The regular Session of the 89th General Assembly w1ll please I I come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks, and I wi1l our guests in Ehe galleries please rise. Our prayer today I I will be given by the Reverend Robert McDonald, First United I Methodist Church , Watseka, Illinois. Reverend McDonald. I I THE REVEREND ROBERT MCDONALD ) (Prayer by the Reverend Robert McDonald)
Will you please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Sieben.
(Pledge of Allegiance, 1ed by Senator Sieben)
Reading of the Journal. Senakor Butler.
Mr. President, I move that reading and approval of the Journals of Tuesday, March 21st and Wednesday, March 22ndy in the year 1995, be postponedz pending arrival of the printed Journal.
Senator Butler moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrlval of the prlnted transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Chair will yield to Senator Hawkinson.
Thank you r Mr. President . Senator Shadtd and I are today honored t:o have with us the back-to-back State Champion and Class AA Basketball Champions from Peorta Manual High School, as Well as the cheerleaders . The school is in Senator Shadid 's district , and at this point, I will yield the Chair to Senator Shadid . SENATOR SHADID 1 Thank you very much . Mt. President and fellow Senate Members, l STATE OE ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 it gives us great pleasure in introduclng, once again, the Manual Rams, who won the AA Championship last year and also this year. I And they wcn it this year under Coach Wayne Mcclain, who 's in his I freshman year, and let's give the Manual Ramsg the cheerleaders 1 and the pom-pon girls a bkg hand . 1'd like to introduce Coach Mcclain, who will introduce us to the players.
(Introductlon of the Peoria Manual Rams, by Coach Mcclain)
The glare is not botherlng you, is itr from my head? Like to introduce you to Va1 Schifeling: Who's going to introduce the cheerleaders and the pom-pon girls.
(Introduces cheerleaders and pon-pon glrls)
Thank you very much. And I Want to thank the Senate for allowing us to do this. Andr you know, the young ladies really, really are -- are a big part of this program, and I think We deserve to give them another nice, big round of applause. Thank you.
I Want to add just one Nord. Not cnly are these young athletes tremendous ball players, as is evidenced by the record, but they're great ambassadors for the State of Illinois. I know at least Senator Watson and myself were in Champatgn all weekend and watched them win the championshkp , but I also watched Ehem as young boys and girls came up l:o them and asked for their autographs, and -- and these young men Went out of their Way to accommodatg those kids who consider them heroes and were most accommodating . Great ambassadors for Peoria and the whole State of Illinois . So, thank you .
2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?
Hello . Thank you y Mr. President . A point of personal privilege.
State your point . SENATOR DEMUZ10 : We have visiting with us in the gallery today the entire second grade from South School in Carlinville, Illinois, in the gallery behind me . I'd like to have the Senate reccgnize the second grade from Carlinville , Illinois .
Would they please rise and be recognized by the Senate . Senator Jacobs, for What purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point .
First of allr before I do, I do want to make nention of the Cub Scout group and the girls that were up in the Republlcan side of the gallery that gave such an outstanding Pledge of Allegiance . I thlnk we ought to give them a hand . But also at the same time # I'd like to introduce one of East Moline's finest: Bob Scott and his Wife, Judy. Please rise.
Will they please rise and be recognized by the Senate . Committee Reports.
Senator Karpiel: Chair of the Cornmittee on Executive, reports Senate Bills 361, 431, 579, 645, 749, 798, 808. 830, 1032, 1033 and 1152 Do Pass; Senate Bills 397 , 772 and 1000 Do Pass, as 3 STATE OP ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legkslative Day March 23r 1995 Amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 26 Be Adopted; Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 679 Be Adcpted. Senator Raicay Chair of the Committee on Public Hea1th and Welfare, reports Senate Bills 434, 606, 626, 700, 804, 8l6 and 846 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 616, 689, 746, 758, 811, 905, 991, 1048, 1080 and 1095 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Madigan, Chair of the Commlttee on Insurance, Pensions and Licensed Activities, reports Senate Bills 533, 611, 613, 725, 810, 831, 869, 1037 and 1085 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 398, 506, 695, 910, 979, 980 and 1143 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Maharr Chair of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports Senate Bills 574 and 629 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Joint Resolution 21 Be Adopted, as Amended; and Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 182 Be Approved for Consideration. Senator Barkhausen, Chair of the Committee on Pinancial Institutions, reports Senate Bl1l 433 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 681 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Peterson, Chair of the Committee on Revenue, reports Senate Bills 204, 703, 843, 985 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 368, 540 and 650 Do Pass, as Amended. And, Senator Weavery Chair of the Committee on Rules: reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned to committees: Referred to the Committee on Insurancer Pensions and Licensed Activities - Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 100; Appraved for Consideration Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 326 and senate Amendment l to Senate Bi11 989.
Resolutions.
Senate Resolution... Senate Joint Resolution 38: offered by Senators Smith, Hawkinson and others. It's substantiver Mr. President. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 : PRESIDENT PHILIP: ! Senator Donahue, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to announce a Republican Caucus innediately in the President's Office. I would suggest that itdll be approximately thirty minutes, so that we would meet back here on the Floor at 1:30.
That's always in order. Senator Demuzio, for what purpcse do you rise?
I don't see Senator Cullerton on the Floor, but therelll be a Democratic Caucus also for the same perlod of time in the Minority Leader's Office.
If we could get back here by 1:30, we would appreciate it, because we intend to move some bills on 2nd and 3rd Reading. The Senate will stand in recess until 1:30 p .m. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS) (SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) fenate wll1 come to order. Messages from *he House.
Message from the House by Mr. McLennand, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passgd bills of the following titles, in the passage of Whlch I am instructed to ask the concurrence of Ehe Senate, to wit: 5 ' STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I House Bills 2401, 589, 610, 649, 686, 729, 780, 854, I 823, 1048, 1511: 1493, 1530, 1650, 1696, 855, 1788, 1798, 1816, 1827, 1853, 1854, 1876, 2138, 2202, 2248, -- or 2339, 513, 539, 583 and 549. ' E A11 passed ' the House r March 22nd, 1995. j PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Watson, for what purpose do you ariser sir? SENATOR WATSON: Yes, thank you, Mr. Presldent. A point of personal privilege. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) vz . E State ycur polnt, sir. SENATOR WATSON: I would like to take this opportunity to introduce a school ! group who is visiting here today: the Franklin Park Junior High Beta Club, seventh graders from Salem, Illinois, and they are -- Jeanette Wright is their sponsor, and I would like for them to be introduced and welcomed. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Would our guests in the gallery please rise and be recognized by the Senate? Welcome to Springfield. Nice to have you here. I'd like to have the -- the Bcdy 's attention, please. With us this afternoon... If I could have your attention. We have a very special guest this afternoon I'd like to introduce to you. Her name is Lynn Gaddis, and she is this year's Illinois Teacher of the Year. She is from Armington, Illinois, teaches in the Ncrmal Unit 5 School Districk, and I'd like to invite Ms. Gaddis Eo come to the podium and make a feW remarks. Ms. Gaddis. Ms. LYNN GADDIS: i ! (Remarks by Ms. Lynn Gaddis) I PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Thank you very -- thank you very much, Lynn. Illinois' Teacher of Ehe Year. Illinois Public Radio requests permission to 6 l .w - STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I record the proceedings. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. ' i I Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. McLennand, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the adoption of the following joint resolutiony to wit: Senate Joint Resolution 35, along with House Amendment No. 1. Passed the House, March 22nd, 1995.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Weaver, for what purpose do ycu arise , sir?
Thank you , Mr. President . I'd move for the suspension of the rules for the immediate consideration and adopkëon of M endmenE No . 1 to Senate Jolnt Resolution 35 . What this does is add two perfunctory days for the House , and that 's a11 it dces . I 'd move for the suspension of the rules .
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator -- Senator Weaver moves to suspend the rules for the inmediate consideration of House M lendment No. l to Senate Joint Resolution 35. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. A11 cf thoye in favor of the House M endment l to Senate Jolnt Resolution 35 # say Aye . Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the Senate does concur in the House M endment No . 1 . Message fron the Hcuse. .
Message from *he House by Mr. McLennand , Clerk . Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolukion, in the adoptlon of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate , to wit : 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 House Joink Resolution 33. Adopted by the Hcuse, March 22nd, 1995. substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill offered by Senator Cronin <sicl. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 182, by Senator Lauzen. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senator Dillard offers House Bill 234. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 507, by Senator Peterson. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 545, by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) A11 right. Ladies and Gentlemenr it is the intent of the Chair to now proceed to the appropriations blll on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. On that order is Senate Bll1 481, on page 8 of today's Calendar. Senator Rauschenberger, are you -- you Wish to proceed, sir? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 481. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senate Bill 48l deals With the Department of Children and Family Services and the Department of Public Aid . appropriates forty million dollars of new GRF from *he increased revenue 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT I ; 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 estimaEes Eo *he supplemental needs and programs of *he Department of Children and Family Services. It takes into account concerns and expectations from last year's budget agreenent, as Well as twelve million dollars in additional monies, to deal with increase in additional caseload that *he departments faced. It also appropriates thirty -- 32.3 nillion dollarsr plus the federal match, to the Department of Public Aid in a line item dedicated to the o1d bills of the Department. 1'11 be happy to take questions on the amendment -- or on the b111.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there discussion? Is there discussion? Senator Carroll.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. First, if I could ask a question af the sponsor, if I might.
