Cook County Board Committee Meetings

Criminal Justice Committee
June 9, 2026
Commissioners Hold Hearing on Orders of Protection and other Matters

The meeting had one agenda item:  a resolution to hold a hearing to examine the challenges, delays, and systemic gaps related to the service and enforcement of orders of protection (OPs) electronic monitoring compliance, and revocation of Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards.  (tem 26-1526)

• Public comments included a request to look at the system of electronic monitoring as a whole, rather than individual cases, in setting policy.  

During the rest of the hearing:

• Domestic violence was acknowledged as the highest crime incidence on the west side of Chicago. Accused perpetrators are known to ‘hide’ from those trying to serve OPs.  Communication to survivors about perpetrators released from custody is essential. The resolution stated that data from the Sheriff showed that 45% of OPs go unserved.
• The Sheriff’s report on FOID revocation showed that 68% of owners with revoked FOID cards do not comply with the transfer of arms. 
• There was discussion of a proposed bill to provide 60-day electronic notice to turn in weapons or have your driver’s license revoked.  Comm. Stamps asked why 60 and not 30 days? She was told that 60 days is the legislative standard notice.  Comm. Daley asked about the status of this bill.  He was told that it remains under negotiation. Comm. Miller asked about the anticipated opposition to the bill.  One concern was that the loss of a driver’s license could lead to a loss of work / family income.
• Service of OPs currently involves 3 attempts to serve a person within a 72-hour period.  A proposed bill calls for electronic receipt of the order and opening of the notification.  Precedent for use of this system is Washington State.  Data will be sent to Commissioners, but reported improvements include more people showing up in court to present their own case and improved due process, i.e. people know that they have been served, and improved privacy, i.e. no sheriff showing up at your home or workplace.
• Reasons for delay of this bill include: it takes time for the General Assembly to understand the intentions of the bill; time needed to get partner organizations/offices involved and aligned, e.g. State’s Attorney and Public Defender must weigh in.

Sheriff’s Office input:  

• Has supported several other bills aimed to improve safety for victims and due process for both parties
• A taskforce is working on a Public Safety dashboard that can notify relevant government and law enforcement agencies of orders of protection and electronic monitoring orders
• Prefer in person attempts to serve the order and e-serve as secondary process

State’s Attorney’s Office input

• Support any mechanism to notify individuals to appear in court to clarify parameters of the order
• Need hard evidence that people are notified
• Comm. Anaya asked if there are legislative gaps. The response was there are laws in place for use of e-devices to locate victim and witnesses in or near the court building. State-wide case-level data is not currently accessible, so office’s dashboard and Clerk’s office data are searched. 
• Victims need a police report to get into criminal (vs civil) court.  Chicago Police Department now takes reports at the Domestic Violence Courthouse instead of the victim needing to go to a station.

Public Defender’s Office input

• Lack of notice hurts both victims and their clients
• State’s Attorney now has access to other orders of protection from the Clerk of the Court in preparation for court

Observer:  Sue Gregory

Finance Committee
June 10, 2026
Commissioners Receive Performance Management Report

Carrianne Carallis, the Director of the Department of Research, Operations and Innovation (“ROI”), gave a short presentation on the status of the County’s Performance Management program in conjunction with the 2025 Annual Performance Management Report.  (Item 26-1025.)  This Report covers all departments within Cook County.  

• The ROI Department in 2025 worked with all the departments under the President to establish goals and outcomes.  The goals are broad statements that describe what an agency or department aims to accomplish over time.  Outcomes are the intended change or public benefit that indicate progress toward a desired goal.  The ROI intends to work with the departments under the other officials to establish goals and outcomes during 2026.
• While there are metrics listed for each goal, most of these are from prior years.  In response to a question from Comm. Anaya as to what checks and balances exist to make sure the metrics are appropriate, Director Carallis said that the ROI Department intends to work with all departments to tailor the metrics so they better measure whether the outcomes are being achieved during 2026. 
• Comm. Degnen stated that this Report is better than the last 3 annual reports.  She recommended that future reports should also provide narratives as to how the departments can improve.  She said the goals should be the cornerstones of what each department does.
• Comm. McCaskill said she looks forward to seeing how the performance management program goes forward and would like the goals, outcomes and appropriate metrics also applied to the various organizations which receive grants from the County.

The Committee recommended Board approval of

• A change in the ordinance Sec. 76-677 so that the revenues from the tax on firearm ammunition shall go to fund gun violence prevention programs and operations as determined by the Justice Advisory Council.  Previously the revenues went to the Special Purpose Equity Fund for those same purposes. (item 26-1336)
• A resolution to award additional Justice Advisory Council grants to 9 organizations to support community violence intervention programming. (item 26-0721)

The Committee deferred action on a proposed ordinance amendment to require that all contracts exceeding $3 M include a statement that a vendor’s failure to perform or deliver may result in a minimum 10% penalty.  Comm Degnen, the sponsor along with Comm. Kevin Morrison, explained that the deferral was to provide time to determine exactly where this provision should be placed in the County Code of Ordinances.  (Item 26-1514)

The County Comptroller reported that up through April,

• The General Fund has a favorable net variance as compared to budget of $344.1 M composed of higher revenues of $264.3 M and lower expenses of $79.8 M as compared to budget.
• The Health Fund has an unfavorable net variance as compared to budget of $47 M composed of lower revenues of $15.8 M and higher expenses of $31.2 M as compared to budget on a cash basis.  

Observer:  Priscilla Mims

Asset Management Committee
June 10, 2026
Committee Approves More Contract Funds But Concerns Expressed

• Capital Planning & Policy was seeking approval of  $13.25 M in additional funds for an existing Job Order Contract (JOC) program that had $197,250 M previously allocated. 
• The JOC program has a pool of approved contractors that can be used for smaller construction projects that are less than a year in duration, such as preparatory site work and electrical work.  The projects have specific pricing.   There are various projects currently under construction in County buildings.
• The original contract term expired in January of 2026, but under a new County Porcurment Code, the Chief Procurement Officer was authorized to exercise the option within the contract to extend it to 2028.  However, there is no authorization for additional dollars to be added, which is why this item was before the Commissioners for approval. 
• Commissioners Degnen and Anaya both expressed concern that the contract was extended without providing the Board updates on the work involved and now the Commissioners were being asked to approve additional funds.   Issues and delays with the 5th floor remodeling were pointed out.  
• Earl Manning, the Director of Capital Planning and Policy,  committed to providing updates to the Commissioners.
• The Committee approved the additional funds.   Commissioners Degnen and Anaya voted present. (Item 26-0842)

Observer:  Kathi Graffam

Finance Subcommittee on Litigation
June 10, 2026

Inspector General  Paxton presented some of the statistics and items from his 1st quarter report from the Office of the Independent Inspector General. Concerning the cases involving employees seeking Payroll Protection loans for companies run outside of their County jobs, Commissioner Degnan asked whether, when the Office recommended termination and placement on “do not hire” list, the termination takes place. Mr. Paxton did not have specific statistics ,but stated that in general the termination took place.
Observer:  Hollis Burgess

Technology Committee
June 10, 2026

For the third month, the Committee deferred the one item on the agenda:  a contract for video analytics platform to detect security breaches throughout the Department of Corrections.  (Item 26-0816)
Observer:  Ed Spire