PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 100th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Curt Fleck, Civil Servant Ministry {sic} (Ministries), Springfield, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Curt Fleck)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) James Carder, Blueroomstream.com, seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Thursday, April 27th, 2017.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Senate Resolutions 475 and 476, offered by Senator Anderson and all Members. Senate Resolution 477, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 478, offered by Senator Castro and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar.
Senate Joint Resolution 34, offered by Senator Bivins. And Senate Joint Resolutions 35 and 36, offered by Senator Weaver. They are all substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 2207, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2208, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We'll be finishing up some paperwork and then we're going to 3rd Readings. So would you please come to the Senate Floor immediately? Thank you. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 123. We have received like Messages on House Bills 136, 188, 189, 261, 270, 313, 418, 607, 688, 690, 737, 768, 1776, 1914, 1952, 2373, 2453, 2461, 2474, 2559, 2577, 2732, 2771, 2802, 2810, 2820, 28 -- 2987, 3004, 3036, 3044, 3049, 3095, 3157, 3164, 3168, 3216, 3293, 3407, 3449, 3502, 3539, 3720, 3755, 3785, 3803, and 3817. Passed the House, April 27th, 2017. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 140. We have received like Messages on House Bills 159, 173, 243, 470, 512, 531, 539, 649, 659, 1125, 1273, 1560, 1853, 1896, 1910, 1954, 1955, 2028, 2388, 2390, 2439, 2465, 2545, 2572, 2589, 2626, 2630, 2664, 2702, 2756, 2762, 2831, 2856, 2878, 2898, 2907, 2937, 2953, 3001, 3032, 3072, 3223, 3251, 3261, 3298, 3369, 3371, 3419, 3437, 3462, 3464, 3488, 3514, 3528, 3648, 3649, 3709, 3712, 3773, 3820, 3897, 3903, and 3908. Passed the House, April 28th, 2017. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 40. Offered by Senator Anderson, and adopted by the House, April 28th, 2017. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. It is substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Emilee Fannon of WCIA seeks permission to video and -- audio. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 123, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 136, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 140, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 159, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 188, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 189, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 261, offered by Senator Bennett (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 270, offered by Senator Stadelman. (Secretary reads title of bill) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 House Bill 313, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 418, offered by Senator Connelly. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 470, offered by Senator McCann. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 539, offered by Senator Oberweis. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 607, offered by Senator Biss. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 649, offered by Senator Cunningham. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 659, offered by Senator Cunningham. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 690, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 737, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 768, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1125, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1776, offered by Senator Aquino. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1914, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1952, offered by Senator Anderson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2373, offered by Senator Harmon. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2388, offered by Senator Castro. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3045, offered by Senator McConchie. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3049, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3072, offered by Senator Aquino. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3090, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3095, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3157, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3168 {sic} (3164), offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3216, offered by Senator Stadelman. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3223, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3272, offered by Senator McConchie. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3273, offered by Senator McConchie. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3368, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3419, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 House Bill 3449, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2987, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3001, offered by Senator Hastings. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3004, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3033, offered by Senator Rose. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3036, offered by Senator Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3044, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2778, offered by Senator Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2802, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2810, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2820, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2878, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2907, offered by Senator McGuire. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2950, offered by Senator Van Pelt. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2953, offered by Senator Sandoval. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2630, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2685, offered by Senator Anderson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2698, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2732, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2756, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2771, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2390, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2461, offered by Senator Bush. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2474, offered by Senator Aquino. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2559, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2589, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2453, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2577, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3462, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 House Bill 3488, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3502, offered by Senator Bush. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3519, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3539, offered by Senator Biss. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3649, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3712, offered by Senator Stadelman. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3720, offered by Senator Aquino. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3745, offered by Senator Van Pelt. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3755, offered by Senator Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3773, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3803, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 35 -- 3855, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3897, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3908, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 1000172 Governor's non-salaried appointment To be a Member of the Illinois Community College Board, John Bambenek Appointment Message 1000173 Governor's salaried appointment To be a Member of the Executive Ethics Commission, Andrew Volpert
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) With leave of the Body, we'll be going to Senate Bills 2nd Reading. Senate Bill 567. Senator Manar. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 567. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Manar.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Manar, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I would move for the adoption. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 707. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings. Senate Bill 1453. Senator McCann. Senator McCann. Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President, point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I would just like to call attention here to my visitor. This is Jesse Pye. He is a Commissioner on the Zion Park District. He's down for Parks Day and this is his first trip to the Capitol, so I'd like you to give him a -- a warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Connelly, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction.
11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 I'd like to introduce my Page for today, Julia Korn. She is a senior at Naperville North High School, home of the Huskies, by the way. She's a 4.0 honor roll student, National Honor Society member. She will be studying Packaging Sciences at Clemson University. Her mother is here, up in the -- up in the gallery up there, Susan Korn. Please give them a warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield and good luck in college. Senate Bill 1869. Senator Aquino. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1869. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
For the purpose of an introduction, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction.
Very pleased to have with me this morning, Bob Kastner, who is a resident of Mount Prospect. Bob works in IT for River Trails School District No. 26. Please help me in welcoming him here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Weaver, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have -- I'd like an opportunity 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 for an introduction, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction.
Great. I have two of my interns with me today. And these are just fantastic young men, Tyler Pesko from Elmwood Park and also Meet Patel, who's here from India. They've been working for me this semester, both Bradley students, Psychology major and also a Business major. And also my district director, Diane Vespa, who does a fantastic job. If you could please welcome them to Springfield, I'd appreciate it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have a couple of introductions myself.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introductions.
