PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) ...Session of the 89th General Assembly will come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks, and will our guests in the gallery please rise. Our prayer today will be given by Pastor Rick Wenneborg, Chatham Christian Church, Chatham, Illinois. Pastor Wenneborg.
(Prayer by Pastor Rick Wenneborg)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) ...remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Sieben.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Sieben)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) ...Perlman from Associated Press has requested permission to take still photographs. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Reading of the Journal. Senator Butler.
Mr. President, I move that reading and approval of the Journals of Tuesday, April 30th and Wednesday, May 1st, in the year 1996, be postponed, pending arrival of the printed Journals.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Senator Butler moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, it is so ordered. ...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 adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 106. 1 10lst Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 Adopted by the House, May 1st, 1996. It's substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 204, offered by Senator Shaw. It's a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Consent Calendar. ...you'd turn your regular Calendars to the order to page 6, to the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading, we will be momentarily going to to the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. Will all the Senators please be on the Floor? Resolutions.
Senate Resolution or, Senate Joint Resolution 103, offered by Senator Dudycz. It's substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Middle of page 6, on the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 22. Senator Rauschenberger. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 22. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 24. Senator Karpiel. Senator Karpiel. Read the bill.
House Bill 24. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 3rd Reading. House Bill 322. Senator Madigan. Senator Madigan. House Bill 346. Senator Hawkinson. Read the bill.
House Bill 346. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 347. Senator Hawkinson. Read the bill.
House Bill 347. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendments 1, 2, 4 and 5.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 545. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. House Bill 548. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. House Bill 739. Senator Hawkinson. On the top of page 7, on the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading, House Bill 885. Senator Cronin. Mr. Senator Cronin? House Bill 1014. Senator Rauschenberger. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1014. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Appropriations adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1249. Senator Hawkinson. Senator Hawkinson. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 1249. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendments 1, 2 and 3.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1286. Senator Clayborne. Read the bill.
House Bill 1286. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2206. Senator Philip. Senator 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 Philip. House Bill 2230. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. House Bill 2250. Senator Walsh. Read the bill.
House Bill 2250. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2421. Senator Peterson. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. 2421. I beg your pardon. House Bill 2413. Senator Walsh. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 2413. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2421. Senator Peterson. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2421. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2524. Senator Bomke. House Bill 2529. Senator Hawkinson. House Bill 2529. Senator Hawkinson. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day House Bill 2529. (Secretary reads title of bill) May 2, 1996 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will return to House Bill 2524. Senator Bomke. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2524. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted one amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2557. Senator Madigan. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 2557. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance, Pensions and Licensed Activities adopted one amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for 6 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2593. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. House Bill 2596. Senator Watson. Senator Watson. On the top of page 8 of your regular Calendar, on the Order of House Bills 2nd Readings, House Bill 2621. Senator Hawkinson. Senator Hawkinson. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 2621. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2658. Senator Walsh. Read the bill.
House Bill 2658. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2691. Senator Syverson. Read the bill.
House Bill 2691. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Public Health and Welfare adopted Amendments 2 and 3.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2695. Senator Klemm. Out of the record. House Bill 2737. Senator Stevens -- Senator Watson. Senator Watson. House Bill 2927. Senator Madigan. House Bill 3041. Senator Klemm. House Bill 3048. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. House Bill 3057. Senator Klemm. Read the bill.
House Bill 3057. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3157. Senator Weaver. Read the bill.
House Bill 3157. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3193. Senator Butler. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3193. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 8 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 3rd Reading. House Bill 3199. Senator Walsh. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3199. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3227. Senator O'Malley. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3227. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill -- Senator O'Malley, what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) State your point.
In the President's Gallery today, we have some very welcome, some very beautiful fourth-graders from the Palos West School in Palos Park. And I would like to see them rise and be recognized and acknowledged by the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 9 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 Will our guests please rise and be recognized? Welcome to the Senate. On the bottom of page 8 of your regular Calendar, House Bills 2nd Reading, House Bill 3238. Senator Parker. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3238. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. The top of page 9, in the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 3271. Senator Peterson. Senator Peterson. ...the bill.
House Bill 3271. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3309. Senator Dillard. Read the bill.
House Bill 3309. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3348. Senator Dillard.
Mr. President, there were two committee amendments adopted on House Bill 3309: Amendments 1 and 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
10 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3348. Senator Dillard. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3348. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3380. Senator Philip. Senator Philip. House Bill 3414. Senator DeAngelis. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3414. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government and Elections adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3426. Senator Parker. Out of the record. House Bill 3436. Senator Klemm. House Bill 3448. Senator Petka. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
11 May 2, 1996 101st Legislative Day House Bill 3448. STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT (Secretary reads title of bill) May 2, 1996 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3455. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3455. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Petka, what purpose do you rise? ...Bill 3510. Senator Parker. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3510. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any -- are there any Floor amendments that have been 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3520. Senator Parker. House Bill 3547. Senator Geo-Karis. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3547. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3548. Senator Mahar. Senator Mahar. On the top of page 10, on the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading, House Bill 3601. Senator Palmer. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3601. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3613. Senator Raica. I beg your pardon. Senator Burzynski. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3613. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Public Health and Welfare adopted Amendment No. 1. 13 10lst Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Are there any Floor amendments that have been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3618. Senator Burzynski. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3618. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3638. Senator Klemm. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3638. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3658. Senator Sieben. House Bill 3662. Senator Dillard. Read the bill. Fiscal note's been filed on House Bill 3662. Out of the record. House Bill 3670. Senator Fitzgerald. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3670. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) 3rd Reading. Senator Carroll. ...purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of personal privilege, 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 if I might.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) State your point.
