FRANK M. BASS
frankmbass@gmail.com
A R E AS O F E XP E RT I S E
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Intergovernmental Affairs
Legislative Experience
State and Federal Policy
Campaigns/Elections
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Lobbying
Community Relations
Public Relations
Legal Training
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Healthcare
Fundraising
Government
PAC’s
P R O FE S S I O NAL L E G I S L A T I VE A CC O M PL I S H ME NT S
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H B 3 2 3 / P . A 9 8 - 0 7 8 3 A m e n d s t h e Charter Schools Law of the School Code. Makes
changes concerning a charter school admissions lottery, the admissions process, intake activities,
and waitlists. Provides that any advertisement created after the effective date of the amendatory
Act that is purchased by a school district or public school, including a charter school, with public
funds must include a disclaimer stating that the advertisement was paid for using public funds
HB 207/P.A. 93 -104 An advanced practice nurse with approval from a
physician may screen a child for lead poisoning
HB 1530/P.A. 93 -165 Mercury Fever Thermometers are not allowed to be
distributed in the maternity ward of a hospital or in new baby packs to
patients, there are also other prohibitions included in the law.
SB 83/P.A. 93-601 Allows the Cook County Forest Preserve to issue a
100m bond for capital improvements at the Cook County F orest
Preserves, Chicago Botanical Gardens and Brookfield Zoo
SB 1407/ P.A. 93 -391 Allows Clerks of the Courts to accept credit cards
over the internet
SB 2583/ P.A. 93 -820 Provides for relinquishment of a newborn infant at
a police station
SB 75/ P.A. 94 -118 Creates the Rental Housing Support Program, allows
low income tenants to receive a grant from the Illinois Housing
Development Authority to assist in paying rent.
SB 511/ P.A. 94 -614 Creates the Mercury-Free Vaccine Act, bans
mercury vaccines.
SB 2654/ P.A. 94 -1050 Dissolves the Suburban Cook County
Tuberculosis Sanitarium District
SB 500/ P.A. 95 -0017 Creates the Illinois “Indoor Smoke Free Act”
HB 236/ P.A. 95 -194 Transfers control of the Cook County Juvenile
Detention Center from the Board Presid ent to the Cook County Chief
Judge Office
3m in state funding for Grow Your Own Teachers
500m in Federal Funding for the Cook County Health Systems
500,000 in State Funding for a new helicopter pad for Stroger Hospital
Effective in maintaining Disproportio nate Share Hospital (DSH) funding
Assisted State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family with
Medicaid legislation on the state and federal level
Part of team that drafted 13 state of Illinois budgets
FRANK M. BASS
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P R O FE S S I O NAL E X PE RI E N CE
FRANK BASS ASSOCIATES, Chicago, IL
2011-current
Lobbyist and Political Consultant
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Translate the client advocacy goals and legislative priorities into working plans in Illinois
Draft bill language
Coordinated state lobby day for 2 clients
Organized increased grassroots involvement in my clients issues
Prepare and present testimony before legislative committees, create issue papers to be
distributed to key decision makers
Strong relationships or access to key decision makers with key members of various units of
government in Illinois, Georgia, Missouri, Washington, D.C., and Michigan
Background as a strong motivated self –starter with over 10 years experience working with
government
Lengthy knowledge of the political and legislative process
Organized and directed campaigns of several State of Illinois Representatives
GOVERNMENT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, Chicago, IL
2001 - 2011
Intergovernmental Affairs Legislative Liaison Office of the President
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Serve as the County’s executive Lobbyist for the Cook County Board President, its 17
elected officials, and 5 separate Constitutional elected county officials, before the State of
Illinois General Assembly and the United States Congress
Knowledgeable of United States, State of Illinois and Local
government policy and decision making process
Worked with key political and regulatory influencers to build bipartisan, multi level
relationships and foster productive dialogue to promote the plan as the subject matter expert
Lead the strategic development and tactical implementation of Federal and State Legislative
agenda for Cook County government, Cook County Forest Preserves, and the Cook County
Health and Hospital System (the largest public health system in the United States)
Advocated for key health policy issues such as Medicare and Medicaid regulations,
state insurance, charity care and Managed Care Organization
Strong familiarity and attend meetings of the Illinois Joint Commission on
Administrative Rules (JCAR)
Selected and supervised the county state and federal lobby team to ensure that the county
received the state and federal dollars necessary in order to maintain certain county operations
Advised the Board President, and County Commissioners as to the status of the state and
federal level legislative agenda
Served as part of the county team, collaborating the county’s share of the State of Illinois
54B budget
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Served as part of the county’s executive team, responsible for preparing the annual 3.3B
county budget
FRANK M. BASS
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P R O FE S S I O NAL E X PE RI E NCE
