutions of higher education that participate in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to provide the notice to all students who are enrolled, or who are accepted for enrollment and intending to enroll, and who have been identified by ISAC as MAP-eligible at the institution (rather than requiring ISAC to develop, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, an electronic notice for institutions of higher education that includes, at a minimum, college student SNAP eligibility criteria, the Application for Benefits Eligibility's website address, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition's Hunger Hotline).

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 456
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
SCH CD-EMPLOYMENT-OFFENDERS

Amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the purpose of the Act. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 115 ILCS 5/1 Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9 from Ch. 122, par. 10-21.9 105 ILCS 5/21B-45 105 ILCS 5/21B-80 105 ILCS 5/24-14 from Ch. 122, par. 24-14 105 ILCS 5/34-18.5 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.5 105 ILCS 5/34-84b from Ch. 122, par. 34-84b Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Code. Provides that a check of the Statewide Sex Offender Database and Statewide Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Database must be conducted by the school district or regional superintendent, as applicable, once for every 5 years an applicant remains employed by a school district. Provides that no school board shall knowingly employ a person or knowingly allow a person to student teach who has been issued an indicated finding of abuse or neglect of a child by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or by a child welfare agency of another jurisdiction. Requires the State Board of Education to conduct random audits of Professional Educator Licensees to verify a licensee's fulfillment of required professional development hours. With regard to the conviction of certain offenses as grounds for disqualification for licensure or suspension or revocation of a license, provides that if the holder of a license or applicant for a license has been charged with attempting to commit, conspiring to commit, soliciting, or committing certain offenses, first degree murder, or a Class X felony or any offense committed or attempted in any other state or against the laws of the United States that, if committed or attempted in this State, would have been punishable as one or more of those offenses, the State Superintendent of Education shall immediately suspend the license or deny the application until the person's criminal charges are adjudicated through a court of competent jurisdiction. Makes other changes. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 105 ILCS 5/34-84b Adds reference to: 105 ILCS 5/10-20.69 new 105 ILCS 5/10-23.12 from Ch. 122, par. 10-23.12 105 ILCS 5/21B-75 105 ILCS 5/22-85 new 105 ILCS 5/22-86 new 105 ILCS 5/24-12 from Ch. 122, par. 24-12 105 ILCS 5/27A-5 105 ILCS 5/34-18.6 from Ch. 122, par. 34-18.6 105 ILCS 5/34-18.61 new 105 ILCS 5/34-85 from Ch. 122, par. 34-85 820 ILCS 40/8 from Ch. 48, par. 2008 820 ILCS 40/9 from Ch. 48, par. 2009 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Further amends the School Code. Provides that each school district must adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse investigations. Provides that, except for an educator licensed under the Educator Licensure Article of the Code, if a school board determines that any school district employee has willfully or negligently failed to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect, as required by the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, then the school board may dismiss that employee immediately upon that determination. Provides that the State Superintendent of Education has the authority to initiate a suspension of or revoke the license of any educator licensed under the Educator Licensure Article of the Code if he or she negligently fails to report an instance of suspected child abuse or neglect. Provides that if an individual is dismissed by a school district for committing a physical or sexual act on a student, the State Superintendent of Education shall immediately suspend, pending revocation, any license issued to that individual under the Educator Licensure Article of the Code. Provides that if a mandated reporter within a school has knowledge of an alleged incident of sexual abuse, the reporter must call the Department of Children and Family Services' hotline immediately after obtaining the minimal information necessary to make a report, including the names of the affected parties and the allegations. Provides that for schools in a county with an accredited Children's Advocacy Center, every alleged incident of sexual abuse that is reported to the Department of Children and Family Services' hotline or a law enforcement agency and is subsequently accepted for investigation must be referred by the entity that received the report to the local Children's Advocacy Center pursuant to that county's multidisciplinary team's protocol under the Children's Advocacy Center Act for investigating child sexual abuse allegations. Provides for the local Children's Advocacy Center's duties and the duties of a school. Provides that if, during the course of its internal investigation and at any point during or after the multidisciplinary team's investigation, a school determines that it needs to interview an alleged victim of sexual abuse to successfully complete its investigation and the victim is under 18 years of age, a child advocate must be made available to the student and must be present during the school's interview. Provides that the Department of Children and Family Services and the appropriate law enforcement agency must notify the relevant school when an agency investigation of an alleged incident of sexual abuse is completed, which must include information on the outcome of that investigation. Creates the Make Sexual and Severe Physical Abuse Fully Extinct Task Force. Provides for the Task Force's membership, meeting requirements, and duties. With regard to employee dismissal proceedings, provides that in the case of charges involving physical or sexual contact with a student or a person under the age of 18, the hearing officer shall make alternative hearing procedures to protect a witness who is a student or who is under the age of 18 from being intimidated or traumatized. Amends the Personnel Record Review Act to provide that certain disclosure requirements under the Act do not apply to a school district responding to an inquiry from a prospective employer or to activities or associations with individuals or groups involved in the physical, sexual, or other exploitation of minors. Makes conforming and other changes. Adds an immediate effective date. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill as amended by House Amendment No. 1 with the following changes. Provides that, every 2 years, each school district must review all existing policies and procedures concerning sexual abuse investigations at schools (rather than must adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse investigations at schools) to ensure consistency with policies adopted under the School Code. Provides that, as a condition of employment, each school board must consider the status of a person who has been issued an indicated finding of abuse or neglect of a child by the Department of Children and Family Services under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or by a child welfare agency of another jurisdiction (rather than no school board shall knowingly employ a person who has been issued those indicated findings). Changes the definition of "alleged incident of sexual abuse". Makes changes to what a school must comply with after an alleged incident of sexual abuse is accepted for investigation by the Department of Children and Family Services or a law enforcement agency and while the investigations are being conducted by the local multidisciplinary team. With regard to the Personnel Record Review Act, provides that certain disclosure requirements under the Act do not apply to a school district who is sharing information related to an incident or an attempted incident of sexual abuse or severe physical abuse (rather than a school district responding to an inquiry from a prospective employer). Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH RIGHTS