Thank you. Up on the Republican side, I'd like to -- to welcome Greg Petry. He is the head of the Waukegan Park District. Thank you so much for being here today, Greg. He's here to lobby us on behalf of parks. And also on this side, we have the head of the Zion Park District, Marilyn Krieger. If you could please welcome them to Springfield. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. With leave of the Body, we'll go to page 13 of the printed Calendar, Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Bill 314. Senator Murphy. Mr. Secretary -- Senator Murphy seeks leave of the Body to -- to return Senate Bill 314 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 314. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Murphy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Murphy, on your amendment.
Thank you. The amendment becomes the bill and I'll explain on 3rd, please. Thank you, Mr.…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 314 be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 314. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 314. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Murphy, on your bill. 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill amends the Illinois Insurance Code to ensure coverage for an MRI if someone is diagnosed with -- dense breast tissue or if a mammography shows that. So it was on -- an agreed bill. I know of no opposition and I encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 314 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 314, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 315. Senator Morrison. Senate Bill 316. Senator Steans. Senate Bill 317. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. Senator Monroe -- Mulroe seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 317 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 317. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This removes some language to remove some opposition. I'll explain on 3rd and I'd -- ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, question is, shall Amendment 1 to Floor -- to Senate Bill 317 pass. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd move for its adoption. I'd be happy to explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 317 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 317. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 317. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your bill. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 317, as amended, allows a pharmacist to administer progesterone injections if a patient has a valid prescription. The pharmacist would have to be properly trained, notify the patient's physician, and record the -- the injection. The injection is actually used to reduce premature and preterm births. I know of no opposition at this time. I'd ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 317 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 317, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 318. Senator Manar. Senator Manar seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 318 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, permission is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 318. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Manar.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Manar, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment -- No. 1 becomes the bill. I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? All those in favor will say Aye. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 318. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 318. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Manar, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill simply amends the Genetic Information Privacy Act. It strengthens protections for employees who do not choose to -- disclose their genetic information or do not choose to participate in a program that requires disclosure of their genetic information. I know of no opposition to the bill. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 318 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 318, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 319. Senator Harmon. Senate Bill 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 419. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 422. Senator Castro. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 422. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Castro, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 422, as amended, creates specific exemptions in the Township Code with -- regards to competitive bidding process. Specifically, Senate Bill 422 exempts goods procured from another government agency and purchases of equipment previously owned by some entity other than the township itself. Under current statute, townships are required to initiate the competitive bidding process for purchases that exceed twenty thousand dollars. The provision included in SB 422 mirrors Section of the Fire Protection District Act and the Library District Act and are similar to provisions in the Municipal Code and other statutes. Reason for this bill is that while, you know, Hanover Township Emergency Services looks to procure equipment in order to operate their services and -- they are unable to do so without having to go through rigorous bidding requirements, so they asked for this modification. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 422 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 422, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 440. Senator McGuire. Senator McGuire. Senate Bill 446. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 447. Senator Cunningham. Senator Cunningham seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 447 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, so granted -- leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 447. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed -- or say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes - - Ayes have it. Now on the -- are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 447. Senate -- Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 447. (Secretary reads title of bill) 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cunningham, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 447 amends the School Code. It would allow the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences to effectively increase its statutory enrollment cap, which will help accommodate a special education cluster that's currently at the school. I know of no opposition. Would appreciate the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 447 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 447, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we'll go back to Senate Bill 446. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 446. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The intent of this legislation is to support the work that we've done during the periods of 2006 to 2009 to develop programs for 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 dropouts. It was during the time of the Race to the Top. Nothing really developed from that. We now have an initiative that would support -- a school district with a high school dropout rate that is at least two times the State's high school dropout rate shall receive an incentive weighting of two times the foundation level of support for each high school dropout who has been dropped from the enrollment rolls for at least one month and has been reenrolled into an evidence-based model and best program practices program for high school dropouts. I know of no known opposition. The bill did receive unanimous support in committee and I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr.…?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.
You know, Mr. President, I wonder if you could help me with the noise level a little bit. I had trouble hearing what Senator Lightford was saying about what the bill actually does. That's very kind of you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. Senator Lightford, it's my understanding, just glancing at the information I have in front of me - and I apologize, we are probably going to have to repeat some of what you said a moment ago - is that -- my understanding is that Senate Bill 446 would increase the amount of -- of aid, and I think general State aid, for school districts who have a dropout rate that exceeds the State average. It would pay 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 them more to get these kids reenrolled. Is that -- is that generally true?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Can you -- can you give me some more detail on how much in excess of the statewide dropout rate would a school district have to be in order to qualify and how much more general State aid do they get for clawing these kids back into the school system?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
Yeah, Senator Righter, it's at least two times the State high school dropout rate. So whatever our State high school dropout rate is, that number has to be double that amount in order to be considered to counting in the new weighting.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
And then what's the premium that we would pay for that? What's -- how much more would -- than -- than -- how much more are we going to pay for that than if we were simply funding kids who weren't -- or kids in a school district who weren't so high -- such in excess of the Statewide dropout rate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Senator Lightford.
