"The House will be in order. Members will be in their chairs. We’ll be led in prayer today by Father Dan Brandt who is with the Chicago Police Department in Chicago. Father Brandt is the guest of Representative Moylan. Members and guests are asked to refrain from starting laptops, turn off cell phones, and rise for the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Father Brandt."
"Please kneel. No, I'm kidding. You don't have to kneel, friends. Thank you. It's an honor to be here today. I bring with me the greetings of 12 thousand Chicago Police Officers whose souls I am entrusted with and whom I proudly minister to and with. Being that police work is under scrutiny these recent months, I'd like to pray for them in a special way today. Also, mindful that just last week here in Springfield we celebrated Police Memorial Week. It was a good year for Illinois because only one police officer in the last 12 months was killed in the line of duty, and that was actually due to an injury from years ago. His name is George Nissen, he's from Stone Park. And just prior to that, James Morrissey from Oak Forest, just bef… just outside of 12 months ago, was killed in an auto accident, March of 2014. So it might be fitting to begin with just a moment of silence for them. And ironically, the 118, the same number of bodies representing the state in this room, 118 of you, there were 118 police officers throughout the nation who died in the line of duty in the past year, in the year 2014. So a moment of silence, please, for them. Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace and may their souls and the souls of all the faithful 09900045.docx 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. And let us pray. Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we ask Thy blessing and guidance upon all those in law enforcement, those engaged in the protection of our citizens, be with them in their lonely tours of duty while patrolling the busy streets of our cities as well as the remote areas of our country. Give them the blessing of Your wisdom to know and do what is right. Temper their actions with mercy and justice, and when their tours are completed, guide them home safely to their loved ones. And we also ask Thy blessing and eternal rest to our brothers and sisters who have sacrificed their very lives in the performance of their duties. Give to their loved ones the peace and strength to bear the anguish of their loss. Remove resentment from their hearts, knowing that eternal peace will rest and abide over all departed loved ones. And all this we beg in Thy name for You live and reign forever and ever, Amen. And the Lord be with you. And may Almighty God bless you and your work, protect you from all evil, and bring you one day to everlasting life, Amen. Representative Moylan asked if this would count for Sunday mass, if this counts for church on Sunday and the answer is, yes, if you brought your envelope. Let's talk."
"Thank you, Father. I don't think that will work for me. We'll be led in the Pledge by Representative Evans."
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
"Roll Call for Attendance. Leader Currie." 09900045.docx 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
"Thank you, Speaker. Please let the record reflect the excused absence of Representative Mautino."
"Mr. Brown."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please let the record show that Representatives Ives and Tryon are absent today and excused."
"Please take the record, Mr. Clerk. There are 114 House Members present. We do have a quorum. The Chair recognizes Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris." Harris, D.: "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Question of the Chair."
"Yes, Sir." Harris, D.: "I'd like to know how the Representative, the distinguished Gentleman from Des Plaines, my colleague from Des Plaines, I'd like to know how he ended up with a priest from Chicago to give the… the invocation. I thought they were supposed to come from the… the Legislator's district. Has the Legislator violated any Rule of the House that we may not know about?"
"I'm quite sure that the Representative would admit that he violates all the Rules he can. Mr. Moylan is recognized."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. His family lives in my district. As you know, the Lord is everywhere. He has far reaching authority."
"Thank you, Father Moylan. Mr. Verschoore."
"A point of announcement, Mr. Speaker."
"That can't be better than the last one. Go right ahead, Sir." 09900045.docx 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
"It won't be. This Thursday there was supposed to be a subject matter hearing in Environment. That has been canceled. Thank you."
"Thank you, Sir. Mr. Clerk."
"Committee Reports. Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, Chairperson from the Committee on Rules reports the following committee action taken on May 11, 2015: recommends be adopted, referred to the floor is Floor Amendment #1 to Senate Bill 1249; approved for consideration, referred to Second Reading is House Bill 1, House Bill 1190, House Bill 1192, House Bill 1193, House Bill 1286 through House Bill 1290; approved for consideration, referred to Third Reading is House Bill 3528, House Bill 28… correction, House Bill 3820. Introduction of Resolutions. House Resolution 471, offered by Representative Crespo. House Joint Resolution 4… correction, 74, offered by Representative Meier. These are referred to the Rules Committee."
