Illinois House Floor Debate — February 17, 1999

"The House shall come to order. The House shall come to order. The Members shall be in their chairs. We shall be led in prayer today by Dr. Lonnie Lee of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Springfield. Reverend Lee is the guest of Representative Klingler. The guests in the gallery may wish to rise and join us for the invocation."

"Let us pray. Almighty God we give You thanks, that Your glory shines throughout the world. We commend this State of Illinois to Your merciful care that we may live securely in peace, and be guided by Your providence. Bless our Governor and all those who hold office in the government of Illinois. That they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, kindness, and justice. Grant to these leaders a sense of urgency to know Your will and to do it. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote the general welfare. May they always be guided by Your light and Your truth. Amen."

Speaker Madigan: "We shall be led in the Pledge of Allegiance by Representative Hartke."

"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."

Speaker Madigan: "Roll Call for Attendance. Representative Currie."

"Thank you Speaker. We have no excused absences to report today."

"Mr. Poe."

"Yeah, Mr. Speaker, let the record show that all the Republicans are here today."

Speaker Madigan: "This is the Attendance Roll Call. Mr. Clerk, 1  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 take the record. There being 117 Members responding to the Attendance Roll Call, there is a quorum present. Mr. Clerk. The Chair recognizes the Lady from Cook, Representative Currie."

"Thank you, Speaker. I move for the immediate consideration and suspension of applicable House Rules for the adoption of Joint... House Joint Resolution 6."

"You've all heard the Lady's Motion. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it and the Motion is adopted. The Lady from Cook, Majority Leader Currie."

"Thank you, Speaker. I now move for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 6."

"The Lady has moved the adoption of House Joint Resolution 6. All those in favor signify by saying 'aye'; all those opposed by saying 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair, the 'ayes' have it and the Resolution is adopted. Mr. Clerk, on page 4 of the Calendar, on the Order of House Bills-Second Reading, there appears House Bill 335. Has the fiscal note been filed?"

"The fiscal note has been filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Fine. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill for a second time."

"House Bill 335, a Bill for an Act to amend the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "And the fiscal note has been filed. Place the Bill on the Order of Third Reading. Representative Eileen Lyons. Is Representative Lyons in the chamber? Do you wish to move your House Bill 19? Mr. Clerk, on the Order of House Bills-Second Reading, page 2, there appears House 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Bill 19. Read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 19, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Moffitt. Mr. Clerk, House Bill 21. Read the Bill."

"House Bill 21, a Bill for an Act amending the School Construction Law. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor amendments, No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Is Mr. Righter on the floor? Mr. Righter. Mr. Righter. Mr. Clerk, on House Bill 32, read the bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 32, a Bill for an Act amending the Unified Code of Corrections. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Mr. Poe. Mr. Poe. Is Mr. Poe in the chamber? Do you wish to move your House Bill 33? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 33, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Is Mr. Black in the chamber? Mr. Black, do you wish to move your House Bill 42? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 42, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Public Aid Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed." 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999

"Third Reading. Mr. Schoenberg do you wish to move your Bill? House Bill 65. Leave the Bill on the Order of Second Reading. Mr. Holbrook. Is Mr. Holbrook in the chamber? Mr. Holbrook. Is Mr. Holbrook in the chamber? Mr. McGuire. Is Mr. McGuire in the chamber? Mr. McGuire. Mr. Steve Davis. Mr. Clerk, on House Bill 115, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 115, a Bill for an Act in relation to the penalties for unlawful use or possession of weapons by felons or persons in the custody of the Department of Corrections facilities. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Have the notes been filed?"

"The notes have been filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Schoenberg, on House Bill 127. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 127, a Bill for an act amending the advisory commission on Internet Privacy Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Black, on 130. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 130, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Vehicle Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Representative Lindner. Representative Lindner. Do you wish to move House Bill 135? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 135, a Bill for an Act concerning appropriation Bills. Second Reading of this House Bill. No 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Steve Davis. Mr. Steve Davis. Mr. Steve Davis. You do not wish to call the Bill? Mr. Lang. Is Mr. Lang in the chamber? Mr. Lang. Do you wish to call House Bill 156? Take this Bill out of the record. Mr. Lang, what about the next Bill, 157? Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 157."

"House Bill 157, a Bill for an Act concerning telephone solicitations. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Motions have been filed. No Floor Amendments approved for consideration. The state mandates note and a judicial note have been requested on the Bill and they have not been filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Mr. Lang, the notes have not been filed. So, the Bill will remain on the Order of Second Reading. Mr. Lang, House Bill 162. Mr. Clerk, have the notes been filed on 162?"

Clerk Rossi: "There is a fiscal note that has not been filed on House Bill 162."

"Mr. Lang, 167? Mr. Clerk, read House Bill 167.

"House Bill 167, a Bill for an Act concerning bonds. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Brunsvold. Is Mr. Brunsvold on the floor? Do you wish to move House Bill 194? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 194, a Bill for an Act amending the Counties Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed." 5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Is Mr. Delgado in the chamber? Do you wish to move your Bill? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 227, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Have the notes been filed?"

"The notes have been filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Leitch. Mr. Clerk, House Bill 235, read the Bill."

"House Bill 235, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Vehicle Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Black. Mr. Black. Is Mr. Black in the chamber? House Bill 240. Concerned with the Illinois Public Aid Code. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 240, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Public Aid Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Representative Flowers. Do you wish to call the Bill? It's House Bill 256. It's concerned with the Juvenile Court Act. Leave the Bill on the Order of Second Reading. Mr. Giglio. Do you wish to call 262? Is Mr. Giglio in the chamber? Leave 262 on the Order of Second Reading. Mr. Burke. Mr. Dan Burke. Do you wish to call House Bill 274? Mr. Clerk. Mr. Burke, the notes have not yet been filed, so the Bill will remain on the Order of Second Reading. Mr. Clerk, on 275 have the notes been filed there?"

"The notes have been filed." 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999

"On 275?"

"On House Bill 275."

"Read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 275, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Vehicle Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Mr. Lang, House Bill 284. It's concerned with the health care. I am advised that the notes have not been filed, Mr. Lang. So, the Bill will remain on the Order of Second Reading. Mr Hartke. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill, 291."

"House Bill 291, a Bill for an Act amending the Airport Authorities Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Fritchey. (295), Criminal Code. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 295, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Bost. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 317, a Bill for an Act amending the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Mr. Mautino. Is Mr. Mautino in the chamber? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill, 340."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 340, a Bill for an Act amending the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act. Second Reading 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Mr. Durkin. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 343, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Motions have been filed. No Floor Amendments approved for consideration."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Woolard. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 354, a Bill for an Act amending the School Construction Law. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, on 357 have the notes been filed?"

"The note has been filed."

"Read the Bill."

"House Bill 357, a Bill for an Act amending the State Finance Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Motions have been filed. No Floor Amendments approved for consideration."

"Third Reading. Representative O'Brien. On 376, Representative O'Brien. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 376, a Bill for an Act in relation to anhydrous ammonia. Second Reading of this House Bill. Amendment #1 was adopted in committee. No Motions have been filed. No Floor Amendments approved for consideration."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Hoffman. Mr. Scott. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 384, a Bill for an Act amending the Jury Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

Speaker Madigan: "Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, the regular Session will stand in recess. The chair recognizes the Doorkeeper for the purpose of an announcement. Mr. Doorkeeper."

"Mr. Speaker, the Honorable President Philip and the Members of the Senate are at the door and seek admission to the chamber."

"Mr. Speaker, Mr. Doorkeeper, please admit the Honorable Senators. As designated in House Joint Resolution #6, the hour of 12 noon having arrived, the Joint Session of the 91st General Assembly will now come to order. Will the Members of the House, and our esteemed guests from the Senate, please take their seats? Mr. Clerk, is a quorum of the House present?"

"A quorum of the House is present."

Speaker Madigan: "Mr. President, is a quorum of the Senate present in this chamber? And on behalf of President Philip, Senator Weaver."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker, a quorum of the Senate is present."

"There being a quorum of the House, and a quorum of the Senate in attendance, this Joint Session is convened. The Chair would like to announce the attendance of several dignitaries. First, the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Illinois, Lieutenant Governor, Corinne Wood; the Secretary of State, Jesse White; the Attorney General, Jim Ryan; the Comptroller, Dan Hynes; the Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka; the Auditor General of the State of Illinois, Bill Holland; the Governor's Chief of Staff, Robert Newtson; the Governor's Budget Director, Steve Schnorf; the Chair of the Illinois Arts Council, Shirley Madigan. In the gallery, the First Lady of the State of Illinois, Lura Lynn 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Ryan; the Superintendent of Education, Max McGee; the United States Representative, former Member of the House, Jerry Weller. I am very pleased to have with us United States Senator Peter Fitzgerald, Peter. Chair recognizes the Majority Leader, Representative Currie."

