"Members are asked to be at their seats. We shall led in prayer today by Lee Crawford, the Pastor of Cathedral of Praise Christian Center in Springfield. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting their laptops, turn off all cell phones and rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance."
"Let us pray. Most Holy God, who art in heaven, who is sovereign in all of Your ways. You are the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. You're God Omnipotent, God Omniscient, and God Omnipresent. We ask and pray blessings upon this great and august Assembly, upon the Speaker of this House and upon all of its Members. We pray, gracious God, that You may impress upon their hearts to do that which honors You the most, to do that what brings You the glory and that what brings You the honor. So, I ask today, God, as they deliberate, that You may grant them wisdom, that You may grant them strength, that You may give them insight into Your perfect plan. God, will You forever lead them and direct them with Your most precious spirit that today they would dream new dreams for a brighter day, that they will see new possibilities even in the darkness of this hour. And that they would look forward with great hope and find rest in Your blessed promise and calm assurances. This we ask and pray in Your name, Amen."
"We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance today by Representative Sauer." Sauer – et al: "I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, 10000024.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Currie."
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Feigenholtz, Gordon-Booth, McAsey, Sente, and Williams are excused today. And in addition, because of train and traffic problems, Representatives Arroyo, Danny Burke, Drury and Guzzardi are excused until the transportation problem untangles and they are able to join us later in the day."
"Representative Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please let the record reflect the excused absences of Leader Durkin and Stu… Representative Stewart."
Speaker Turner: "With 106 Members present, a quorum is established. Representative Hurley is recognized. For what reason to do you seek recognition?"
"Hi. I'd like to welcome my Page for a day, Teagon Meachum. She is from Naperville; she's 10 years old. And besides being her first time on the floor, last night was the first time she ever spent a night in a hotel. So, if we could welcome Teagan. Thank you."
Speaker Turner: "Thank you. And welcome to your Capitol. Representative Cavaletto, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed, Sir."
"Thank you. The team is not here, but I'd like to congratulate the St. Anthony… Anthony from Effingham Bulldogs 10000024.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 for winning the Class 1A State Basketball Championship this weekend. So… they're not here but proud of them. Thank you."
"Thank you, Representative. And congratulations. Representative Hays is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my distinct honor and privilege…"
"Excuse me, Representative. Excuse me. Mr. Clerk, House Resolution 187."
"House Resolution 187, offered by Representative Hays. RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the North Ridge Middle School boys basketball team, the Ridgerunners, on winning the 2017 Illinois Elementary School Association Eighth Grade Class 4A State Championship."
"Representative Hays."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. In the Speaker's Gallery, please welcome the undefeated State Champion Danville North Ridge Ridgerunners. It is my privilege to introduce the Ridgerunners: Devon Miles, Nathanael Hoskins, Keyshon Hampton, Amari Mayfield, Tomas Reed, Joshua Pasinga, Anthony Gouard, Camarion Halthon, Martez Rhodes, Trayvion Brigham and Anterrius Turner, Ahmad Rogers, J'Than Ross, Tevin Smith. Tevin is ranked as the best eighth-grade basketball player in the State of Illinois. They are coached by Head Coach Ayron Worthington and Assistant Coach Leonard Bryant. And also joined today by their Principal Eliza Brooks and many of the parents and grandparents. These are a group of kids who have excelled, not only on the basketball court, but in the 10000024.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 classroom. If you went to a North Ridge game, you would notice the sportsmanship. Somebody's knocked to the ground on a hustle play; they're helping the other team back up, shaking the hands of everybody on the other team after the game. February 11 was declared North Ridge Ridgerunners Day in the City of Danville by Mayor Scott Eisenhauer and I happened to be… be privileged to be at the assembly where there were so many in attendance that some of the kids had to sit on the gym floor. We couldn't be more proud of you, North Ridge. Excellent job, and just a fair warning to my friends around the state, Danville High School won its first regional this year in 16 years. They have no seniors. The undefeated state champions join them next year. We're coming, Danville, we're coming. Congratulations."
"Representative Hays moves that we adopt House Resolution 187. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolution is adopted. Congratulations. Representative Demmer is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Republicans request an immediate caucus."
"The Republicans will caucus immediately in Room 118. Members, on page 11 of the Calendar, we will start with House Bills… Page 10 of the Calendar, we will start with House Bills on Third Reading. First up, we have House Bill 213, Representative Ford. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 213, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Ford." 10000024.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House. The House Bill 213 simply makes a technical change with the Illinois Lottery money. It makes sure that the Lottery money is designated only to education. No objections to the Bill at this time. I ask for its passage."
"Chair recognizes Representative Demmer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members on my side are just getting back from caucus. Would the Sponsor yield for a few questions?"
"The Sponsor will yield."
"Thank you. Representative, could you just give us a little bit more information about this? I know you said it’s a technical change. Was this a… is this an initiative of yours, or did this come from an agency?"
"No, it's an initiative of mine. What happens right now, the lottery money is designated as an addition to the Common School Fund. And what happens in the State of Illinois, the General Revenue sometimes is not put in the Common School Fund and maintained in the Common School Fund so that we can have both the lottery revenue and the General Revenue Fund. So, this is an attempt to make sure that we not only put the money from the General Revenue into the Common School Fund, but it stays there as well as the lottery money as the lottery intended for it to do."
"So, I… I noticed that… as this was introduced, there were several organizations who were opposed to it. Did you make an Amendment or does their opposition remain?"
"There is no opposition because the title of the legislation is different. My intent was to set up scholarships for school 10000024.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 choice using lottery money not General Revenue's mon… dollars. So, this Bill leaves that alone and it simply just… makes sure that the lottery revenue is used as a supplement and not in lieu of any other dollars."
"So, you adopted a Committee Amendment #1 and that Committee Amendment removed all opposition?"
"That's correct."
"Thank you, Representative."
"Thank you."
"Representative Nekritz."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"Representative Ford, what is the mechanism by which you make sure that we don't contin… don't have this situation where we put in less General Revenue because we're getting more lottery money or the lottery money going into that?"
"It's my hope that this Bill, Leader, would say that the revenue from the Lottery revenues will maintain it. It will prevent the state from taking the money back from the Common School Fund after it's been placed in the Common School Fund because I guess the state is on the hook for education. They have a responsibility to educate the school kids and to fund education. And so, what we notice since the lottery's conception back in 1974, I believe, the state does what you call a shell game."
"Right."
"And they put the General Revenue in, but once they put the Common School Fund they can remove that money. And so, hopefully this Bill will correct that if it becomes law." 10000024.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"So… so does this… does this Bill require that we expend a certain amount from General Revenue? I'm just trying to understand how…"
"Yeah."
"how…"
"It does not."
"Okay."
"It requires that the general… The money that we generate from the lottery, whether it's 630 million this year, or 700 million next year, the portion that is designated for the Common School Fund must remain in the Common School Fund and it cannot…"
"And… and right now we… we take it from the Common School Fund and put it into the General Revenue Fund?"