(Continued)
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Managed grant administration and applications, including developing and securing grant
funding for all Cook County departments under the purview of the President
Managed logistics associated with convening briefings, teleconferences, and other policy
development activities
Advised the County Board President on how to keep Navistar in Illinois, which kept jobs in
Illinois
Developed and designed public policy strategies, through partnerships and advocacy
campaigns
Strong knowledge of federal, state and regulatory processes and research vehicles
Coordinated the work efforts of different County agencies, to reach public policy goals
Established strong advocacy skills to promote county policy positions
Prepared President for speaking engagements
Surrogate for the President at public speaking engagements
Delphion/International Business Machines (IBM), Chicago, IL
2001 - 2001
Patent Paralegal
Conducted intellectual patent searches for clients such as Proctor and Gamble, Samsung, General
Motors, Texas Instruments, Jaguar
 Maintained contracts and handle accounts for various other corporations that did business
with Delphion/IBM
 In depth knowledge of the Japanese Patent Office, World International Patent Office,
Canadian Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Dekalb Medical Center, Decatur Ga
1999 - 2001
Assistant Manager Radiology Scheduling Department)
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Streamlined the scheduling process for patients in need of Radiographic exams
In charge of payroll and all employee schedules
Ensured that all medical insurance for patients was verified and approved, and that all
emergency procedures were done in a timely manner
Reviewed and assisted with patient service issues
Improved customer service goals
Revamped reservation process
Provident Hospital of Cook County
1993 - 1999
Assistant Manager Radiology Scheduling Department
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In charge of selecting the system used to schedule patients for Radiographic exams
Implemented the patient tracking system to improve efficiencies in the Department
Reduced the time needed to pull patient Radiology records and film folders
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Reduced patient complaints by 75% by addressing complaints and creating methods to
satisfy complaints and ensuring that those complaints are not repeated
FRANK M. BASS
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P R O FE S S I O NAL E X PE RI E N CE
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City of Chicago- City Council Alderman Lorraine Dixon 8th Ward
Special Assistant to the Alderman
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1989-1991
Followed up with city agencies to ensure that request for constituent services were completed
Advised the Alderman of certain “hot” legislative items presented before the city council
which needed her vote
Reviewed city budget, to ensure that items the Alderman requested were in the budget
Community relations
C O MM U NI T Y L E A DE R
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Board Chairman Strategic Human Services
Board Member Neighborhood Block Club Association
Advisor North Lawndale Community News
Former Chairman North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce
Former Board Member Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce
Former Board Member Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service
Active member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church
Former advisor to the Illinois Black Chamber Political Action Committee
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
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Members of United States Congress
Staff of the Illinois General Assembly and State of Illinois Agencies
South Suburban Mayors and Managers, IL
West Cook County, IL Municipal Conference
Mayor’s office of the City of Atlanta, Ga, and City of Chicago, IL
City of Peoria, IL
City of East St. Louis, IL
City of Harvey, IL
Village of Matteson, IL
City of Barrington Hills, IL
Various Associations throughout Illinois such as Illinois Retail Merchants, Metro
Counties, Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association
Association of County Commissioners of Georgia
Cook County, IL Board of Commissioners
Lake County, IL Board of Commissioners
FRANK M. BASS
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WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
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DeKalb County, Ga Board of Commissioners
Clayton County, Ga Board of Commissioners
Fulton County, Ga Board of Commissioners
National Association of Counties
National Conference of State Legislatures
Former advisor to the Illinois Black Chamber Political Action Committee
EDUCATION
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, CHICAGO, IL
Attended Masters Program of Public Service Management, 2003
 Key coursework: Administrative Law; Leadership and Managements; Government Financial
Administration; Ethics; Macro Economics; Regulations; Public Policy Design and Analysis.
ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, IL
Post Baccalaureate Certificate Paralegal Studies Program, 2001
 Key coursework: Intellectual Property; Legal Writing; Commercial Law; Regulatory Law; Civil
Law; Public Policy and Legal Research; Legal Technology.
GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY PARK, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice, 1998