"Thank you, Speaker. I move for the immediate consideration and suspension of applicable House Rules for the adoption of Joint Session Resolution #1."

"You have all heard the Lady's Motion. All in favor say 'aye'; all opposed say 'no'. The 'ayes' have it, and the Motion is adopted. The Chair recognizes the House Majority Leader Representative Currie. Representative Currie."

"Thank you, Speaker. Would the Clerk please read the Joint Session Resolution #1?"

"Mr. Clerk."

Clerk Rossi: "Joint Session Resolution #1, Resolved that a committee of ten, be appointed five from the House, by the Speaker of the House, and five from the Senate, by the President of the Senate, to await upon the Honorable Governor of the State of Illinois and invite him to address the Joint Assembly."

"Representative Currie moves for the adoption of the Resolution. All those in favor signify by saying 'aye'; all those opposed say 'nay'. In the opinion of the Chair the 'ayes' have it, the Resolution is adopted. Pursuant to the Resolution, the following are appointed as a committee to escort the Governor. The appointments from the House would be; Representative Julie Curry, Representative Connie Howard, Representative Carolyn Krause, Representative Jeff Schoenberg, Representative David Wirsing. On behalf of President Philip, Senator 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Weaver."

"The Senate Members are; Senator Kimberly Lightford, Senator Lisa Madigan, Senator Duane Noland, Senator, Kathleen Parker, and Senator, Todd Siebens."

Speaker Madigan: "Will the Committee of Escort please convene at the rear of the chamber, and await his Excellency, the Governor? Will the committee please retire to the rear of the chamber? The Governor is at the door. The Doorkeeper is recognized for an announcement."

"Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Governor of the State of Illinois, George Ryan and his party, wish to be admitted to this chamber."

"Admit the Honorable Governor."