"So, what happens, let's say… the state has the responsibility as I said to put a certain amount of money in the Common School Fund. So, they put 630 million in the Common School Fund; it's there. They've done what they're supposed to do. Now, we have the revenue from the lottery and now it's coming in as a supplement. So, there's a certain level that the state maintains that they're going to put in. So, after they put the revenue in from the Common School Fund and add the 630 million, whatever, in the Common School Fund, now the state has the right to just take out what was put in from the General Revenue and use the lottery money as if it is funding education. We want to prevent it from being… the lottery being the source of funding for education and make sure that it's only used as a supplement." 10000024.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"So, what does this do to some of the scratch-off? Does it have any affect on any of the scratch-off games that we have with the lottery?"
"No, it doesn't."
"Okay."
"It's… it's whatever General Revenue… whatever percentage of the lottery that's generated from the sales will maintain as a supplement of education."
"So, whatever's going into the Common School Fund now and is not diverted for Breast Cancer and all the other things we do, that's… that's the portion you're talking about?"
"Well, if there are specialty gains… Good question. So, if there are specialty gains, specialty gains are protected."
"Okay. So, those are excluded specifically in your legislation?"
"Yes. Thank you for that question."
"Okay. To the Bill. And I… this is a question that comes up every time I have a town hall meeting as to what happened to the lottery money and why isn't it funding education. But that being said, in this environment right now I have… as much as I'd like to fund education, you know, we've… as long as I've been in the Legislature we have been cutting human services in order to fund education. And I know that… that there are other Bills out there that will also provide more money for… for ed… for education and all that comes at the expense of our social service agencies right now when, you know, especially right now when we have very limited resources and we're… we are spending beyond the revenues that we have coming in. So, I will listen to the rest of the debate, but 10000024.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 I have real concerns about the impact on this to other portions of the state budget and specifically our really struggling human services community. Thank you."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"Representative, I think I understand the intent of your Bill and I think… I think it's a laudatory one. You're trying to restore what the original intent was with the lottery, but like the last speaker, I have some concern over the methodology. If I'm understanding the Bill, it's kind of a one-liner and it says that the Common School Fund shall be supplemental to and not in lieu of any other money due to be transferred by law or appropriation. You had said in the debate that we have a general responsibility to fund to a certain degree. My problem in the methodology is, I don’t know where to find that. I don't think that we are required to set a certain dollar amount. I think what they… what… this could be easily walked around in effect by saying we calculate or we estimate that the amount available from the Lottery Fund is going to be X, therefore we appropriate, you know, the Common School Fund less X. How… how do you… how do you deal with that? I don’t know how this will work."
"Well, first of all, it's just a simple technical change from the way the lottery was intended. So, we can't argue the fact that lottery was set up to fund education as a supplement."
"And I'm not arguing that." 10000024.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"And so, that's what this Bill is intended to do to simply say, General Revenue should fund education at whatever level we talk about. We're not… this Bill doesn't talk about at what level we're supposed to fund education. It just simply says that when the lottery was established back, I believe, in 1974, the intent that the Legislators had, and they… the purpose was to fund education as a supplement with the lottery and not become dependent on the lottery to fund education. So, this Bill doesn’t talk about a level of funding. It just simply says… to the previous speaker, she said something about scratch offs. Well, I would say that this is somewhat of a scratch-off for education and… and the school children win every time the money is put in. So, it's sort of like a specialty for education."
"So… so, I don’t dispute your intent and I think the intent is laudatory. My problem is, I think that any creative accountant, you know, that works for these various departments, can walk around this language. I just don’t think that it's got the teeth to be able to do what you want it to do."
"You have recommendations to give it teeth? I mean, because it's a simple one-liner like you said. It says…"
"Yeah, it is simple."
"…it doesn’t talk about how much you're supposed to put in. It just says each year the lottery is going to generate a certain amount of money, right?"
"Right."
"So, it's going to generate a certain amount of money. And we're saying simply that whatever the lottery generates that 10000024.docx 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 year, that that fund should be added in the Common School Fund and not removed. The fact remains that we know that the school… the State Board of Education in Illinois, when we fund education, the state now depends on lottery to fund education. And it was not intended to do that. It was intended to simply be a supplement. I don’t know how we could argue that. The law… Not you, but…"
"We're actually not arguing that."
"…not you, but it… you know, I don’t know how we could dispute whether or not we should use the lottery for what it was intended. It was intended to be a supplement and not intended to fund education."
"So… so you're asking me a question of how could we tie…"
"Yes."
"…then up 'cause I think this shell game can continue to be played even though your Bill… presuming your Bill passes, I think you'd have to establish some baselines for what GRF has to do…"
"That's… Yeah."
"…to be able to do that." Ford: Yeah… I don’t… Well, I hear you, but that's not a good thing because it really doesn’t matter what the baseline is when we talk about the level that we're going to fund education. We're saying, whatever level we're going fund education, we want to make sure that the lottery money is a supplement to that at whatever level. So, establishing a baseline doesn't matter in this case because this is extra money. It's like someone writing a check each year to the Common School Fund." 10000024.docx 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Yeah. I get that. Thank you very much…"
"Thank you."
"…for the answers to my questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Kifowit."
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To the Bill. I want to thank the Sponsor for bringing this situation forward. In my district, when I talk to a lot of people, the number one question is what happened to the lottery money and why isn’t it supplementing schools. And I think we… we do have a… a larger budget debate we have to have to fund social services and human services. And while we're having that debate, we have to have the larger debate on how to properly fund our schools. And this is a way to make sure that money that's supposed to be in addition to the state funding schools is restored to what was told to the people, how it was sold to the people and how it was identified to the public. So, this is a way to start down the path of restoring integrity to the way that we fund schools which is which is to make sure that when we fund schools from the General Revenue Fund, we are funding them appropriately and then using this money in addition to that fund. So, I just wanted to… I'm in support of this, I acknowledge we need to have a more in-depth conversation about our human services and the budget as a whole, but I want to congratulate the Sponsor for bringing this forward. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative David Harris." Harris, D.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question of the Sponsor."
"The Sponsor will yield." 10000024.docx 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 Harris, D.: "Representative, as you indicated, it's a simple one- line Bill, but I'm not sure it does anything that isn’t already being done and help me understand. All moneys transferred from the State Lottery Fund to the Common School Fund shall be supplemental to and not in lieu of any other money due to be transferred to the Common School Fund by law or appropriation. We fund… we fund elementary and secondary education… let's use round numbers… to the tune of about $6 billion. Last year the lottery put in roughly $600 million, again in round terms, to the Common School Fund. So, if the General Assembly decides that $6 billion is what we want to put into elementary and secondary education, 600 million of that is coming from the Common School Fund, then we each have to put in 5.4 billion to come up with our total appropriation of 6 billion, right?"
"So, I think… if I heard you correctly, your question is about the level in which we fund education? Is that…" Harris, D.: "Well, no. Aren’t we doing this now? I mean, by law… by law the lottery has to transfer a certain amount of money to the Common School Fund. We could get into percentages, but right now it equates to about $600-plus million a year, all right? But we fund education, elementary and secondary, to the tune of about 6 billion. So, we have to put in more General Revenue anyway and then the lottery is supplemental to begin with. So, I guess I'm saying isn't this just a statement of fact of what we're doing now?"