PRESIDING OEFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Indicates he will yield, Senator Carroll.
Chairman Rauschenberger, you haver in fact, established a comnittee -- a subcommittee, of which I have been appointed, tc deal with the issue of what revenues will be available and have set that meeting for the 5th of April, in the afternoon. Might this not be premature, so that we can hold Ehis till we know what revenues are available, after that April 5th meeting?
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator Carroll y the subconmlittee that 's going to review revenue is goin: to deal with revenue estimates for the next fiscal year. The earliest date of this introduction originally, as a supplemental request , goes back several months . Departments are requesting the money as soon as possible . This is one of a two-bill package . I apprgciate your concgrn . but I -- I think it 's 9 i STATE 0F ILLINOIS I 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION : SENATE TRANSCRIPT i ! ; 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 clear enough at this point that the departments need this money and we should take action. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Carroll. . SENATOR CARROLL: Thank you, Mr. President. So that there be no mistakey I have no oppositlon, obviously, and wholeheartedly support that which we are doing in this bl11. My concern really goes to something else. In this billy the departments, on the money, a couple weeks doesn't matter. It might -- there are many more departments affected by the next bill. And when you deal with the issue of revenue estimates, obviously you have to know Where We 're at in '95's fiscal year to know where we may be in '96 fiscal year. And I guess my concern is really this: As I look at the revenue estimates of the Governor and the ones We 're starting to put together as we go towards an April 5th meeting to see Where we're really aty it seems as if there truly is more money available than that which the Governor projected in his Budget Message. Even if you look at the two hundred and ten million that he just found, of that, in the high nineties millions of dollarsr he has said let's use towards lapse-period spending. 1, as a Member of the Senate, if that number is accurate, am going to recommend instead that that be used to solve the problem in the Downstate Teachers' Retirement System, to bring them either into the State system at a ccst of fifty-four nillion to pay that benefit package, or. if not in *he State system, Eo use abou: sixty-five million dollars to solve that benefit package, and thenr likewiser take the balance and instead of using it for the lapse-period, if that number is accuratey again double it and add about another sixty-five million to pay o1d Medlcaid bills. My only concern is - not that this is a bad idea at all; in fact, it's a great idea - is the vehicle We could use if those numbers are accurate April 5*h, ln order to do 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 that yet this fiscal year, and would hope that the Chairman would make a vehicle so available so that if those revenue estimates are as we think they are as pronounced by the Governory that, fact, We can allocate the sixty-five milllon or fifty-four million to solve the Downstate Teachers' Retirement System health care issue and allocate another, let's say, thirty-two million dollars natched with another thirty-one million of federal funds, to throw another sixty-five million at old bills now. And would -- would, as a long, rhetorical question, ask Senator Rauschenberger something like that would be available.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
Firstr let me say I Welcome both Senator Carroll's expertise and his support of this supplemental. Ifd remind h1m Khat I do think that thls is not the only supplemental we can deal with. We - - the intent of dealing with the revenue estimates is to ascertain, to the best of our ability from the public revenue estimates, what level we should be working on, on a budgetary basis. We have lots of vehlcles available, and think your concerns are -- are well-stated, and -- and I Would stipulate to them, important that we deal with a11 of those issues. see this only as a first step. And again, thank you for your comments and -- and your help .
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Carroll.
And on that basisr Mr. Presidenty would urge our Members to be very supportive of Senate Bill 481. think it's a step in the right direction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Further discussion? Further discussion? Senator Rauschenberger, you wish to close, sir?
I request a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) The question is, shall Senate Bill 481 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposedr Nay. The voting is open. Have a11 voted who wish? Have al1 voted Who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record, Mr. Secretary. On that questionz there are 58 Ayes, no Nays: no Members vcting Present. Senate Bill 481, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Al1 right. Ladies and Gentlemenr on page 11 is Senate Bill 923. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 923. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senate Bill 923, as anended: is the balance of the supplemental request both of the Executive Branch, the constltutional officers and reflects Senate actlon. It includes eighty million two hundred and ninety-seven thousand seven hundred dollars in General Revenue funds, and eighty-six million six hundred and eighty thousand dollars ln other funds. Correction, please. I'm sorry. Readtng off the wrong line. It includes seventeen million twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollars in GRF. Eighty-nine million eight hundred and twenty-five thousand nine hundred dollars in other funds. So you can clearly see why T need Senator Carroll's help.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Is there diseussion? Senator Severns.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I rise in opposition to Senate Bill 923. On this Floor this year and years passed, and in Washington today and years passed: We constantly hear the debate about priorities. And yet, When I look at Senate Bill 923, I have to wonderz once again, do we have our priorities in the right order. I doubt that there 's one of us in this Chamber that have not been contacted at one time or another about the bills that are later the bills that are old, the bills that have been unpaid for services provided to this State. Based on today's estimate, we're at 1.3 billion dollars. Even the bonding houses, as we know, turned -- turned our bcnd grading down once again, in large part because of the debts that keep growing. Senate Bill 923 doesn't begin to address that. And I applaud Senator Rauschenberger and others who tried to address it ln Senate Bill 481, but Senate Bl11 923 - this essenEial supplemental - does nothing ko pay more bills. Te dogs nothing to address the Teachers' Retirement System, the health insurance that's going to go haywire come June, where Members throughout every corner of this State, except for Cook, have been contacted by hundreds and hundreds of retired teachers who wonder how theysre going to have their insurance bills paid once the System runs out of money. Senate Bill 923 does cut the seventy-two nlllicn dollars from the Department of Children and Family Services, vhile all of us know those caseloads have contlnuez to grow. Based on al1 estimates that we've been given from the administraticn, the money that was saved in 481 will be needed again to fund the cuts to DCFS outlined in Senate Bil1 923. What it does pay is even more concerning. We can't find enough money to commit a single dime in this bill to o1d bills, but we sure faund the money to pay every pay raise in the State of Illlnois to the Stake's constitutional 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 officers, legislators, agency headsr judiciary, State's attorneys, and the list gaes on. We found enough to fund additional dollarsp one, two-million-dollar additional GRF to a veterans' home in Quincy, but we also kept in, in this bill, the six hundred thousand dollars to Anna that even the Governor said was not needed, when he first submitted his supplemental. We find enough money to pay for the transitional costs that both the Comptroller's Office and the Treasurer have said they need. And I would hope, with having served with them both, We know them well and respect them, that they could find those dcllars ln further efficiency efforts in their officesr sinilar to the Attorney General has, who has turned down the request for transitional dollars. We find enough money to settle What We hope will be for a final tëme the border dispute between Illinois and Kentucky. That's important. But is it as important as the dispute that pharmacists and hospitals and lonq-term eare providers are going throuqb in trying to balance their books: when we've failed to pay their bills? When we look at the list of items that ue've funded and we compare it to the list of things we 've ignored, would look like this bill -- while it contains some things that all of us could support, it looks like Senate Bill 923 is a bill that takes care of pay raises and bureaucratic pork but does little to meet our lonq-term debt obligations to the health care providers of the State of Illinois. We've taken care of pay raises and sald nothing to the countless downstate teachers. We've cu* DCFS, but we've added to a veterans ' home in Quincy. Welve paid for *he border dispute: but We haven't paid a dime toward old bills. I don't see anything in Senate Bill 923 that is worthy of supportinq tcday or worthy of rushing through a supplemental bill through the General Assembly aE this time. Instead of putting a hundred million dollars of GRF toward this long list of items contained in Senate Bill 923, it seems to me that we could better put it toward STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGDLAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23e 1995 paylng old bills and capture almost another hundred million to pay off o1d Medicaid bills, or to remove from the concern of countless downstate teachers whether or not theydre going to be able to afford health insurance June . Mr. President, think once again our priorities are out of whack, and I would urge a No vote No or Present vote on this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) WclA-channel 3 requests permission to videotape. Is leave granted? Leave is granted . Further diseussion? Senator de1 Valle. Senator del Valle. SENATOR dEL VALLE; Thank you, Mr. President. 1, too, am very concerned about this -- this bill: this supplemental appropriations bill, prlmarily because of what we're doing to DCFS. The Governor's request for the substiEute care lines was seventy-teo million. We have drastically reduced that amcunt. Now, I am not aware of any projected decreases caseloads in the substitute care line. So I really don't understand how it is that we could cut this requese by thirty-two million dollars, and I Would hope that the sponsor of this bill, in -- in closlng, would explain ezactly hoN it is that we are going to be abte deal With our court consent decrees, how is that we are going to be able to deal With the serious problems plaquin: DCFS Eoday - an agency that is a continuing crisks mode - how is it that we're going to deql with our responsibilities towards DCFS by cutting Ehe Covernor's request by such a dramatic amount?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Fureher discussion? Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Would the sponsor yield?
PRESIDENG OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLASD) He lndicates he will yield, Senator CullerEon. 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SZSSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995
Senator, I'm interested in one small, little part of this bill. Is there a reduction or a transfer from the Road Fund of million dollars? Are -- are We reducing the Road Fund by 2.6 million dollars?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
No, we are not reducing the Road Fund. That transfer deals with safety -- the Safety Fund and -- that the federal governnent has set aside due to -- other compliance issues we have in the State of Illinols.
