"The House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Committee Reports. Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the follow taken March 7, 2017. Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the following committee action taken on March 7, 2017: recommends be adopted, referred to, the floor is Floor Amendment #2 to House Bill 1791, Floor Amendment #1 to House Resolution 9, Floor Amendment 1 to House Resolution 14."
"The House will be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Bishop Jason Brewer, who is the Senior Pastor at King of Kings Christian Assembly in Springfield. Bishop Brewer is the guest of Representative Scherer. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off cell phones and rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Bishop Brewer."
"Let us bow our heads in humble reverence to our Creator. Heavenly Father, thank You first for blessing each of us with the gift of life, to awaken this day, to allow each of us to glorify You, and to put others before ourselves. Please let Your will and knowledge reign supreme. Grant every Member assembled here today with the personal direction and vision needed to be sensitive to the needs of this great State. Proverbs 16:9 says, the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Lord, please direct the steps of this Legislature, direct their paths and allow them to walk boldly with You and through You. Remove all discouragement from their hearts, the hearts of this august 10000021.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Body. And grant them with the discernment to be sensitive to Your voice. Allow sisterly and brotherly love to prevail. Expand unity not competition, humility not superiority, cooperation and not divisiveness. Let your righteousness permeate and allow those You've called to assume the role of Legislature to conduct Your work and that it would be pleasing to You. Envelope all assembled here with the hedge of your protection and grant them the strength to withstand fiery test that abound. Bless them with conviction and strength wherever they go. And lastly, we ask that You bless the health of these Members and their families and that You always remain their top priority. We ask these blessings in Your precious name, Amen."
"Be led in the Pledge by Representative Greenwood."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Currie."
"Thank you, Speaker. I'm pleased to report that there is not a single Democrat who is excused today."
"Mr. Demmer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please let the record reflect that Representatives Brady, Cabello, and Welter are excused for the day."
"Mr. Clerk, please take the record. We have 115 Members present and we do have a quorum. Chair recognizes Mr. Phelps. For what reason do you rise, Sir?"
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker." 10000021.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Please proceed."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, the Illinois Sportsmen's Caucus, which you know is the biggest caucus bipartisan in the General Assembly, we're having our annual dinner and auction next Wednesday, 5:30, at the Wyndham Hotel. It's gotten so big we've had to move it twice now. So we got a really good… good size room, lot of people coming, and our own Jim Sacia's going to be doing the auctioneering. We hope to see you there. Thank you."
"Mr. Long, for what reason do you rise, Sir?"
"Thank you, Speaker. I have a personal preference."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you, Sir. Tuesday last week, February 28, we, as you know, or aware, most people are aware that in my district we had a tornado hit and devastate… devastate Naplate and Ottawa. We had two fatalities. And I've got to say, Speaker, that I'm… and I'm extremely excited about how the first responders responded to this tornado. I was there within in a half an hour and they already had it set up. And they were really doing a fantastic job and a couple days later they had the roads cleared, lines… power lines back up, the gases all hooked up. And the two gentlemen that died, one of them was a 76-year-old Wayne Tuntland and 31-year-old Dave Johnson. And I was reached out by several members of this House, Norine Hammond… Representative Norine Hammond, Representative Nick Sauer, Representative Tim Butler, and Representative Kelly Cassidy too. Thank you. And… But what I'd like to do, I’d like to have a moment of silence on the floor for these two gentlemen that we lost in our district, if you please." 10000021.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Body will take a moment of silence. Thank you, Mr. Long. Mr. Walsh is recognized. For what reason do you rise, Sir?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, today if you would join me in welcoming my Honorary Page for the day, Nate Schultz. He's a sophomore at Joliet Central High School. Would you please give him a warm Springfield welcome. Thank you."
"Welcome aboard. Thank you. Thank for joining us today. Chair recognizes Representative Flowers."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"You may proceed."
"Thank you. Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, as you may know yesterday the Grammy Award winning Chance the Rapper gave to a school, in my district, $1 million. Gave a gift to the CPS school, but he was in one of the schools in my districts, when he made the announcement. I want to thank Chance the Rapper, who happened to be the son of Ken Bennett, who was working for President Obama, and Mrs. Bennett who worked for Attorney General, Lisa Madigan. I want to thank this young man for having the tenacity and the wherewithal to challenge the Governor. And what Chance the Rapper did is what I asked the Governor to do. I asked the Governor to call some of his friends to the table, so we can negotiate and help work out the problems for the State of Illinois. I wish the Governor would follow Chance the Rappers… and what he's done in regards to trying to make sure that the kids are protected in the State of Illinois and more 10000021.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 specifically, the City of Chicago. Once again I want to congratulate the young gentleman and hope the Governor would follow his lead in making our children a priority in the State of Illinois. Thank you very much."
"Thank you, Representative and thank you, Chance the Rapper. Leader Durkin is recognized."
"Thank you. A point of personal privilege."
"You may proceed, Sir."
