State Representative Patti Bellock entered the State Legislature in January, 1999. Now in her sixth term, Rep. Bellock’s assignments include the Financial Institutions Committee, the Labor Committee on Government and Fiscal Accountability, the Human Services Appropriations Committee and the Mass Transit Committee. She was honored by being chosen to be one of only 21 members of the General Assembly to serve on the Impeachment Committee and one of only three Republicans appointed to be chairman of a standing committee. She has been chairman of the Medicaid Reform Committee and spokesperson for the Human Service Committee. For many years, she has been a community activist in education, juvenile justice, healthcare, developmental disabilities and mental health issues. She is an advocate of tougher laws on domestic violence, terrorism, drug trafficking and sexual predators on the Internet.
Her landmark legislation - bills requiring mental health parity, MRSA infection control, improving the Amber Alert system and strengthening child support in Illinois - has been recognized on the national level. Last session, she co-sponsored legislation to create jobs in Illinois, to repeal taxes on business, and to address the state’s health care availability and medical malpractice crises. Recently she has worked on model legislation regarding school food allergy guides and a drug repository for low income individuals. She works closely with constituents and local officials to ensure their concerns are heard in Springfield.
Bellock has received state and national awards for her role in numerous community projects and serves on several local boards for groups addressing the issues of taxes, substance abuse, autism, human services, juvenile violence prevention, and the arts. She was named to the Center for Policy Alternatives’ Flemming Fellows and the Eleanor Roosevelt Fellows, two national leadership institutes that study and make recommendations on state and national public policy. She was appointed to the National Health Care Committees of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) in Washington, D.C. She also serves as a Midwest Director for the national group, Women in Government, and she chaired the Conference of Women Legislators in Springfield, a group of all Illinois women legislators.
The Illinois Manufacturer’s Association rated Bellock among the top five Illinois legislators because of her consistency on business issues. The Illinois Chamber of Commerce also recognized Mrs. Bellock’s support of state and local businesses by naming her a Champion of Free Enterprise. She was named Legislator of the Year by twelve associations including the Illinois Psychological Association and the Illinois Health Care Association for her long-standing commitment to improving long term care, health care and mental health in Illinois. Her focus on women’s issues earned her the honor of “Illinois Women Making a Difference” from the State Treasurer’s Office.
A native of River Forest, Mrs. Bellock graduated from Saint Norbert College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in History and American Government. She taught school in both Fairbanks, Alaska, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and served as vice president of a sports investment firm in the private sector. She and her family have lived in Hinsdale, Illinois for 36 years.
Dedicated to providing outstanding leadership in State government and ensuring that government is fiscally responsible while meeting the needs of the people it serves.
State of Illinois House of Representatives
* Representative from the 47th District 1999 – present
* Chairperson of Medicaid Reform, Family & Children 2009
* Impeachment Committee 2008 – 2009
* National Caucus of Environmental Legislators 2006 – present
* Member of Conservation Foundation 2000 - present
* State Director of National Women in Government, Washington, DC 2006 - present
* Member of Committee of Government and Fiscal Accountability 2008
* Legislator of the Year Award, Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois 2008
* Member of Mass Transit Committee 2008 - present
* Member of Fire Caucus 2008
* Member of Environmental Health Committee 2008
* Co-President of Illinois Conference of Women Legislators 2005 - 2007
* Member of Education Caucus 2006 - present
* Member of Manufacturing Caucus 2006 - present
* Member of Rural Health Care Task Force 2005 - present
* Member of Juvenile Justice Task Force 2005 - present
* Member of Committee on Disability Services 2003 - present
* Member of International Trade and Commerce Committee 2003 - 2006
* Spokesman for Aging Committee 1999 - 2006
* Member of Registration and Regulation Committee 1999 - present
* Spokesman for Human Services Committee 1999 - present
* Member of Human Services Appropriations Committee 1999 - present
* Member of Banks & Financial Institutions Committee 2003 - present
* Member of Labor Committee 2001 - present
* Member of Elementary & Secondary Education Appropriations 2001 - 2003
* Member of Child Support Advisory Task Force 1999 - present
Awards
* Illinois Broadcast Assoc. Legislative Champion 2010
* Illinois Homecare Council – 2010 Caring Legislator Award 2010