"Thank you. Thank you, very much. Thank you, very much. You know sometime during the lives of most of us, we encounter some difficult hurdles to overcome. We have obstacles that are difficult for us to challenge and to face in life. This morning we all had the news of our colleague, Jim Ryan, who's got another hurdle to overcome. And I had an opportunity to talk to the Attorney General, and I said to him, 'What can I do for you, Jim?' And he said, 'Say a little prayer.' My message today is that we're all going to say a little prayer for you, Jim, and we wish you the best. Godspeed. Speaker Madigan and President Philip, Justices of the Supreme Court, my fellow constitutional officers and my colleagues in the House and the Senate, and certainly the people of the State of Illinois, eighteen years ago I stood in this place to take my oath of office as the Illinois House of Representatives' Speaker. Since then, the people of this state have honored me to elections to statewide offices five times, and I stand before you now with the highest honor our people can 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 bestow, the 39th Governor of the State of Illinois. And I can honestly tell you that today, 16 years after I left this chamber as Speaker, it's good to be back. I will always cherish my time in this House. And I am here to present this General Assembly with my proposed state budget for Fiscal Year 2000, and to report to the citizens of Illinois on the state of our state as we prepare to enter the 21st Century. I am happy to report that Illinois is a healthy and robust state. And I commend the General Assembly and Governor Edgar for this achievement. During the years of growing prosperity, you balanced our budget, eliminated our 1,000,000,000 Medicaid debt, paid our bills on time and reduced the size of state government. That's a pretty good record of accomplishments. You've built on a healthy economic climate in Illinois, stimulating business growth and driving our jobless rate to the lowest level in 25 years. You made significant improvements in funding schools, and you enacted reforms to provide greater accountability over how our school funds are spent. You can be justifiably proud of these accomplishments. Our job, yours and mine, is to build on this record. Our state is strong thanks to the millions of men and women who work hard every day to produce goods and services and ideas that we all need and use. Illinois is a place that has never forgotten what made America great: pride, hard work, self-respect, respect for others. The people of Illinois are an astonishing resource. We come from the back frontiers and brought people through the railroads West. And whenever their wagons stopped, Illinois' early pioneers always set up two things: school houses and churches. They built a good state, a good place to call home, and a special place to raise families. Today, we remain a people 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 that draws strength and purpose from the land, sinking deep roots and nurturing the dreams of our children. Twenty-seven years ago when I first ran for the Illinois House, I was a pharmacist from Kankakee. My family and I ran a small business that had been started by my father. And I ran for public office because I thought government was too big, spent too much money and was too intrusive in our daily lives. I have an abiding trust in the capability of individuals to shoulder their own responsibilities, and to develop their fullest potential. I still believe in 'limited government' that spends taxpayers' dollars carefully and wisely. But, I also realize that State Government can be fiscally prudent, yet still be compassionate and sensitive to the needs of our society. State Government can be efficient and yet still be fair. And, while I believe that government cannot be the solution to every problem, there are some problems that only government can solve. There is more to elective office than just preparing for the next campaign. It's about governing. And, in order to govern most effectively, to produce the best outcome, we must build coalitions. We must continually broaden our own perspective. And we must listen to and respect the opinion of others. And we have to reach out to embrace new ideas, and we will be willing to craft fair compromises to find solutions. I realize that each generation finds its own way; and just because something makes us a little uncomfortable or because we don't understand it doesn't necessarily make it wrong. I'm proud of my reputation earned in this chamber many years ago, in building political consensus from both sides of the aisle. And I can tell you here today, that I intend to govern with all of you as my partners, regardless of your 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 party. To Mike, and to Pate, to Lee, and to Emil and to all of my friends here, as we begin this new administration, I offer you my hand. My door is open. And I invite all of you to join me in building a new Illinois together. As I have said, 'I intend to govern with you as my partners.' And I begin this administration talking about the people that I met all over this great state who inspired me and gave me courage and reason to carry on. And I listened to them and I learned from them. And what they said, and my experience with them, made me rethink a lot of things. But I believe I will be a better Governor because of it. In my inaugural remarks, I pledged to put partisanship aside, and I renew that pledge to you today and to the people of Illinois. The lesson of the last few years should be obvious to everyone. People want problems solved, and they do not want protracted partisan political fights. Partisanship is not my message. We must meet the people's needs, and to do that we must learn and listen and be ready to compromise to find middle ground, to find a solution. But all of that may do or try to do falls on seeds of fallow ground unless we in government set the tone for understanding, for compassion, and a respect for one another and a respect for the institutions we have established to serve us all. Illinois is a great state, and while recognizing differences, we have to act together. There is nothing that happens in one part of the state, that ultimately, does not impact for good or bad, on another part of the state. The needs of each area of our state may be different. But while recognizing these differences, and accommodating those needs, let us always remember that we are one state, and no area of our state should be disadvantaged for the benefit of the other. In 14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 the past year, I presented a detailed policy agenda, my vision for taking Illinois into the 21st Century. Today, I am laying before you a fiscal blueprint to implement that agenda. And I believe that we must prudently manage the budget balance. And I agree with Comptroller Dan Hynes and Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka in their call for the creation of a 'Rainy Day Fund' for Illinois to help us guard against unexpected downturns in the economy. Implementation details need to be worked out with you, but I really believe that the Treasurer and the Comptroller have made good suggestions about where we can begin those discussions. This budget is just a beginning, because I know, as you do, that we can't do all that we want, as quickly as we want. I also know that some of your priorities may be different than mine, but I am willing to listen. And I propose we begin with what I believe to be the #1 priority for all of us: that's the education of our children, and the development of a trained, competitive workforce for Illinois in the 21st century. We build a new Illinois by building families. And we build families by loving, caring and educating for our children. At the end of the day, all our hopes for the future can be summed up in one simple truth, the children are our most precious natural resource. And I made a promise to the kids and parents of Illinois, that at least 51% of all new monies would go to education and job training. And today, I make good on that promise. Today, I propose that we increase funds for education and job training by $536,000,000 representing 52.5% of new general fund appropriations. And today, I announce the most far-reaching and ambitious educational package ever set before this Assembly. It calls for new schools, new teachers, new technology, and 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 new ideas. It's a ten-part plan to ensure that for the children of Illinois, their future is as bright as their dreams. First, new teachers. Ultimately, 10,000 new teachers. Because if our kids are our most precious resource, teachers certainly, are our most important asset. I also promised that we'd reduce class size, so that children can teach... so the teachers can teach and our children can learn. And to do that over the next four years, Illinois should hire 10,000 new teachers. Today, I match rhetoric with resources and propose $60,000,000 to hire new teachers. Second, bricks and mortars. Because building a new Illinois means building new classrooms. And my budget asks that we accelerate school construction next year with a boost of capital funds for school construction grants, nearly $400,000,000. Third, is reading. Back to basics. We're talking about literacy. The first step on any path to opportunity. And my whole budget asks that we increase reading grants by $10,000,000 and early childhood and summer bridge programs by $16,000,000. No child should be left behind. And our goal should be nothing less. Our goal should be nothing less than an Illinois where by the end of the third grade every child can read at that level. Fourth, safe schools. You know, growing up in Kankakee, they talked about the Four R's you've all heard about them, 'reading, writing, rythmetic and respect'. Respect for teachers and respect for learning. Respect for fellow students. And I ask that you quickly pass Attorney General Jim Ryan's 'Safe to Learn' School Safety Plan. We need schools that are free from crime, free from chaos, free from drugs and free from all the things that harm our children. And I ask that you do this. Fifth, we need equality, opportunity, and local rule. These new teachers 16  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 and these new classrooms must reach every child in this state. That's fair play. We in Illinois carry the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. This state was built not only with iron and stone, it was also built on ideas. And we must continue the fight to equalize the disparity between the haves and the have-nots. And we must continue to return power to communities, freeing districts to address their own needs, and to help their own kids. And that means allocating $41,000,000 to increase the foundation level above the level required by law. Increasing categorical grants by some $107,000,000. And to help local school districts with cash flow, I recommend restoring the final General State Aid payment in June for both Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 2000. That catches everybody up. Sixth, fairness and opportunity also mean extending a hand to all of our kids, including those in private and parochial schools. These are our children. They are not strangers to us. They're our neighbors. Their parents live down the street, and around the corner. They are our neighbors. And these parents pay taxes, just like the rest of us, to support our public schools, yet they shoulder the added cost of private schools, as well. And whether a parent chooses to 'homeschool' a child, or send the child to a charter school, or to a parochial school, they are entitled to our help and we should provide it. Our children should not be caught in a war between competing educational interests. We must come to the table and resolve the issues concerning public and private schools. We can't pretend that the private system does not exist. I want the State Board of Education to make this a prime agenda item. I don't want discussions or decisions that pretend that parochial or charter schools don't exist or should not 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 exist. And I don't want rules and regulations that make it difficult for them to exist. I want the state board to cooperate with the thousands of parents who 'homeschool' their children. And I want to see progress at coming together. And I ask this General Assembly to enact a responsible tuition tax credit program and I'll sign it into law. It's right and it's fair. Seventh, new technology. Reading is a basic tool for literacy. It's a basic tool for opportunity. And it's a basic tool for lifelong learning. Our children need all the tools. Illinois produces some of the world's most advanced technology. Let's put it in the hands of our children. And with this budget, I propose $8,000,000 more to help jump-start improvements in schools technology. And I ask that we devote another $17,000,000 to press forward and now build the Illinois Century Network. It will link education and training resources for universities, colleges, schools and libraries throughout the state. Illinois belongs in the forefront. Because in the nation's effort to harness technology for the education, the children of Illinois must be second to none. Higher education. Illinois boasts an exceptional state system and is home to some of the best and the finest colleges and universities in the world. I'm told that if we were a separate country, Illinois would stand at number 2, behind only the United States itself, for the number of Nobel Prizes won. I promised to support the state's system of higher education. And with this budget, we do. For higher education, I propose an overall general funds increase of $137,000,000. And we're backing that commitment with some $161,000,000 for capital improvements at our colleges and universities. Here too, we are building a new Illinois. 18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Ninth, scholarship assistance. Parents know the costs of college has gone through the roof. And we want to encourage our top high school students to continue their education in Illinois. And, that's why my budget meets our commitment to fully fund our Merit Scholarship Program. America's G.I. Bill was an idea of simple genius, an idea that worked. And it helped fuel an economic boom that we still benefit from today. And so I also recommend full funding for the Illinois Veterans' Scholarship Program. I will ask this General Assembly to approve my 'Career Scholarship Program.' It provides $1,000 grants to any Illinois high school graduate who wants to pursue continuing education, vocational training or on the job training in Illinois. I think it's one of those things we have to do. And tenth, job training. And I saved this for last, because it's kind of close to my heart. Twenty years ago, as a State Legislator, I helped create the Illinois Industrial Training Program. It's kind of a homegrown success story, a program that works. It works for business. It works for people, enabling them to upgrade skills, and the other half of our commitment to education has to be a commitment to work force development and training. And that's why we've asked to expand the Industrial Training Program by an increase of $7,000,000, nearly 50% over the last year's program. Our objective is pretty simple. And, I think the need is pretty clear. We have to devise a single continuous program for work force development in Illinois. I believe this ten-part plan can do it. It starts with elementary and secondary schools, vocational, community colleges, higher education, adult education and literacy, on-going retraining in the workplace. Illinois needs a program for lifelong learning. 