"It's… it's going to codify the practices that were supposed to adhere to. It's a fact that… one of the previous speakers even eluded to the fact that we know that General Revenue 10000024.docx 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 dollars are sometimes taken out of the Common School Fund to use for other purposes." Harris, D.: "Well, I'm not… you… you just said General Revenue dollars are taken out of the Common School Fund. I would disagree with you on that. General Revenue dollars go into the Common School Fund to help fund education as they should in the number of areas. So, I'm not disagreeing with your Bill. It seems to me to be a statement of what we are doing now. I will tell you, I think you are correct. When we first passed the lottery, the moneys weren't going into education the way they were supposed to be and the public caught onto that. And thus, we came back and said, uh huh, those dollars have to go into the Common School Fund and we corrected that. So, now, the lottery funds go to the Common School Fund and a couple of years ago we put money into the Capitol Projects Fund as well. But 600 million or so goes into the Common School Fund which… which is where it should go. And we then supplement that or we add to that in order to come up with our total elementary and secondary education budgets. So, I guess what I'm saying is, I don't see a problem with your Bill. I just don’t understand that it does anything that we aren't already doing. Thank you."
"Thank you." Harris, D.: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman."
"Chair recognizes Representative Wallace."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"Thank you. I'd like to, just because so many questions have been asked and I think things have gotten a little muddy, 10000024.docx 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 can you please say again exactly what this Bill is intended to do?"
"This Bill is intended to simply make sure that we continue to make lottery revenue a supplement to education on top of whatever level the state decides to fund education. So, to simply make sure that lottery revenue is a supplement to the Common School Fund, period."
"Okay. Thank you. So, it's to make sure it is a supplement but not a substitution as it somehow has become?"
"That's very good, Dr. Wallace."
"Well, thank you, Sponsor. To the Bill. I know a little bit about this particular Bill and the intent of what the State Lottery was. Every day, I go to work in a building named the Zeke Giorgi Center. And Zeke Giorgi was the father of Illinois's lotto. I currently hold the 67th District seat that Representative Giorgi formerly held. It was his legislative intent to make sure that the dollars that came from the lotto revenues were spent on the education of our children. It was also his intent to help the citizens of Illinois avoid a tax. So, his goal was to create a lotto system in which the everyday man could spend a little bit of money in the hopes that they would receive a lot of money back. But as they did that, the cumulative effect of the dollars that they contributed to the lotto would be contributed to the education of the children in the State of Illinois. And again, it was meant to prevent taxpayers from having an increase in their taxes. So, I am encouraging everyone to follow the spirit and the intent of the law as 10000024.docx 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 Representative Giorgi intended it to be. Thank you, Representative Ford, for bringing this forward."
"Representative Davis is recognized."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"And I'm not sure if you can add much more to this, Representative, than the previous speaker, but I'm sure that your intent is to make sure that more of state lottery dollars are put into the Common School Fund than are currently what are, correct?"
"Yes."
"Now, does your Bill have language that speaks to what that amount could be?"
"No."
"That might be something to consider moving forward because, again, as a couple of speakers as alrea… have already eluded to, it seems like on average it's about $600 million."
"Yeah. You… The reason why we can't really add a number is because it's a supplement and the lottery, unfortunately, does everything that it can to generate more revenue every year by preying on poor people. So, we don't know what the lottery would generate. So, if we put a number…"
"I… I know. And… and what I'm getting at is make sure that the language speaks to that and an amount equal to whatever that is so that… so that an interpretation of your language doesn't fall back to where we currently are. So, that's all. I'm not suggesting you put a number in there, I'm suggesting that you, maybe, tweak the language a little bit that speaks to making sure that whatever it is, it's equal to a specific, 10000024.docx 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 you know, whatever that number is from year-to-year that does change or could change. You know, so… so that's… that's all I'm suggesting. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, to the Bill. If this were my classroom and I were a teacher, sometimes I would ask Members by show of hands, how many of you get asked the infamous question about where does the lottery money go? A lot of you would probably raise your hands. And we all know that the question… the answer to that question is that, well, that actually the lottery money does actually go into the Common School Fund, but based on, presumably, the intent years ago, it was probably supposed to be added to, not replaced by. And I think what the Representative is doing and as the Appropriations Chair, I welcome all attempts to increase education funding. So, if this is an attempt to increase the amount of dollars that ultimately wind up back in our school districts, then truly this is something that I think we all should all support. We all know that there are larger conversations taking place, but if this is one step toward adding additional resources so that our children can continue to build toward receiving that education of very high quality, then I would argue that this is something that we all should support. And I would encourage you to vote for the Gentleman's Bill. Thank you."
"Representative Ford to close."
"Thank you… Thank you very much to all the people that spoke for and not so much against. I ask for the passage of House Bill 20… 213."
"Members, the question is, 'Shall House Bill 213 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The 10000024.docx 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 82 voting 'yes', 22 voting 'no', 0 voting 'present', House Bill 213, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 222, Representative Batinick. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 2… 222, a Bill for an Act concerning finance. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Batinick."
"I believe there is an Amendment that needs to be adopted."
"Mr. Clerk."
"Floor Amendment #1 was adopted previously."
"Okay. Excellent. Okay. Thank you, Mr… thank you, Mr. Speaker. As amended, House Bill 222 passed… passed committee unanimously. This is what I would call a green Bill. It saves our state money and it also is endorsed by the Sierra Club of Illinois and the Illinois Environmental Council. What the Bill does it separates the def… definition of digital printing from traditional printing. Digital printing cannot use soybean-based ink. And as we know, we have a soybean-based ink mandate. Digital printing is often better for the environment and often cheaper and it causes administrative costs to increase by not allowing digital printing to be relieved from that mandate. So, we have the Farm Bureau is neutral and the University of Illinois, Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Governor 10000024.docx 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 State University are all proponents of the Bill. I'll take any questions. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Riley." Riley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"Thank you. Just to clarify, Representative Batinick, has all opposition been removed in… in terms of your Bill?"
"Well, in… in committee Farm Bureau was neutral. It was my understanding that the soybean growers were neutral as well. That isn't reflected in my analysis that I'm looking in here, so I don't want to make that extra statement. But Farm Bureau is definitely neutral and everybody else is proponents."
"Okay. I… I noticed that you read off… matter of fact, Governor State University. You read off a lot of entities that were proponents of the Bill."
"Correct."
"Okay. I just remember there was a point in time, I think we were ending the previous General Assembly. And I think you had… a lot of opponents to a Bill and you said, well, the people were spoke… were speaking rather than the opponents. So, I hope you take that into consideration the next time you have any opposition to your Bill. Thank you."
"Thank you."
Speaker Turner: "Representative Pritchard for what… is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield." 10000024.docx 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Representative, I appreciate, and I think the Body needs to be aware of your efforts in trying to remove what might have been a higher cost of doing business for the State of Illinois with this requirement. But you have been focused on the… toner or the dry form of printing rather than through the soy-based oil type of printing. Is that correct?"