PRESIDING OFFJCER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Cullerton.
Well, you said it -- webre not reducing the Road Fund, but then you referred to a transfer. Are we taking money from the Road Fund - the sacred Road Fund - and putting it somewhere else, thereby reducing the amount of money available for the sacred Road Fund?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator, I'm rellably informed that we are not tçansferring anything out of the Road Fund. Tt -- it has to do With allocations within the Road Fund.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) SenaEor Cullerton.
I see. So we're -- we're creating a new fund within the Road Fundy or We 're taking money from the Road Pund and putting it into a -- we 're taking money from within the Road Fund and putting it 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I I into a safety Fund. Themoney--this2.6milliondollarsthat 1 we 're transferring - we are transferring 2.6 million dollars - it's coming frcm a fund whlch is available to build roadsr and now it won 't be available to build roads. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
You're correct, but it's not action by this Chamber that determines that. What we 're doing is increasing the appropriation authority for tbe safety funds tha: the federal government has allocated to us. But it's not action by this Chamber that -- that takes that 2.6 million dollars out of the -- but you are correct in -- in What's happened. That 2.6 milllon dollars is not available for construction. It's now -- we're givinq the appropriatlon authority so it can be spent for safety. That's -- but my confusion wasy that's within the Road Fund, and the sacredness of the Road Fund is somethin: that some of us are confused by. But -- but thank you, Senator Cullerton, for the clarlficatlon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Cullerton.
Wellr then I'd be happy to clarify the confusicn. Ever since I've been here - seventeen years - whenever ther:'s any move on the Road Fund, certain people get very upset. That's What I -- why I referred to it as sacred. It's not sacred to me: but it's sacred to other people down here. And lt is not the action that we're taking today that's causing the depletion of this 2.6 million dollars; it's our inaction. It's our failure to pass a matorcycle helmet lawy Which is strongly supported by the Governor. And we had a bill in Transportation Committee this year, uhich didn't even get a motion Do Passr and the fact is that 17 STATE OP ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRTPT 31st Legislative Day March 23: 1995 by failing to pass that 1aW - ue're one of only three states that j i hasn't - We are being forced by the federal government to transfer - however phraseology you want to -- want to use - reduce the available monles thaE would otheruise bg available to build roads and bridges, which is sacred to some people in this Chamber. PRESIDING OFFICER; (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Welch.
Thank you. IId like to ask a question of Senator Rauschenberger.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) He indtcates hedll yield, Senator Welch.
Senator Rauschenberger, could you tell me what the hundred and fifty thousand dollars in transition funds for the Comptroller are going to be spent on?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
To a large extent, Senator, those are going to be spent to ccver lump-sum payouts that are made on vacation time and sick time that's been accrued by employees of the -- both the Treasurer and the Comptroller's Office, who have decided that with the change in administration, they'd no longer llke to work there.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Welch.
Then these -- these people are leavin: voluntarily Ehen I Eake iEy Senator Rauschenberger. Is that true?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
1 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Senator, that's a constitutional office. I We really don't get into their employment policles, but -- I don't know . I think -- but to be quite honest, I think a lot of them, you kncw, did decide to depart, in party.perhaps, to get their lump sums.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Welch.
Another question, Senator. In the Treasurer's Officer our analysis shows that the Treasurer has more than doubled the ccst of communications staff for that office. Two individuals making sixty-five thousand dollars a year and a third making thirty-five thousand dollars a year. Now, is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator, -- I don't have any specific knowledge as to whether that's correct. It's not part of the supplemental process. We -- we are sending transition money. Her allccation of that money is really outside the purview of the Appropriations Committee. fou may very well be correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Welch.
Welly the Treasurer is asking for a hundred and fifty thousand dollars transition money, and had the Treasurer not hired three people, and kept the budget where it was, that would make up more than half of the transition money she is requesting. That was the point I was trying ko make. In addition, Senator, have you asked the constitutional officers or the State Police how much additional money is being spent for bodyguards for statewide officeholders this coming year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislatlve Day March 23y 1995 Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator Welch, no, I haven't. It isn't really a supplemental issue, but you're welcome to attend the Appropriation hearings when we have the constikutional officers and ask them about their next year's budgety as well as the State Police. But not a supplenental process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Welch.
But my point, Senator Rauschenberger, is this: That those officials who are constitutional officers could save the money if they wanted to. Nunber one, when we had Terry Gainer before the Executive Appolntments Committee, I asked him if the budgets for bodyguards was going up or dcwn. He said that going up by over fifteen percent for ehe comlng year. More -- more bodyguards are being used by constitutional officials, and as you know, we have more bodyguards in the State than I thlnk any other state in the union. We have bodyguards assigned to people Who people don't know who they are. They -- and they have a bodyguard because they're in statewide office. The past constitutional officers, some of them turned down those bodyguards. think that was a good example that should be followed. But that money is being taken out of State coffers. In addition, we 've got three media people working for the Treasurer's Office. Why do they need such great communications staff down there? It could be handled before for half the cost, and they did just as well. It seems to me these constitutional officials are coming to us asking for money that we shouldn't give them. So: at a time When We don't have very much money, we're turning down other good projects because we don 't have the moneyr and then we 're throwing money away where it could be saved. And each of thesg officials who ran Nho are 20 STATE 0F ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIFT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 requesting supplenental appropriaEions, campaigned on the idea that they Were going to save noney out of their budgets. And I'd I poin: out a third constltutional officer, ong, AEtorney General i i Ryan turned down any transitional money. It's funny that he could I I save money on the transitlon, but the two officials who ran for ! I money-spending positions couldndt. Maybe they should listen to Jim Ryan and -- and get some tips on hoN to save money in the transition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further dlscussion? Senator Carroll.
Thank you, Madam Prestdent, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Unlike the last piece of legislation, this legislation: I think, is a bad idea. Senator Severns has Eouched upon the issue, and I'd like to just ampllfy it a little bit. Where my concern is is in the spending cut to the Department of Children and Family Services. And make no mistake about it: Senate Bill 923 is a cut: a cut of thirty-two million dollars net in spending for foster care, in either a relative setting, a non-relative setting: an institution setting , a group-home setting, or for purchase of adoption services. Governor had proposed, I'm sure after much discussion at the bureau, that the Department of Children and Family Services' based on its actual caseload, needed another seventy-two mlllion dollars far these services - foster care, adoption - to get *hrough Fiscal '95, between now and June 30. This amendment says thirty-two miklion of those bills will go unpaid foreverz unlike public Aid, unlike What We did in Senatg Bill 481. Publlc Aid, you can pay thls year's charges, expenses, With next ygar's money. You cannot do that With the Department of I Children and Family Services. So who are We stiffing, to use the vernacular, by thls legislation? Those Who give adoption care, those Who give foster care. They gill be providing the service I I 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 between now and June 30th of this yeary and thlrty-two million dollars to those people at two fifty , three fifty, fcur hundred a I I I month, uill go unpaid forever. You cannot go to the Court of Claimsr 'cause there will be no appropriation that just lapsed. The appropriation authority Will be gone. You cannot pay it next year, because tbis is not what we call one of those Section 25 departments that allow you to pay next year's -- thls year's bills out of next year's money. So a11 we are doing, unlike -- We don't like what wedre doing with haspitals and nursing hones and pharmacies by making them wait for their money: here welre saying, ''Provide the foster care, but ue're not going to pay you the three fifty-etght a month or whatever the figure is. Thirty-two million dollars of you Will go kotally uncompensated forever.'t And I Ehink that ls wrong. .
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Further discussion? Seeins none, Senator Rausehenberger, to close.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I think a eouple of things that are tmportant to point out as I close is that this -- this supplemental, as well as the budget that wefre going to be dealing with over the next few months, is about commitments. It's 1 about commitments we make and the substantive committee work we do in this Chamber. It's about thq bills We pass. There's a great deal in this supplemental that deals with action by this General Assembly through other committees. I welcome the other committees' interests and the kind of decision making thak khey make, al1 the way from Senator Dunn's bill yesterday through *he I 1 actions we took on the Conpensatlon Review Board. This I I I supplemental does, in fact, pay bills. Any -- any allusion that I I i I t doesn't pay bills is a mistake. This supplemgntal pays bills I I that deal with flood relief. that deal with Pell grants for I l 22 STATE OP TLLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Leglslative Day March 23, 1995 studentsr that deal With community care for aging. As far as the - - the transitional costs, let me remind you that for the constitutional officers: most of those transltional costs go to make lump-sum payouts. HoW they reallocate the money is thelr business: but thatss 'rom reduction and people leaving head count. I'm sure Senator Maitland would welcome support of his bill which deals with the lump-summin: of of vacation and sick time. I think to the issue of TRFS, we need to give Senator Madigan and his Penslons and Licensed Activities Committee time to deal with that issue and to come up with a solution that we can deal with. I think we're a1l very concerned. Those aren't just downstate retired teachers; those are suburban retlred teachers. Those are retired teachers from all over the State of Illinois, and we, like you, are very concerned about that, but this supplenental is not the place to address that. To the Department of Children and Family Services, both these tvo bills together represent a 9.25 percent increase in the 1995 appropriated levels. That's not a decrease. It's the first tine I've ever seen a forty-mlllion-dollar supplemental dealt with as a decrease. As to the solution to DCFS, welcome the lnterest of the Public Health Committee. I welcome the interest of the Menbers of this Bcdy. We need a substantive solutlon to the problems at DCFS, but to be quite honest with you, it's no* an appropriation procgss. The appropriatlon process is allocating spending authority . The decision maklng on DCFS needs to be referred to the Public Health Comnittee and and Senaeor Bob Raica's people. As to bodyguards, those are decisions made by the consEitutlonal officers. Those constitutional offlcers are elected by khe people. The voters made those decisions, not your appropriation committees. A* any raEe, I certainly welcome the interests of Senator Carroll and Senator Severns' concerns. would request a favorable roll call. 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 PRESIDING OFFICER i : (SENATOR DONAHUE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 923 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish; Have a1l voted who wish? Have al1 voted Who wish? Take tbe record. On that question, there are 33 Yeasr 12 Nays, 12 votinq Present. Senate Bill 923, havtng received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. ...tmicrophone cutoffle..yield to Senator Mahar, wbo has a group of special young people to introduce to the Senate.