"I'm glad we're talking about the children of Chicago. It's March 6, we've been in Session for two months, and I want to go through some statistics with you. In 2016, in the City of Chicago alone the death toll from gun violence accounted for 747 victims. Shooting victims were 4368 shooting victims that year, last year. Could you please listen? People, you care about what's going on in the City of Chicago and the gun violence I'm asking you, Speaker, if you can have these people quit their caucuses and listen to this. Or leave the chamber. In 2017, so far this year 111 people have been shot in the City of Chicago from gun violence. And we are right now 553 shooting victims alone. We are on track to go even further than last year. And as of last night 4 dead, 5 wounded in the City of Chicago. So, I've been hearing about gun legislation for some time now. I want to read some quotes from the person who probably has the most difficult job in the United States, bar none. That would be the Superintendent of Police for Chicago, Eddie Johnson. June 15, 2016, Eddie Johnson stated the Chicago Defender, 'the piece that we're missing is actually holding the repeat gun offenders accountable for their acts. Our judicial and 10000021.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 legislative partners have to help hold these individuals accountable'. AP July of 2016, 'repeat gun offenders are driving the violence in Chicago', said Police Superintendent Johnson, 'but we need help from the justice system to hold them accountable for their actions'. July 22 of 2016, Johnson said to the Tribune, 'The effort is focused on holding repeat offenders, specifically those with gun violations, accountable for failing to change their life styles'. He also said, 'that the strategy could be more successful if lawmakers and the judiciary worked harder to keep repeat offenders in jail'. September 1, 2016, The Wall Street Journal, Chicago Police said, 'the staggering number of violent crimes here underscores the urgency of getting illegal guns off the street and toughing penalties for using a firearm commissioned of a crime'. Eddie Johnson stated, 'the violence we are seeing is being committed by repeat offenders who do not fear the consequences of their actions because too frequently they do not… they are not held accountable by the rest of the criminal justice system'. Eddie Johnson called for legislation to send a clear message that if you bring violence into our communities you will be held accountable. Okay. September 1, September 6, all the while we've have had no legislation that they've been pushing for the past year and a half, has not seen the light of day in this building. September 6, 2016, to WGN, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stated that, 'the violence in Chicago will not let up until gun laws change'. Johnson said, 'there are too many repeat gun offenders in the street and too many people with guns who are not afraid to use them regardless of the consequences'. Here we go again, 10000021.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 September 8, December 2, Chicago Tribune, Superintendent Johnson spoke again in favor of proposed legislation in Springfield to make it harder for judges to impose light sentence for repeat offenders… repeat gun offenders. The goal of the legislation is to ensure that they face several years in prison. Eddie Johnson stated, 'The people committing these crimes think the consequences for these crimes is a joke'. They think our judicial system in Cook County is a joke. Just last December, on December 27, 2016, deadliest Christmas weekend in Chicago, 12 people fatally shot. Johnson, again called on Chicago's policymakers and Springfield policymakers to enact stricter gun laws specifically to increase sentences for repeat gun offenders, people who tear up our neighborhoods, tear up your neighborhoods. And just recently, February 26… 24, 2017, Chicago Tribune headline, 'Chicago's top cop shows frustration, then anger over slow-moving gun legislation'. Chicago Superintendent Eddie Johnson continued the drumbeat for tougher laws for repeat gun offenders, grew frustrated, and then angry as he lamented the slow-moving legislation in the works. He stated, 'listen they promised me that they would have something done in January, and now we are at the end of February, that’s why we call these guys repeat gun offenders, they're not new to us, they're not new to us, but the simple fact is we need the judicial system and our Legislators to help us with it'. Last night, 5 wounded, 4 dead, 111 people shot and killed this year just in the City of Chicago in 2017 and 553 people are the victims of gun violence. I've been waiting for this Bill, a number of our Members have been waiting for this legislation for some time. 10000021.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 There's a lot of things that we're going to have debates on, on the budget, in other areas, but the fact is, there should no debate, nor any problems with this Bill. My offer to you is that we are prepared to put the votes on this legislation, to move it out of this chamber, and move it over to the Governor's desk for quick signage. We have a summer approaching in the City of Chicago that I fear is going to be worse than last year. This legislation needs to be passed quickly. It needs to be placed… put into law, so that Chicago Police and also all the agencies who are working to stem the violence in Chicago are going to be able to stop those individuals from committing these repeat offenses. I've heard a lot of things over the past few months, that there may be some disagreement with my friends on the other side of the aisle, with respect to this legislation. That's fine. If you don’t want to carry the Bill, give it to me, give it to our caucus. I have no problems carrying it. But let's get this done. This is not acceptable. The top cop, the top police officer in the City of Chicago, as I told you over the past year and half, is pleading with us to pass the legislation on the second time offenders of people who use firearms, to pass into law, to help him with his job, to make the streets of Chicago safer. And I implore the Members of this General Assembly to pass this legislation quickly and get this to the Governor's desk as soon as possible."
"Representative Bryant."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like Representative Long, we did have a tornado in the 115th District as well as Representative Reis. There was a fatality in Representatives Reis's 10000021.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 District. I am happy to say we did not have any fatalities in our district, but it looks like the tornado was on the ground for maybe 40 miles and was about a mile wide. So, the destruction, the path of destruction was quite large. So, I want to thank the first responders from all of those communities but in particular the areas that were hit the hardest, in Ava, Vergennes, and Elkville. And in some of those small communities, the volunteer fire departments don’t even have the ability if electricity goes off to sound the sirens again because they don’t have generators, to generate enough electricity to sound the sirens. So, in Vergennes they got in fire trucks at 4:00 in the morning when the storm came through again, and went around in the community sounding the sirens from the fire trucks to make sure that people were awake, and got to safety. So, I just want to thank God this morning that we had no fatalities and thank the first responders for their quick responses. I'd also like to thank Governor Rauner for coming to the district to survey the damage and for all the help from IEMA, from the State Police, and for all the… the Red Cross and from all the organizations that helped us put things back together and are continuing to do so. Thank you."
"Representative Cassidy."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Since the retirement of our colleague Ed Sullivan our chamber is Sullivanless, and so the task has fallen to me, I guess, as the next best thing, to announce that next week, on Tuesday, March 14, we'll be celebrating the 15th annual Sullivan Caucus St Patrick's Day celebration at the Gin Mill 10000021.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 from 5-9. And the… the actual Sullivans of the Sullivan Caucus would love to see everyone there. Thank you."
"You could tell me how that fell to you to do, but not now. Representative Ives is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On a point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"On a lighter note, maybe you all remember that about four years ago, Senator Cullerton's nephew, Michael Lynch, a Wheaton resident, participated in The Voice, in the blind auditions. Well now, last night, Wheaton had another young lady participate in The Voice. She kicked off last night's entertainment and Micah Tryba will be moving on. The good thing about her she also attends the University of Illinois. So, she is a good representative for our state and I encourage her and wish her the best, in her… future competitions. Thank you."
"Representative Mah."
"Point of personal privilege. Mr. Speaker."
"Proceed please."
"I'd like to introduce a class of students in the AP Government class at Thomas Kelly High School, which is on the border of my district and Representative Tabares' district. They're in the Speaker's Gallery. They're accompanied by three teachers Brian Halberg, their AP Government teacher, Keith Newquist, and Stephanie Bradley. And then also my Constituent Services Coordinator, Ada Tong. Please welcome them all. Thank you."
Speaker Lang: "Welcome. Thank you for being with us. Representative Ammons is recognized." 10000021.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask for a point of personal privilege.
"Go right ahead."