"That is… that is correct except the Amendment separated where you cannot use soybean-based ink from where you can."
"So, is… so, originally when this Bill was passed a number of years ago, just for the history on those that aren’t a part of the Body, we were trying to promote an Illinois- based product as opposed to a petroleum product that was produced in another country. So, it was a effort to use Illinois products. And what you have uncovered is perhaps a use that soy-ink doesn’t apply for, but couldn't the procurement officer have changed that and disallowed the use of ink for those kinds of computer printers that take a dry toner?"
"Well, there… yeah, there's two parts to that. And one of the biggest issues is the waiver process that's required. We're spending time administratively and often waiting days to get the waiver, that's number one. Number two) I've been told by print shops that other print shops are just cheating and signing the forms saying that they use soybean-based ink as opposed to actually using… soybean-based ink. So, we've… there's no soybean-based ink police out there to enforce this mandate. So, what you have is you have the people that are cheating are actually winning under the current system as 10000024.docx 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 opposed to the people that are actually following the mandate."
"So, I am told by the Soybean Association that there is current work on developing a soy—based product that could be used as a dry toner. Is that your understanding?"
"I think they're researching soybean base for a myriad of things. That's correct."
"So, perhaps in the future, if that product comes to market, you would help champion that and we'd get back to the point of using an Illinois-based product in our procurement. Thank you."
"I would… I would absolutely work on that. Thank you."
"Representative Batinick to close."
"I… we desperately need to save this… our universities money right now. I’d appreciate an 'aye' vote."
"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 222 pass?' All in favor vote, 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 105 voting 'yes', 1 voting 'no', 0 voting present, House Bill 222, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. Representative Bennett, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Speaker. Point of personal privilege, please?"
"Please proceed."
"Thank you very much. I have with me today a Page for the day, Joe Fegan. Joe's right here next to me. He's from the eighth grade, He's from the Gibson City School and his mom 10000024.docx 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 and dad are in the balcony behind me, mom, Jennifer and dad Scott. So, if you would please give them a warm Springfield welcome, please. Thank you."
Speaker Turner: "Thank you and welcome to your Capitol. Representative Cassidy, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Point of personal privilege."
"Proceed, Representative."
"Once again, finding ourselves Sullivanless, I am the… the stand-in Sullivan for our chamber. I want to remind our colleagues that tonight is the 15th Annual Sullivan Caucus St. Patrick's Day Celebration. We will be raising money for the… Illinois Diabetes Caucus. And the party begins at 5:00 tonight at the Gin Mill. Hope to see you all there."
"Thank you, Representative. Representative Gabel, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege?"
"Please proceed."
"So, I would like to announce that the first meeting of the Green Caucus is going to be this afternoon around 4:00, 4:30 after the Environment Committee in Room 114. So, all of you great green environmentalists that voted for that last Bill, 101 people, I hope you can all come today at 4… 4:00 in Room 114. Thank you."
Speaker Turner: "Thank you, Representative. Representative Wheeler, for what reason do you seek recognition?" Wheeler, B.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. While we're in the order of announcing meetings, I'd like to invite all the Ladies to our COWL Dinner in Sangamo. Tonight, cocktails start at 6 and 10000024.docx 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 dinner's at 7. And I encourage you all to join. It's complimentary and we'd love to have you there. Thank you."
"Thank you. Representative Bryant, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege?"
"Please proceed."
"I have a Page here with me today, her name is Music. Her name is Music, but it is actually Music. She is from Thailand, she's here as a Foreign Exchange student living in David Reis's district. But she did an interview of me a little… a little while back kind of comparing our governments. And so, we invited her to be here today to serve. So, for those of you who would like to know a little more about Thailand, Music lives close to Bangkok. And I'm very honored to have you here today to serve as my Page."
"Thank you and welcome. Representative Severin, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"Mr. Speaker, the House Bill 222, my intention was to vote 'no' on that, please? Thank you."
Speaker Turner: "The Journal will reflect your request. Representative Pritchard, for what reason do you seek recognition?"
"We've had a lot of announcements about meetings tonight and dinner tonight. So, if you don’t have other plans, Advance Illinois is holding a special legislative Session tonight at the State House Inn to talk about the Every Student Succeeds Act, a new Federal Law. As many of you may know, the State Board of Education has been holding hearings around the state and they're unveiling their proposal that's going to be 10000024.docx 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 filed with the Federal Government. So, tonight would be an opportunity for dinner and then to listen to Ryan Smith, the Executive Director of the Education Trust and Tony Smith, no relation, our State Superintendent, to explore the opportunities of this new Federal Law as it is going to be proposed in Illinois. So, I would invite you, 6:00 tonight at the State House Inn."
"Thank you. House Bill 237, Representative Ford. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 237, a Bill for an Act concerning public aid. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Ford."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Members of the House. I move for the passage of House Bill 237. I've been working with the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for a number of years and I want to thank them for their effort in coming up with an agreed Bill. What it does it will save the state money because as it stands right now the state has an obligation to collect interest from individuals while they're incarcerated. This Bill will allow for the state to waive the interest of incarcerated people when they’re out of jail. It's an agreed Bill. And I want to thank the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for helping getting us to this point. And I move for the passage of 237."
"Representative Andersson is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield." 10000024.docx 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Representative, so is this… you indicated it's an agreed Bill. Is it agreed by all the departments and agencies that are involved?"
"Yes. It's actually their Amendment."
"It's their Amendment?"
"Yes."
"And no opposition from any interest groups?"
"No opposition."
"And, explain to me again… So, the concept here is that HFS can… can compromise child support and interest… at what point? While… while people are… are incarcerated?"
"So, right now, while people are incarcerated interest continues to grow on child support orders. So, if the person's released from prison, the person could ask the department to waive the interest that incurred during their time incarcerated because they had no ability to pay child support. It would have to be agreed by the state in order to waive it, it's not automatic. But the state has also acknowledged that it costs so much money to continue to maintain these records of interest that probably will not be collected and is not collectable. And we have to remember this interest rate is at 9 percent. I don’t know where we could get a 9 percent interest rate at."
"I'd like to get 9 percent."
"Yes."
"Yes. Thank you for the answers to the questions."
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Ford to close." 10000024.docx 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"I move for the passage of House Bill 237."
"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 237 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Members, please record yourself. Mr. Clerk, please take the record. Representative Ford."
"I don't know what else to do, but I need Postponed Consideration."
"Mr. Clerk, please move this Bill to the Order of Postponed Consideration. House Bill 425, Representative Welch. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 425, a Bill for an act concerning education. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Welch."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise to present House Bill 425. House Bill 425 is identical to a Bill that I ran last year in the 99th General Assembly which passed this chamber on a vote of 103 to 10. It was a bipartisan Bill then, it is a bipartisan Bill now. The Bill was vetoed by Governor Rauner who asked me not to attempt to override it because he wanted to try to use it as an overall negotiation on school funding reform. And it was during the time his commission was meeting. The commission has now met. There was no agreement on school funding reform. But this Bill is still very much needed. It is a Bill that has been proposed by the three intermediate service centers that service Cook County. And it brings about parity between the three intermediate service centers and other Regional Offices of Education. And there are no opponents to this Bill. I ask for approval." 10000024.docx 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Chair recognizes Representative Andersson."