Thank you, Madam President. It's my pleasure and -- as Well as Senator DeAngells', to introduee to this Chamber the Class 6A Htgh School Football champs, from Homewood-Flossmoor Hiqh School, whose fanllies reside in both of our districts. I would hope you would join me in welcomin: them to Springfield. I Would like to introduce their coach, John Wrenn.
(Introduces Homewood-Flossnoor High School coaching staff)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) We will now go to Executive Session for the purpose of advlce and consent. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Burzynskir Chair of the Committee on Executive Appolntments, to whiçh Nas referred the Governor's Message of January 3lx 1995, reported tbe same back with the following recommendations that Ehe Genate advise and consene to the following appointments.
PRESTDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Burzynski. I I 6ENATORBgazyssxz: 1 Thank -- thank your Madam President. I nove the Senate resolve I ltselflnto Executive Session for purpose of acting on the j 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23: 1995 Governor's appointments set forth in his Message of January 31st, ' I 1995. Madam President,With respect to *he Governor's Message of 1 January 31st, 1995, I Will read the unsalarled appointments to which the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Board of Regents for a term ending January 15th, the year 2001, Gretchen Wlnter of Chicago. To be a member of the Boacd of Higher Edueation for a term ending January 13th: 2001, Ramon Martinez, Jr. of Evanston. Madam President, having read the unsalaried appointments, I noW seeks leave to eonsider these appointnents on a roll call. And, Madan President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? The question is: does the Senate advise and consent to the nominations just made. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The votin: is open. Have a11 voted who wish? Have al1 voted who Wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Have all voted Who Wish? Have a11 voted Who Wish? Take the record. On that questlon, there are 58 Ayes, no Naysy none votlng Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring by I record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the nominations just made. Senator Burzynski. I
Thank you, Madam President. With respect to the Governor's Message of February 10th, 1995, 1,11 read the unsalaried -- the salarled appolntments to which the Senate Committee on... PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) I Senator Burzynski, excuse me. Mr. Seeretary/ would you please I read the report.
Senator Burzynskl, Chair of the Conmittee on Executive I I 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day Mareh 23, 1995 ' I I I Appointments, to which was referred the Governor,s Message of I Eebruary 10th, 1995, reported the same back With the following reeommendation that the Senate advlse and consent to the following appointments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Madam President. With respect to the Governor's Message on February 10th, 1995, I Will read the salaried appointments to which *he Senate Committee on Executive Appolntments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be the Director of the Departnent of Central Management Services for a term ending January 20th , 1997, Michael Schwartz of Springfield. To be the Director of the Department of Public Aid for a term ending January 20th : 1997, Robert Wright of Springfield. Madam Presidentr having read Ehe salaried appolntments, I ncW seek leave to consider these appointments on a roll call. And, Madam President, w1ll you please put the question as required by our rules? PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) . Is there any discussicn? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate advise and consent to the nominations just made. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The vottng is open. Have all voted who Wish? Have all voted Nho wish? Have all voted Who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A majority of Senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate does advise and consent to the noninations just made. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Madam President. With respect to the Governor's 1 26 STATE 0F TLLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Message of February l0*h, 1995, I Will read the unsalaried ' I I appointments to which the Senate Committee on Executive I Appointments recommends that the Senate do advise and consent: To be a member of the Board of Aeronautical Advisors for a . term ending January 20th, 1997, J. Paul Beitler of Winnetka. To be a member of the Board of Agricultural Advisors for a term ending January 20thz 1997, David Rolf of Springfield . To be menbers of the Bcard of Trustees of the Historic PreservaEion Agency for terms ending January 20th, 1997: Samuel Lilly of Downers Grove, and Carol Stein of Glencoe. To be a member of the Board of Regents for a term endin: January 15th, 2001, Myron Siegal of Deerfield. To be members of the State Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Board for terms ending January 17th, 1999, Roger Dunham of New Salen , and Eldora Zimmerman of Durand. To be members of the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees fcr terms ending January 15th, 2001, Molly D 'Esposito of Winnetka, William Norwood of Rolling Meadows, and Harris Rowe of Jacksonville. To be a member of the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority for a term ending January 19th, 1998, Evan Roberts of Peotone. Madam President, having read the unsalaried appointments, I now seek leave to consider these appolntments on a roll call. And: Madan President, will you put the question as required by our rules?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Ts there any discussion? Any discussion? Seein: none, the question is, does *he Senate advise and consen: ta the nominations just made. Those in favor wi11 vote Aye. Opposedr Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted Who Wish? Have all voted who wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Take the record. On that 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. A : I majortty of senators elected concurring by record vote, the Senate I does advise and consent to the nominations just made. senator I Palmer, for what purpose do you rise? . 1 j I SENATOR PALMER: I 1 Thankyau,MadamPresident. AquestionaboutaddendumA. I'm l I just wondering, and I couldn't hear, an the January 31st Messager I seethatMr.OdieWashlngtonisonhere. Are--thesepeopleon this page, this is -- we6re not being offered this list for a vote 1 today, and I was wondering, are they going to come up at some time soon? !
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 1 1 SenatorBurzynski, can you answer that question? . 1 I SENATOR BURZYNSKI 1 : j I Yes,thankyouzMadamPresident. Yes:they Will very soon. These are some appointments that needed to be made because of some j l conmittee meetings that are being held, some board neetings that 1 are being held whlle wesre on break in the next three Weeks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Burzynski. 1 sEXATOR BuRzyNsxz: I I MadamPrgsident,ImovethattheSenatearise from Executive 1 Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) You've heard the motion. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The motion carrigs. On page 2 of the Calendar today is the Order ofSenateBills2ndReadinq. Iwouldadviseeachandevery j I Member to move your bills. It will be in your best interest. Senator Mlemm , on Senate Bill 62? Senator Raica: on Senate Bill i 64? Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. I j 1 SECRETARY HARRY: 1 I Senate Bill 64. I 28 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Commlttee on Transportation adopted Amendments 1, 2 and 3. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any other Floor amendments that have been approved for consideraticn? SECRETARY HARRY: No further amendments reported. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Peterson, on Senate Bilk 133? Senator Peterson, on 134? Senator Garcia, on Senate Bill 147? Senator Hasara, on Senate Bill 192. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bitl 192. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments, Madam President. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading . Senator Ralph Dunn, on Senate Bill 263? Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bi1l 263. (Secretary reads title of bi11) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Higher Education adopted Amendment No. 1. PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideratlon? SECRETARY HARRY: No further amendmenEs reporEed. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Hendonr on Senate Bill 283? Reaö the 29 L .. . .......... - - -. - - - . . . STATE OF ILLINOTS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23y 1995 bill, Mr. Secretary. I SECRETARY HARRY: ! I Senate Bill 283. I (Secreearyreadstitleofbill) . 1 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Transportation adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments that hav? been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readtng. Senator O 'Malleyz on Senate Btll 284. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
SenaEe Bill 284. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the btll. No committee or Floor anendnents.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readlng. Senator Steben, on Senate Bill 336. SenaEor siebenr 337. Senatar Barkhausen, on Senate Bill 3547 3557 Senator Woodyard, on Senate Bill 448? Senator Siebeny cn -- Senator Sieben, on Senate Bill 458. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: . Senate Bill 458. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of th9 bill. The State Committee -- or the Commiktee on State Government Operations adopted Amendments 1, 2 and 3.
PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for 1 consideratian? I 1 SECRETARY HARRY: I 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislatkve Day March 23, 1995 No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Peterson, on Senate Bill 472. Senator Hasara, on Senate Bill 507. Mr. Secretary, read the btll.
Senate Bill 507. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Readin: of the btll. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Fawell, on Senate Bill 539. Senator Fitzgeraldr on 635? Read tbe billr Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 635. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No commtttee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Hasarar on Senate Bill 640. 3rd Reading, for Senate Bill 635. Senator Hasara, on Senate Bill 640. Senator Thomas Dunn, on Senate Bill 664. Senator Woodyard, on Senate Bi11... Senator Woodyard, on Sena*e Bill 728. Mr. Secretary -- no. It has a fiscal notey Senator. Do you want -- do you wish to call Senate Bill 7287 Senator Lauzen, on Senate Bill 760. Senator Maitland, on Senate Bill 761. Senator Barkhausen, on -- Senate Bill 774. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 774. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor anendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Hawkinson, on Senate Bill 782. Senator Syverson, on Senate Bill 821. Senator Klemm, on Senate Bill 822. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 : SECRETARV HARRYt I Senate Bill 822. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Readlng of the bill. The Committee on Local .Governnent and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideratton?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, on -- Senate Sill 836. Read the billr Mr. Secretary.