"Mr. Clerk, Agreed Resolutions."
"Agreed Resolutions. House Resolution 461, offered by Representative Bellock. House Resolution 462, offered by Representative Cavaletto. House Resolution 463, offered by Representative Reis. House Resolution 464, offered by Representative Gabel. House Resolution 465, offered by Representative Feigenholtz. House Resolution 466, offered by Representative Phelps. House Resolution 467, offered by Representative Pritchard. House Resolution 468, offered by Representative Unes. House Resolution 470, offered by Representative Jesiel. House Resolution 472, offered by 09900045.docx 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Representative Keith Wheeler. House Resolution 473, offered by Representative Cloonen."
"Leader Currie moves for the adoption of the Agreed Resolutions. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the Agreed Resolutions are adopted. Representative McDermed."
"Point of personal privilege."
"Proceed, please."
"I want to introduce today four of my sisters from the Joliet Holly Club who are here today visiting our General Assembly. The Joliet Holly Club for more than 125 years has supported… supported charities, particularly children's charities, in the Joliet area. Welcome."
"Thank you. Welcome to Springfield. Mr. Stewart."
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Proceed, Sir."
"Thank you, Sir. If the Members of the House today would please join me in welcoming as my Pages today. Calista Cray and Lydia Marx, 8th grade from the Rochester Middle School and they're here with their Aunt Chris who's up in the audience today. Thank you."
"Hello. Thanks for being here. Mr. Meier."
"Point of personal privilege."
"Proceed."
"I, too, have two Pages today. If the two young men up there in their Boy Scout uniforms from Clinton County are here. They're Justin Fritch and Alex Becker. They're from troop 225. Thank you for being our Pages today."
"Thank you for joining us. Mr. Moffitt." 09900045.docx 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would… if I could have the House's attention on… it's a serious matter and as all… it's a point of personal privilege. At 10:00 today we had the annual ceremony out here at the Fallen Firefighters Memorial and there are a lot of firefighters here and fire departments represented. Probably some will visit and perhaps we'll be introduced if we notice them in the balcony. But it's a… it's a real tribute. Last week, we had one for law enforcement. Today, we had one for what's called the Fallen Firefighters Memorial and then the Medal of Honor Ceremony over at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. The thing that is… I'm so happy to report, for the second year in a row there was no line of duty firefighter death; first time I think that's happened two years in a row. We want to keep remembering those other names that are on that monument. But thank goodness, we didn't add to it last year, we didn't add to it this year, and we want to continue to do everything to help our firefighters, our law enforcement, our EMS service, any of the first responders. And if the Body would indulge, if we could just have a moment of silence for all of our firefighters and other first responders who have paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting the rest of us, if we could, please."
"Take a moment of silence. Thank you, Mr. Moffitt. Mr. Pritchard."
"Also for a personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Proceed, Sir."
"Over here with our Page today, in fact all this week will be my Page, Jeremiah Caterina, who is a graduate student 09900045.docx 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 at Northern Illinois University watching our Session. So I hope we'll all be on the best of manners and behavior."
Speaker Lang: "Thank you and welcome to the House of Representatives. Representative Lilly."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Point of personal privilege."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you. Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen of the General Assembly. Today is dress rehearsal for Capitol Capers. Yes, let's give that a round of applause. This evening at 5:30 at the Hilton Towers the Mezzanine Level. Please come and participate in our rehearsal so we will have a fantastic show on tomorrow. There'll be a yellow flier on your desk to give you all the details. Please join us and we'll see you tomorrow at our performance of Capitol Capers. Thank you."
"Mr. Cabello."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise for a point of personal privilege."
"Go right ahead, Sir."