"I appreciate the Leader's statements and I would hope that the Assembly would give me the same respect to make a statement that I'm about to make in response. As a person who lived in and grandmother lives at Halstead in the 100s in Chicago, that frequents the area that spends a lot of time in Chicago, although I represent downstate I would hope that there was not an insinuation in this chamber that the Representatives in Chicago don’t take seriously the gun violence that their communities and many of them, who live in those same communities are experiencing. But to put it in a proper context, the complete disregard and disruption of urban areas in this country has produced what we are now calling a serious crisis, but the endgame of the deaths is not the actual crisis per se. The crisis is a budget that cuts out youth and gang prevention. The actual crisis is a budget that eliminates, completely, after-school youth programing. The actual crisis is that you defund the community services, addiction services, services for children, emergency services, and in some communities in Chicago, you don’t even have emergency health care. That is a crisis of deliberate action. What we have seen is that bullying prevention programs have also been defunded. We've seen the task force defunded. We've seen all of the services like Ceasefire in Chicago defunded by this Body. And so, we've also seen an economic disparity greater than anything or any time in the history of the world existing in Chicago. And so, 10000021.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 if we are sincere about gun violence in Chicago, perhaps that same Bill should require that there are background checks on people who sell guns. It should also require that there are tracking devices inside of those guns, so, that we can figure out where they are coming from. If the great Leader on the other side and the Republicans really want to deal with gun violence, you will fund the schools in the City of Chicago, because we know education is the greatest equalizer of opportunity in this country. We know that. If you want to help us one step further, you will help us fund higher education so they have somewhere to go when they leave my brother's school at Dunbar and they go to the University of Illinois, you will provide a way for them to get in. If you really want to deal with gun violence, you will stop blocking the NRA. You stop blocking for the NRA. You will stop blocking for the NRA. You're talking to a person that has a FOID Card and believe in the right to bear arms, but I don’t believe your right extends beyond the right to life. And you all can help us truly deal with gun violence in Chicago by adding to that great Bill that you want to carry, some accountability for the manufacture, distribution, and illegal sale of guns in our state. That's actually what we need to do about gun violence."
"Mr. Unes."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Go right ahead."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Each year the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce, led by Bill Fleming brings their Leadership Academy group to Springfield to see their Capitol and see 10000021.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 their government working in action. And they're here today and I'm sure they're enjoying the great debate during points of personal privilege. And I would just like to ask them, they're behind me, ask them to rise, and Bill Fleming to rise, and let's give them a warm welcome to the Springfield Capitol. Thank you for being here."
"Welcome. Thank you for joining us in the House chamber. Mr. Meier is recognized."
"Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed, Sir."
"I'd like to introduce my Page for the da, Wyatt Criner from Mulberry Grove. He's a freshman there and his father is in the gallery behind me, Brad, and his uncle Dave Rennegarbe from Okawville. Thank you. And let's give them a round of applause."
"Thank you. Thanks for being here. Ladies and Gentlemen, House Bills-Second Reading page 2 of the Calendar, there appears House Bill 106, Mr. Batinick. Mr. Batinick. Out of the record. Oh, wait. Mr. Batinick, you want us to proceed, Sir? Just give me the Hi sign. Please read the Bill, Mr. Clerk.
"House Bill 106, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Second Reading of this house Bill. Amendment 1 was adopted in Committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 238, Representative Flowers. Representative Flowers. Out of the record. House Bill 348, Mr. McSweeney. Please read the Bill." 10000021.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"House Bill 348, a Bill for an Act concerning government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 398. Mr. Reis. Mr. Reis. Out of the record. House Bill 457, Representative Wallace. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 457, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 485. Mr. DeLuca. Mr. Deluca. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 485, a Bill for an Act concerning government. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment 1 was adopted in committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 625, Mr. Harris, David Harris. Mr. Harris. Out of the record. House Bill 6… excuse me 638, Mr. Cabello. Mr. Cabello. Out of the record. House Bill 643, Representative Stuart. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 643, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 655, Mr. Cavaletto. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 655, a Bill for An Act concerning education. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 656, Representative Gordon-Booth. Out of the record. House Bill 680, Mr. 10000021.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Davidsmeyer. Out of the record. House Bill 732, Mr. Burke. Mr. Burke. Out of the record. House Bill 739, Mr. Meier. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 739, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 740, Representative Bellock. Out of the record. House Bill 769, Mr. Cabello. Out of the record. House Bill 812, Representative Jimenez. Please read the Bill. Sorry, Representative, I forgot you moved."
"House Bill 812, a Bill for an Act concerning government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 813, Mr. Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 813, a Bill for an Act concerning business. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. A fiscal note and a state mandates note has been requested but not filed at this time."
"Hold that Bill on the Order of Second Reading. House Bill 815, Mr. Zalewski. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 815, a Bill for an Act concerning public employee benefits. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 1797, Mr. Davis. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 1797, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No 10000021.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 1800, Representative Barbara Wheeler. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 1800, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 1805, Representative Conroy. Representative Conroy. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 1805, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 2360, Leader Currie. Leader Currie. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2360, a Bill for an Act concerning employment. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"House Bill 2361, Representative Feigenholtz. Mr. Clerk, please move 2360 to Third Reading. House Bill 2361, Representative Feigenholtz. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2361, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment 1 was adopted in committee. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 2367, Mr. Ford. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2367, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. Second Reading of this House Bill. No 10000021.docx 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 2382, Mr. Riley. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2382, a Bill for an Act concerning safety. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 2401, Representative Nekritz. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2401, a Bill for an Act concerning civil law. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions are filed."
"Third Reading. House Bill 2408, Representative Davidsmeyer. Out of the record. House Bill 398, Mr. Reis. Out of the record. Leader Currie in the Chair."
"Thank you. This is… yes… this is… this is my opportunity. Thank you. I really appreciate that. I really do. This is my opportunity to say parle vous francais. We have with us… we… on my honor to help us welcome Vincent Floreani, who is the Consul General of France in Chicago. He's been in Chicago for two and a half years and I'm disappointed he didn’t come to visit us any earlier, but he is here today. He has served in the Foreign Service in Romania, Indonesia, Kenya, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, New York and the United Kingdom. I'm told that he likes Chicago better than he liked New York. Most recently he served as Deputy Spokesman and Deputy Director of Communications and Press at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs before accepting the position here in Chicago. Please join me in 10000021.docx 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 welcoming Vincent Floreani to the Illinois House of Representatives. Thank you. Thank you. Staff, as you know, in the rear of the chamber. Members, please, in your seats. And certainly not a time to chat or nosh."