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 A system our citizens can access at time throughout their careers. And I believe the full realization of Illinois' promise is linked to the opportunities fostered by a growing economy. And I pledge to propose a 'Jobs Through Economic Competitiveness Act,' a major high-tech initiative designed to jump-start the new economic engine for Illinois. And I will keep that promise, too, and submit a comprehensive package for your consideration. We will propose a tax edge credit, similar to incentives that are already in place in our neighboring states, to help compete for the attraction of firms that offer good jobs for Illinois workers and provide an equalization of opportunities in all regions of this state. This will be especially helpful in Southern Illinois, where local communities must compete with Kentucky and Missouri for companies providing good jobs. And to make sure that we don't forget about the needs of Southern Illinois, I will establish an office for the Governor in the region south of I-70. We're going to reencourage the redevelopment of Brownfields. We're going to expand tourism promotion by $5.1 million and provide greater coordination among state agencies and local communities in all regions of the state. We will move forward with the Lincoln Presidential Library Project here in Springfield, and we'll continue to provide additional resources to our museums. Many of you may know that my political education really started with business education. And it was back at my pharmacy in Kankakee, where each morning I shared coffee and everyday gripes with neighboring business owners. I ran a small business with my family for 43 years. And I believe I understand their needs. Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois. They need our help. And one of the best ways we can help 20  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 them is to get out of their way. And, that means regulatory relief, now. Enhancing entrepreneurial education, now. And increased access to capital, now. It also means focusing on the particular needs of our women business owners. And that's why I appointed a new Director of DCCA, Pam McDonough, former chair of the Illinois Women's Business Ownership Council. Pamela is a tireless advocate for women in business. And, we're told that in the future more than 80% of those entering the work force will come from the ranks of women and minorities. And in looking forward, we must humbly recognize that the full promise of equality and civil rights still have not been achieved. And we must move beyond the protection of rights to the creation of opportunity. Because we will be satisfied with nothing less than the removal of final barriers to self-reliance, and equality of opportunity for everyone in Illinois. We will also create jobs by promoting more Illinois exports and dividing comprehensive state export strategy for the focus on small businesses, and a focus on our agricultural products. Our farm economy is changing and we must help our farmers earn more by promoting grain exports, and by helping promote their products at a better price. I propose that we add money in this budget to establish additional overseas offices to promote our state and its products. And I personally believe that one of those offices ought to be in Africa where new emerging markets would provide economic opportunities for Illinois businesses. In building a new Illinois economy, I believe that initiatives like these are the nuts and the bolts. And Illinois welcomes the emerging global economy, because Illinois plans to win. Illinois has always served as a 21  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 crossroads. For two centuries our location has helped make Illinois rich, as goods and ideas have moved faster and faster. First, by water, then by rail, and then today, by air. And for each, in its time, Illinois was a dominant hub. But the new medium is neither water, nor steel, nor air. It's information. They say that within five years, electronic commerce will be a market of $1.3 trillion dollars and we want a piece of that. We're building jobs for a new century. We want to make Illinois a leader, with a comprehensive, industry-led effort to provide custom-made financing tools for high-tech firms. They did it in Pennsylvania. Governor Tom Ridge and his 'Technology 21' initiative. And we can do it here. There's no question that we have to invest in this technology-based innovation economy. And with this budget, we will. And that means an additional $5,000,000 for our Technology Challenge Grant Program and the Technology Development Bridge Program by at least $10,000,000. I urge you to invest $250,000 to develop a technology park in Western DuPage County, adjacent to the Fermi Labs, and in the heart of the growing I-88 research and development corridor. I ask you to double state support for the Illinois Coalition, a non-profit organization of leaders in business, and academia, and labor. And its mission is simple: encourage high-tech economic development in Illinois. And I recommend $1,000,000 to create the 'Illinois Technology Enterprise Corporation', or ITEC, overseen by the Illinois Coalition. ITEC will provide regional, privately managed centers to promote technology transfer from our major research universities. It'll help firms develop quality research proposals for federal grants, help match venture capitalists with high-tech firms, and build local 22  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 technology infrastructures throughout the state. This is a marathon we're in, it's not a sprint. And in the next century, technology will be the engine of Illinois' economic growth. And I believe my economic plan for this state recognizes the importance of science and technology. It positions our state to be competitive in the global economy. And with these initiatives, Illinois can shake the 'rust belt' image of the 20th century, and run with confidence towards a new century, a new economy, and a new identity as the Silicon Prairie. Building a new Illinois also means just that, building. Even in an information age, we still stand at a crossroads. We need roads and bridges, waterworks and schools. And as everyone here already knows, today we have an urgent need to maintain and improve, our state's infrastructure. With this budget, I propose a capital improvement program that is ambitious I believe, but affordable, 2.5 billion. It's responsible, it's necessary and we can do it. And I'm asking for nearly $1.6 billion to rebuild Illinois highways and bridges, many of which to date before World War I. And $260,000,000 we need for mass transit to help capture federal money. Almost $400,000,000 for school construction and nearly $523,000,000 for our general capital development budget, including over $161,000,000 to add over 3,500 beds to our prison system. But the needs are greater than that. We need additional resources to relieve the traffic nightmares faced each day by commuters in Northeastern Illinois. We have already moved to begin fixing the 'Hillside Strangler'. The first public hearing is less than a week away. Be sure and go. We have other choke points as well, that need to be fixed. We need additional resources to finish building an improved Route 67 from Alton to the Quad 23  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Cities. We need to open up Western Illinois by building Route 336 to Quincy. And, we need to build a new bridge in East St. Louis over the Mississippi River. I might add, that's not the Brooklyn Bridge. We need to address the needs of the Fox River Valley, to help the City of Chicago rebuild Wacker Drive, and to see that the extension of the expressway improvements are done within two years and not four years. To launch transit improvements that have been deferred for far too long, we're going to need capital resources to build a South Suburban Airport in Peotone. Again, not the Brooklyn Bridge. We need to move beyond 1.1 billion school construction program that you've already approved, and find additional resources to help our local school districts with their pressing capital needs. And we need to find ways to help our local communities to improve water and sewer systems essential to maintaining economic growth. The fact is that our state's infrastructure is aging. It's not only a challenge, but an opportunity. Interest rates are at the lowest levels in a generation. And so we must act now to devise new programs for bonded improvements. And I am confident that we can still find appropriate revenue streams to back a significant enhancement to our state's capital budget. Building a new Illinois means not just roads and schools, we also need to build a fund for Illinois' future. And I am appointing a task force to evaluate and prioritize our infrastructure needs. They're to report back to me and to you in the General Assembly with recommendations. I asked them to advise us, collectively, on how we can build this new fund. And I would hope we could reach an agreement on this funding during this Session of the Assembly. We're also moving to build new Illinois by aggressively seeking more 24  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 dollars from our federal partners. Illinois ranks almost dead last in a per capita return on federal projects. That's got to change. Building a new Illinois also means looking back. And some of the most precious and wonderful things about this state were here long before we came. Illinois is a pretty special place, perched atop of ancient beds of coal and oil, and nestled between the two oceans that frame this unique nation. We're blessed by rich dark soil, clean air, abundant water and rain. Lura Lynn and I visited a lot of schools over the years. I read Green __________ Eggs ________ and Ham so many times, I fixed them for our grandchildren one morning. I'll tell you how to do that some day, it works pretty good. We also talked to a lot of children. And you know what they talked about? They talked about school and sports, of course. But you know what else they also talked about? They talked about saving the whale, trips to clean the river banks, planting seedlings, school outings where they saw a snake, where they chased a squirrel. They talked about bugs that they found. And I've got to tell you, they really have a thing about bugs: big bugs, small bugs, round bugs, long bugs, furry bugs. And they know all the bugs. Kids are very much into the environment. What these kids said reminded me that we are the stewards of God's gift of nature. And we have not always fulfilled our steward's role. We can look back with some shame regarding the manner in which we have abused and misused our natural resources and the environment. We've learned a hard lesson. But in learning that lesson, we now have a new understanding of things around us. Our forests, our waterways, our wildlife are all gifts to us. They should not be misused. A prime commitment of this administration will be to honor our role as stewards of 25  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 nature's gift to us. And to reinforce that promise, I will, by Executive Order, establish the Environmental and Natural Resource Subcabinet. I want agencies to work together to coordinate their activities, and not work at cross-purposes. I don't want conflicting rules and regulations. And I'm tired of 'turf' fights. I want my grandchildren and your grandchildren to enjoy all the blessings nature has given to all of us. And that's my commitment, and that's my promise. As a further measure of my commitment to our stewardship, I ask you approve my request for a $160,000,000 bonding program to create an Open Lands Trust, which will allow us to significantly increase our state's ability to acquire unique natural resources for the benefit of our children and our grandchildren. This is a monument that we can all be proud to share in. And we will do more. We'll expand the Open Space Lands and Development Program to fund small neighborhood parks, large urban parks, natural areas and we'll develop greenways and trails and bicycle paths and boat access areas. And we will continue turning abused and abandoned mine land into recreational lands. And we will do even more. With this budget, we'll continue to fund the Conservative Reservation Enhancement Program, a $500,000,000 federal/state initiative to provide landowners along the Illinois River with incentives to replace crops with natural habitat. This program will eventually include 232,000 acres along the Illinois and its major tributaries, as well as the Peoria Lakes. Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood will chair the Illinois River Coordinating Council. We are committed to the goal of restoring the Illinois River as one of this nation's greatest natural resources. And we will do even more. With this budget, we're 26  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 including 11.6 million in additional funding for our successful Conservation 2000 Program to preserve and enhance wildlife habitats while expanding outdoor recreational opportunities. And you should know, too, that as long as I am Governor, there will be no admission fees to our state parks and open lands. They will remain free. However, the rules and regulations protecting our environment must be clear and not arbitrary. And I want to make it easier for citizens and businesses to achieve our environmental goals. I want to foster new and improved air and water pollution control technologies by simplifying requirements for pilot and demonstration projects. I will support a partnership with the livestock industry in funding a program for the development of innovative sewage and livestock waste treatment methods. We must address the future of large scale livestock operations with legislation that brings all sides to some common ground. And we need to look at growth policies. Last year, the Illinois House Smart Growth Task Force produced a thought provoking report on the growing problem of sprawl and the resultant loss of thousands of acres of some of our state's most productive farmland. Two years ago, the American Farmland Trust identified Northeastern Illinois as one of the nations three highest risk regions for loss of prime farmland. The task force correctly found that the issue raises serious implications for housing, jobs and air quality and for our quality of life. Just what those kids were talking about when Lura Lynn and I chatted with them. This Session, I want to work with all of you in the General Assembly, as well as, the realtors, the home builders, and anybody else, the environmentalists. Yes, and even the kids, anyone with an interest in addressing these challenges to find a way to 27  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 develop reasonable smart growth policies for Illinois. Families are the fundamental building blocks of a strong society. And by helping strengthen our families, we are ensuring that our children are being prepared for brighter futures. As our welfare rolls continue to shrink, we must provide those families with the tools to successfully complete their transformation