"To piggyback off of what Representative Moffitt was saying, the law enforcement works obviously very closely with our fire professionals and we… I don’t know if we understand the sacrifices that these folks make. And when you're gone from your family on Christmas, on Christmas Eve, when you're gone from your family on whichever holiday, we understand that it's not just the sacrifice of one person, it's a sacrifice of the whole family unit. So, these folks are special. These folks understand that our job is to make sure that we provide a service, a professional service both as we deal with you and as we come to your needs of the reason why 09900045.docx 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 you called us. So it's not a job for them either, it's a… it's a lifestyle. These… it's a calling that they answer. It's not something that everybody can deal with. There are calls that I would be more than welcome to talk to you about that both police and fire were at that is not appropriate for some of the audience that pays attention. Some of these professionals have to talk to other professionals after they leave a call because of something that has been done to a child or how a person passed away. So, if you want a true understanding of what these folks do, please reach out to them. They will be more than welcome to tell you what they see. I will be more than welcome to tell you what we together have seen. Again, the 99th General Assembly has got fantastic folks and I truly believe together we're going to be able to help law enforcement, we're going to be able to help the fire industry, and we're going to be able to help the people of Illinois. Thank you."
"Thank you, Sir. Mr. Sandack."
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A point of personal privilege, please."
"Please proceed."
"Today is Downers Grove day here at the Capitol. I didn't know if you were aware of that, Speaker. To my left is young Maggie Clark. Maggie Clark is a fifth grader at El Sierra School in Downers Grove. She's a junior Girl Scout, she is in the choir, she plays the flute, but here's the important thing, Ladies and Gentlemen, she's donated six ponytails for wigs for kids with cancer. Kind of a big deal, right? Her mom Jeanette's in the upper right hand corner there behind me. 09900045.docx 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Will we give the Clarks a nice welcome to Springfield, please?"
"Welcome to Springfield and thank you for what you do for other children. Mr. Brady."
"Point of personal privilege, Mr. Speaker."
"Please proceed."
"Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen of the House, you're all invited this evening to join the Illinois Coroners and Medical Examiners Association for social time and good home cooking with our own former Representative and now mayor, GIF Chef Skip Saviano will be this evening beginning around 6:30 at the home of Brian Duffy. You should have received an invite to your office. If not, please come see me for directions. Again, please join us for some great home cooking this evening beginning around 6:30."
"Thank you, Sir. The Chair recognizes the Majority Leader."
"Thank you, Speaker. I move the House of Representatives now resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole for the purposes of the subject matter hearing on issues of tort changes in accordance with guidelines that have been established by the Speaker."
"Those in favor of the Lady's Motion say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. The Motion is adopted and the House hereby resolves into a Committee of the Whole." DISSOLVE INTO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DO NOW ARISE 09900045.docx 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TRANSCRIPTION DEBATE 45th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
"The House will be in order back in regular Session. Mr. Clerk, committee announcements."
Clerk Hollman: "The following committees will be meeting immediately after Session: Agriculture & Conservation is meeting in D-1, Insurance is meeting in Room 114, Juvenile Justice & System-Involved Youth is meeting in 115, Public Utilities is meeting in 413, Transportation: Regulation, Roads & Bridges is meeting in Room 118. Immediately after that, the Revenue Committee will be meeting in Room 114."
"And now, leaving perfunctory time for the Clerk, Leader Currie moves that the House stand adjourned 'til Wednesday, May 13 at the hour of 12 noon. Those in favor say 'yes'; opposed 'no'. The 'ayes' have it. And the House stands adjourned."
"House Perfunctory Session will come to order. Introduction and First Reading of House Bills. House Bill 4214, offered by Representative Sandack, a Bill for an Act concerning State Government. First Reading of this House Bill. Introduction and First Reading of Senate Bills. Senate Bill 223, offered by Representative Ford, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Senate Bill 224, offered by Representative Sente, a Bill for an Act concerning education. Senate Bill 277, offered by Representative Sandack, a Bill for an Act concerning finance. First Reading of these Senate Bills. There being no further business, the House Perfunctory Session will stand adjourned." 09900045.docx 10