* Women in Government – Presidential Award, Legislator of the Year 2009
* Trinity High School – Alumnae Leadership Award 2009
* Midwestern Director of Women in Government 2009
* American Legislative Exchange Commission – Human Service Committee 2009
* National Council of State Legislators – Health Care Committee 2009
* Champion of Free Enterprise 2009
* Food Allergy Network 2009 Honorary Chair of Walkathon 2009
* Life Services Network Partner in Quality Award 2009
* Friend of Agriculture Award - IL Agricultural Association 2008
* Champion of Free Enterprise – IL Chamber of Commerce 2008
* N.F.I.B. – Small Business Award 2008
* Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities in Illinois - Legislator of the Year Award 2008
* Lung Health Champion Award, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago 2008
* Children’s Mental Health Partnership Award 2008
* Legislator of the Year, Northern Illinois Alliance of Fire Protection Districts 2008
* DuPage Workforce Award 2007
* Advocate of the Year, Giant Steps of Illinois, The Autism Center for Excellence 2003, 2006
* Legislator of the Year, Long Term Care Coalition 2006
* Long Term Care Award, Illinois Health Care Association 2006
* Legislator of the Year, Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities 2006
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois Coalition of Blood Centers 2006
* Legislator of the Year, National Association for Mental Illness, Illinois Chapter 2006
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois State Crime Commission 2006
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois Rural Health Association 2006
* Champion of Free Enterprise, IL Chamber of commerce 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009
* Community Leader of the Year Award, Serenity House 1999, 2005, 2006
* Community Health Care Award, Coach Care Center 2005
* Alumna of the Year, St. Luke School, River Forest, Illinois 2005
* Legislator of the Year, DuPage Mayors and Managers 2004
* Woman of Distinction, 2004, by Suburban Life Newspapers 2004
* Friend of Agriculture Award, Illinois Farm Bureau 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
* Illinois Chamber of Commerce Award 2004
* Public Policy Advocacy Trailblazer, Office of State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka 2003
* Friend of Consumer Award, Illinois Coalition for Competitive Telecommunications 2003
* Children’s Advocate of the Year, Our Children’s Homestead 2003
* Tactical Emergency Team FIAT/SWAT Award, Westmont Fire Department 2003
* Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58, Founding Member 2003
* Government Partner Award, Metropolitan Family Services 2003
* Legislative Advocate of the Year, NAMI DuPage 2002
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois Psychological Association 2002
* Legislative Advocate for Surgical Assistants 2002
* Illinois Agricultural Association Activator 2002
* Illinois AARP Award for Senior Advocacy 2002
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois Association of School Social Workers 2002
* Legislator of the Year, Mental Health Association of Illinois 2001
* Legislator of the Year, Illinois Healthcare Association 2000
* American Legion Honor 2000
* Woman of the Year, Serenity House 1999
Community Leadership
* Member, University of Illinois, Illinois Family Impact Advisory Board 2007
* National Conference of State Legislators, Health Care Member 2004 - present
* DuPage Easter Seals Board Member 2004 - present
* Member, American Legislative Exchange Council, Washington, DC 2003 - present
* State Director, Women in Government, Washington, DC 2003 - present
* Member of Conservation Foundation 2003 - present
* Family Shelter Advisory Board Member 2003 - present
* Eleanor Roosevelt Fellow, Center for Policy Alternatives 2000 - present
* Member, DuPage Community Foundation, Finance Committee 2000 - present
* Board Member, Hinsdale Center for the Arts 2000 - 2001
* Member, Serenity House Board 1996 - 2001
* Member, DuPage County Board 1992 - 1998
* Member, DuPage County Forest Preserve Commission 1992 - 1998
* Member, Board of Directors, DuPage County Health Department 1991 - 1998
Charter Member, Board of Directors,
* Fund for Gerontology Research, University of Illinois 1988 - 1992
* Board Member, Hinsdale Community House 1987 - 1989
* Board Member, St. Isaac Jogues School, Hinsdale, Illinois 1986 - 1990
* Member, Charter Group, Hinsdale Youth Center 1986 - 1990
* Hustler Softball Coach 1987 - 1989
* Listed in “Who’s Who in American Women” 1996
* Member, Downers Grove Republican Women 1996 - 1997
* Republican Committeeman, Downers Grove Township 1996 - 1998
* Volunteer, DuPage Convalescent Center 1988 - 1997
Experience
* Manager of Customer Relations - 3M Corporation, Chicago, Illinois 1968 - 1969
* Elementary Education Teacher - Fairbanks, Alaska and Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1969 - 1971
* Vice President, Dor-Mar-Pat Corporation, River Forest, Illinois 1972 - 1983
* Past President and Sustaining Board Member - Care and Counseling Center 1973 - 1996
Education
* Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, Study of American Government 1964
* St. Norbert College, De Pere, Wisconsin, BA in History and Political Science 1965 - 1968