"Speaker Madigan, Majority Leader Currie, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to the distinguished… this distinguished Body today. When I remember of the Illinois House, it is a great honor for me to speak before you today in Springfield. It is an honor, first of all, because to me this esteemed Assembly epitomizes both representative democracy and the separation of powers. These principles of representative democracy and separation of powers are the core of our western democracies. We cherish them. We defend them. They ensure a balanced and efficient governance. We fought in the late 1700s, in France and in the U.S., to put them into place. Today, we continue to uphold and promote them throughout in our own countries and throughout the world together with respect for human rights, equality, liberty and for… for everybody. And these values are at the heart of who we are. It is an honor because… and also, because this visit remind us… reminds us of our shared history dating back to at least 1673 with the visit of Father Jacques Marquette and fur trader Louis Jolliet in what would later become Chicago and the great State of Illinois. Many names remind us of this common history. Illinois of course and many other communities bear French names such as, and I will try to pronounce with the American accent, Marseilles, Versailles, Champaign, Des Plaines, La Gran… La Grange sorry, Joliet, Massac, and Fayette, to name a few. And many others, 10000021.docx 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 yes, sure. As a symbol of our presence in this part of the… of the… of the U.S. our consulate, the Consulate of France was established in 1870, almost a century and a half years ago. It is an honor, finally, because your invitation allows me to highlight the links that continue today between Illinois… Illinois and France. One aspect is our economic relations that are dynamic and flourishing. As you know, France is the world's fifth largest economy and Illinois is among the top destinations in the U.S. for French companies. With close to 26 thousand jobs creating in this state, France truly sees the value and the talents here in… in Illinois… sorry, in Illinois. Many of you are familiar with Schneider Electrics, a French company that alone employs close to 6 thousand people in Illinois. I could also mention Veolia, Publicis and many others. Conversely, 122 Illinois firms, such as McDonald's, Mondelez, Aptar operate in France with close to 50 thousand jobs. With our team at the Consulate, we're about 40 people, we are working hard to further increase these… these ties. It is one of our main priorities. We are eager to bring officials here to show what the great… great State of Illinois has to offer. Yesterday, I met with representative of the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment. The day after tomorrow, the French Minister for Industry will come to Chicago for discussions with French companies established here and to visit the DMDII, a leading institution for digital manufacturing. On Sunday, the mayor of Paris will be in Chicago for a two-day visit that includes visits to top incubators and accelerators. We also endeavor to showcase French research and innovation. In a few weeks, 10000021.docx 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 early May, we will organize an annual French Innovation Week in Chicago bringing world renowned scientists, researchers, innovative companies and startups. There will be workshops, visits, lectures, as well as experimental activities for high school pupils at UIC throughout the city. These events are a great opportunity for members of the research and scien… technology communities from France and Illinois to meet and discuss. The 'France Chicago Center', one of the four bilateral funds existing in the U.S., also provides a unique platform for key research centers such as the University of Chicago, the Argonne National Lab, or Fermilab, to further deepen the links with research institutes and universities in France. Our effort to enforce the ties between Illinois and France also include the field of education. The French Lycée and Franc… the Ecole Franco-Américaine, both in Chicago, offer a dual language education to hundreds of young students, most of whom are American. We're also working hard with the State of Illinois to develop French immersion schools. We are convinced that offering students a dual education and culture provide them with valuable assets that will help them thrive in our globalized world. We also continue to build relations between our high education institutions. To that end, we work closely with the University of Chicago, with Northwestern, with the University of Illinois, with De Paul and many others. We're also partners with institutions such as the Northwestern's Medill School for journalism, offering internships to American students who are interested in working with French daily newspapers. Furthermore, we offer a wide array of scholarships in the art, sciences, and 10000021.docx 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 technology to encourage the talents of tomorrow to be exposed to and enriched by new opportunities and new way of thinking. We are proud of the exchange programs that have developed in the past years. One of our goals is to double the number of Illinois students going to France. In the U.S., we're already the French Consulate that issues the greatest number of visas to American students. Finally, we are convinced that our efforts must also address the soul of our people. This… this is why culture is a very important part of our initiatives to link Illinois and France. We have developed close links with major Illinois museums, artists and curators. Together with these partners, we organize cultural events throughout the year. Our relationship is also at grassroots level with several sister city partnerships throughout the state. And I could name Belvidere, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Mt. Prospect and Palatine. Dear honorable Representatives, just as you held your elections back in November, we'll be holding our presidential and parliamentary elections in a few weeks. In D.C. and Paris, governments come and go, but what remains is the long-standing friendship between France and the U.S. The first treaties between our two countries was signed in the year 1778. We have been allies and friends for more than two centuries. France will never forget what we owe the American people who twice in the last century, in 1917 and 1944, crossed the Atlantic, risked their lives to free us from tyranny. More than ever, France is committed to the European Union. As we're about to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the treaty establishing the foundation of the European Economy Community, we are very eager to promote the EU. The 10000021.docx 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 EU has delivered peace, prosperity, social progress and cohesion in Europe for several decades. Today, Europe is the world's second largest economy and the Euro is the world's second current… reserve currency. France is committed… is also committed to strong relations between the European Union and the U.S. I'm sure I can count on your support for our efforts in developing the links between the great State of Illinois and France. Thank you very much. Merci beaucoup for your invitation. Thank you for this honor."
"The Consul General has graciously decided he will stand at the front here for those of you who would like to come forward and have your picture taken with him. Thank you, again, Consul General."
"Representative Lang in the Chair. Thank you, Mr. Andersson, I appreciate that. Mr. Clerk, House Bills-Second Reading. House Bill 1791, Representative Feigenholtz. Representative Feigenholtz. Do you want the Bill read, Representative? Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 1791, a Bill for an Act concerning courts. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. Floor Amendment #2, offered by Representative Feigenholtz, has been approved for consideration."
"Representative Feigenholtz on the Amendment."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Amendment is a cleanup from the Public Guardian's office. We heard the substance in committee. We just had a little technical snafu and I'd appreciate support." 10000021.docx 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Those in favor of the Amendment say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The Amendment is adopted. The 'ayes' have it. And the Amendment is adopted. Mr. Clerk."
"No further Amendments. No Motions are filled."
"Third Reading. House Bills-Third Reading, page 5 of the Calendar, House Bill 230, Mr. Thapedi. Mr. Clerk, Please read the Bill."