So the legislation is asking for the foundation level amount to be doubled. So the foundation level is set in statute and is currently sixty one nineteen -- six -- one thousand -- excuse me, six thousand one hundred nineteen dollars per pupil.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Senator, thank you, and thank you for your patience in walking me through the bill once again. Now, talk to me about your view of the connection between having a dropout -- in a district having a dropout rate that is at least twice of what the statewide average is and giving the school district twice of what the per pupil funding rate would be in State statute. In other words, build that bridge of -- obviously you believe there's a connection that we need to pump a whole lot more money into those districts that have twice the dropout -- twice the dropout rate. Build -- kind of elaborate on that rationale -- or your rationale, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
So, Senator, I have information that goes back to the school year of 2015-2016, so just last year, that there was over one hundred and eighty-nine thousand high school dropouts between the ages of sixteen to twenty-four throughout the State of Illinois. The dropout rate is listed as two percent of six hundred and nineteen thousand, since we're dealing with double the number, which means that there were twelve thousand public high school 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 dropouts in 2015 that need an opportunity to return to school. So based on the total number of dropouts, there's a percentage that we're trying to ensure that they return to school. So the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission released a report and acknowledged the specific needs of disconnected youth, specifically those children who have dropped out of school. The Commission reached consensus to maintain current funding structures and line items for programs for disconnected youth. The Commission recommended to determine through future discussions whether to address the needs of disconnected youth through the integrated funding model. So we're talking about, in the event that we do not get a new foundation level based on best practices that we're working on, that the current GSA would be double the amount for high school dropouts of school districts who have two times the State average.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Thank you for your patience, Mr. President. And thank you, Senator Lightford. We are really close to painting the whole picture for me. So, one last question, and that is, is that, as I understand - and you know a lot more about school funding than do I - but my understanding is -- I mean, basically there's one pool of money. So, if we have a situation where the law now is going to be to dump twice the State aid that otherwise would go to a school district, then we have to see -- then that money is going to come from other districts. In other words, someone is going to pay for this and it's going -- and absent a lot more money in the formula, other districts which do not experience twice the dropout 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 rate are going to be giving money up in order to pay for this. Is that accurate at all?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
Senator, I don't see that it would affect another's district funding. All of the districts will receive their foundation level, and if your school district has two times the rate of high school dropouts, then you would receive an additional weighted vote. So it's all in the GSA model. That would not take away from any other school district. If -- if our foundation level is sixty-one nineteen, then your school district will receive sixty-one nineteen. There's nowhere in this bill that says that your school district foundation level would decrease as a result of -- of putting additional funds in for this model for a school district who has a huge impact. I think when we just think about it on a social level, we would save taxpayers a significant amount of money, over two hundred and ninety thousand dollars, if we reenroll high school dropouts, and it's terribly -- it -- it's just a smart investment for us to do. We're facing a labor shortage. It's best that we get people, high school dropouts, back in school, get them the education that they need, and allow them to go on to pursue additional educational goals or to become in the market of employment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill, if I might.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 To the bill.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we are -- we are in this Chamber and in this General Assembly talking a lot - as we do every year, but I think this year even more - about school funding, and not just how much money is in the pie, but how do we slice that pie up. And everyone -- everyone, whether they are paying attention or whether they think otherwise, has a stake in this because it will affect the amount of money that goes to the school districts in your Senate district. Now, if the pie is this big - and there's always a limit to the size of the pie - then what affects your school districts and your Senate district's allocation is how you decide to slice up those pieces. This bill says that if there is a district or there are districts that experience twice the dropout rate than statewide, then they're going to get a larger slice of this pie. They are, because now their per pupil allocation isn't going to be the sixty-one nineteen that's in statute, it's going to be whatever twice that amount is. But that's -- well over, well over, twelve thousand dollars. That's going to come from someone. And absent more money being put into the pie, it's going to come from the school districts that do not experience twice the State average in terms of dropout. The question that you have to ask here is whether or not telling school districts that have that high of a dropout rate that we're just going to send you more money if you have this problem is really encouraging them to solve the problem. According to the bill, the dropouts only have to be out of school for thirty days in order to -- for the district to qualify for twice the per pupil funding level and there's nothing in the bill that says how long 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 do the kids have to be back in school in order to get this increased per pupil aid? There is a problem across Illinois. The Senator is trying to solve that problem, but is she solving this problem or does this bill solve the problem at the expense of the school districts who are not having this high of dropout rate? I would suggest to you, respectfully, that it does and suggest that for those districts, if you represent districts that are not experiencing this problem, you are going to pay to solve the problem according to this bill. I would urge a No vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.
Senator, forgive me, I'm not in the Education Committee, but one of the questions that was just raised - and I was looking over the -- the language - the -- the question about after a student has been out for thirty days and comes back. How long does that student -- or what does the bill say how long the student has to be back after those thirty days for them to qualify for this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
The bill doesn't specify how long the student has to be back. The goal is that the student is reenrolled and able to qualify for 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 graduation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.
I guess if that's the goal, but the -- the problem is the -- is the -- is the dropout -- if -- if -- if they get them back into the classroom for just -- for a day or for a couple days and they -- and they drop back out again, I don't know how that -- that's not helping the student either. Would -- would it make sense to at least have some language in there that says that a person would have to reenroll back in the school and -- and finish and graduate or finish the year out, as opposed to just serving one day back in office -- or back in the -- in the classroom?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Senator. So it's not only the school districts that will receive funding. The education service region could receive a reimbursement or if it's another entity that's providing school-based programs. And so -- we all know that the funding follows the student. So, it would be my understanding that if the student is no longer enrolled, then the funding is no longer available. I think that some of the conversation of the previous speaker may have misconstrued, to some, intent - what we're trying to accomplish. But every student would not receive double the foundation level. It's only if you reenroll the student and they're considered on your rolls as a reenrolled student that that particular amount would only suffice itself for that one particular student, not the entire school district, not every student. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.
Thank you. That -- I can understand that. I guess it still goes back to my question that if a -- if a -- if a student has dropped out and they get the student to come back and reenroll and they're there for a day or two days and then they drop back out again, they would qualify -- under that scenario, they would qualify for that money. They don't have to finish the year or there's not a period of time they have to be back and, again, the school would qualify for that double amount of money even though they only came back to school for a -- a short period of time?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
Senator, you're correct. It does not specify in the bill the length of time the student has to be reenrolled.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.
Last question then. Do you think it would make sense to at least have some guidelines in here to avoid the issue of someone coming back to school just one day and how that would be reported, and if they -- if they did drop out again before the school was over, would there be the ability for the State to call that money back then? Because obviously the student didn't finish the year and that was the intent of that. So, is there a way we could put language in there that says we can call that money back if the student doesn't finish that -- that year in the classroom? And 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.