Amends the Medical Patient Rights Act. Provides that every woman has certain rights with regard to pregnancy and childbirth, including the right to receive care that is consistent with current scientific evidence about benefits and risks, the right to choose her birth setting, the right to be provided with certain information, and the right to be treated with respect at all times before, during, and after pregnancy by her health care professionals and to have a health care professional that is culturally competent and treats her appropriately regardless of her ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious background. Requires the Department of Public Health, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Department of Children and Family Services, and Department of Human Services to post information about these rights on their publicly available websites. Requires every health care provider, day care center, Head Start, and community center to post information about these rights in a prominent place and on their websites, if applicable. Requires the Department of Public Health to adopt rules to implement the provisions. Effective immediately. Fiscal Note (Dept. of Public Health) HB 2 would not pose any fiscal cost aside from standard staff time with the rulemaking. The cost would be negligible. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Removes language regarding a woman's rights to receive maternity care regarding social and behavioral factors, to receive continuous social, emotional, and physical support during labor and birth, and to receive full advance information about specified risks and benefits. Provides that a woman has the right to a certified nurse midwife as her maternity care professional and to examine and receive an explanation of her total bill for services rendered. Specifies that nothing in the provisions or any rules adopted under them shall be construed to require a physician, health care professional, hospital, hospital affiliate, or health care provider to provide care inconsistent with generally accepted medical standards or available capabilities or resources. Makes other changes. Effective January 1, 2020 (rather than immediately).