Senate BLl1 836. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Viverito: on Senate Bill 932. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. Senator Viveritor can I hold you just a second? Senator O 'Malley: on Senate Bill 866. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 866. . (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No cormittee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readlng. NoW Senator Viverito, on Senate Bill 932. Read the bill, Mr. Eecretary .
Senate Bitl 932. (Secretary reads tikle of bill) 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Leglslative Day March 23, 1995 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Barkhausen, on Senate Bill 934. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 934. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator O'Malleyr on Senate Bill 940. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 940. (Secretary reads tltle of bill) 2nd Reading of Ebe bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approMed for conslderation?
No further amendments reported.
PRESTDTNG OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Siebenr on -- Senate Bill 942. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 942. 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLX REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have -- have there been any Flocr amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator O 'Malley, on Senate Bill 943. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY) Senate Bill 943. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Conmittee on Education adopted Amendment No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Dudycz, on Senate Bill 947. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 947. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Lccal Government and Elections adopted Amendment No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved?
No further amendments reporEed . 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislatlve Day March 23, 1995
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readlng. Senator Klemm, on Senate Bl11 948. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bi11 948. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Klemm , on 956. Read the billr Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 956. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Watson, on Senate Bill 958. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 958. (Secretary reads title of bill) 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION : SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments. I PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Molaror on Senate B111 974. Read the bilk, Mr. Secretary. . SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bill 974. (Secretary reads title of bill) ! 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for ! consideration? SECRETARY HARRY: No further amendments reported. I PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Molaro, on Senate Bill 983. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: 1 Senate 3i1l 983. (Secretary reads kitle of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendmepts approved for ' consideration? SECRETARY HARRY: i No further amendments reported. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Berman, on 989. Read Ehe bill, Mr. Secretary. ' SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bill 989. 36 ! ' I 1 ! STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENZRAL ASSEMBLY I REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I (Secrekary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration? SECRETARY HARRY: Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Berman. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAEUE) Senator Berman, to explain *he amendnent. SENATOR BERMAN: Thank you, Madam President. Amendnent No. 1 is a technlcal anendment. It s*rikes the previous preamble language and substttutes more -- more clear language in the preamble. The substantlve language is not ahanged. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, Senator moves the adoption of the Amendment No . l to Senate Bill 989. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any other -- further Flooc amendments approved for consideration? SECRETARY HARRY: No furkher amendments reported, Madam President. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Lauzen, on Senat: Bl11 995. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bill 995. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of *he btll. No committee or Floor amendments. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Jrd Reading. Senator O'Malley, on 10072 Read Ehe bill: Mr. Secretary. 37 STATE 0F ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995
Senate Bill 1007. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bi11.. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) There been any Floor amendments approved?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Philip, on Senate Bill 1015. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bi11 1015. (Secretary reads tttle of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Watson, on Senate Bill 1018. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 1018. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Ploor amendmenks approved for conslderatlon?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Cronin, on Senate Bill 1019. Senakor cronkn. senator Fawell, on senate Bil1 1026. Senator Klemm , cn 38 I STATE OF I LLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Senate Bill 1066. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRYI Senate Bill 1066. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No . 1. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration? SECRETARY HARRY: No further amendments ceported. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Severns, on Senate Bill 1096. zead the b1ll, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: Senate Bill 1096. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Transportation adopted Amendment No. 1. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUEJ Have there been any Floor anendments approved for Consideratian? ' SECRETARY HARRY: No rurther amendments reported. PRESIDTNG OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Rea. Senate Bill 11117 Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. SECRETARY HARRY: Senake Bill 1111. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No commiEtee or Floor amendments. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) I . 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, on Senate -- scrry. Senator Lauzen, on Senate B1l1 1149. Read the billr Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 1:49. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Ploor amendments.
PRESTDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readlng. Senator Lauzen, on Senate Bill 1150. Read the blll, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 1150. (Secretary reads kitle of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Fawell, on Senate Bill 11547 Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 1154. (Secretary reads title of bi1l) 2nd Readin: of the bill. The Committee on Transportation adop*ed Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OPFICCR: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for conslderation?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Rea, on Senate Bill 1193? Read the bill, Mr. Secretary .
Senate Bill 1193. (Secretary reads Eitle of bill) 40 STATE OP ILLINOTS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23y 1995 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Hasara, on Senate Bill 1204. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 1204. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amendments apprcved for consideratton?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senator Thomas Walsh, on 1211. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate 3ill 1211. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No commltEee or Floor amendments, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. Senatot Garcia: on Senate Bill Read the blll, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Bill 147. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Have there been any Floor amqndments approved; 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995
No further anendnents reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Reading. On page 6 of the Calendar today is the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. The intent of the Chair is to begin on Senate Bill 235: Where we concluded yesterday. Senator Parker, on Senate Bill 235. Read the bill, Madam Secretary. END OF TAPE TAPE 2
. .. tmachine cutoff)...235. (Secretary reads Eitle of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Parker.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Sena*e Bill 235 makes a correction in the RTA Act that Was the result of a lggislative oversight several years ago. It's very simple. It reduc -es the statute limitations for filing suits under the RTA Act from tWo years to one year. In 1986 al1 units of local government were granted one-year statute of llmitations under the Local Governnent and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. The CTA has that linitation. This blll slmply addresses the oversight and provides the RTA, Metra and Pace with the same protection noW provided the CTA and every other unit of local government. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLX REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) I I Any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Molaro. I SENATORMOLARO: 1 Will the sponsor yleld for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates she'll -- she'll yield, Senator Molaro.
Do you -- the term that you used, ''oversight'' how can this be an oversight -- usually when these conmittee meets and if you said we did it across the boardr how could the RTA have been missed?
PRESTDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Parker.
The -- the assumption is fron the organizations that they are hopeful lt Was an oversight, because the CTA has been includedy and because they are -- the RTA, Pace and Metra are local units of government and they should have been included a' lso.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 235 pass. Those in favor wlll vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have a1l voted who 1 1 Wish? Have a11 voted who Wish? Have a11 voted who Wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, 3 voting Present. On -- Senate Bill 235, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Geo-Karis, on Senake Bll1 239. Read the bill, Madam Secretary. ACTING SECRETARY HAWMER: I senate Bill 239. I (Secre*ary reads title of bill) I 1 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) I Senator Geo-Raris. I I 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLX REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT i 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 i I 1 SENATOR GEO-KARIS: I Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, thls billamendstheCountlesCodeandtheUnifiedCodeof Corrections to allow a county to have a boot camp program for eligible inmates 1 incarcerated in a county jail. Sets out the minimum requirements. Ak the present time Cook County can do it, but the other counties don't have the right as yet. And what the -- the county board must approve and fund the program , and -- can be used to ease overcrowding in the county jail by allowing kow-end felony offenders to serve their sentence, and I ask for favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is tbere any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 239 pass. Those in favor Wi1l vote Aye. Opposedz Nay. The voking is open. Have a11 voted Who Wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Have a11 voted who Wish? Take the record . On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Naysr none voting Present. Senate Bill 239, having received the required constitutional majority/ is declared passed. Senator Dudycz: on Senate Bi1l 245. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 245. (Secretary reads title of bi11) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Read the billy Madam Secretary -- or, Mr. Dudycz. Senator Dudycz.