I would agree with that, Senator -- Syverson, in that we would want to make sure that the school district or the regional service or whatever program that student is placed in for best practices is actually going beyond a one-day period or a period that's not specified. So I do like the suggestion of if that student drops out of -- again, that those dollars are returned back to the State. At this juncture in time, I would like to take your idea and pass the bill over to -- to the House and have the House sponsor add that language and bring the bill back to us for concurrence.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Weaver, for what purpose do you rise?
…bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
Yeah. First, I want to compliment Senator Lightford on what she's trying to accomplish here. I -- I don't think there's a person in this room that doesn't agree that the biggest travesty in our country today is the unemployability of our youth. So many of 'em coming from tough homes, coming from tough neighborhoods. And I have two problems with where we are with this bill. One of those is the amount of dollars were spending. Chicago Public Schools, fifteen thousand one hundred and twenty dollars per student. In my communities, as little as sixty-five hundred per 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 student and an average of more like about eighty-five hundred dollars per student. We need dollars everywhere. I do believe that this is a great place to target with regard to dropouts. My concern is, first, the dollars I mentioned, but, second, that we have not really clarified the best practices that will happen when these students come back and I think we really need to understand that before we can support the bill. I'd been a No vote in committee and I will continue to be a No vote, but please continue to work on this, because I think you're trying to target the right group of people. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just for a point of clarity on the last speaker, the total amount that a school district invests in a student is not what the bill is asking for. So if your school district -- adds three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine thousand above the foundation level, that's what your school district adds on from all of the other local resources. This bill is saying only the foundation level amount of sixty-one nineteen per pupil would be two times the student dropout population that student will receive of support. Just -- just to remind us all that our high school dropout rate is extremely high. Our unemployment rate is extremely high. Our crime rates are extremely high. And I think this bill would help us to begin to work on reenrolling those students, giving them a chance to come back and earn -- finish off their high school education, encourage them to go on to higher education or to establish a skill in the market so that they can be employable. I committed to Senator Syverson on 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 making sure the House sponsor added a specific time in the legislation. I agree with that. I think that's really important and I encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 446 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 32 Ayes, 20 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 446, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Lee Milner of Illinois Times seeks permission to photograph. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you so much, Mr. President. I was tardy getting to my button on Senate Bill 447. I would like to be recorded as an Aye vote, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Your intentions will be recorded. Can we -- as we continue on, can we keep the conversations to a minimum, please? It's very hard for the speakers to listen what's going on. Senate Bill 448. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 511. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 584. Senator Barickman. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. Senator Barickman seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 584 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 584. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Barickman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, on your amendment.
I'd ask for the amendment to be adopted and I'll explain it with the bill on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Barickman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, on Floor Amendment 2.
I'd ask for the amendment to be adopted, which is a technical amendment, and I'll explain it all on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 584. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Senate Bill 584. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Barickman, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 584, as amended here, is an initiative of the Illinois State Bar Association. It's an amendment to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and removes the strict rules of requiring the correct naming of administrative agencies for administrative review. I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 584 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 584, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 479, offered by Senators Link, Bush, and Morrison and all Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. (at ease) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports. 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture Committee - House Bill 2995 and 3189; refer to Appropriations II Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 520 and Senate Bill 2204; refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - House Joint Resolution 3; refer to Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1761, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1843, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill -- 1980, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 786, House Bill 755, 2723, 2738, 3910, 2989, 3074, 3084, and 3711; refer to Education Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1122, House Bills 1254, 2369, 2377, 2527, 2540, 2612, 2794, 2977, 2993, 3059, 3215, 3507, 3601, and House Joint Resolution 11; refer to Energy and Public Utilities Committee - House Bill 535; refer to Environment and Conservation Committee - House Bills 772, 2842, and 3922; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 315, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1592, Senate Bills 2198 and 2202; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1351, House Bills 1792 and 3791; refer to Gaming Committee - Senate Joint Resolution 26; refer to Government Reform Committee - House Bill 682; refer to Higher Education Committee - Committee Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 222, House Bills 2740, 3255, 3490, and 3691, and House Joint Resolution 2; refer to Human Services Committee - House Bills 40, 742, 2812, 2814, 3131, 3167, 3394, Senate Resolution 400, Senate Bill 2189, 2190, 2192, and 2201; refer to Insurance Committee - House Bills 302, 2610, and 2721; refer to Judiciary Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 234, Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 1502, Floor Amendment 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 1 to Senate Bill 1753, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1334, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2516, House Bill 1685, 2963, and 3054; refer to Labor Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1895, Senate Bills 2196, 2200, 2462, and -- excuse me, Senate Bills 2196 and 2200, and House Bills 2462 and 2699; refer to Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1607, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1882, Senate Bills 2193, 2194, and 2195, and House Bill 3342; refer to Local Government Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1862, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3536, House Bill 169, 1895, and 3325, and Senate Resolution 412; refer to Public Health Committee - Senate Resolution 414, Senate Resolution 470, Floor Amendment 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 350, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 741, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2038, House Bills 223, 369, 763, 2506, 2800, and 3741; refer to Revenue Committee - Committee Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 1285, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2012, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 155, House Bills 821, 466, 2801, 3163, Senate Bills 2199 and 2203; refer to the Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care - Senate Joint Resolution 29 and Senate Bill 2191; refer to State Government Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 707, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1011, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1869, House Bills 375, 394, 698, 1808, 1849, 2828, 3658, 3737, 3744, 3904, and 4011, and House Joint Resolution 34; refer to Transportation Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 396, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1008, House Bills 764, 2581, House Joint Resolutions 1 and 4, and House Bill 2492; refer to Veterans Affairs Committee - House Bills -- House Bill 2449; Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bills -- Senate Bill 543, House Bills 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 524, 2499, 2580, 3018, 3120, -- 3121, 3130, and 3139. Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments: Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 988, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1095, and Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1207. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Bill 772 can be heard Thursday at 11 a.m. in the Senate Environment and Conservation Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler moves to waive all notices and posting requirements so that House Bill 772 can be heard Thursday at 11 a.m. in Senate Environment and Conservation Committee. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the notices and posting requirements have been waived. An important -- and some announcements here. The following additional committees will be posted for the afternoon and morning -- will be heard {sic} additional items. Public Health, today at 2:30, Room 400. Financial Institutions, tomorrow at 11 a.m. in 409. Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
If I may, Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Can we keep all the conversations down, please? Please keep the conversations down. Senator Barickman.