from welfare to work. And last year, I supported your efforts to provide Illinois families with more than $320,000,000 in tax relief by doubling the $1,000 personal exemption in the state income tax. That was the right thing to do. But good ideas to help families can come from anywhere. They can even come from Washington, D.C. And they can even come from President Bill Clinton, because he's right. I knew I'd get you someplace in this process. Bill Clinton is right in calling for $1,000 federal tax credit to help families struggling to provide long-term care for elderly or disabled relatives. And I believe that the President, I believe the President is also right in calling for a $500 child care tax credit for stay-at-home parents. And, I also believe that the Republican Congress is right to call for an end to the marriage penalty in our Federal Income Tax Code. So, I hope that the Congress approves of all of these good ideas this year. And I would encourage you to contact your Congressman to make sure they do. I'm committed to developing a comprehensive childcare policy that recognizes the needs of working families and fosters partnerships among parents, communities, faith-based organizations employers and government. With this budget, we invest in quality and we expand the availability of care. I am recommending a 23.5% in our childcare resources to a total of nearly $500,000,000. We absolutely have to commit 28  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 ourself to reducing family violence. I am sick and tired, like you, of reading about some poor innocent child that's been abused, burned whatever you want to talk about, an indefensible child. And one way we can help is by increasing funding for domestic violence shelters, and by increasing violence prevention grants to Illinois Violence Prevention Authority, the only such authority and agency in the United States. I am recommending a 62% increase for domestic violence prevention programs, to a total of some $21.4 million. I'm committed to forcing child support deadbeats to pay their obligations, today. And as Governor, I want to look those deadbeats in the eye and tell them straight out, 'Your free ride is over. We're going to see to it that you pay your obligations to support your children. You're not entitled to profit from your professional or your occupational license while you flaunt your obligations to your children. You're not entitled to profit from property or business investments while you deny your children that which they're entitled to.' And so, to be sure that these deadbeats really get the message, I am recommending that you approve legislation to transfer the responsibility for the enforcement of child support collections from the Department of Public Aid to the Office of Attorney General, our state's chief law enforcement agency. The biggest single cause for young mothers on public aid is the fact that the deadbeat parent doesn't pay the child support. We can't tolerate it. And I know that we have to give Jim Ryan the tools to do the job. We can't just transfer the responsibility without the tools. I am also committed to quality, affordable health care. There isn't any question that the waters of managed care reform are troubled, but I believe they can be calmed. I believe 29  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 the 'Patients Bill of Rights' that I proposed last year is a good place for us to begin. I know that Representative Flowers, and others, have strong beliefs on this issue and I also believe there is a consensus that we must reform this system. And I'm willing to do whatever I can to help craft a solution. It's a problem that we must address this Session. And we must address it together. To reinforce our commitment to women, I recommend the doubling of resources available to the Office of Women's Health, to battle special health risks faced by women, and that you approve the new 'Women's Health Illinois' initiative. Because some 65 women's health-related programs and opportunities are scattered throughout state government, 65 programs. Women's Health Illinois will be a partnership between the Governor's office and the Office of Women's Health at the Department of Public Health. Women's health issues are important to me and they're important to Lieutenant Governor Wood. And I've asked her to chair an Interagency Cabinet Council to oversee the effective implementation of the new Women's Health initiative. It's important that we continue to encourage more organ donors in Illinois. We all know about that. And I'm very confident that Secretary of State, Jesse White, will do just that. He's already started and he's done a good job. And I've said many times, that this is not an issue has anything to do with politics. It's an issue about saving lives and we need to make sure that the public service advertising campaign continues to be funded for Jesse White, the new Secretary of State. Additional resources are also needed in a variety of prevention programs; particularly prevention programs to try to reduce the risk factors faced by our young people. This comprehensive prevention initiative 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 will be called 'Futures for Kids', and I've asked the best person that I know to lead the effort, my wife, Lura Lynn. Substance abuse prevention programs have been our priority in public life and I am recommending nearly $11,000,000 for community based substance abuse programs to expand services to our young people. I believe we have a special obligation to those children who are abused, developmentally disabled, neglected and in need of loving, caring homes. And with this budget, I am recommending a 43% increase, some $46,000,000 to support adoptions and guardianships in Illinois. Our goal, our goal must be to reduce the time children spend in foster care and to make sure that children come first in adoptions. And I am recommending a 78% increase for child advocacy centers throughout the Department of Children and Family Services. One year ago, Governor Jim Edgar and the General Assembly initiated the Kid Care Program, to provide medical coverage for more than 200,000 children in this state, whose parents could not afford health insurance. You provided the money to pay for it. We all had high hopes. Unfortunately, the implementation performance has not lived up to the program's promise. But I'm going to fix that. I've instructed Public Aid Director, Ann Patla, to untangle the bureaucratic red tape and get the program back on track. And she's going to report to me and I'm going to report to you, and increasing the number of children served by this very important program. Building a new Illinois means building a safe Illinois. Safe for families. Safe for schools. And, safe for kids. Public safety is not just another line item in a state budget. It's the first duty of any government. We know common sense has to play an important part in this discussion. And we need to calm the 31  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 rhetoric. The fact of the matter is, nearly every other household in America has a gun. The guns are already out there. And the overwhelming majority are legitimately owned for legitimate purposes. But in contrast to legitimate gun ownership is the chilling fact that something like 80% of all firearms used in crime are stolen or otherwise unlawfully possessed. So let me be very clear about our response. The right to bear arms is not a license to harm others. We have an obligation to protect Illinois streets, and neighborhoods, and schools from gun violence. But we have to send a very strong and clear message to 'Illinois' Most Wanted'. And the message is that if you use a gun, you're going to do time in one of our great prisons. I'm announcing today a comprehensive new offensive for combating firearms violence. It's an attack on three fronts: new penalties, new police, and new prisons, to punish and hold our most violent offenders. All three are essential and your role is also essential. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And the first front of this campaign, new laws, start with '15, 20 and Life'. No more loopholes. The math is pretty simple. If a criminal carries a gun during a commission of specified felonies, we're just going to add 15 years to their sentence; if they fire the gun during those crimes we're going to add 20 years. And if a criminal shoots and injuries or kills somebody we're going to lock them up for life. And it won't matter anymore whether you get a tough judge or not. The added years are automatic. Straight to jail. Don't pass 'Go' and 'Don't collect 200 bucks'. No more loopholes. The time is too late. And the stakes are entirely too high. I'm tired of hearing about young people dying, elderly people dying because some punk wants to run 32  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 up and down our streets and our neighborhoods shooting at another punk and hitting the innocent bystander. Our kids are too precious. Our people are too precious. And I call on the General Assembly to pass '15, 20 and Life' now. Thank you. Thank you. I really built that in for all of you to get a little stretch. Thank you, Mr... And now's the time to get a stretch guys. No one law stands alone. We must and we will, undertake a comprehensive rewrite of Illinois' 40 year-old Criminal Code. And to ensure that we maintain proportionality of sentencing, we need safe homes as, well as, safe streets. And I'm deeply troubled that although Illinois ranks number 2 in the nation in gun homicides among young people, we are not among the 15 states that protects their kids by requiring the safe storage of handguns. And when handguns are left within the reach of minors, parents should be required to secure them with trigger locks or other devices. And before the year is out, this Assembly should approve a statewide Child Access Prevention Law. Thank you, stretch time. You like that one, huh Barbara? Second, new police. When violence strikes every Illinoisan should have a place to turn for help. It's time to send in the cavalry, and with this budget, we do. With this budget, we can invest in 100 new cadets for the Illinois State Police. And I've asked State Police Director Sam Noland to deploy these new troops to free up veteran investigators to combat firearms violence. And to do this job, our frontline troops need backup. And a huge number of firearms violence comes at the hands of repeat offenders. And to hold them in check, with this budget, and the budget I will submit next year, I'm announcing today that we will double the number of parole officers available on our streets. And third, new prison 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 beds. Everyone here knows of cases where a dangerous criminal, properly arrested and sentenced to the maximum walked out of jail early, sometimes years early, because state prisons are bursting at the seams. That's just not right. It won't do any good to provide new penalties and new police if we don't have the prison cells to keep violent criminals where they belong. And so, as in the third front in this campaign effort, I am calling on this Assembly to authorize an additional $79,000,000 for the Department of Corrections. This will help add over 3,500 new beds to house some of Illinois' most violent offenders. Our proposed capital budget for the year 2000 includes money for a new juvenile facility, a new women's facility, and new cell blocks at three existing facilities for adult men. I've also asked our Department of Corrections to work with this Assembly to implement the prison management reforms that are long overdue. Illinois must stop gang attempts to control our institutions. Corruptions and drugs will not be tolerated in this administration. And we're going to take back control over the prisons. Today I ask your support for all of these anticrime initiatives. The people of Illinois want it done. They want it done right. They want it done responsibly. And they want it done now, frankly. And finally, building a new Illinois also means building a new Illinois government. How we manage government will affect every initiative proposed here today. In this state we need to look for ways to leverage technological innovations to create a smarter, smaller government that is more efficient, more affordable, and more accessible and more responsive to the needs of all Illinoisan's. Most states have established a central government technology office. But the effort in Illinois 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 has remained largely unfocused and decentralized. There are no comprehensive oversight to ensure that the agency network systems are even compatible, that they even talk to each other. And there is no office with the authority to direct a coordinated state government technology strategy. That confusion ends today, also. I'm announcing, by Executive Order, the creation of the Illinois Technology Office. And this office will conduct a state government technology inventory and develop a government wide strategic information management plan, establish centralized technology purchasing policies to ensure linkage and compatibility throughout the government. Ensure that agencies use technology effectively to improve governmental performance and services, and assume leadership of the state's efforts to address 'Year 2000' compliance challenges. We face other management challenges as well. In the next several weeks, I'll be announcing our efforts to initiate a comprehensive approach to government wide strategic planning, plus a full-scale performance review to evaluate our program and regulatory effectiveness. We will also review the mandates and organizational structure of the Department of Public Health and the Department of Public Aid. And I believe the public will be well served by a restructuring of those departments. Recently, the Department of Human Services was created. I intend to review that agency to determine if it's meeting its organizational expectations. There are several other agencies and commissions which, if combined, restructured or redirected may fulfill their mandate. And as we embark on this new administration, and as we build a new Illinois, I know that to triumph in these challenges, that we have to work together as I said earlier. The 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 people of Illinois don't look at the laws that you pass, or the budget that you approve, through the prism of partisan politics. Sometimes we forget that here in Springfield when we feel there's a need for political posturing or partisan rhetoric in order to prepare for the next election. The people are tired of political bickering in the aftermath of what's happened in Washington. Today, more than ever, they look to us for leadership and results. And they expect us to work together to solve the problems facing this state. That's what they elected us to do. And the magic of America and the magic of our times, means that believing Illinois' best days, that our best days, are still to come. So let us remember the compass charted by those two downstate boys who shaped their country and changed the world, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. Let's tap into the greatness of the Illinois spirit. And let us honor the pioneers who gave up this state by giving back to generations yet to come. And let us today, begin together to build a new Illinois. Thank you very much for your time."