"Thank you, M… thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"So, Representative Welch, so… just so I understand the history of this. Is this the identical Bill to what we passed in the 99th that was vetoed?"
"Representative, it is… it is identical."
"And the… the Governor in his Veto message?"
"The Veto message was very generic. They… they wanted it to be a part of an overall funding discussion."
"So, there wasn't any corrective language that was going to resolve the Veto…"
"There was not corrective language."
"…that we could incorporated? Okay. And can you… I'm sorry. I just… I don’t quite understand what the Bill does. Could you give me a little bit more on… on what it's actually doing?"
"In 2010, the General Assembly reacted to news in Cook County that the then Regional Superintendent of schools was corrupt. And they eliminated the position of ROE in Cook County and created three intermediate service centers. Those three intermediate service centers are run by executive directors. They…"
"In lieu… in lieu of this ROE for Cook County?"
"That is correct."
"Okay."
"But the area that they serve are… are equal to or larger than most other ROEs." 10000024.docx 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Sure."
"And this Bill here is designed to put them on parity with how the other ROE offices are paid."
"Is there any cost implications to this?"
"The… the cost implications are all neutral."
"Neutral?"
"Neutral."
"Thank you very much."
"Representative Pritchard is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that he will yield."
"Representative, can you clarify a little bit more about the cost impact of moving this to a paid position like other regional offices are paid? Who is going to make up this 100 thousand or more difference in the salary?"
"Well, currently, the state is paying and it is a part of ISBE's line item. And what we're doing in this Bill is making it part of the Cook County property tax replacement and removing it from the state's obligation."
"So, it'll be moving out of the ISBE budget to local government for its proper replacement."
"That's correct. Correct."
"Is there any estimate as to what this is going to mean in terms of dollars or in terms of personnel?"
"A… again, it's my understanding that the numbers that are currently in the Governor's proposed budget this year, and the numbers that were in last year's proposed budget, are the same numbers. So, that's why I'm saying it's cost neutral. 10000024.docx 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 However, if you get into the weeds a little bit, it will allow them to use those same dollars to pay more in salaries."
"But currently, we have an executive and an assistant or just to the executive?"
"You have an executive and their assistant."
"And there's no plans for necessarily increasing that?"
"That's correct."
"Thank you."
"Representative Nekritz is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. This is really… it's a question of fairness. I think this was something that was lacking when we passed the 2010 legislation, which was needed in order to clean up the Regional Office… the Cook County Suburban Regional Office of Education, but right now, that… those three intermediate service centers ser… service tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of students and are getting no reimbursement from the state for the good work that they're doing, while other Regional Offices of Education that serve far fewer students are getting significant resources from the state. So, this really is a matter of fairness and making sure that every student in… in Illinois is treated and has the same access to school bus driver training, to teacher certification, to all the things that the regional offices of education and the intermediate service centers do. So, I really appreciate your 'aye' vote."
"Representative Skillicorn is recognized."
"Will the Sponsor yield?"
"The Sponsor will yield." 10000024.docx 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"I'm sorry, Representative, I haven’t heard every bit of debate because the floor is kind of loud today. So, I just want a very quick clarification. Does this create two more paychecks, two more of the salary position per regional superintendent's office or does it not?"
"It does not. It does not create any new positions, Representative."
"On that note, does it… that salary that's issued for the regional superintendent are these paid positions for these assistants or no?"
"Yes. They are paid."
"Does it come from that salary that's listed in the… the chart?"
"What… I…"
"Or I'll… I'll clarify. Does it come from the salary that's listed for that regional superintendent or is it a new salary line item?"
"The… the regional super intendent… the executive directors of the inter… intermediate service centers already receive a salary. They also have assistants that receive a salary as well. We're not creating any new positions at all."
"Okay. So, it comes out of the current assistant budget and it does not change that. Is that correct?"
"No."
"It…"
"It does not."
"It… it's correct; it doesn't change that?"
"That's correct."
"All right. Thank you so much." 10000024.docx 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"You're welcome."
"Representative Welch to close."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I ask for an 'aye' vote. This is a very bipartisan Bill that helps the Cook County immediate service centers. It's a good Bill. It was a good Bill then. And I ask for an 'aye' vote."
"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 425 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 84 voting 'yes', 16 voting 'no', 1 voting 'present', House Bill 425, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 470, Representative Davidsmeyer. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 4…"
"Out of the record. Out of the record. House Bill 503, Representative Harper. 503, Representative Harper. Out of the record. House Bill 528, Representative McDermed. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 528, a Bill for an Act concerning criminal law. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative McDermed."
"Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, this Bill follows up the good work we did in the 99th when we gave the Illinois State Police some funding to create a database to track their evidence including rape kits and also some money to hire some new technicians. What we're doing with this Bill is to continue the good work we did then by convening a commission to connect all the spokes to the hub. What we need 10000024.docx 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 to do now is to make sure that local law enforcement, the on- the-spot medical teams: nurses, doctors, hospital emergency rooms and so on, as well as our local circuit courts and circuit clerks are all connected to the evidence. In addition, we need to create a system where victims can easily access in a very private and secure way, what the status of the particular kit that applies to them is at. I would… this commission will consist of 13 people that include Members of the General Assembly, members of local law enforcement, medical providers and organizations that represent victims. I don’t like to necessarily be up here and talk about a commission, I'd like to be a lot more active, but I do agree with the Illinois State Police that if, perhaps, not for the State Police or for the Illinois General Assembly to dictate how law enforcement, local… medical providers and our local circuit courts are going to communicate. Let's get all the players in a room. Let's agree how we're going to communicate, and let's protect our victims and take our good work of the 99th onto the next level. I ask for an 'aye' vote."
"Seeing no debate, the question is, 'Shall House Bill 528… Representative Stratton is recognized."
"Will the Sponsor yield?"
"The Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"Certainly will, Representative."
"Thank you. First of all, I just wanted to commend Representative McDermed for this Bill. She and I have been in communication regarding a similar Bill that I have filed that actually asks for the tracking system to be in place. We left off our communication indicating that it would be helpful if 10000024.docx 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 we could, perhaps, think about an Amendment that would include a pilot program so that while we're thinking about this process, perhaps, we could also consider actually putting something into place as is already been established. There are, not just law enforcement agencies, but also, victims of sexual assault that have a harder time tracking their rape test kits than we do tracking a package via Amazon. And so, the idea of a commission is very helpful to get that process started. But I'm hoping that, perhaps, we can work together and look at some proposed language around a pilot, so that at the end of this year we will already have, what's probably technology that currently exists that can help victims of sexual assault track their… test kits even sooner."
"I think…"
"Thank you."
"Oh. I think this is a both and situation. Let's get the commission going and then let's get a pilot program. By no means does passing this Bill negate the necessity of a pilot program. I completely agree with you, Rep Stratton."
"Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 528 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. On a count of 107 voting 'yes', 0 voting 'no', 0 voting 'present', House Bill 528, having received the Constitutional Majority, is hereby declared passed. House Bill 540, Representative Kelly Burke. Out of the record. House Bill 619, Representative Walsh. Out of the record. House Bill 684, 10000024.docx 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 Representative Yingling. Out of the record. House Bill 695, Representative Tabares. Mr. Clerk, please read the Bill."
"House Bill 695, a Bill for an act concerning State Government. Third Reading of this House Bill."
"Representative Tabares."
"This House Bill requires the Legislative Information System to create a Spanish language website of the ilga.gov website. I ask for an 'aye' vote."
"Representative Andersson is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"Thank you. Representative, so is this our ilga website? Is that what we're converting?"
"Yes. This is the ilga.gov website."
"Okay. And do you have an estimate as to the cost of this and the time frame to implement?"
"There is a fiscal impact to this."
"Yes. Do we know what it is?"
"So, the fiscal impact is that if the software, for instance, cannot… is not set to do its job, then there would be another website or software and that would have a cost of 60 to 100 thousand dollars."
"According to our analysis, we do have those numbers, but it also indicates if translation software isn't allowed and I'm not exactly sure what allowed means, I'm assuming that's technical, the estimate actually goes up to 800 thousand to 1.5 million. Are you aware of those numbers?"
"Yes, yes. That's correct. That's if in the case where a third party has to be involved. There is a fiscal impact." 10000024.docx 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Do we… do we know, because I mean, we have the existing system, do we know which of those two estimates is correct?"
"Well…"
"Sixty thousand or 1.5 million?"
"Well, like I said before, the… the fiscal impact that you mention of 80… $800 thousand to $1.5 million that's a fiscal impact in case the software has to be managed by a third party."
"Right. And I guess my point was, we don't know the answer to the 'if' yet? Wouldn’t it be appropriate to not run this until we know whether this is a $60 thousand impact or a $1.5 million impact?"
"Well, there is a fiscal impact, but there is also a segment of the Illinois population that follows the General Assembly and cannot speak… well, only speak Spanish."
"Understood. And that's not really my question. My… my… and I guess my point is, I think it's a little unfair to ask this General Assembly to ask them to vote on a Bill and we don't know if the impact, the fiscal impact, which is pretty significant to us these days, is 60 thousand, relatively minor or $1.5 million. Don't you think we could find out the answer to that before we run the Bill?"
"Well, we are here to provide the best possible constituent services and this Bill does that."
"And last question is, regardless, where are we going to find the money for this?"
"Like I said, there is a segment assertedly in my district that are Spanish-speaking and that follow the General Assembly. And as a State Representative, I want to… 10000024.docx 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 committed to continue to have this Bill and make sure we… we provide the best possible constituent services."
"Without regard to cost?"
"Like I said, I'm here to provide good constituent services in my district and this Bill helps people follow the GA, the General Assembly and what we do down here. I think that's important."
"I would agree it is important, but so is our fiscal house. Thank you for the answers to my questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Wallace."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"Thank you, Representative for bringing this Bill forward. To kind of address some of the concerns from the previous speaker. The idea was what this cost is going to be to the state. But do we not have a great, or a pretty good percentage of Spanish speakers as taxpayers in the State of Illinois?"
"Yes. Yes, we do."
"I think the last estimates are somewhere around, anywhere from 13 to 14 percent of our citizens are of at least, Latin decent and probably have some literacy where Spanish is concerned?"
"Yes."
"So… And so, this is an attempt as you said it to be of greater service to all of the citizens of our state. And one way of doing that is making sure that we have… that we break 10000024.docx 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 down the language barrier for a segment of the Illinois population?"
"Yes, that is correct, Representative."
"I want to say thank you so much for bringing this Bill forward. I hope that every individual in this chamber will think about the fact that there are a couple of languages that are extremely prevalent within the state. Spanish is one. If you're in the Chicagoland area, Polish is another. And we should just be mindful of our constituencies and make sure that they have as much information as possible available to them and this is one step in the right direction. One point five million dollars in the grand scheme of anywhere from 32 to 34 billion dollars in revenue, that's not even one percentage of the revenues that the state will bring in. And I'm sure that about 13 percent of the population that is contributing their tax dollars to the State of Illinois would like to see them at work in this way. So, thank you."
"Thank you."
"I encourage an 'aye' vote."
"Thank you."
"Representative Skillicorn is recognized."
"Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"So, I thank you very much for introducing the Bill and I was very hesitant about hitting the speak button on this issue. But I… I've built a couple websites where we explore this angle of multilingual. And I'm just curious, is this going to be a separate website that's specifically translated or is this a soft-ware based conversion?" 10000024.docx 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"So, what we're doing here, we're not translating the entire ilga.gov website. We're only translating certain points of the ilga.gov website."
"So, is this going to be a person doing the translation or software?"
"This is a free… the Legislative Information System, also known as LIS, they're going to be using a free translation software…"
"Okay."
"…to meet these requirements."
"Okay. So, I just wonder because… just because I have a little bit of experience with websites, if it was something like that, if there's a possibility to just add a link to like Google Translate and then we can address multiple languages?"
"So, you bring up a good point. That is one of the options that the LIS can explore."
"And I'm not interested in, you know, stepping on anyone's toes, but that is an option that I've explored with commercial websites. There is also option of having a person translate which is just more expensive, more time consuming. And I just wonder if this… having something that link to Google Translate just opens it up and adds a transparency that, you know, we don’t currently have. But I… Maybe I'm suggesting that, but thank you for your time."
"Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Davidsmeyer."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor will yield." 10000024.docx 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"I just… you know, talking a little bit about the cost and you mentioned that… the mention number in here 800 thousand to 1.4 million dollars and that wouldn’t even translate the entire website?"
"Correct. It… there's only certain information that will be translated."
"So, who picks and chooses what gets translated for your constituents?"
"So, at the minimum it's going to be provided some information such as the Legislative Floor Sessions that are weekly scheduled for both chambers, the General Assembly Members and their members, the legislative item is to have a synopsis, the Rules of the House and the Senate and as well as the Constitutions of both the State and Federal Government."
"What about the text of individual Bills?"
"The… that is, well, like I said before those bullet points as well as… So, to the answer to the last question, no."
"No, that will not?"
"No."
"Okay. So, they really can't get very much information on there… They can track down their Member and maybe read the House Rules which are difficult to understand for most people in general. My… my next question is, what… what program or what place are you going to cut in the budget to find the money to fund this?" 10000024.docx 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"So, as far as I am aware, this General Assembly has already voted to cut the Representatives COLAs and freeze our pay as well last week."
"So, you can't… that's being used for other things; that’s being used to fund other things. You can't use a cut that's already been done to fund a new program. Or what tax are you going to raise? I… I'm just saying, we've got a state that doesn't have a budget. We don't have enough money to cover the programs that are already here. My concern is, this Body makes a new promise that makes new spending every single week. And at what point do we say enough's enough on new promises? I understand what you're trying to do and I appreciate what you're trying to do, but something has to fund this and I think that you need to say where it's coming from. Is it coming from cuts? Is it coming from… taxes? But you have to tell us where it's coming from and what programs you think are less important than this."