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1889
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
STATE CONTRACTING TASK FORCE

Amends the Task Force on Human Services Contracting Act. Modifies the appointment of members to the Task Force on State Contracting with Private Nonprofit Human Service Providers. Provides, among other appointments, that 7 (currently, 6) members shall be appointed by the Senate Minority Leader and 7 (currently, 6) members shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. Provides that the Task Force shall submit a preliminary report to the Auditor General, the General Assembly, and the Governor no later than October 1, 2020 (currently, October 1, 2019), and a final report, along with recommendations and any proposed legislation, to the General Assembly and the Governor by January 1, 2021 (currently, January 1, 2020). Dissolves the Task Force and repeals the Act on January 1, 2022 (currently, January 1, 2021). Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Deletes reference to: 20 ILCS 5140/10 20 ILCS 5140/15 Adds reference to: 20 ILCS 505/21.2a new Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Children and Family Services Act. Contains findings concerning the Child Protection Training Academy (Academy) developed in 2015 by the Department of Children and Family Services in collaboration with the University of Illinois at Springfield and the Academy's innovative approach to training frontline child protection investigators using experiential learning through simulations. Provides that subject to appropriation, the training efforts of the Academy shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the continued development and implementation of simulation training for investigation, intact, and permanency supervisors; (ii) the development of simulation training for intact and permanency workers both in the Department and at private agencies; and (iii) laboratory training facilities that may include, but not be limited to, mock houses, mock courtrooms, mock medical facilities, and mock forensic interview rooms. Provides that by July 1, 2020, the Department of Children and Family Services may adopt procedures for the administration of the Child Protection Training Academy that establish certain competence, assessment, and training standards for child welfare service providers and other matters. Requires the Department to continue to arrange for an independent evaluation of the Child Protection Training Academy through June 2021, inclusive of the first 5 years of operation. Provides that nothing in the amendatory Act prohibits the Department from administering simulation training with other entities outside of the University of Illinois at Springfield. Provides that the Department may contract with any entity to provide all aspects of child welfare training. Effective immediately.

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1429
Signed into law · Illinois Senate · Co-sponsor
EVIDENCE-IMMIGRATION STATUS

Amends the Evidence Article of the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that evidence of a person's immigration status is not admissible in any civil proceeding unless: it is essential to prove an element of a claim or an affirmative defense; or a person or his or her attorney voluntarily reveals his or her immigration status to the court. Provides that a party intending to offer evidence regarding a person's immigration status shall file a written motion at least 14 days before trial. Provides that the court shall conduct an in camera hearing to review the probative value of the person's immigration status. Provides that if the court finds that the probative value of the person's immigration status outweighs its prejudicial nature, the court shall make findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the permitted use of the evidence. Provides that the motion, related papers, and the record of the hearing shall be sealed and remain under seal unless the court orders otherwise. Provides that a party who communicates to a person or witness any threat to or actually disclose a person's or witness's immigration status to any entity or immigration or law enforcement agency with the intent to deter the person from testifying commits a Class C misdemeanor. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the introduced bill and makes the following changes: Provides that evidence is also admissible if it is offered to prove an interest or bias of a witness, if it does not cause confusion of the issues or mislead the trier of fact, and the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial nature. Provides that a party intending to offer evidence related to a person's immigration status shall file a written motion that also explains why it is essential to a claim or affirmative defense or is probative of an interest or bias of a witness, it does not cause confusion of the issues or mislead the trier of fact, and the probative value of the evidence outweighs its prejudicial nature. Makes a corresponding change regarding findings of fact and conclusions of law the court must make regarding the permitted use of the evidence. Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Deletes language providing that a written motion shall explain why it is essential to a claim or affirmative defense or is probative of an interest or bias of a witness.

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 3396
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
STALKING NO CONTACT-NOTICE

Amends the Stalking No Contact Order Act. Provides that if an emergency stalking no contact order is granted on a court holiday or evening, the court shall immediately file a certified copy of the order with the sheriff or other law enforcement official charged with maintaining Department of State Police records (rather than on the next court day). Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 740 ILCS 22/208 740 ILCS 22/218 750 ILCS 60/210 from Ch. 40, par. 2312-10 750 ILCS 60/222 from Ch. 40, par. 2312-22 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the provisions of the engrossed bill, and makes the following change in the Civil No Contact Order Act and the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986: Provides that if an emergency civil no contact order or emergency order of protection is granted on a court holiday or evening, the court shall immediately file a certified copy of the order with the sheriff or other law enforcement official charged with maintaining Department of State Police records (rather than on the next court day).