"House…"
"Out of the Record, Mr. Clerk. House Bill 278, Mr. DeLuca. Mr. DeLuca. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 278, a Bill for an Act concerning revenue. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Mr. DeLuca."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen. House Bill 278, this is the Bill that deals with the amount of money that is collected by the state income tax. That’s collected by the state and distributed to counties and municipalities through the Local Government Distributive Fund. So, in 2011, with the temporary income tax, the amount of money that was distributed of state income tax dollars was reduced from 10 percent to 6 percent. When the income tax… the temporary income tax expired, it rolled back from 6 percent to 8 percent. So, currently, we are at 8 percent. The original agreed upon amount would have been 10 percent. So, what this Bill does is it increases the amount from 8 percent to 10 percent gradually over 4 years. So in 4 years from now the amount will… it'd be back to the originally agreed upon 10 percent that will be distributed to the Local Government 10000021.docx 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Distributive Fund that goes to counties and municipalities. Be happy to answer any questions. Thank you."
"Mr. Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor yields, but before you proceed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we'd like to conduct some business. Perhaps your Bill will be up at some moment and you would like it quiet in the chamber. Mr. Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Representative DeLuca, as I understand this and I was not here at the time that the temporary tax increase came into effect, the idea was… was LGDF would not lose money but it would not gain money from the temporary… The idea was that the LGDF fund when the temporary tax went into effect, that it would not lose money, but neither would it gain. In other words, all of the new revenue would go to the state. Is that a fair statement?"
"At the time, it was revenue neutral in 2011."
"Correct. For the municipalities, for the local government."
"Yes."
"Okay. And in fact presently there is a rescission, if you will, built into the statute, that brings that back as we ultimately return to the former levels of tax, personal and corporate income tax, correct?"
"Yes."
"It's… it's already there."
"Yes. Correct."
"Okay. So, your Bill basically accelerates that. Is that correct?" 10000021.docx 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Yes."
"Okay. And according to my analysis, it looks like in FY17 that will cost GRF, cost the state, 30 million; in FY18, 100 million; in FY19, 175 million; And in FY20, 258 million; FY21 314, million dollars. Is that your understanding as well?"
"Yes."
"Okay. So, do we have the money to do this? 'Cause we're giving them more than the deal ever contemplated. We're trying to keep them level, trying to keep them neutral, but I think your Bill now adds to their bottom line. Do we have the money for it?"
"No. Because keep in mind, the State of Illinois, it's not the state's money. The State of Illinois is collecting the money on behalf of these units of local government."
"Which is why we left the revenues neutral. That's why the percentages are what they are. But by now advancing the schedule in addition to what they would normally get back as the temporary tax rolls back completely, you're now adding to their bottom line. You are increasing the amount the state is giving to them."
"That… that is true if you're looking at it as though it’s the state's money…"
"Well…"
"…the originally agreed. The originally agreed on amount was 10 percent. Regardless of what the income tax was, whether the income tax went down, whether the income tax went up, it should be 10 percent." 10000021.docx 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Well, the agreed upon amount was 10 percent of the income tax at the time. And the decision of this… of a previous General Assembly was that we would leave them neutral on that. Now, we are not leaving them neutral. We're, in fact, increasing their amounts, correct? We're increasing their bottom line."
"Well, we are collecting what we should be collecting on their behalf."
"Well, in your opinion, I suppose, but the deal that was struck… again, I wasn’t here, I don’t know if you were there… was that we would leave them revenue neutral. They didn’t get more, but neither did they get less. And now we're giving them more. And we're taking it out of our coffers"
"Absolutely. I mean, part of this is giving them more money."
"Okay. So, I appreciate the candor on that. That, in fact, you're looking to give them more money faster. Where do we find that money, Sir? "
"Right. Because as you know our units of local governments specifically our municipalities, as other units are, they're suffering. Trying to provide police and fire protection is the most costly service that they provide…"
"So…"
"…and this money will be utilized mainly for those purposes."
"I actually have no doubt about the responsibility of our local governments. I agree with you that if we were to give it to them they would use it responsibly. But the problem 10000021.docx 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 is, like so many things that we do here, we do not have this money. Anthony, we're broke."
"No. We have the money, Representative."
"Really? We have the money…"
"We have the money. Because we are collecting this on behalf of units of local government. Please keep that in mind."
"Well…"
"You're acting as though this money is being taken from the state."
"This…"
"That's not the case here. That’s not the case."
"Your Bill increases… your Bill increases where… what amount we're giving to them. This is not their money any more. The deal was 10 percent of 3 percent. Your Bill goes way beyond that. That's why I would argue this is not their money, the way we… normally we talk about it. It would be no different if somebody ran a Bill and said I'd like to give them 50 percent. It's no longer the existing deal. So, again, I ask the same question is, where do we find the money?"
"We certainly agree that our units of local government, that provide the most important service that we know as residents, fire and police protection, that that is where the lion share of this money will be going and where… what it will be used for. We just had a discussion on the floor earlier about the City of Chicago and what's going on in Chicago. The City of Chicago supports this Bill; the firefighters support this Bill. Law enforcement supports this Bill because these are resources that they so desperately 10000021.docx 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 need. And this is about prioritizing our spending as well. This is about prioritizing."
"So, we're prioritizing this over Autism funding, at- risk youth, breast cancer screenings, Right? Because those things are all important. And we could use the billions and millions of dollars, I just quoted, for those items. But instead, we're choosing to go above and beyond in the category of LGDF. And by the way, just one particular question. You've made the representation that this money will largely be used for police and fire, which I certainly respect, but I don’t see that in the Bill. All I see in the Bill is an increase in numbers. So, that… that is not a lock. That's not a guarantee and this goes to every community in the State, correct?"
"Well, that's true. Because I would not support how our municipalities…, I wouldn’t mandate how they use the money. So, that’s why it's not in there."
"So, it could be used for planning. Could be used for historic preservation. Could be used for a lot of things."
"Well, like I said, I'm not going to include a mandate on how the money must be used."
"Okay. So, making the statement that this is all about public safety is not entirely accurate, is it?"
"I believe it's completely accurate because…. You're very familiar with units of local government. You…"
"I am indeed."
"…you know that probably between 60 and 70 percent of their budget, if not more, is dedicated to police and fire."
"It's certainly true, but that doesn't mean they have to take this increase and put it there. They can expand 10000021.docx 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 programing; they can do whatever they want with it, correct? You can't have it both ways. You can't say it's for public safety. And then say I won't impose a mandate, so they can use it any way they want. It's got to be one or the other."
"As I said, I would not support the Bill if there was a mandate in it, telling our units… our municipalities how they had to use the dollars."
"I certainly respect that, but the point then is, this is not about public safety. This is about additional grant of money to our local governments. Money, we don’t have."
"Well, I… that is not an accurate statement. Leader Andersson…"
"Which part?"
"…that this is not about public safety. It's… it is absolutely about it."