"Well, I believe the Appropriation Committees are discussing right now."
"And… and we've seen what's come out of them over the last two years, so I don't have a whole lot of faith in that right now. But I will participate in the process. But we cannot continue to make new promises when we are not funding the other promises, that's all I'm saying. Does anybody else in here believe that we need to keep making new promises? Are you concerned about programs that are not currently being funded? Is anybody in here concerned about programs that are not currently funded? I know I am; I know I am. So, I will be 10000024.docx 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 voting against this because we do not have the funds to do this. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Fortner."
"Thank you, Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"The Sponsor will yield."
"I want to thank you for the legislation. Make sure I understand some of the answers that you've given to previous Legislators. I think it… in response to one question you said that this translation would be a software-based solution added to the existing website. Is that an accurate portrayal of the answer you gave?"
"Yes."
"So, we already have like… the Department of… I believe like the Department of Economic… Employment Security already has translation services on its website. So, this is something the state has done elsewhere already. And do you see that this would be something similar to what… what that department is already doing? 'Cause that already provides translation services, Spanish as well as other languages, using a software-based solution."
"Representative, we are going to translate material… content that's already available in electronic form on the ilga website."
"Right. No and… and I… and I understand that, but what I'm pointing out, I think maybe, not so much as a question but for the House as a whole is that we have a department already that does this kind of translation, makes that translation available. Outside of the state proper, the Tollway Authority also provides translation services for many 10000024.docx 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 of its webpages into other languages. So, it's not… this is not such a unique thing. And it's something that we know how to do it for the state. We have some… we have some basis for that and I just want to make sure that we understand that this is something that isn't that hard to do using any… and there's different competing companies that provide this service that LIS can choose from to provide the translation. I just want to make sure that everyone understands. I just want to make sure that I understand that that's likely the way it's going… to roll out."
"Thank you, Representative and that is another option that we can explore."
"So, to the Bill. I think the funding is certainly the concern, but in the long run the kind of software involved here does not need to be very expensive. There are competing products so one is not locked into a certain vendor. I'm sure LIS would do an appropriate selection process. And, much like we see four groups like the tollway and even some of our own departments that provide that kind of internal software selection, I don't see any reason why this would be any different in how it would appear. Thank you."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Martwick."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"Thank you. Representative Tabares, thank you for bringing forth this legislation. So, just a… just a couple of questions. Do you… do you believe in our Democratic process? Do you believe that this is a good form of government?"
"Yes, yes." 10000024.docx 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"And in order for democracy to work to… to be a more perfect form of government, isn't it necessary that all citizens have the information they need to engage with our government?"
"Absolutely, yes."
"And we are, last I checked, still a nation of immigrants. Am I right?"
"Yes."
"Are… is your family, where are they originally from, Representative Tabares?"
"Well, my… my mother is from Mexico."
"From Mexico? Okay, very good. And so, my family came here from Poland and… and the early generations of my family didn't speak it. I'm sure at that time they were completely unable to engage in a democracy that passed laws that affect their lives. For instance, there might be things that happen here in our budget that make us unable to provide services to certain groups. Like in the Governor's budget he just eliminated all funding for immigrant services. Isn't that right?"
"Yeah."
"Wasn't that just his proposal? Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Is that right? Is that how you understand it?"
"That's correct. That includes the welcoming centers."
"That's the way I understand it too. And that’s right. And… and so, for these people who are citizens of our country who have the ability… if they don’t have the information to know what's going on here, how can they properly engage and how their voice be heard? And they can't, right?" 10000024.docx 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Right. And that's what we're trying to do."
"And… and this is a… And I would only suggest that this is a great first step. We, as a country and as government, I think we owe it to be inclusive to all of the language speakers of our country. And thankfully, as Representative Fortner pointed out so well, this knowledge is out there; it's not expensive. We can do this and most importantly, when we start talking about the things we need to spend money on, this is the right thing to spend money on so that people can be engaged and we can have the government we need. So, thank you for bringing forth this Bill. To the Bill. I encourage an 'aye' vote from everyone."
"Representative Keith Wheeler is recognized." Wheeler, K.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"The Sponsor will yield." Wheeler, K.: "Representative, I appreciate where you're trying to go here. It's important we include as many people as possible in the legislative process. And we represent all the people of Illinois whether they speak English or another language. But I'm looking at the ilga website in Google Translate and I'm looking at it in Spanish right now at my own profile which has everything in it in Spanish which is pretty amazing to me because I don’t speak Spanish very well but it's all right there. And then, well, my friend Representative Martwick was talking, I switched over to Polish, it just took a click, that's all it took. And I got the entire Bill, my whole profile right here in another language. It already exists. So, my question is, while we are still in the midst of the budget impasse which doesn't have a sign in front of us to 10000024.docx 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 say that it's over, can we hold off on this kind of an appropriation until we have that accomplished and then implement technology just like this to accomplish what you're trying to do and even more to reach every language that's available for instant translation coming forward? Wouldn't that make sense to do it that way for right now? Knowing that people who are very interested in what happens in this Body that don't speak English can still use a tool like this and find their way through the entire site right now?"
"No, I will not hold off on this." Wheeler, K.: "So, you're saying we should wait several months, spend tens of thousands if not over a million dollars when the technology exists today, right now? I didn't know about it until I searched on it while I was sitting here that we could do this now, save taxpayer money, invoke everyone in all of our districts who speaks a non-English speaking language that they can do this right now today. That’s not the better solution?"
"No. We need to provide good constituent services and that’s what this Bill does… intends to do." Wheeler, K.: "To the Bill. We… we have the solution, it’s in front of us, it's free, it's already there. I invoke everyone to reach out to their own districts to people who don't speak English in those areas and invite them to use this tool to follow what we actually do down here and become more engaged in the process for a better democratic republic in this state. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative David Harris." Harris, D.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question of the Sponsor?" 10000024.docx 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield." Harris, D.: "Representative, do you know how many other states require such a… such a translation?"
"No, I don't." Harris, D.: "Okay. Would you agree that California has a large number of individuals that speak Spanish?"
"Yes." Harris, D.: "And… and if you go the California State Assembly website, which I am on right now, do you know how they handle Spanish language speakers?"
"No, please." Harris, D.: "All they do is they put on there a… a click to translate this website on Google Translate. My point there is, what's been said earlier, the… the technology exists that you can go and simply add to our website something like Google Translate so that folks in Spanish. I have Koreans in my district, Russians, Poles. They could translate, and have the translation. So, my recommendation to you is, should this Bill pass, to eliminate perhaps opposition in the Senate where you say that the… the system shall create a Spanish language version of its website. You may simply want to say the… the system shall add the option for a translation option on the website, just as they do in California. It's already there, it's simple. It's not expensive and… and the technology is there. And I think it achieves the objective that you want without… without of a lot of the opposition that you're encountering today. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Hoffman." 10000024.docx 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House. Now, I respect the other side of the aisle and their position on this, but this is very simple. It's very simple. Do we want to allow individuals access to government that don’t currently have it? You can hide behind budgets. You can hide behind excuses, but there's something else deeper behind some of the statements. I think we should be voting 'aye' and I ask everybody on my side of the aisle to stand with this Sponsor and vote 'yes' and allow access to government for people who speak a different language than English, period."