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 3065
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
AGING-ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS

Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. Provides that when conducting any investigation concerning a report of suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect of an eligible adult, the Department on Aging shall contact as many of the eligible adult's family members, neighbors, and friends as reasonably possible under the circumstances. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Adult Protective Services Act. In a provision concerning face-to-face assessments conducted by a provider agency designated to receive reports of alleged or suspected abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect under the Act, provides that the assessments shall (rather than may) include interviews or consultations regarding the allegations with service agencies, immediate family members, and individuals (rather than with service agencies or individuals) who may have knowledge of the eligible adult's circumstances based on the consent of the eligible adult in all instances, except where the provider agency is acting in the best interest of an eligible adult who is unable to seek assistance for himself or herself and where there are allegations against a caregiver who has assumed responsibilities in exchange for compensation.

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 3018
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
FOOD HANDLING-SIGNAGE

Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that a restaurant must prominently display signage indicating to guests and employees that any information regarding food allergies must be communicated to the restaurant's food service sanitation manager. Provides that the food service manager shall be responsible for displaying the signage. Effective January 1, 2020. House Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Provides that a restaurant shall display a notice indicating to consumers that any information regarding food allergies must be communicated to an employee of the restaurant. Provides that an employee of a restaurant who receives allergy information from a consumer shall communicate the consumer's information to the restaurant's certified food service sanitation manager. Provides that a restaurant meets the requirements if the restaurant displays a notice regarding food allergies or provides a statement regarding food allergies on its menu that is approved in another state before the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that a multi-state business or a franchisee meets the requirements if the multi-state business or franchisee has an internal policy that requires a notice regarding allergies to be displayed or a statement regarding food allergies to be provided on the menu. Provides that on or before January 1, 2020, the Department of Public Health shall create and make available on its website for download the notice required to be displayed. Provides that from the effective date of the amendatory Act through July 1, 2020, enforcement of the requirements shall be limited to education and notification of the requirements to encourage compliance. Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Provides that an employee of a restaurant who receives allergy information from a consumer shall communicate the information to the restaurant's person in charge or the certified food protection manager on duty (rather than the certified food service sanitation manager).

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2830
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SCHOOL CONFERENCE NO TERMINATE

Amends the School Visitation Rights Act. Prohibits an employer from terminating an employee because of an absence from work due to employee's attendance at a school conference or activity. Effective immediately. House Committee Amendment No. 2 Provides that an employer may not terminate an employee for an absence from work if the absence is due to the employee's attendance at a school conference, behavioral meeting, or academic meeting (rather than a school conference or activity). Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 820 ILCS 147/15 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the School Visitation Rights Act. Provides that employees may use school visitation privileges for purposes of academic and behavioral meetings in addition to school conferences. Provides that an employee may not be terminated for the use of school visitation privileges. Effect August 1, 2020.

Signed into law Aug 23, 2019 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 2078
Signed into law · Illinois House · Co-sponsor
SCH CD-MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY

Amends the School Code. Provides that in fixing the salaries of teachers, a school board shall pay those who serve on a full-time basis a rate not less than (i) $32,076 for the 2020-2021 school year, (ii) $34,576 for the 2021-2022 school year, (iii) $37,076 for the 2022-2023 school year, and (iv) $40,000 for the 2023-2024 school year. Provides that the minimum salary rate for each school year thereafter, subject to review by the General Assembly, shall equal the minimum salary rate for the previous school year increased by a percentage equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers for all items published by the United States Department of Labor for the previous school year. Fiscal Note (State Board of Education) HB 2078 is estimated to increase the Regionalized Adequacy Target for school districts in the Evidence-Based Funding calculations by approximately 0.5%, at minimum, in the first year based on fiscal year 2019 Evidence-Based funding calculations. HB 2078 will increase the funding gap to adequacy. State Mandates Fiscal Note (Dept. of Commerce & Economic Opportunity) This bill does create a State mandate. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following change: provides that, on or before January 31, 2020, the Professional Review Panel must submit a report to the General Assembly on how State funds and funds distributed under the evidence-based funding formula may aid the financial effects of the changes made by the amendatory Act.

Signed into law Aug 22, 2019 1 co-sponsor
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