38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen, if I -- if I could have your attention just for a moment. Lady -- Ladies and Gentlemen, if I can have your attention for a moment, I'd like to report to -- some tragic events that have occurred -- in Central Illinois here over the last week. So if -- if you may. Late Wednesday of last week, it was reported that Sergeant Josh Rodgers, a -- an Army Ranger, serving in Afghanistan, was killed in action Wednesday, April 26th, 2017 {sic} (Thursday, April 27, 2017). He was -- he was performing in a joint operation with Afghan forces and was killed along with a second Army Ranger, an individual, Sergeant Cameron Thomas of Ohio. Sergeant Rodgers is a constituent of mine and the news of his death and his being killed in action has really hit Central Illinois, throughout my district, throughout Senator Brady's district, as people come to terms and grips with the fact that this young man has lost his life serving our country. Josh is a -- to give perspective to the young age for which these young men and women serve all of us, Josh was a 2013 high school graduate from Normal Community High School. He's the son of Kevin and Vonda Rodgers, who live in Bloomington. They work at State Farm. His older sister works at State Farm. Another sister is an ISU student. And this is just a -- another tragic reminder of the -- the -- the men and women who are serving every day for us and the fact that they're putting their lives on the line and too often are asked to pay the ultimate sacrifice. And so, I just ask if we all may rise for just a moment and take a moment of silence in honor of Sergeant Josh Rodgers. Thank you, Mr. President. (Moment of silence observed)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) With leave of the Body, we'll go back to 2nd Readings one 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 last time. Senate Bill 707. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings. Senate Bill 864. Senator Manar. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 864. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1264. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary -- Senate Bill 1267. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1267. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor -- further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, on your amendment.
40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment is an agreed amendment with the Railroad Association and I ask its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1444. Senator Haine. Senator -- there's a letter on file for chief -- cosponsor, Senator Mulroe. Senator Mulroe seeks leave of the Body to move the bill. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1444. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1453. Senator McCann. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1453. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1502. Senator Hastings. Mr. 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1502. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, on your amendment.
The amendment becomes the bill, Mr. President. I'll explain it on 3rd. Mr. President, I ask -- I move for its adoption and I'll explain it on…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any -- is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1680. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1680. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, on your amendment.
I'd ask for adoption of the amendment, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 707. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 707. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration? 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 589. Senator Anderson. Senator Anderson seeks leave of the Body to return -- Senate Bill 589 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 589. Mr. Secretary, have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Anderson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Anderson, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would -- I would just ask to move it to 3rd and I'll explain it on 3rds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 589. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 589. (Secretary reads title of bill) 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Anderson, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 589 allows dental assistants to remove loose and broken or -- irritated {sic} (irritating) orthodontic appliances on a patient of record for the purposes of eliminating pain or discomfort. Currently, they are not allowed to do so. The dentist must approve and inspect the assistant's work. Also, the assistant must go through some extra training. And I think the biggest part to understand about this bill is that the dental assistants will be working under the supervision of a dentist. There were four amendments. The amendments removed all opposition. This is a good bill. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 589 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 589, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 592. Senator Raoul. Senate Bill 611. Senator Bennett. Senate -- Senator Bennett seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 611 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 611. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Yes. Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Bennett.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bennett, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would move for the amendment's adoption. I'll discuss it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 611. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 611. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bennett, on your bill.
Mr. President and Members of the Body, Senate Bill 611 would establish the Mahomet Aquifer Protection Task Force. The Mahomet Aquifer is an underground river which provides -- is the sole source of water for about eight hundred thousand Illinois residents in the middle of the State. And this is a bill that actually passed with some -- with a few fewer Members at the end of the 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 99th. The House never got -- not got a chance to call it, so we're going to call it again. But, essentially, it would put the best minds in the room to try to figure out the next risks to the aquifer and address them before they're a concern. I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 611 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 611, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 624. Senator Anderson. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 624. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Anderson, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 624, it creates a two-year mental health care pilot program, beginning January 1 of 2018, from {sic} (for) which a mental health care facility located in Rock Island County, Illinois, may accept the admission of Iowa residents from the Eastern Iowa Mental -- Mental Health Region. It's a pilot program. Must -- must also provide that residents of Rock Island County, Illinois, who is a person subject to involuntary admission may receive inpatient 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 treatment at a Iowa mental health care facility. It's important to note that with this -- with this program that we already do voluntary admissions. This would just do involuntary. In the Quad Cities, we have Robert Young Mental Health Care Facility, and I will say this, they are not only one of the best mental health care facilities in the Quad Cities, but they are one of the best mental health care facilities in the nation. And we really preach regionalism in the Quad Cities. It's -- it's a bistate deal. And this is just going to allow people from both sides of the river to -- to be able to take advantage of -- of great mental health care. There's no opposition to this bill. I would ask for an Aye vote, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 624 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 624, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 625. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 626. Senator McCann. Senator McCann seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 626 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 626. Mr. Secretary, have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator McCann.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCann, on your amendment. 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 SENATOR McCANN: Yes, Mr. President, I move for its adoption. I'll explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator McCann.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCann, on your amendment. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, again, Mr. President. And again, I'll move for its adoption and be happy to explain it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 626. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 626. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCann, on your bill. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 626, as amended, simply gives the discretion to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health to grant or renew a waiver of the nurse staffing requirements for a nursing care facility. Especially in -- in Amendment No. 2, I want to point out that the fines or penalties for violating the registered nurse staffing requirements must -- must be levied by the Department only. And it does not apply to a Medicare or Medicare and Medicaid accredited facility. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 626 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 626, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 634. Senator Bennett. Senator Bennett. Senate Bill 641. Senator Holmes. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 641. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes, on your bill.