"Well, I think it could be. I'm not suggesting that some communities won't use it that way…"
"I think the City of Chicago would strongly disagree…"
"That's fine."
"…with the resources that they need, that this is not about public safety."
"And they could choose that. Of course, they… they sorely surely need resources in a lot of areas, including the public schools too, right?"
"Can you repeat that?"
"They certainly require a lot of assistance including things like public education, since they operate CPS. So money could be used for that too."
"Well, not this money." 10000021.docx 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Why not? If there's no mandates they can use it for whatever they want"
"Well, I think I misunderstood what you said. I'm sorry."
"That’s all right. I’ll move on. So, Mr. Speaker, to the Bill. The bottom line here is I support LGDF as much as anyone else, probably more, but I don’t support increasing it. I support maintaining it where it is. The scheme that was enacted with the temporary tax increase was fair to local governments. I know they want more; I know they can use more, but we don’t have the money. I would appreciate a 'no' vote. Thank you."
"Those in favor of the Gentleman's Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Please record yourselves. Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, these are 67 voting 'yes', 47 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 300, Mr. Arroyo. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 300, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Mr. Arroyo."
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Bill 300, this is a Bill that amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. The further explicitly prohibits the panhandling from a standing or sitting, or standing on the street, or a roadway, soliciting money from anyone within the vehicle. This issue came up with a constituent of mine in my district that has been complaining to my office about there's a lot of people in my… wheelchairs 10000021.docx 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 and stuff in the corners. Couple of people got hit by cars in my district and we want to try to stop it."
"Mr. Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor yields."
"Representative Arroyo, so isn't this already regulated? Can’t municipalities already control their right of away?"
"Yes."
"Why do we need the Bill then?"
"Because the law now states that you could do it on the highways but not on the street."
"I'm sorry I don’t under…"
"And I might have… I might have been wrong. It might have been a no instead of yes."
"Okay. So, this grants local governments the ability to restrict this sort of…"
"Yes."
"…request."
"Yes."
"So, will they… will local municipalities be able to permit it as well?"
"Yes."
"And can they charge a fee for that?"
"No."
"No fees?"
"No fees."
"No fees. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker." 10000021.docx 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Those in favor of the Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Please record yourselves. Ammons, Greenwood, Ammons. Please take the record. On this question, there are 109 voting 'yes', 3 voting 'no', 2 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 368, Representative Nekritz. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 368, a Bill for an Act concerning public employee benefits. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Nekritz."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is a cleanup Bill for the State University Retirement System. The most significant provision is to allow them to subpoena records, to… so that they can determine whether there have been overpayments, incorrect payments. And it’s the kind of thing that I would think we would want to be able to clean up. The rest of it is very technical and just codifies the practices that they have… that they're utilizing."
"Those in favor of the Lady's Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Manley. Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. There are 115 voting 'yes', 0 voting 'no', 1 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 425, Mr. Welch. Out of the record. House Bill 470, Mr. Davidsmeyer. Out of the record. House Bill 503, Representative Harper. Out of the record. House Bill 540, Representative Kelly Burke. Out of the record. House Bill 10000021.docx 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 619, Mr. Walsh. Out of the record. House Bill 685, Representative Moeller. Please read the Bill.
"House Bill 685, a Bill for an Act concerning local government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Moeller."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 685 would prohibit municipalities and counties from listing milkweed as a noxious weed. Milkweed is an important plant in our Illinois ecosystem, in that it is the only plant that Monarch butterfly, larva, and caterpillars eat. And unfortunately, Monarch butterflies have been on the decline in the past few years. And so, this is an effort to help sustain those populations. There is no opposition at this point. There were some concerns by the Illinois Municipal League concerning Home Rule exemption; however, they have dropped their opposition formally to this Bill. I'd be happy to answer any questions, and ask for your support."
"Mr. Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A parliamentarian inquiry."
"Please proceed."
"Does this require… are we preempting Home Rule and does this require a Three-fifths Majority?"
"Parliamentarian will review and get back to you, Sir. Do you have any question on the Bill?"
"No. I think it’s a great Bill. We should all vote in favor of it."
"We'll get back to you. Mr. Pritchard."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor yields." 10000021.docx 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"I thought while we were waiting for a ruling here we might find out a little bit more about the Bill."
"Sure."
"So, Representative, you're saying that we ought to be encouraging milkweed. Is that correct?"
"Yes. Or at least not destroying it."
"So, does it have an economic value beyond food for butterflies?"
"Well, it is my under… currently, I don't believe there is a pure economic value outside of the fact that it's sustaining our ecosystem. Monarch butterflies are pollinators and I assume are pollinating crops and certain vegetables and plants that provide economic benefits. So, I guess in that way it does sustain."
"So, you're saying that we now are taking it off of the noxious weed Bill?"
"Yeah."
"Does this prevent anyone from trying to control milkweed, with some type of herbicidal activity?"
"It doesn’t prohibit private property owners from removing milkweed, if they don’t want milkweed on their property. It essentially prohibits municipalities from fining people for growing milkweed on their property. And there are a number of municipalities in Illinois that do list it as a noxious weed and could conceivably fine a res… one of their residents from… if they were found growing the plant on their property." 10000021.docx 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"And do you realize that it's not just municipalities that have a noxious weed officer. Most counties are supposed to also have a noxious weed officer…"
"That’s true."
"…so this would be directing them as well."
"It would be yes."
"Okay."
"It would… it would disallow them from fining property owners for growing it. It does… but again, property owners would not be prohibited from removing milkweed, if they so chose. It simply is allowing people to grow it if they want to grow it."
"Okay. Thank you."
"Thank you."
"Mr. Andersson, an answer to your question. The parliamentarian informs the Chair that this Bill requires 60 votes. That Section (i) is a concurrent power and does not prohibit this Bill. Thank you, Sir. Mr. Skillicorn."
"Will the sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor yields."
"As a proud member of the Butterfly Caucus, I urge an 'aye' vote. And also there is a… not just a symbolic reason. In some counties they're actually using milkweed as a plant that will prevent erosion on hillsides or around retention ponds. So, there is a benefit for this Bill other than just butterflies."
"Great."
Speaker Lang: "Do you really wish to close after that Representative?" 10000021.docx 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Think that was a great closing. Again, ask for your support and let's do it for the butterflies."