Speaker Madigan: "Will the Committee of Escort please come forward to escort the Governor from the chambers? Would the Committee of Escort please come forward? Senator Weaver is recognized for a Motion."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would move that the Joint Session do now arise. "

"The President of the Senate has moved that the Joint Session do now arise. All those in favor signify by saying 'aye'; those opposed say 'nay'. The 'ayes' have it and the Joint Session will now arise. The regular Session will now come to order. Mr. Hartke, in the Chair."

"Ladies and Gentlemen. It's the intention of the 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Chair to continue on the Calendar to move Bills from Second to Third. So, as soon as we clear the aisles and get a little order in here we will move to Second Reading. Your cooperation would be appreciated. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're ready to move Bills. On the House Calendar on page 4, appears House Bill 387. Representative Turner. Representative Turner, would you like to move that Bill? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 387, a Bill for an Act amending the Oil and Gasoline Act of 1989. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Page 4 appears House Bill 408, Representative Lang. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 408, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. House Bill 415, Representative Holbrook. Mr. Clerk, out of the record. House Bill 420, Representative Beaubien. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 420, a Bill for an Act amending the School Code. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. House Bill 425, Representative Lyons. (424) excuse me. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 424, a Bill for an Act amending the Reenact the Gang Crime Witness Protection Act. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. On page 4 appears House Bill 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 440, Representative Giglio. Out of the record. On page 5 of the Calendar appears House Bill 448, Representative Johnson, Tom Johnson. Representative Johnson, do you care to move that Bill? Out of the record. House Bill 449, Representative Johnson, Tom Johnson. Out of the record. House Bill 452, Representative Hannig. Out of the record. House Bill 458. Representative Turner, would you like to call that Bill? Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 458, a Bill for an Act concerning vehicles. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. House Bill 463, Representative Novak. Representative Novak. Out of the record. House Bill 466, Representative Wojcik. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 466, a Bill for an Act amending the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. House Bill 470, Representative Hannig. Out of the record. House Bill 471, Representative Wojcik. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

Clerk Rossi: "House Bill 471, a Bill for an Act amending the Criminal Code of 1961. Second Reading of this House Bill. No Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. House Bill 476, Representative McKeon. Representative McKeon. Out of the record. House Bill 486, Representative Wirsing. Mr. Clerk, read the Bill."

"House Bill 486, a Bill for an Act concerning kidney transplants. Second Reading of this House Bill. No 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Committee Amendments. No Floor Amendments. No Motions filed."

"Third Reading. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements?"

"No announcements."

Speaker Hartke: "The Chair recognizes the Lady from Cook, Representative Shirley Jones." Jones, S.: "Yes, Public Utilities will be cancelled today. There would not be no Public Utilities Committee today. Thank you."

Speaker Hartke: "Representative Jones, there will not be a Utilities Committee meeting today. Further announcements? Chair recognizes the Gentleman from Winnebago, Representative Scott."

"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just want to announce that Friday morning's Urban Revitalization Committee will be cancelled. So, Friday at 10:00, Urban Revitalization will be cancelled."

"Further notices? Representative Black, for what reason do you rise? Representative Currie, now moves allowing for perfunctory time, the House does stand adjourned, 'til the hour of 12:00 on Thursday. The House is adjourned."

"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction-First Reading of Bills. House Bill 1274, offered by Representative Andrea Moore, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Educational Facilities Authority Act. House Bill 1275, offered by Representative Andrea Moore, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Estate and Generation Skipping Transfer Tax Act. House Bill 1276, offered by Representative Andrea Moore, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Municipal Code. House Bill 1277, offered by 39  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative Winkel, a Bill for an Act concerning regulation of health care plans. House Bill 1278, offered by Representative Steve Davis, a Bill for an Act in relation to cannabis and controlled substances. House Bill 1279, offered by Representative Tim Johnson, a Bill for an Act to amend the Alternate Fuels Act. House Bill 1280, offered by Representative Winkel, a Bill for an Act to amend the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. House Bill 1281, offered by Representative Rutherford, a Bill for an Act regarding unclaimed property. House Bill 1282, offered by Representative Bost, a Bill for an Act to amend the State Property Control Act. House Bill 1283, offered by Representative Silva, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1284, offered by Representative Dart, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Act. House Bill 1285, offered by Representative Lindner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1286, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to create the Land Trust Fiduciary Duties Act. House Bill 1287, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act concerning the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption Act. House Bill 1288, offered by Representative Jim Meyer, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1289, offered by Representative O'Connor, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1290, offered by Representative Black, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Construction Law. House Bill 1291, offered by Representative Kosel, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1292, offered by Representative Eileen Lyons, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1293, offered by Representative 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Winkel, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1294, offered by Representative Beaubien, a Bill for an Act to amend the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act. House Bill 1295, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Medical Practice Act of 1987. House Bill 1296, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security and Locksmith Act of 1993. House Bill 1297, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Pharmacy Practice Act of 1987. House Bill 1298, offered by Representative Lindner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Adoption Act. House Bill 1299, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act. House Bill 1300, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act concerning collective bargaining agreements. House Bill 1301, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. House Bill 1302, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1303, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Municipal Code. House Bill 1304, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1305, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1306, offered by Representative McAuliffe, a Bill for an Act concerning the Department of Human Services. House Bill 1307, offered by Representative McAuliffe, a Bill for an Act concerning the Department of Human Services. House Bill 1308, offered by Representative Lawfer, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Act on the Aging. House Bill 1309, offered by 41  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative Bill Mitchell, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Act on the Aging. House Bill 1310, offered by Representative Bill Mitchell, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. House Bill 1311, offered by Representative Sommer, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. House Bill 1312, offered by Representative Righter, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Rural/Downstate Health Act. House Bill 1313, offered by Representative Schmitz, a Bill for an Act making an appropriation to the Department of Public Health. House Bill 1314, offered by Representative Eileen Lyons, a Bill for an Act to amend the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act. House Bill 1315, offered by Representative Hoeft, a Bill for an Act regarding abuse and neglect of the elderly and disabled. House Bill 1316, offered by Representative Reitz, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1317, offered by Representative Art Turner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1318, offered by Representative Reitz, a Bill for an Act to create the Clean Coal Plant Act. House Bill 1319, offered by Representative Reitz, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1320, offered by Representative Reitz, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1321, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1322, offered by Representative Skinner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1323, offered by Representative Skinner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Board of Higher Education Act. House Bill 1324, offered by Representative Skinner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1325, offered by 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative McCarthy, a Bill for an Act in relation to mental health facility reporting. House Bill 1326, offered by Representative Cowlishaw, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Highway Code. House Bill 1327, offered by Representative Cowlishaw, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1328, offered by Representative Schoenberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the Historic Preservation Agency Act. House Bill 1329, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act concerning insurance coverage for contraceptive services. House Bill 1330, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1331, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act concerning external appeal procedures concerning health care determinations. House Bill 1332, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act concerning tourism. House Bill 1333, offered by Representative Mulligan, a Bill for an Act to amend the Vocational Education Act. House Bill 1334, offered by Representative Krause, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1335, offered by Representative Durkin, a Bill for an Act concerning affordable housing. House Bill 1336, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1337, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1338, offered by Representative Feigenholtz, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1339, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1340, offered by Representative Wojcik, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Act on the Aging. House Bill 1341, offered by Representative Feigenholtz, a Bill for an Act to amend the 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Child Care Act of 1969. House Bill 1342, offered by Representative Stephens, a Bill for an Act to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act. House Bill 1343, offered by Representative John Jones, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. House Bill 1344, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1345, offered by Representative Bost, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. House Bill 1346, offered by Representative Brady, a Bill for an Act to amend the Health Maintenance Organization Act. House Bill 1347, offered by Representative Brady, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1348, offered by Representative Brady, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1349, offered by Representative Brady, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1350, offered by Representative Parke, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. House Bill 1351, offered by Representative Parke, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. House Bill 1352, offered by Representative Moffitt, a Bill for an Act in relation to bond. House Bill 1353, offered by Representative Wirsing, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Community College Act. House Bill 1354, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. House Bill 1355, offered by Representative Mautino, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1356, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act. House Bill 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 1357, offered by Representative Kenner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1358, offered by Representative Persico, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Affordable Housing Act. House Bill 1359, offered by Representative Kenner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1360, offered by Representative Winkel, a Bill for an Act to amend the Solicitation for Charity Act. House Bill 1361, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1362, offered by Representative Winkel, a Bill for an Act to amend the Fire Protection District Act. House Bill 1363, offered by Representative Bugielski, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1364, offered by Representative Giglio, a Bill for an Act to amend the Environmental Protection Act. House Bill 1365, offered by Representative Hoffman, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Police Training Act. House Bill 1366, offered by Representative Reitz, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Municipal Code. House Bill 1367, offered by Representative Hoffman, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1368, offered by Representative Curry, a Bill for an Act to amend the Conveyances Act. House Bill 1369, offered by Representative Franks, a Bill for an Act concerning the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. House Bill 1370, offered by Representative Hoffman, a Bill for an Act regarding surrogate parents. House Bill 1371, offered by Representative Franks, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1372, offered by Representative Hoffman, a Bill for an Act in relation to public works projects. House Bill 1373, offered by 45  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Pension Code. House Bill 1374, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1375, offered by Representative Hoffman, a Bill for an Act in relation to prevailing rates of wages. House Bill 1376, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1377, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1378, offered by Representative Brunsvold, a Bill for an Act to amend the Livestock Management Facilities Act. House Bill 1379, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Community College Act. House Bill 1380, offered by Representative Brunsvold, a Bill for an Act concerning vehicle registration. House Bill 1381, offered by Representative Lopez, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1382, offered by Representative Bugielski, a Bill for an Act concerning dental hygienists. House Bill 1383, offered by Representative Black, a Bill for an Act concerning wireless 9-1-1 service. House Bill 1384, offered by Representative Bugielski, a Bill for an Act to amend the Title Insurance Act. House Bill 1385, offered by Representative Zickus, a Bill for an Act to amend the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Nail Technology Act of 1985. House Bill 1386, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Utilities Act. House Bill 1387, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to Amend the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act. House Bill 1388, offered by Representative Leitch, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1389, offered by Representative Steve Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 taxation. House Bill 1390, offered by Representative Leitch, a Bill for an Act in relation to precision farming. House Bill 1391, offered by Representative Righter, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1392, offered by Representative Steve Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1393, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act concerning higher education. House Bill 1394, offered by Representative Steve Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning the demolition, repair, and enclosure of unsafe buildings. House Bill 1395, offered by Representative Shirley Jones, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Utilities Act. House Bill 1396, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1397, offered by Representative O'Brien, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. House Bill 1398, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the General Obligation Bond Act. House Bill 1399, offered by Representative Silva, a Bill for an Act to amend the Children's Health Insurance Program Act. House Bill 1400, offered by Representative Scully, a Bill for an Act to amend the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. House Bill 1401, offered by Representative Crotty, a Bill for an Act regarding continuances in support enforcement cases. House Bill 1402, offered by Representative Kenner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Unified Code of Corrections. House Bill 1403, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Civil Procedure. House Bill 1404, offered by Representative Shirley Jones, a Bill for an Act to amend the Child Care Act of 1969. House Bill 1405, offered by 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1406, offered by Representative McAuliffe, a Bill for an Act to amend the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. House Bill 1407, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1408, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Vehicle Code. House Bill 1409, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Utilities Act. House Bill 1410, offered by Representative Pankau, a Bill for an Act to amend the Health Maintenance Organization Act. House Bill 1411, offered by Representative Pankau, a Bill for an Act to amend the Automated Teller Machine Security Act. House Bill 1412, offered by Representative Scott, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Pension Code. House Bill 1413, offered by Representative Osmond, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1414, offered by Representative Bellock, a Bill for an Act concerning child support. House Bill 1415, offered by Representative Zickus, a Bill for an Act concerning the cremation of animals. House Bill 1416, offered by Representative Meyer, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Savings and Loan Act of 1985. House Bill 1417, offered by Representative Winters, a Bill for an Act concerning school community policing partnerships. House Bill 1418, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Community College Act. House Bill 1419, offered by Representative Winters, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1420, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Capital Development Board Act. House Bill 1421, offered by Representative Cowlishaw, a Bill for an 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1422, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Capital Development Board Act. House Bill 1423, offered by Representative Cowlishaw, a Bill for an Act concerning vouchers for educational expenses. House Bill 1424, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act concerning the Metro East Academy District. House Bill 1425, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Community College Act. House Bill 1426, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Capital Development Board Act. House Bill 1427, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act regarding appropriations. House Bill 1428, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act in relation to the O'Neill Lumber Company Site. House Bill 1429, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act to amend the Capital Development Board Act. House Bill 1430, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. House Bill 1431, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act regarding appropriations. House Bill 1432, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act concerning arrest reports. House Bill 1433, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act concerning State collection of debts. House Bill 1434, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act in relation to taxes. House Bill 1435, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act regarding child support. House Bill 1436, offered by Representative Lang, a Bill for an Act in relation to state loans. House Bill 1437, offered by Representative Burke, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Clean Indoor Air Act. House Bill 1438, offered by 49  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Representative Acevedo, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code."