50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Thank you so much, Mr. President. This should be the last of my animal bills during this Session here. 641, as amended, allows funds in a county animal population (control) fund from the ten dollar deferential to register an intact dog or cat to be used for spay and neuter programs, including feral cat trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release programs, while exempting a county with three million or more inhabitants. Currently, the county fund may only be used to spay, neuter, or sterilize adopted dogs or cats owned by low-income residents eligible for SNAP or Social Security benefits. This is permissive. It allows local control. The county can decide how they best feel those funds can be utilized. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you rise?
A question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.
Senator, if -- if this is a good idea and a good bill, can you tell me why Cook County is excluded?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.
Absolutely. Because Cook County has an exemplary program that is much stricter than what we're asking for. Actually, it should be a model for the entire State to follow. I guarantee you, I would get so much pushback if I required us to do everything 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Cook County is already doing, 'cause they are definitely an example. As a matter of fact, because of what Cook County has done, they have decreased their feral cat population by twenty percent. They have saved their county 1.8 million dollars since its inception.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.
Is there a reason why all the other counties aren't going to be tough -- as tough as Cook County is with regards to feral cats? 'Cause I'm really concerned about feral cats.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.
…you, Senator. I will note your concern. I am going to be thrilled to have you sign on as a cosponsor on this bill. And every county has the ability to use this program as they best see fit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Although the sponsor has exceeded her cap on animal bills, I'm -- I'm going to reluctantly urge an Aye vote on the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Senator Holmes, to close, if you wish.
I would just respectfully ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 641 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 47 Ayes, 3 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 641, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 642. Senator Steans. Senate Bill 646. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 646. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. This bill, as amended, adds a new provision to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act. It provides that DCFS may implement a five- year pilot program of a domestic violence co-location program. The intention of the pilot program is to improve child welfare interventions provided to families experiencing domestic violence 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 in part by ensuring {sic} (enhancing) that -- the safety and stability of children and reducing the number of children removed from their parents. This is a pilot project and it's a -- subject to appropriation of {sic} availability of funds and it came to me from the Family Defense Center. I know of no opposition and I'd be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 646 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 646, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
On a point of personal privilege, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, just a brief pause in our action here to recognize some kids and some staff from my district. Over by -- on the Democrat side - guys get up - over on the Democrat side are students and teachers from Riddle Elementary School in Mattoon, Illinois. I would love it if you guys would give them a big warm Senate welcome for coming to Springfield today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senate Bill 647. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Senate Bill 647. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 647 extends two fees that provide resources for the Illinois Housing Development Authority to make grants to deal with the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis. It extends the sunset from 2017 to 2020. I am open for any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates she will.
Senator, can -- can you give us a little bit of background? The filing fees that you're -- you're seeking to renew the sunset expiration date for, can you give me a little bit of background as to why they were initially enacted?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Senator. Back in 2013, I negotiated with the banks the program for the fees to deal with the mortgage foreclosure 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 rate that was extremely high that left abandoned properties. Many of the municipalities were using the funds -- or going forward to demolish abandoned properties and wanted reimbursement. So we put in place something called the Abandoned Property Program. Under the program, most of the local governments were awarded approximately 7.2 million for projects dealing with two thousand four hundred and eighty-four abandoned properties. Of that money -- of the fees, twenty-five percent of the funds were distributed to the City of Chicago and seventy-five percent of the funds were distributed to other local governments to help to deal with the demolishing and the securing and the rehabilitation of the properties. The other fee, which was known at that time as the Foreclosure Prevention Program, was an incentive to keep homeowners in their homes to stop the foreclosure. So we asked the banks to work with the faulty homeowners properly and based on how many foreclosures they would be filing -- if, for the larger banks, they had mostly a hundred and seventy-five filings or more, we put in the fee of five hundred dollars, because most of those impacted the larger banks that were part of the foreclosure mishap tsunami that we encountered. For those banks that had fifty or less {sic} foreclosures, the fee was two hundred and fifty dollars. And for those who had less than fifty foreclosures, the fee was fifty dollars. And what that fee did, it went into a program that would continue to have HUD counselors work with families to keep them in their homes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo.
Senator, I -- I appreciate that explanation and -- and the 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 reason I'm asking a couple questions here is because my analysis indicates, and I know that you're well aware, that there's significant opposition on this bill and so I just want to make sure that the Body understands exactly what's going on here. I believe you -- you -- you said that the fee was first imposed in 2013 and you used the term "foreclosure tsunami". I mean, things were really bad in 2013 and that's why we took the step of -- of imposing these fines and that would help remediate the effects of significant numbers of foreclosures taking place. Right?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Let me just respond to you. You said "significant opposition". It depends on what perspective. Most of the housing counselors, non-for-profits, and -- and organizations that work with homeowners are supporting this bill. The major opposition, surprisingly, or not surprisingly, are coming from the banks. So I would just nullify or sort of -- sort of edit your stipulation that it's major pushback.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo.