"Those in favor of the Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Davidsmeyer, McCombie. Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. There are 114 voting 'yes', 2 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 786, Mr. Andrade. Mr. Andrade. Out of the record. House Bill 791, Mr. Demmer. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 791, a Bill for an Act concerning transportation. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Mr. Demmer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 791 adds autonomous vehicles to the state's Vehicle Code. Says that the state is the appropriate place to regulate that, so we don’t have a patchwork of different laws across communities. Bill passed unanimously in committee. I'd be happy to answer any questions and ask for your support."
"Those in favor of the Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Please record yourselves. Fortner, Stratton. Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. There are 116 voting 'yes', 0 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 1783, on the Order of Demmer. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 1783, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation. Third Reading of this House Bill." 10000021.docx 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Mr. Demmer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Bill 1783, is an initiative of IDFPR. It changes a requirement says that a number most be posted on the front of an ATM instead of filed with the state, and repeals a Check Printer Act that has never been used before. I ask for your support."
"Those in favor of the Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Fortner, Harris, Pritchard. Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 88 voting 'yes', 22 voting 'no', 2 voting 'present'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 1809, Mr. Davidsmeyer Out of the record. House Bill 2379, Representative Scherer. Please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2379, a Bill for An Act concerning State Government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Scherer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to present House Bill 2379. And in effect, what this Bill does, is if the Governor should file an Executive Order this would require a fiscal impact statement. I ask for an 'aye' vote. And would entertain any questions."
"Mr. Andersson."
"Thank… thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor yields." 10000021.docx 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Representative Scherer, couple of questions. One is… is there any mechanism for waiving this fiscal note, if the House determines it doesn't want the…"
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you."
"I apologize. It's my microphone. Is there any process for waiving this in the event, that you know, the House of Representatives, for example, doesn't want the fiscal note for some reason? You can't hear me. Mr. Speaker, could you silence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker So, I'll try it for a third time…"
"Okay. Thank you…"
"…and I apologize, but is there any sort of a wavier process built into this? If for any reason we don’t want the fiscal note, that it might delay implementation, anything like that. Just those unforeseen circumstances."
"No. The whole purpose of this is that we need to know how much money is being spent. So, that would be a real thing that we wouldn’t really want to look at. If we start putting waivers in, then there's really no point in having the Bill. We need to know how much things cost. Any… you know any good households that’s going to spend money needs to know how much it costs before they spend it."
"I fully agree with you on that. The… does this delay implementation of an Executive Order? Does it slow it down? Does it create a waiting period for the fiscal note?"
"It shouldn’t. When the… when the Governor finds an Executive Order that he wants to put into place, there's a chart on our list that says what department it goes to, and then that department is required to file the fiscal note." 10000021.docx 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Is there any fiscal impact to this process that you're aware of or we could have…"
"No…"
"No. The… doesn't cos…"
"…not that I know of. I mean it'll require a little work on the part of the agency, but it won't cost money."
"Thank you. Thank you, Representative Scherer. Thank you very much."
"Thank you."
"Representative Ives."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor Yields."
"Does your Bill follow the same requirements that we have when we put in a fiscal impact statement on a Bill? Are these the exact same requirements that you're asking of the Governor for an Executive Order?"
"It… it appears that it would. 'Cause it goes through and is reported to the Secretary of State and the Governor has to put it on his website."
"No, what I'm asking is, do you also… do our fiscal impact notes require the designation of the fund or the funds out which the expenditures most come, the probable cost for the fiscal year, the projected cost for the succeeding five years, the probable loss of revenue, the projected loss of revenue from the Order for each of the dive succeeding fiscal years. Do our current fiscal notes require that level of detail that you're asking for Executive Orders?" 10000021.docx 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Well, this Bill is designed to do what it does. If you want to look into other Bills that are just like them, you can."
"No. I just want to know whether or not we're asking the same of the Legislature when we put in a fiscal impact statement that we're asking for the Executive Branch. It’s a simple question. Do you know if they are com…"
"I can get back with you…"
"Okay."
"…with specific answers, if you personally want to know that."
"Yeah. I definitely would like to know that, because I think you talk about us not knowing what things cost and that’s exactly apparently the situation we've been in since 2001 when we've never had… since we’ve never had a balanced budget. So, we apparently don’t know how much we're spending at any time when we make a budget. In fact it'd be great if we had a budget that required this same sort of fiscal impact statement as well, including when we do a tax increase. What's the projected loss of revenue from a tax increase? When we… you know, cause businesses and individuals to leave over it. So, I'm fine with you Bill as long as we do it statewide on all… every, I mean, in every universe that we control, like our legislation."
"Mr. Breen"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Lady Yields."
"Representative, I know that you had answered Representative Andersson's question, but I am wondering that 10000021.docx 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 your Bill is intended… I mean let me just ask this question: If an Executive Order comes in without a fiscal impact statement under your Bill, is that Executive Order not effective? Is it void without a fiscal impact statement?"
"Correct. This will require a fiscal impact statement…"
"Okay."
"…otherwise it's reported from the agency that they weren't doing what they were supposed to do."
"Right. So well the intent of your legislation is to require prior to an Executive Order's filing, a fiscal impact statement must… we, the General Assembly, are ordering the Executive Branch to file a fiscal impact statement before its Executive Orders become effective."
"And in that regard, it’s the same as our Bills. We can't pass a Bill if there's a fiscal note waiting to be held, you know, if it's pending."
"Right, but I guess, and I'm a little concerned because there had been the statement well there's no delay in implementation. And the problem is, if you need an immediate implementation, you haven't had time to do the fiscal impact statement or what have you, that is a legitimate concern. I'm also wondering, and I haven’t researched this topic I just saw the Bill just now what… have you had any advice from anyone about the constitutionality of limiting the Executive Order power based on a fiscal impact statement?"
"It does not… and I should be clear about that… it does not limit the Executive Order power. It simply is a transparency thing. Which I think everybody in the State of Illinois feels is very important right now." 10000021.docx 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Sure…"
"I'm really surprised there's any questions about it."
"Well, I…"
"So, in our transparency, we need to know what money the Governor is spending. If he wants to still go ahead and spend it that’s within his rights. It's within our rights as taxpayers to know how much money the Governor is spending. And I don’t think that's unreasonable. I'm surprised you think it is."
"And to the Bill. The Representative essentially just answered my question my saying we are infringing on the Executive Branch's authority. And yes, I want to know how the Executive Branch is spending money, but I don’t want to pass unconstitutional Bills in order to get that done. This does need to be properly studied. Someone needs to get us an opinion from someone who actually has looked at this issue carefully. I don’t think this is the sort of thing that should be brought forward today on short notice. This should be a Bill that is considered more thoroughly prior to being brought forward to this House. I'd urge a 'no' vote until that inquiry is done."