Clerk Rossi: "Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 1439, offered by Representative Giglio, a Bill for an Act to amend the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. House Bill 1440, offered by Representative Giglio, a Bill for an Act to amend the Income Tax Act. House Bill 1441, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act concerning advertising by regulated professionals. House Bill 1442, offered by Representative Hoeft, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Pension Code. House Bill 1443, offered by Representative Kosel, a Bill for an Act to amend the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Administrative Act. House Bill 1444, offered by Representative Joe Lyons, a Bill for an Act to amend the Income Withholding for Support Act. House Bill 1445, offered by Representative Joe Lyons, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1446, offered by Representative Art Turner, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Department of Natural Resources to provide a matching grant to the Chicago Park District. House Bill 1447, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning micro loans. House Bill 1448, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1449, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Pension Code. House Bill 1450, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1451, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1452, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 the Illinois Act on Aging. House Bill 1453, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act relating to insurance coverage for contraceptive services. House Bill 1454, offered by Representative Art Turner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Mobile Home Local Services Tax Act. House Bill 1455, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1456, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Public Aid Code. House Bill 1457, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1458, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act concerning hospitals. House Bill 1459, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act concerning legislative campaigns. House Bill 1460, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the State Finance Act. House Bill 1461, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. House Bill 1462, offered by Representative Wait, a Bill for an Act to amend the Sale of Tobacco to Minors Act. House Bill 1463, offered by Representative Wait, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1464, offered by Representative Hannig, a Bill for an Act concerning gifts to employees and officials of units of local government and school districts. House Bill 1465, offered by Representative Morrow, a Bill for an Act to amend the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act. House Bill 1466, offered by Representative Morrow, a Bill for an Act creating the Illinois African Trade Project. House Bill 1467, offered by Representative Bill Mitchell, a Bill for an Act to provide for the deposit and expenditure of funds received from settlement of litigation against tobacco 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 companies. House Bill 1468, offered by Representative Bill Mitchell, a Bill for an Act regarding tobacco. House Bill 1469, offered by Representative Woolard, a Bill for an Act to amend the State Employees Group Insurance Act. House Bill 1470, offered by Representative Woolard, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Insurance Code. House Bill 1471, offered by Representative Tom Johnson, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Identification Card Act. House Bill 1472, offered by Representative Tom Johnson, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Identification Act. House Bill 1473, offered by Representative Tom Johnson, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1474, offered by Representative Tom Johnson, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1475, offered by Representative Tom Johnson, a Bill for an Act concerning taxes. House Bill 1476, offered by Representative Beaubien, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1477, offered by Representative Hannig, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor. House Bill 1478, offered by Representative Hannig, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1479, offered by Representative Younge, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1480, offered by Representative Klingler, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1481, offered by Representative Gash, a Bill for an Act to amend the Property Tax Code. House Bill 1482, offered by Representative Tenhouse, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Horse Racing Act. House Bill 1483, offered by Representative Rutherford, a Bill for an Act to amend the Workers' Compensation Act. House Bill 1484, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to create the 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Campaign Finance Reform Law. House Bill 1485, offered by Representative Tenhouse, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1486, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. House Bill 1487, offered by Representative Tenhouse, a Bill for an Act in relation to airports. House Bill 1488, offered by Representative Tenhouse, a Bill for an Act to amend the Airport Authorities Act. House Bill 1489, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act to amend the Judicial Districts Act. House Bill 1490, offered by Representative Stephens, a Bill for an Act to amend the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. House Bill 1491, offered by Representative Rutherford, a Bill for an Act to amend the Workers' Compensation Act. House Bill 1492, offered by Representative Rutherford, a Bill for an Act to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act. House Bill 1493, offered by Representative Stephens, a Bill for an Act to amend the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act. House Bill 1494, offered by Representative Rutherford, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Procurement Code. House Bill 1495, offered by Representative Tenhouse, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1496, offered by Representative Winters, a Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Civil Procedure. House Bill 1497, offered by Representative Art Turner, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Utilities Act. First Reading of these House Bills. House Bill 1498, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act concerning annual stipends for certain county officers. House Bill 1499, offered by Representative Saviano, a Bill for an Act to amend the Counties Code. House Bill 1500, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 to amend the Chicago State University Law. House Bill 1501, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1502, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1503, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act amending the Vehicle Code. House Bill 1504, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act concerning higher education. House Bill 1505, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Probation Challenge Program Act. House Bill 1506, offered by Representative Granberg, a Bill for an Act to amend the State Finance Act. First Reading of these House Bills. Introduction and Resolutions. House Joint Resolution #8, offered by Representative Parke, is assigned to the Rules Committee. House Bill 1507, offered by Representative Burke, a Bill for an Act to amend the Mortgage Act. First Reading of this House Bill. Introduction of House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment #7, offered by Representative Jack Franks. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend Article V of the Illinois Constitution by changing Sections 1, 3, and 7, and by adding Section 16.5, and by repealing Sections 17 and 18 as follows: ARTICLE V THE EXECUTIVE 54  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1) SECTION 1. OFFICERS The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, ___________ and State Financial ___________________ Officer --------------------------- Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3) SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, or State __________________ Financial Officer _______ Comptroller ------------------------ or Treasurer, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this State for the three years preceding his or ______ her election. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7) SECTION 7. VACANCIES IN OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICES If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, __________ or State Financial __________________ Officer Comptroller ------------------------ or Treasurer fails to qualify or if ___ his the --- office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal by the Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or if ___ the --- office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the end of his the term. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) 55  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 16.5 new) _______________________________________________ SECTION 16.5. STATE FINANCIAL OFFICER - DUTIES ______________________________________________________________ The State Financial Officer, in accordance with law, shall (i) __________________________________________________________________ maintain the State's central fiscal accounts, and order payments __________________________________________________________________ into and out of the funds held by him or her and (ii) shall be __________________________________________________________________ responsible for the safekeeping and investment of moneys and securities deposited with him or __________________________________________________________________ her, and for their disbursement ______________________ upon his or her order. (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 17) SECTION 17. COMPTROLLER - DUTIES (REPEALED) __________ -------------------------------------------------------------- The Comptroller, in accordance with law, shall maintain the ------------------------------------------------------------------ State's central fiscal accounts, and order payments into and out ----------------------------------- of the funds held by the Treasurer. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 18) SECTION 18. TREASURER - DUTIES (REPEALED) __________ -------------------------------------------------------------- The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be responsible ------------------------------------------------------------------ for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities deposited with him, and for their ------------------------------------------------------------------ disbursement upon order of the ------------ Comptroller. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) SCHEDULE This Constitutional Amendment takes effect as follows: (1) those portions providing for the election of a State Financial Officer take effect beginning with the election in 2002; and (2) those portions creating the office of State Financial Officer and eliminating the offices of Treasurer and Comptroller take effect upon the conclusion of the terms of the Treasurer and 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 Comptroller elected in 1998. SCHEDULE This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon the conclusion of the term of the Lieutenant Governor elected in 1998.' Introduction - First Reading of Bills. House Bill 1508, offered by Representative Brosnahan, a Bill for an Act to amend the Nursing Home Care Act. House Bill 1509, offered by Majority Leader Currie, A Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Procurement Code. House Bill 1510, offered by Representative Hannig, a Bill for an Act in Relation to the Privatization of Nursing Services in Illinois Correctional Facilities. First Reading of these House Bills. First Reading of House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment #8, offered by Representative Jack Franks. HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WHEREAS, Under the Illinois Constitution of 1870 the elected Lieutenant Governor presided over the Illinois Senate and succeeded the Governor in the event of a vacancy in that office; and WHEREAS, Under the Illinois Constitution of 1970 the Lieutenant Governor does not preside over the Senate, and the only remaining duties are to succeed the Governor and perform any other functions delegated by the Governor or by statute; and WHEREAS, In the entire history of Illinois, only five Lieutenant Governors have succeeded to the office of Governor, most recently in 1968; and in 1981 the Lieutenant Governor resigned, leaving the office vacant for over a year and a half; and 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 WHEREAS, The Lieutenant Governor could be eliminated from the chain of succession, and the current statutory and delegated functions of the Lieutenant Governor could be transferred to other agencies of State government, all without the loss of services to the citizens of Illinois; therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend Article V of the Illinois Constitution by repealing Sections 4 and 14 and by changing Sections 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7 as follows: ARTICLE V THE EXECUTIVE (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1) SECTION 1. OFFICERS The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant ---------- --------- Attorney General, Secretary of Governor, State, Comptroller and Treasurer elected by the electors of the State. They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at the seat of government during their terms of office. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 2) SECTION 2. TERMS ___ The ----- elected officers of the Executive Branch shall hold These office for four years beginning on the second Monday of January after their election and, except in the case --------------------------------------- of the Lieutenant --------- until their successors are Governor, qualified. They shall be 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 elected at the general election in 1978 and every four years thereafter. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3) SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant ---------- Governor, --------- Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this State for the three years preceding his election. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 4 rep.) SECTION 4. JOINT ELECTION __________ (REPEALED) -------------------------------------------------------------- In the general election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, one vote shall be cast jointly for ------------------------------------------------------------------ the candidates nominated by the ------------------------------------------------------------------ same political party or petition. The General Assembly may provide ------------------------------------------------------------------ by law for the joint nomination of candidates for Governor and -------------------- Lieutenant Governor. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 6) SECTION 6. GUBERNATORIAL SUCCESSION (a) In the event of a vacancy, the order of succession to the office of Governor or to the position of Acting Governor shall be ------------------------ the Lieutenant Governor, the elected Attorney General, the elected Secretary of State, and then as provided by law. (b) If the Governor is unable to serve because of death, conviction on impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disability, the office of Governor shall be filled by the officer next in line of succession for the remainder of the term 59  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 or until the disability is removed. (c) Whenever the Governor determines that he may be seriously impeded in the exercise of his powers, he shall so notify the Secretary of State and the officer next in line of succession. The latter shall thereafter become Acting Governor with the duties and powers of Governor. When the Governor is prepared to resume office, he shall do so by notifying the Secretary of State and the Acting Governor. (d) The General Assembly by law shall specify by whom and by what procedures the ability of the Governor to serve or to resume office may be questioned and determined. The Supreme Court shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction to review such a law and any such determination and, in the absence of such a law, shall make the determination under such rules as it may adopt. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7) SECTION 7. VACANCIES IN OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICES If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller or Treasurer fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal by the Governor. If the ----------------- Lieutenant ------------------------------------------------------------------ Governor fails to qualify or if his office becomes vacant, it ---------------------------------------------- shall remain vacant until the end of the term. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 14 rep.) SECTION 14. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR - DUTIES __________ (REPEALED) -------------------------------------------------------------- The Lieutenant Governor shall perform the duties and exercise ------------------------------------------------------------------ the powers in the Executive Branch that may be delegated to him by 60  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 ----------------------------------------------- the Governor and that may be prescribed by law. (Source: Illinois Constitution.) SCHEDULE This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon the conclusion of the term of the Lieutenant Governor elected in 1998.'"