And I understand, Senator. Just so we're clear, so let's -- let's be really specific here. My -- it -- my -- my analysis shows that the Illinois Bankers Association is opposed, the Community Bankers Association is opposed, the Illinois Credit Union League is opposed, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce is opposed, and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce is opposed. Do -- do you have any understanding that any of those groups are not in opposition to 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 the bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
As you know, Senator, the bankers are opposed, yes. But like I said before, those organizations, the not-for-profits that work with homeowners, they're supporting it. And I think I have like a hundred supporters of this bill. And so let me just also reference -- I think you imply that we put in place this program to deal with the high rate of foreclosure and, in some sense, you're alluding to the fact that possibly that has subsided. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo, if you want to answer a question?
Yeah -- yeah, I'll answer with a question. Yes, Senator, in 2013, things were really bad and -- and you used the term "foreclosure tsunami" and that's why we enacted these fees to try to alleviate the problems that we were experiencing four years ago.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
So, let me bring you up to date with the latest statistics. So, as I noted before, we have heard the claims that sugarcoat the current state of affairs and try to put the foreclosure crisis in the past. The truth is that while we have seen improvement since the disastrous days of the subprime meltdowns aftermath, many real people are still struggling to save their homes. Consider these 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 facts: The nationwide decrease in foreclosure is covering up what is now happening in twenty-eight states where foreclosures are still higher. The total number of homes nationwide with foreclosure filings jumped twenty-seven percent in October 2016. Counter to the national trend, twenty-five states posted increases in scheduled foreclosure auctions in October 2016, including Illinois, which saw a thirty-four percent increase. And the top ten highest foreclosure rates among the two hundred and sixteen metropolitan areas with population over two hundred thousand include Rockford at number three and Chicago at number seven.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo.
Senator, in your opening remarks, you talked about the existence of a -- of a program or a fund. Can -- can you explain to me again which programs we're talking about or which funds we're talking about?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Thank you. We're talk -- we're talking about the Foreclosure Prevention Program. Of that fee, seventy percent of the graduated fees on mortgage foreclosure filings support the Abandoned Property Program and twenty-eight percent of the funds support the Foreclosure Prevention Program. Two percent defrays the cost for clerks of the court to collect the fee. The graduated fee ranges between, as I noted before, fifty dollars and five hundred dollars, based on the number of foreclosure filings by the lender during the previous calendar year. 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo.
Senator, we're talking about the renewal of a filing fee. We are not - just so that everybody's clear - we're not talking about eliminating the -- the Foreclosure Prevention Program or any of the funds themselves that go to support these efforts, right? We're not eliminating the funds and we're not eliminating the programs.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
When you curtail the fees, you stop the funding going to the programs that actually fund the programs.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Nybo.
To the bill, Mr. Speaker.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill, Representative.
Touché. Listen, I applaud what the Senator is attempting to do and I'll be brief. Four, five, six years ago, we experienced a significant crisis in this country. Foreclosures were -- as the Senator just spoke about, there was a tsunami of foreclosures and we did take measures, working with the financial services industry, to try to remediate the problems associated with that. So I -- I applaud what we did four years ago in -- in imposing this -- this -- this fine. However, things are not entirely better right now, 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 but they are much better than they were four years ago. And I think there needs to be some recognition of the fact that we're not in a crisis situation anymore. We are not at a point where we need to continue imposing an additional fine, an additional collection of revenue, to alleviate what was a crisis at one point in our State and in our country. This fine, the extension of the fine, was intended to sunset at some point. And the reason it was intended to sunset was because there was a recognition four years ago that the problem might not be as bad as it was when we imposed the fine. There is significant opposition to this bill, you know, however you want to characterize significant or not. But I would respectfully ask for a No vote on this bill. I think when there are troubled situations in times of crisis, we can rely on the financial services industry to support us and support our community. They have shown that they are willing to be there to help us. We are not at that point anymore and -- and there just is not, from my prospective and their -- from their prospective, a need for the continued imposition of this fine. And also, we are not eliminating these programs. We are not eliminating these funds. We are just eliminating one, perhaps two, fees that are used to support these funds. But I just don't think that we're at a crisis situation that we were at four years ago and therefore I respectfully urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield. 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Senator Collins, I -- I want to zero in on the moneys that are going into the Abandoned Residential Fund and Municipal Relief Fund {sic} (Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund). Do you know who administers this fund and how much is in it presently?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Which fund are you referring to?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
According to the analysis, part of the funds will be going into the Foreclosure Prevention Program and the Abandoned Residential Property Management -- Municipal Fund {sic} for the purposes of, for both, the Illinois Housing Association {sic}. I'm just concerned about this fund. I'd like to know who's -- who's administrating it. How much is in there at this time?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
I don't know how much is in there right now. I know that since 2014 of the Abandoned Property Program, we've raised 7.2 million dollars. But the funds or the -- the moneys are distributed by IHDA.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 How much -- do you know what the City of Chicago has received from these funds? If you do know.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
I'm checking on that. Hold on, please. It says here one million four hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars -- a hundred and twenty-five dollars - one million four hundred and twenty- three thousand one hundred and twenty five.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
The -- and the rest is distributed to the other municipalities throughout the State?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Only twenty-five percent goes to the City and seventy-five percent go outside of the City for other municipalities outside of the City.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
Do we know what the current balance is in that account today and who administers that account other than IHDA?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
No, I don't. But I -- in committee, you heard that it is 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 vouchered. There is oversight and not all the homes are demolished, some are rehabilitated.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
That leads me to my next point. The homes that are rehabilitated and put up for market, who receives the money for those -- the home -- for the home sales?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
I'm not sure on that. I would say -- talk to the City. That's an inquiry for the City and they indicated they did come by your office. So I wish you had raised that issue with them when they visited your office. And your wife happens to be, I think, an Alderman, if I'm not mistaken.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.