"The Chair recognizes Representative Arroyo."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Members of the House. Representative Tabares, I think that this is a great Bill. I think that you have something. I think that other departments in the City of Chicago have Spanish speaking, you get search points, if you speak another language to be able to get on HR and take a job. When I first came from Puerto Rico, I didn't know how to speak English. I still don't know how to speak real English. You know, so any… any help that you could give a Latino to be able to get a job and to be able to move ahead, I'm with you. I think this is a good idea, I think they should be helping us as much as they can. And when I say us, I say me, too, because some of you guys when I speak up here, you guys still think that I don’t know how to speak English that well. I would like to speak Spanish when I'm here on this microphone, but everybody over here starts booing and moaning and groaning because I'm speaking Spanish. I speak two languages, you have to be proud to speak those two languages, but you be proud that, if you speak two languages you should 10000024.docx 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 be able to have a job just like everyone else. So, do you mind if I say a couple words in Spanish, Tabares?"
"Go ahead, please."
"Este bill le ayuda a todos los latinos pa que tengan trabajo y puedan buscar trabajo y puedan trabajar en los Estados Unidos como todo el mundo. Este es un bill que es muy importante pa los latinos. Por favor. Help this Bill pass. Translated - This Bill would help Latinos find employment and so they could work in the United States like the whole world. This is a Bill that is very important for Latinos, so please help this Bill pass. Every… all the Members on the other side and I think you're kind of looking at me a little bit cockeyed, help me out, if you can, please. Maybe I'll learn the language a little better than I speak it now. Maybe, you know, it'll help me advance in the General Assembly. Maybe it'll help me run for an office or where just… everybody just speaks English. I don't know where that office is, but if you guys have a little piece of heart on your side for me, help me get this Bill out will you, please? Thank you."
"Representative Welter is recognized."
"Mr. Speaker, I request to yield my time to Representative Andersson."
"Representative Andersson."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Bill. And maybe more particularly to one of the comments that was made. This has been a very civil debate; this is exactly what I think the House is supposed to be, but there was a characterization of my side of the aisle as having some ill intent, something that wasn’t being discussed. And I got to tell you, I take 10000024.docx 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 great umbrage at that. We have provided solutions that don’t cost money. We're not opposing the concept. I don’t think you heard a single person on our side of the aisle oppose the concept. What you heard was a current concern about finance, I understand that may not be your concern, but it is ours. But most importantly, you heard solutions that are employable right now, right now. So, I… I really… I take great umbrage at the comments about my side of the aisle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker."
"Representative Mah is recognized."
"Yes. Representative Tabares, I'd like to thank you for proposing this Bill; I think it's a good Bill. I, too, serve a constituency that is majority Latino and many of them are Spanish-speaking. I think it's important because we are a country of immigrants. The Latino population in the State of Illinois is the second fastest growing population in the state and I think that if we believe in incorporating as many people in our democracy as possible and encouraging civic engagement, this is something that is important to support. And so, I urge everyone to vote 'yes' on this Bill. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Hernandez."
"To the Bill. Representative Tabares, I want to thank you for bringing this Bill. I think oftentimes, sometimes and… we are trying to come up with an initiative that, in particular, aims at our constituency that would help our constituency, engage, in particular, in civic engagement. I think this is what your initiative is doing. I know with a district that represents over 78 percent Latino population 10000024.docx 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 many very depend upon tools that would help them with their language. If it's a way of engaging community and investing in that, you have that initiative right here. And I thank you for bringing it forth. Thank you."
"Chair recognizes Representative Batinick."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Sponsor yield?"
"Sponsor indicates that she will yield."
"I got to… I got to say I'm… I'm… confused. I'm a little disappointed that I feel like this is emblematic of what we've spent the last two years of doing is talking over each other. We have a solution that does it for every language that is free. Why are we upset about that? Why shouldn't we be cheering as a Body, as a bipartisan way that Representative David Harris talked about the at… ability of just adding a button to the website to explain to people how to translate it to Spanish, Polish, Slovakian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese. I have no idea why we are supporting… Italian… I have no idea why we are against a great, free, bipartisan solution. We should have a kumbaya and have a beer afterwards. Let's pull this Bill out of the record; let's amend it. Let's do something that's free and helps people who speak every language. Whatever language you decide to speak, Representative, I'm sure we could translate it there. We have a solution that's cheaper and better. I suggest that that's the route we should choose. Thank you."
"Representative Tabares to close."
"Thank you. I'd like to thank everybody. And for the debate, I'd like to thank my colleagues who spoke in support of this Bill. Thank you for your support. I trust the LIS and 10000024.docx 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 again, the system may, in its discretion, may make additional information available on a Spanish language website. I ask for an 'aye' vote. Thank you."
"The question is, 'Shall House Bill 695 pass?' All in favor vote 'aye'; all opposed vote 'nay'. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Clerk, please take the record. Representative Tabares?"
"May I put this on a Postponed Consideration, please?"
"Mr. Clerk, please move this Bill to the Order of Postponed Consideration. Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 199, offered by Representative Jones. House Resolution 200, offered by Representative Andersson. House Resolution 201, offered by Andersson. House Resolution 202, offered by Representative Stuart. House Resolution 203, offered by Representative Williams."
"Leader Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the Resolutions adopted. Mr. Clerk, committee announcements."
Clerk Hollman: "The following committees will be meeting immediately: Appropriations Elementary & Secondary Education in Room 114, Agriculture & Conservation in Room 115, Insurance: Health & Life in D-1, Transportation, Regulation, Roads & Bridges in 122, Economic Opportunity in Room 118, Government Consolidation & Modernization in 413. Meeting in 2 hours at 4:30 p.m., 2 hours at 4:30 p.m. are Consumer Protection in D-1, Environment in Room 114, Financial Insti… 10000024.docx 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 24th Legislative Day 3/14/2017 Institutions in 122, Cities & Villages in C-1, Judiciary- Criminal in 118, Government Transparency in Room 115, Construction Industry & Code Enforcement in 413. Notice that the Public Utilities Committees was canceled for this afternoon; Public Utilities was canceled this afternoon."
"And now, allowing perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Currie moves that the House adjourn until Wednesday, March 15 at 12 noon, Wednesday, March 15, 12 noon. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it. And the House is adjourned."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 4009, offered by Speaker Madigan, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 4010, offered by Speaker Madigan, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 4011, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act concerning government. House Bill 4012, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. House Bill 4013, offered by Representative Crespo, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 4014, offered by Representative Bryant, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriations. First Reading of these House Bills. Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 204, offered by Representative Butler and House Resolution 205, offered by Representative Jimenez are referred to the Rules Committee. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 10000024.docx 52