Thank you, Madam President. Genate Bill 245 amends the Illinois public Labor Relations Act and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Ac* Eo transfer peace officers employed by the State unlversities from the Illinois Educational Labor Relations 44 I STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 l Act to the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. This Was I i introduced at the request of the Fraternal Order of Police 1 . 1 . Currently, the poliee officers that are employed by the State . universities for collective bargaining purposes are covered by the Illlnois Educational Labor Relations Act, and Senate Bill 245 would transfer them to the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. The Legislature made a similar change with regard to the university-employed firefighters in 1993. This is -- *he police officers feel that it Nould be fair for tbe university police to be part of the Illinois -- the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act. A11 other pollce officers are covered under this, as -- as well as the fact that those employees that are covered under the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act do have a strike clause and police officers Who are covgrgd under Ehe Illinois Public Labor Relations Act have a no-strike clause. And I would seek your support on this bill. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is Ehere any discussion? Senator Weaver. SENATOR WEAVER: Thank you, Madam President. I have some concerns, Senator Dudycz, on this transfer. There is a good b#t of difference between police officers' activities in and around the State-supported universities than those working for municipall*ies. I don 't know whether it's a wise idea to put them all under the same Labor Relations Board . I know of no problems that they've had under *he Educational Labor Relations Board, but - - but I do have some reservations and some of the institutions of higher learning have -- havp some concerns about making this change. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Ralph Dunn. SENATOR R. DUNN : 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRTPT 31st Legislatiive Day March 23z 1995 ' Thank you, Madam President. Ir tao, have sone coneern about it. Southern Illinois Unlversity had looked at it and they haven't really found out Whether it'd be a good thing for the university and the members of the -- of the police down there or not. We haven't heard from them, and -- and I -- 1, too, an opposed to the bill for right now. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any further discussion? Further discussion? Seeing nonez Senator Dudycz, to close. SENATOR DUDYCZ: Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Just briefly, there -- there is no known problem currently within the system. The laW enforcement community does -- would like to have the poltce officers transferred under the Public Labor Relations Act because they ate, by law, peace offlcers and for the public's purposes they Would have a no-strike clause, Which they do not have that currently. And I would just seek everybcdy's support. PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 245 pass. Those ln favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The vating is open. Have a1l voted who wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Have atl voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 38 Ayes, 19 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 245, havipg received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, what purpose do you rise? SENATOR DEMUZIO: Well, thank you. Could We 9et the air conditioning turned down a little bit. There are a 1oE of people conplalning it's too - - too cold in here. PRESIDINC OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Dudycz, on Senate Bill 246. Read the billp Madam Secretary. 46 1 STATE 0F ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 i ACTING SECRETARY HAWKER: I Senate Bill 246. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Dudycz. SENATOR DUDYCZ: 1 I Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 246 amends the Public . Labor Relations Act to provide that Proceedings before an I I arbitration panel are deemed pending before the arbitration panel 1 upon the initiation of the arbitration procedure for the purpose of prohibiting changes in conditions of enployment without the other party's consent. I just read that. I'm told that that's a technical clarification of the law: and there is no known opposition to this bill, and I Would ask everybody's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussicn? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question 1s, shall Senate Bill 246 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed: Nay. The voting is open. Have a1l voted who wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Have all voted Who Wish? Take the record . On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays/ 1 voting 1 I Present. Senate Bill 246, having received the required 1 constitutional majorfty, is declared passed. Senator Maitland, on Senate Bill 253? Senator Geo-Kariss on Senate Bill 269. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 269. (Secretary reads tikle of bill) 1 3rd Reading of the bill. 1 PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) I 1 Senator Geo-Karis. I I SENATOR cEo-KARIs: j I 47 STATE 0F ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLX REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senater this bill stipulates that public institutions of higher learning may grant -- higher education may grant, in addition to such events previously authorized by the Board of Higber Education, tuition waivers in the amount not to exceed one percent of al1 tuition income. Tt's a ''may'' bill, and the rationale for it ls that tbere'll be fewer lawsuits against State universities for noncompliance, no cuts in men's programs, and makes more opportunities available to women, and I ask for a favorable vote. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question isr shall Senate Bill 269 pass. Those in favor Wi1l voke Aye. Opposede Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who Wish? Have a11 voted who Nish? Have a1l voted who wish? Take the record. On that question: there are 54 Ayesr 2 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 269, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bermanr on Senate Blll 273. Read the bill, Madam Secretary. ACTING SECRETARY HAWKER: Senate Bill 273. (Secretary reads tktle of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Berman. SENATOR BERMAN: Thank you, Madam President. This bill amends the State Enployees Group Insurance Act to allow the maximum amount of dependent coverage Eo be increased from two thousand dollars to five thousand dollars. The cost is nominal. It'll be borne by the person Who 's taking ouE the lnsurancer and the two-thousand-dollar level Was created many: many years ago and it's really inadequate to address the needs for a basic life 48 L-- - - STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Leglslative Day March 23, 1995 I I i I nsurance policy. I solicit your Aye vote. I PRESIDING OFFICER I : (SENATOR DONAHZE) j Any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, I tHe question j is, shall Senate Bi11 273 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. I Opposed , Nay . The voting is cpen. Have a11 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have a1l voted Who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 273, having received the required conskitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Karpiely on Senate Bill 275. Read the billy Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 275. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Karpiel.
Thank you, Madam Presldent. Senate Bill 275 provides that no regulation or ordinance of a Water Authority shall be applicable to a publlc utility which is under the direction of the Illinois Commerce Commission unless the Commission, after a hearing, enters an order approving ehe applicability of the regulatlon or ordinance. This bill responds to the concerns that publlc water authorities could be created and then pass rules that would prohibit or restrict a utility from developing additional water supplies or from exporting water outstde of the Authority's limits, and I ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any dtscussion? Any dlscussion? Seeing none, the question is -- whoa. Senator Woodyard. Exeuse me.
I'm sorry. Thank you, Madam President. And I reluctantly 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GCNERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislattve Day March 23, 1995 have to rise in opposition to this particular bill. This issue is a very, very controversial issue in -- in my district in Vermilion Counky, in which a -- a privately owned water company is trying to drill wells upstream to use the water for Lake Vermilion to reduce the contamination and nitrate levels, and the people in those townships in which the wells would be drilled are in the procgss of forming their oWn water company. They don 't want to -- to have to allow the private water company to drill those wells. My hope Was that at some point in tine we've started the process already in Conservation 2000 - Eo develop a cohesive: consistent water policy in this State. And I just feel that I have to oppose this bill ak this point in time, With the hope that we will get some kind of a statewide water policy. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Any further discusslon? Senator Karpiel, to close.
Thank you. This bill does not elininate the ability of a Water Authority to form or to regulate water supplies within its area. Tt does, however, provide a formal public process for a11 parties affected by regulation of a water authority to have input input before the Illinois Commerce Conmission. And I ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 275 pass. Those in favor W111 vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Th9 voting ls open. Have a11 voted who wish? Have al1 voted who Wish? Have al1 voted who wish? Take the record. On that questionz there are 55 Ayess 2 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bi1L 275, having received th9 required constltutional majority, is declared passed. senator Shaw, on Senate Bill 277. Read the bill, Madam Secrgtary.
Senate Bill 277. 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION . SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31sE Legislative ' Day March 23p L995 l I I (secretary reads tïtle of bi1l) 1 1 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFTCER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Shaw.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 277 makes the fourth Monday in April a -- a commemorative holiday for Native Americans. That's a11 the bill does.
PRESIDING OPPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discusskon? Senator Fawell.
Could I add Halloween Eo this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is -- well, youfve got to be quickerr felloWs. Senator Syverson.
Thank you. A questton for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates he 'll yieldr Senator Syverson.
In making this a holiday, is this -- does this give it a legal holiday with days off of sahool, and elosing of banks?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Shaw.
No: it d1d not -- it does not. It just -- it's just a commemorative holiday. No banks are closed. No sehocls are out. None of that.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any further discussion? Senator Shaw, to close.
51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT I 31st Legislative Day March 23: 1995 l I just ask for Aye vote on the Bill 277. I
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) The questlon is, shall Senate Bill 277 pass. Thcse in favor will vate Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have al1 voted . who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have a1l voted who wish? Take the record. 0n that questlon, there are 54 Ayes/ 3 Nays, none votinç Present. Senate Bill 277, having received the required constitutional Majority, is declared passed. Senator Thomas Walsh, on Senate Bill 293. Read the billr Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 293. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Walsh.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 293 creates the Mental Hea1th Treatment Preference Act tsic>. Thts altows mentally capable persons to make a declaration of preferences or instructions regarding any future mental health treatment. Permits the principal to appoint an attorney-in-fact to make mental health treatment decisions when the principal has been determlned to be incapable. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bl11 293 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have a11 voted Who wish? Have al1 voted who wish? Have all voted Who wish? Take the record . On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Presen*. Senate Bill 293, having recelved the required constttutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Watson, on Senate Bill 299. Read the bill, Madam Secretary. 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995
Senate Bill 299. (Secretary reads title of bi11) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Watson.
Yes. Thank you. This cones from the Department of Conservation and it's primarily a Legislative Reference Bureau cleanup. It contains the language that was originally intended to be the reeodification of Chapter However, these changes were not in the recodification bill because the changes Were substantive. I know of no opposition. Passed out of committee on a unaninous vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Ts there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 299 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The votin: is open. Have a11 voted Who Wish? Have a11 voted who wish? Have a11 voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, Ehere are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 299, having received the required conseieueional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hasara, on Senate Bill Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 301. (Secretary rgads EiEle of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Hasara.
Thank you: Madam Chairman. Senate Bill 301 clarifies the language for milktary leave of -- leaves of absence. It's simply 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 a clarification in the bill. We have two kinds of military leaves, and this bill's simply clarifying
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, .the questkon is# shall Senate Bill 30l pass. Those in favcr will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have a11 voted who Wish? Have a11 voted who wish? Have a11 voted Nho wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays: none voting Present. Senate Bill 301, having recelved the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Petkay an Senate Bill 303. Read the bill, Madam Secretary .
Senate Bill 303. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFTCER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senakor Petka.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. This bill Was requested by the Prisoner Review Board of the State of Illinois. The -- the btll sknply states that when executive ckemency petitions are filed and denied, that a new petition for executive clemency cannot be refiled within one year, unless certain circumstances are present, those being significant additional information or if there are compelltng humanitarian -- humanitarian reasons for thê pgtition. The bill came out unanimously from the Judiciary Commlttee. Nould urge its adoption.
PRESIDING OFPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 303 pass. Those in favor will vot/ Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have a11 voted who Wish? 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS . 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 I : Have a11 voted Who wish? Have all voted Who Wish? Take the I record. On that question, there are 58 Ayesyno Nays: none voting 1 Present. Senate Bill 303, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Peterson, on Senate Bill 315. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 315. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Readtng of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Peterson.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3l5 is an initiative of the State Board of Elections. It does four things: It increases the filing threshold to two thousand dollars from khe current one thousand dollars for political committees and candidates; lt requires newly created political committees to file a statement of organization within ten business days, except any committee created within thirty days of an election shall do so within five business days; it requires the State Board of Election to render a final decision of a complaint within slxty days of receipt of such complaint: except when *he complaint is filed during the sixty days precedlng an election; and last, it requlres the treasurer of a political committee to notify another political committee withln five business days Ehat an ln-klnd contributlcn has been paid or donated on their behalf.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Senator Hendon.