I -- I try to leave my wife out of this end of the business. But, unfortunately, I don't know and I -- I received a call this morning from someone from the City, but no one stopped by my office. I was just concerned about -- and I think it's a good program and I -- I think it's a great program, but the question is once these houses are rehabilitated and put on the market, who's going to be receiving the profits? Should that go back into this fund? That was my concern in the committee and no one has really gotten an answer back to me.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 Senator Collins.
Hello. I would suggest that as the bill moves to the House, that's something we might -- can look at if that would make you feel more at ease.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
I'd like to commend the sponsor for sponsoring this bill. Yes, the financial crisis is over with, but you have so many other families who -- they just haven't had the opportunity to recover. You know, this bill is for the people of the State of Illinois, you know. And -- and just because someone indicated that the financial crisis is over, people are still struggling. You know, not only did the financial crisis hit families, but many of them were victims of predatory lending during the same time. So that was a double whammy for them. Many of them lost their jobs. So, many just simply have not had the time to get back up on their feet in spite of working two and three jobs. And so, Senator Collins, this is a great bill. I would strongly, strongly encourage all of my colleagues to vote Yes on this bill, because, remember, this is for the people, not for the bankers.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Castro, for what purpose do you rise?
65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. The biggest thing is -- you know, I was a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. I -- we reviewed all the applications when they're approved and these went to many municipalities who benefitted from this program. One municipality, in particular, my own municipality, Elgin, actually uses those dollars to demolish blighted buildings, then takes the property and gives it to Habitat for Humanity, who finds a family, who builds the home, who puts the property back on the tax roll. This is a very good program and we should continue to fund the program. Just because -- I know different areas are affected differently. I know Senator Nybo says he feels that we don't need this program - but we do. I can tell you my district needs it and there are other districts that can still benefit from it. So I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, to the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
I would also like to commend the sponsor for bringing this legislation to the table. Even though the financial crisis is over, I notice homes that - inside of my district - that still are boarded up and needs work on. So I'd like to really commend the 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 sponsor for being a -- a huge champion on the foreclosures throughout the City of Chicago and urge a Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) To the bill.
Mr. President, I'm going to be disagreeing with some proponents and an -- an opponent. The crisis ain't over. The financial crisis is not over. I can take you through some of the neighborhoods in my district where you see the blight and the -- the -- the remains of foreclosed-upon property - and where there is blight, there is crime. Where there is blight, there is poor education availed to the people in the neighborhood. Where is -- there is blight, there is depressed property value that impacts the hardworking people of those areas. So this notion, this declaration that a crisis is over is BS. This is a modest fee upon lucrative operating institutions, and just because somebody says a crisis is over, the evidence is there that it's far from over. So I urge an Aye vote from all the responsible Members of this Chamber.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise?
A question to the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield. 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017
Senator Collins, first of all, thank you for bringing this bill. My question is, I believe I heard you say that the banks had so far paid in seven million dollars. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
Yes. That's correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Van Pelt.
I'm not clear on why the banks think that's enough to solve -- to deal with the crisis that was caused largely by the banks in all these communities across the State. I don't -- I'm not -- it's not clear to me why they think seven million dollars will cover all of that. So I'm definitely in support of keeping it going, because what happened in the communities across the State was devastating. It was the largest transfer of wealth in the history of this country, where people lost their -- their -- their primary asset, their homes. And I think that if the banks -- because the banks had a primary role in causing that to happen, they have a responsibility to help heal the land. So I'm in support of this bill and I urge all my colleagues to vote Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any further discussion? Senator Collins, to close.
First of all, I would like to thank all my colleagues for their support. And let me just make this statement. I thought I mentioned at the beginning of the debate that there has been an 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 increase of thirty-four percent in the State of Illinois. Rockford is number three in the top ten and Illinois {sic} is number seven. There has been over twenty thousand foreclosure filings for 2016, the end of 2016. So, let me just say that I feel that historically we know that the stability of the housing market has been crucial in leading the broader economy out of recessions. Abandoned properties left unsecured and unmaintained destabilize families, decimate communities, and destroy any hope of future economic development. That is why extending these programs is so important. These programs by their design encourage rehabilitation of the market and discourage banks from putting families into foreclosure. Something is amiss in society when we continue to reward, to the tune of millions of dollars, the failure of the financial elite who brought our economy to the brink of disaster. Here's what failure looks like: For Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, a twenty-eight-million-dollar pay package and a four percent pay increase from last year; for Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, failure looks like a twenty-million-dollar bonus, a twenty-five percent pay increase from last year; for Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf, resigning over a scandal, failure looks like a hundred and thirty million golden parachute. It's time for relief for the hardworking taxpayers and homeowners who bailed out the banks. So I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 647 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 31 Ayes, 21 Noes, none voting Present. Senate Bill 647, having received the required 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, if I may, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen, above the Democratic side in the gallery is the Arcola Junior High School Our American Voice project. If they'd stand, you've got Avery, Kolten, Sadie, Harley, Sam, and Taylor, under the direction of Mrs. Craft and Mrs. Sigrist. And let's welcome them to Springfield, if we could.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 173, offered by Senator John Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 531, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1273, offered by Senator John Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1560, offered by Senator John Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1896, offered by Senator Rose. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1910, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1955, offered by Senator Althoff. 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2545, offered by Senator Weaver. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2626, offered by Senator Rezin. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2702, offered by Senator Hastings. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2856, offered by Senator McCarter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 29 -- excuse me, 2898, offered by Senator Morrison. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3032, offered by Senator Schimpf. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3168, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3251, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3298, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3437, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3514, offered by Senator Connelly. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3528, offered by Senator Weaver. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3648, offered by Senator Trotter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3709, offered by Senator Lightford. (Secretary reads title of bill) 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 100th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 37th Legislative Day 5/2/2017 House Bill 3820, offered by Senator Aquino. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 3903, offered by Senator Hutchinson. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the House bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned till the hour of 12 p.m. on the 3rd day of May 2017. The Senate stands adjourned. 72