"First Reading and Introduction of House Bills. House Bill 1511, offered by Representative Steve Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. House Bill 1512, offered by Representative Burke, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1513, offered by Representative Shirley Jones, a Bill for an Act to permit retired peace officers to carry concealed firearms. House Bill 1514, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1515, offered by Representative Cross, a Bill for an Act concerning senior citizens. House Bill 1516, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1517, offered by Representative Julie Curry a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1518, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1519, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1520, offered by Representative Julie Curry, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1521, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Public Community College Act. House Bill 1522, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. House Bill 1523, offered by Representative Erwin, a Bill for an Act to amend the Board of Higher Education Act. House Bill 1524, offered 61  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 by Representative Woolard, a Bill for an Act concerning the licensing of insurance producers. House Bill 1525, offered by Representative Monique Davis, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1526, offered by Representative Smith, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Income Tax Act. House Bill 1527, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act regarding appropriations. House Bill 1528, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act regarding appropriations. House Bill 1529, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act regarding appropriations. House Bill 1530, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Illinois Arts Council. House Bill 1531, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making an appropriation to the Historic Preservation Agency. House Bill 1532, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making an appropriation to the Department of Corrections. House Bill 1533, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making appropriations to the Department of State Police. House Bill 1534, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making an appropriation to the Department of Children and Family Services. House Bill 1535, offered by Representative Daniels, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1536, offered by Representative Scully, a Bill for an Act to amend the School Code. House Bill 1537, offered by Representative Scully, a Bill for an Act making appropriations. House Bill 1538, offered by Representative McGuire, a Bill for an Act regarding emergency home response systems. House Bill 1539, offered by Representative McGuire, a Bill for an Act concerning vaccinations in health facilities. House Bill 1540, offered 62  STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 12th Legislative Day February 17, 1999 by Representative Osmond, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1541, offered by Representative O'Connor, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1542, offered by Representative Myers, a Bill for an Act to amend the Criminal Code of 1961. House Bill 1543, offered by Representative Capparelli, a Bill for an Act to amend the Illinois Pension Code. First Reading of these House Bills. Committee Reports. Representative Frank Mautino, Chairperson from the Committee on Insurance, to which the following measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 1999, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bill 496. Representative Jay Hoffman, Chairperson from the Committee on Transportation and Motor Vehicles, to which the following Measures were referred, action taken on February 17, 1999, reported the same back with the following recommendations: 'do pass Short Debate' House Bills 536, 720. Having no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned. The House will reconvene in regular Session on Thursday, February 18, at 12:00 noon." 63