Thank you, Madam President. Wi11 the sponsor yield for a question? 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day Marcb 2'3: 1995 I i PRESIDING OEFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) ; Indicates he'll yieldr Senator Hendon. I SENATOR HENDON: I On the fourth point, Senator Petersony the treasurer would have to notify another political committee. Is khat someone that's in oppositlon -- or they're running against, or -- I'm nok clear on that part.
PRESIDING OFFTCER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Peterson.
That would be if I Wanted to -- my political committee wanted to support your political commlttee and I did an in-kind contribution. My treasurer would have to ncttfy yours Wlthin five days so you knew What th9 value of that in-kind contribution Was.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Any further discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates he'll yield, Senator Lauzen.
The -- I thlnk that the second thing that you mentioned ls that the -- it's the delivery to the State Board of Elections, as opposed to postmark will no longer be a factor. Is that accurate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator PeEerson.
That's no* contained in this blll, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Any further discussion? Senator Peterscnr to close .
Thank you. I think it's been pretty Nell explained, and I 1 I 56 STATE OP ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Would appreciate your favorable vote for Senate Bill 315. I I PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) j 1 The question is, shall Senate Bi1l 3l5 pass. Those in favor j Will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting ls open. Have a1l voted who wish? Have al1 voted who wish? Have al1 voted who wish? Take the record. On tha: question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none votlng Present. Senate Bill 315, having received the required constltutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Syverson, do you gùsh to return to 2nd Reading Senate Bill 326? Senator Syverson seeks leave of the Body to return Senate 3i1l 326 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purposes of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 326. Madam Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
I'd like to table Amendment Ho. 3. PRESIDINGOFFICER: (SENATORDONAHUE) 1 Senatcr Syverson has moved to table Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 326. Al1 those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have i*, and the anendment is tabled. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Amendnent No. 4, offered by Senator Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson, on Amendment No. 4.
Amendment No. 4 is just a technical amendnent to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Is there any discussion? All those in favor, say Aye. Opposedr Nay. The Ayes have it, and Senate Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bil1 326 is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 3rd Readlng. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 326. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate Bill 326. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of *he bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 326 brings tax caps statewide. What this bill does and what's different from the original tax cap bills, which were in place in 1991, and what we passed earlier this year for Cock County, is it brings tax caps statewide, but only by front-door referendum by county board initiative. There are many areas of downstate counties, especially Where I come from, Where tax caps are -- where property taxes are exceeding at such an extreme rate that something needs to be done. We belleve that this legislation Will help address *hose downstate countfes that are sufferins from that, but also will allow those counties that are -- that do not have that problem to be excluded from this legislation. 1911 be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any discussion? Senator Jacobs.
58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Would the sponsor yield for a question, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Tndicates he'.l1 yleld, Senatar Jacobs.
SenaEor, as I'n reading the index here, it states that, ''Pravides thaE any eaxkng distrtct (now, a park district) may issue general obligation bonds without a direct referendum .'' Are you now allowing nunicipalittes and other entities to pass bond issues without referendum?
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
This just -- this allows them to continue to bond, but requires that they stay under the cap.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs.
I understand that, Senator, and -- and that part, you know: I - - I can probably concur with: buk again: as read we are now alloWing municipalities and/or taxing districts to issue general abligation bonds without a direct referendum . That is not the case under current lawy with *he exceptlon of one-half of one percent of the assessed valuation. This, as I read appears to do away with referendums for the issuance cf bond issues.
PRESIDING OPFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Noy this only allous them to bond up to the limi: thak they had before and only on the authority that they had before. It does not expand or give then any additional over what they had before. 59 ' j STATE OF ILLTNOTS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 PRESIDING OFEICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs. SENATOR JACOBS: Well, without looking at What the forest preserves had befcre, 'cause I'm not aware of what the forest preserves had before, we ' are going to allow municipalities to do what *he downstate preserve -- or: reserve districts were able to do before. I don't know what that was. Can you tell me what that was? PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. SENATOR SYVERSON: Not sure if I understand your question. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs. SENATOR JACOBS: As I read it, it ls saying that only a park district now can do what you are allowing other taxing badles to do. Can you explain to me what the limit is on park districts noW that they can do Without a referendum? PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. SENATOR SYVERSON: If they have non-referendum authority now, this allows them to keep that, as long as they stay under the cap. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs. SENATOR JACOBS: I understand what you're saying as to whak you're doing with the tax cap. My question is, however, is currently nunicipalities, other political entitiesr cannot tax without a referendum on a general bond issue, with exception of one-half of one percent. It's my understanding that park districts really I 60 i STATE OF ILLINOIS .. 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY ( REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 ! I have no limit as to what they can tax without a -- a referendum . Whenever I read this, we are giving municipalities that same authority . PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) . Senator Syverson. SENATOR SYVERSON: They Will still be subject to statutory rate llmits. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs. SENATOR JACOBS: I understand that, Senator. And maybe I'm not stating my question right. But as I read it, What we are doing noW is moving other taxing districts out of thetr normal referendum process and their general obligation bond process, and allcwlng them to go to the limit, as they were a park district, and if the park district is unlimlted, now we are saying -- and we're giving other nunicipalities that same authority, noN we are saying that municipalities, counties, can tax unlimited Without referendum. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. SENATOR SYVERSON: There's no unlimited authority in this legislatlon. I'm not sure where -- where you're reading that in. They are still going to be required to stay under the cap. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Jacobs. SENATOR JACOBS: And I -- apologize that I don't have the bill in front of mey but I do have the index in front of me, and I'm reading from the index, which I assume is part of the legislation, Nhich says - put my glasses on here - again that, ''Provides that any taxing district (now, a park distrlct) may issue general obligation bonds 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Without a direct referendum .f' What does that sentence mean?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
This strictly clarifies their ability to limit -- to limited tax issues.
PRESIDING OEFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator -- Senator Geo-Karis.
Would the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates hefll yield, Senator Geo-Karis.
According to Senate Amendment 1 is tha: -- first of all, is that still in the bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
According to Senate Bill -- Amendment No. it provldes that a county or taxing district is eligible for a referendum oply lf it is -- only if its equalized assessed value is at or above the 1983 equalized assessed value, and lt provides that the referendum ks initiated by ordinance or resolution of the governing body, rather than by petition of the electors. Now: would like to know, if there is a referendum requiredr if you're going to issue the general obligation bonds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1 REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23y 1995
think *he language youdre looking to has to do with the -- first of allr has to do wtth the 1983 EAV. We're talking about excluding those counties who have not hit. the 1983 EAV, which excludes a1l but thirty-nine counties. Is that the...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Are you telling me, then, that my County of Lake would not be bound by your bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Itfs ny undèrstandlng that Lake already has the caps.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Geo-Karis.
That's true, but I think the questlon that everyone wants to know if -- from what I understand from the Senator on the other side, is Whether or not you have to have a referendum of the people if you're going to have general obligation bonds increased. That's my question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
Yes. If you don't have -- if you dcn't have non-referendum authority, then, yes, they Would have to have a referendum .
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further dlscussion? Senator Welch.
had a question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OPPICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 Jndicates he'll yield, Senaeor Welch.
Senator, if you have a school district, like a comnunity college, that transcends a couple of counties and one county vctes for the caps and another county doesn'tg what effeck does that have?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
As think was addressed in Amendment No. 4, for those *axlng districts that go over county lknes or extend into more than one county, only that taxing district's board has the ability to put that questlon to a referendum of a1l the taxing of those counties or those taxpayers Nho would be included in that taxtng district.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Welch .
So the school board or the ccmmunity college board could request the county clerk to have an election, or put on the election ballot a cap in another county that may not qualify under the equalized assessed valuation llmits that you were speaking to in this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson. SENATOR SYVERSONI If the -- kf, for example, the school -- school dlstrict kanted to, if it was over county lines, then only the school board could put that on: on the county that had the -- the majoriky of that taxing district. ...tmicrophonel...on a1l -- it would be on a11 -- it'd be in both ar a1l three counties - the taxpayers that are affected by that - it would be placed on the referendum, but 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 onlyr again -- only can be put on by the school board itself, not by citizen lniElative or county bcard. I PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) 1 Further -- Senator Welch. .
So, your bill applies to thirty-nine counties. If you have a county that's not one of those thlrty-nine, but it's in a comnunity college district or a -- or another school district that overlaps, that county - not being one of thkrty-nine - could still be subject to a cap?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
If the taxing district itself is above the '83 levelr then it could also be lncluded ln that referendum.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senatcr Welch.
What are the -- what's the time frame on this? When does it -- when would the county board be votfng on a resolution? When would iE be on the ballot, and when would the cap qa into effect?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
It would be the next general elecEion if *he county board of the taxing district chose to pu* 1* on for thaE -- for *he next general election.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) SenatorWelch. 1
Can this only be voted on at a general election, ot could it 1 E I be voted on at a special election, a municipal elecEion? Can lt ( 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23# 1995 only be the Novenber general?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) SenaEor Syverson.