"Representative Scherer to close."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Bill has been filed for several weeks. I have not been given any questions from anyone until the House Floor today. It came out unanimous out of committee. I feel it's very important in government transparency, that we know how much money is being spent through Executive Orders. When we have a time when people are going homeless, they're laying in the street, there's no money 10000021.docx 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 for medicines, there's no money for schools. We have Chance the Rapper having to donate a million dollars to Chicago Public Schools because we're so broke. I see no reason why the Governor wouldn’t let us know how much he intends to spend. I really think that he would like to have this opportunity to be transparent. I very much strongly urge an 'aye' vote. Thank you."
"Those in favor of the Bill will vote 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Please record yourselves. Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 87 voting 'yes', 29 voting 'no'. And this Bill, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 2407, Representative Kifowit. Representative Kifowit. Out of the record. Page 7 of the Calendar, under the Order of Resolutions, House Joint Resolution 2. Mr. Thapedi. Please proceed, Sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This afternoon I rise to present House Joint Resolution #2, which creates the Underrepresented Groups in Academia Task Force within the Board of Higher Education, to examine strategies to grow underrepresented groups at institutions of higher learning, and to ascertain the viability of increasing the number of laboratory schools in the state, and creating state-owned and operated trade schools. There's no opposition that I'm aware of. As you see, that we have bipartisan support. And I'm available to answer any and all questions."
"Those in favor of the Gentleman's Resolution will vote 'yes'; opposed will vote 'no'. The voting is open. Have 10000021.docx 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On this question, there are 115 voting 'yes', 1 voting 'no'. And the Resolution is adopted. HJR 3, Mr. Thapedi. Please proceed."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution #3, which creates the Trade Policy Task Force within the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, more specifically, in its Office of Trade and Investment. I'm available to answer any and all questions."
"Those in favor of the Gentleman's Resolution will vote 'yes'; opposed vote 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Slaughter. Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. There are 115 voting 'yes'; 1 voting 'no'. And this Resolution is adopted. Page 8 of the Calendar, House Resolution 25. Mr. Bennett. Please proceed, Sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. House Resolution 25, very to the point, declares our intent to eradicate financial abuse to the elderly in Illinois. And it designates June 15, 2017, as the Illinois Elder Abuse Awareness Day for the State of Illinois. And on behalf of them, I move for an 'aye' vote, please."
"Those in favor of the Resolution say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. House Resolution 32, Mr. Bennett. Please proceed, Sir."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Resolution is somewhat similar in terms of where it impacts the elderly and it declares the intent to eradicate financial abuse of the 10000021.docx 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 elderly in Illinois. And what is does is it urges the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Aging to work together to produce educational materials for the elderly citizens of Illinois explaining their rights, explaining the warning signs of financial exploitation and exploring appropriate reporting methods as well. So, behalf of that I move for an 'aye' vote, if we could please."
"Those in favor of the Resolution will vote 'yes'; opposed vote 'no'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Phelps. Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. On this question, there are 116 voting 'yes', 0 voting 'no'. And the Resolution is adopted. Returning to page 6 of the Calendar, House Bill 2407, Representative Kifowit. Please read the Bill, Mr. Clerk. Excuse me, Mr. Clerk. Move this Bill to the Order of Second Reading and hold it there. Mr. Clerk, committee…"
Clerk Hollman: "The following committees will be meeting immediately. Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education is meeting in Room 114. Agriculture and Conservation in 115. Insurance: Health & Life in D-1. Public Utilities in C-1. Transportation: Regulations, Roads, & Bridges in 122. Economic Opportunity in 118. Tourism, Hospitality, & Craft Industries in 413. Meeting at 3:30 is Consumer Protection in D-1. Environment in 114. Financial Institutions in 122. Cities and Villages in C-1. Judiciary-Criminal in 118. Health Care Availability & Accessibility in 413."
"Mr. Sims is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed, Sir" 10000021.docx 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017
"Mr. Speaker. Recent we just had… there was a conversation on the floor about the violence in the City of Chicago. And what we… what was not talked about was the fact that today we have… we will go another day without a budget, another $11 million in debt. We currently have #12 billion in our backlog. What we did not talk about was the fact that we have had… we now have the third budget under this administration that is still more than $7 billion out of balance; over the three budgets, almost $15 billion out of balance. When we continue to defund vital community investments, we destabilize communities. If you want to deal with the issues that are going on in the City of Chicago and around this state, continue to invest in building strong communities. You cannot defund programs that are helping to stabilize communities and then say that we our somehow not doing are job. Folks are being disingenuous to the people of the State of Illinois by saying that we are not doing our job. Continue to work with us to pass a real budget, making sure that we pay down our debt that we are investing in our communities and not continue to play these games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Jesiel. Representative Jesiel."
"Hi. Yes. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Let that record reflect that I intended to vote 'yes' on HJR3."
"The record will reflect your intention. And now, leaving perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Currie… Withdraw that. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 176, offered by Representative Kifowit. House Resolution 177, offered by Representative Bryant. House Resolution 178, offered by 10000021.docx 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Representative Gordon-Booth. House Resolution 179, offered by Representative Spain. House Resolution 180, offered by Representative Cavaletto. House Resolution 182, offered by Representative Swanson. House Resolution 183, offered by Representative Sims. House Resolution 185, offered by Representative Hammond. House Resolution 186, offered by Representative Bellock. House Resolution 188, offered by Representative Sauer. House Resolution 189, offered by Speaker Madigan. House Resolution 190, offered by Representative Batinick."
"Leader Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The ayes have it. The Agreed Resolutions are adopted. And now, Leader Currie, moves that allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, the House stand adjourned 'til Wednesday, March 8 at the hour of 11 a.m. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned 'til tomorrow at 11 a.m."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 4001, offered by Representative Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. House Bill 4002, offered by Representative Hays, a Bill for an Act concerning gaming. House Bill 4003, offered by Representative Fine, a Bill for an Act concerning government. First Reading of these House Bills. Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 181, offered by Representative Fine. House Resolution 184, offered by Representative McAuliffe. House Resolution 191, offered by Representative Jones. House Resolution 192, offered by 10000021.docx 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 21st Legislative Day 3/7/2017 Representative McSweeney. House Resolution 193, offered by Representative McSweeney. House Joint Resolution 37, offered by Representative Thapedi. House Joint Resolution 38, offered by Representative Guzzardi. These are referred to the Rules Committee. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 10000021.docx 48