It's my understanding it'd only be general election.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Berman.
Question of the spcnsor, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates he 'll yieldy Senator Berman.
As I read the bill originally, the bill allowed -- before amendment, the bill allowed a voter-initiated referendum to decide whether there should be a tax cap . That's been changed so that the only time that a downstate county will have the opportunity to decide by referendum whether they want a tax cap is by resolution of the county board. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
That's correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Berman.
Why did you shift the lnltlative from the voters to the county board?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
For a couple reasons. One is bgcausg I think it could help expedite it. It brlngs the control -- county government is one of 66 I STATE OF ILLINOIS ! ' 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Leglslative Day March 23, 1995 the most accessible layers of government that taxpayers have. It's somethlng that they would not have to go out and get al1 the signatures, having the taxing districts then question those E signatures. It can be done much quicker and much cleaner by just having them petltion their county board to pass a resolution. The county boards that I've talked to - at least those that I represent - have strongly supported this and fully intend on passing that -- that resolution, which Would actually mean things could be doner I think, quicker and cleaner, and plus it makes the county board more accountable to the taxpayers, as well. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Further discussion? Senator Fttzgerald. SENATOR FITZGERALD: Thank you, Madam President. I would just -- I -- I -- while I applaud Senator Syverson's efforts to bring some tax relief to downstate conmunities/ I just want to remind those Senators from areas which currently have tax caps that this bill weakens and waters down the tax cap, and particularly the one Which we just passed for Cook County, because that makes an exception for park dlstrict non-referendum bonds and also for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and for that reason: I can't support it. Thanks. PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Watsop. SENATOR WATSON: Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I guess a question of *he sponsor, if I would, please. PRESIDINC OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Indicates he'll yield, Senator Watson. SENATOR WATSON: I think that Senator Welch kind of touched on this, but I Want to make sure Ehat I got the -- the response perfectly clear. If I 67 ! STATE 0F ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23r 1995 - - now Marion County is not on the list. Clinton County is on it. We have -- the City of Centralia, presides in both counties; the school district in both counties; the community college district is in both counties. Now, from what I understand, that the City of Centralia, the school district in Centralia and the conmunity college Will have to initiate if there, in fact, is to be a referendum on the capr and you answer yes. Now r Marion County is not on the list of counties eligible. Will we, then, be putting a cap on a county or on a taxing district that is not on the eligible list?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Senator Syverson.
That's correct. Just those taxing districts only. So it would not be a -- on other taxing districts. But for that cityy that school district, those residents in that county that is not on the list would have the opportunity to vote on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Further discussion? Senator Thomas Dunn.
Thank your Madam President. may have a conflict of interest on this bill. I intend to vote my conscience.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) Is there any further discussicn? Further discussion? Senator Syversonr to close.
In 1991 tax caps Were passed in the collar counties, and a recent Sun-Times article said that taxpayers have saved over three hundred million dollars. This year we brought tax caps to Cook Countyy yet there are other areas of the State that are suffering far worse than even Cook County. a recent real estate magazine, Real Estate Business talked about some of the 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS ' 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23, 1995 highest-taxed clties in the -- in the country, and in there they 11st Lansing, Mlchigan; Syracuse, New York; and Rockford, Illlnois as some of the highest-taxed cities in the country. There are many downstate cities that are suffering and communities that are suffering and need this kind of a relief, and I would ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DONAHUE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 326 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Oppcsed, Nay. The voting is cpen. Have al1 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have a1l voted Who wish? Take the record. On that question, khere are 44 Ayes, 8 Nays, 4 voting Present. Senate Bill 326, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hawkinsonr for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madan President. Purposes of an announcenent. The Judiciary Committee of the Senate will convene immediately upon the adjournment of the Senate this afternoon in Room 400. If we get up there right away, think we may be able to conclude our business hopefully without too long a hearing today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) House Bills lst Reading.
House Bill l50r offered by Senator Klemm. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate -- pardon me, House Bill offered by Senator Raica. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 309, offered by Senator Smikh. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 413, offered by Senator Madigan. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 513, offered by Senator Karpkel. 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day March 23y 1995 (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 539, offered by Senator Fawell. (Secretary reads title of bill) lst Readin: of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier Senator Donahue Was in the Chairr and wishes to move Senate Bill 972 on page 4. With leave of the Body. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House <sic> Bill 972. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
Senate D1l1 972. (Secretary reads title of blll) 2nd Reading of the bill. No ccmmittee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Reading. Any further business to come before the Senate? If not, Senator Hasara moves that the Senate stand adjourned until 9 a.m ., Friday, March 24th. Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you arise?
Any idea hoW long we might be here tomorrow?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) SenaEor Demuzio, we don't know for sure. Let -- let us give you a call. I applogize. 70 Tm R REPORT : TIFLDAY STATE OF ILLINOIS 96/09/11 PAGE: 001 89TH GENERAL ASSEHBLY 16:18:36 SENâTE DAILY TRâNSCRIPTION OF DEBATE INDEX HARCH 23, 1995 HB-0113 FIRST REâDING HB-0150 FIPST READING HB-0182 FIRST READING HB-019T FIRST READIMG HB-023R FIRST READING HB-0309 FIRST REZDING HB-0R13 FIRST READING HB-0507 FIRST REZDING HB-0513 FIRST READING H8-0539 FIRST READING HB-0545 FIRST REZDIVG SB-006k SECOND READING SB-01y7 SECOND READING SB-0192 SECOND READING 58-0235 THIRD READIMG :8-0239 THIRD REZDING SB-02R5 THIRD READING :8-0246 THIRD READING 88-0263 8ECOND HEADING 58-0269 THIRD READI'L SB-0273 THIRD READENG 58-0275 THIRD REêDTNG 58-0277 THIRD READING 58-0283 SECOHD REZDING SB-028# SECCMD REZDING 38-0293 THIRD READING 38-0299 THIRD READING SB-0301 THIRD READING SB-0303 THIRD READING 38-0315 THIRD READING 58-0326 RECALLED 58-0326 THIRD READING 58-0458 SECOND REâDING SB-0y81 THIRD READING SB-0507 SECOND READING s:-0635 SECOND HEADING 58-0774 SECOND REZDING 58-0822 SECOND READING 58-0836 SECOND RE2DIN6 58-0866 SECOMD READIMG 58-9923 THIRD REZDING 38-0932 SECOND READING SB-093R SECOKD READING 3B-0940 :ECOND REZDING SB-09R2 SECOND REZDING sB-09k3 SECOND READING 38-0947 SECOND READiNG SB-09y8 SECOND READING 58-0956 SECOMD REZDING 58-0958 SECOND REPZING 58-0972 SECOMD READING 38-0974 SECOND REZDING 58-0983 SECOND HEADTNG 38-0989 SECOND READiNG 58-0995 SECOND REâDING SB-1007 SECOND READING SB-1015 SECOND READING SB-1018 SECOND READI/iG sB-1066 SECOND REZDING SB-1096 SECOND READING SB-1111 SECOMD REZDING sB-11k9 SECOND READING SB-1150 SECOND REZDiNG SB-1.15R SECOND READING A. *) I REPORT: TIFLDâY STATE OF ILLIRCIS 96/09/11 l PAGE: 002 69TH GENERZL AS3EMBLF 16:18:36 SENATE l DA1LY THANSCRIPTION OF DEBATE INDEX I MâRCH 23, 1995 SB-1193 SDCOMD REZDING PâGE R0 SB-12O# SBCOND ABADiNG PZGE R1 3B-1211 SECOND READING PAGE R1 HJR-0033 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 8 SJR-0035 CONCURREMCE PZGE Y SJR-O038 RESOLUTIOM OFFERED PZGE V EUBJECT MATTER SBNATE T0 OHDER-PRESIDENT PHILIP P2GE 1 PRàYER-THE REVEREND ROBERT HCDOVALD PAGE 1 PLEDGE OF âLLEGIâNCE P2GE 1 JOURMàLS-POSTPONED PAGE 1 INTRO OF GUESTS-SEVZTORS HAHKINSON AND 3HADID PAGE 1 INTRO OF PE0RI2 HZNPAL RAMS BY COàCH HCCLAIN PâGE 2 INTRO OF PEORIA CHEERLEâDERS âND POM-PQN GIRLS PAGE 2 COMMITTEE RZPORTS PâGE 3 SENATE STàMDS IN RECESS P2GE 5 SENATE RECOMVENES P2GE 5 HESSAGES FROH THE HCUSE PAGE 5 fNTRODUCTION OF CDEST-SENJJDZ HAJTLAND PAGE 6 INTRO OF M:. LYNN GADDIS-IL TEACHER OF THE YEAR PAGE 6 MESSâGE PROM THE HOUSE PZGE T . HESSAGE FRCM THE HOUSE P2GE 7 INTRODDCTIOM DF GUESTS-SEMATQR M2:âR PAGE 2% . INTRODUCTIOMS âND REMZRKS 5Y COâCH JOHN HRENN PAGE 2% EKEC/TIVE SESSIOV-EXEC APPTS PAGE 2) COMMITTEE REPORTS-EXEC àPPTS (PAGES 2k-25) PZGE 2% - AHISE FROH EXECUTIVE SESSION PAGE 28 âDJOURNHENT PZGE 7Q ! . i