I know that yesterday there may have been some debate that we might have had to have been in Session Saturday in order to deal with certain constitutional amendments, and it appears as if now we will not have to be in Saturday. Were we to be in Saturday, it would be a very special occasion, because Saturday would be the honorary date of the birth of some very famous people in Illinois, including Clem Stone, Neil Hartigan, former President Phil Rock, and the old man of the Senate, Art Berman. Inasmuch as we will not be here Saturday and Clem is not as -- as generous as people think, and we know Neil and Phil are not, for Art we have cake. So we would like everybody to join in and have a piece of cake in honor of Art's birthday, even though we cannot be here Saturday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DUDYCZ) Happy birthday, Senator Berman. Senator Donahue, what purpose do you rise?
For the purposes of an announcement, please. I'd like to call for a Republican -- Republican Caucus immediately in Senator Philip's Office.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) Senator Jacobs, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I would request a Democratic Caucus in Senator Jones' Office.
(SENATOR DUDYCZ) There will be a caucus for Republicans in Senate President Philip's Office and a -- for Republicans, and a Democratic Caucus in Minority Leader Jones' Office. We will be at ease for 15 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 approximately one-half hour, at which time we will return and go back to Senate business. Senate stands at ease. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE) (SENATE RECONVENES)
(SENATOR MAITLAND) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will come to order. Committee Reports.
Senator Barkhausen, Chair of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports House Bills 2697, 2860, 3128 and 3166 Do Pass. Senator Mahar, Chair of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports House Bills 1056, 1290, 2571, 2725, 2747, 3161, 3167 and 3625 Do Pass; House Bills 1798, 2515 and 3165 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Resolution 190 Be Adopted. And Senator Peterson, Chair of the Committee on Revenue, reports House Bills 2703, 2794, 2900, 3204, 3282, 3447, 3546, 3549 and 3637 Do Pass; and House Bill 431 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Ladies and Gentlemen, when we start, we will be on Senate Bill -- House Bills 3rd Reading, and we will start in the toward the bottom of page 5 with House Bill 3151, Senator Donahue. Ladies and Gentlemen, we'll now proceed to the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, middle of page 5. House Bill 3151. Senator Donahue. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3151. 16 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Donahue.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 3151 is identical to House {sic} Bill 1777, except for three provisions. We have had discussions with the environmental community and tried very hard to listen to many of their concerns, and we -- we feel that House Bill 3151 goes a long way in addressing some of those concerns. Let me give you those -- the differences between the two bills. One, we have put in financial responsibility for the closure of a lagoon. We have mandatory - and I will repeat that: mandatory inspections of lagoons before they would be certified by the Department of Agriculture. And we've created an interagency council with the Department of Agriculture as the Chair, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Health. Those four agencies will develop the rules, and those rules will then be sent to the Pollution Control Board for promulgation, before they go to JCAR. And I think that's a very important step. We feel that the Pollution Control Board is much less biased, if you will, and will deal with these rules and regulations fairly. I think this legislation is much stronger. It has the support of many, many organizations now, and I will just mention that the Environmental Council and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance are now in support of House Bill 3151. And all the agencies involved - Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Ag, and DNR - are all in support, and I would ask for your favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there discussion? Senator Jacobs. 17 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I stand in strong support of House Bill 3151. If there is ever a time that an example has been set to where further communications, further dialogue can help a fair bill become a much better bill, this -- these conversations have done that, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Further discussion? Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Would the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Indicates she will yield, Senator Cullerton.
Senator Donahue, on the Senate bill, as I recall, we passed the bill out almost unanimously. I -- I only heard a rumor that over in the House the discussion got very heated and kind of blew up into kind of a controversial bill, and I heard that there was some environmental concerns. So, if you could just give me some -- and I voted for the Senate bill, and I -- later learned that there was some environmental groups that, perhaps, were not in favor of it. So now, could you tell me, specifically with regard to the environmental groups out there and this particular bill, is this different than the Senate bill that we passed, and is it different in a way that now gives them assurance that they're now in favor of it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Donahue.
Thank you much, Mr. President. I believe I -- I know that we just all come onto the Floor. I think I addressed all those the answers to your question in my opening comments. Yes, this 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 bill is different by three points: one, the financial responsibility involved with the closure of a lagoon; second, the inspection - mandatory inspection - of the lagoon before it goes into operation; and third, the interagency council of the agencies EPA, Ag, DNR, Public Health all developing the rules through through the Pollution Control Board. And with those restrictions, or those new points to the bill, the Environmental Council of Illinois and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance of Illinois are in favor of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Further discussion? Senator Woodyard.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Would the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Indicates she will yield, Senator Woodyard.
I -- I think, Senator Donahue, you've already answered this. It's somewhat along the lines of Senator Cullerton's questions. But I understand that you have reached an understanding with the environmental community - with all of them, as far as I know - that addresses their concerns about this bill. Would you want to reiterate that understanding?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Donahue.
Yes, Senator Woodyard. We have listened to the concerns of the environmental community, have agreed to hold public hearings around the State to take testimony from all the interested parties on the Livestock Management Facilities Act. Included in these hearings will be the House and Senate sponsor - I will attend, a representative from the Department of Agriculture, Natural 19 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 Resources, Public Health and the Environmental Protection Agency. And we feel that after this process is completed, the bill sponsors and the representatives of this advisory council, along with members of the livestock industry and environmental community, will convene to discuss -- information gathered during these hearings, and it's the intent that, from this process, any problems with the Livestock Management Facilities Act will be addressed to satisfy concerns of many parties.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there further discussion? Senator Welch.
I have a question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Indicates she will yield, Senator Welch.
Does this -- Senator, does this bill increase the penalties for a lagoon spill? If the lagoon breaks and flows into the local river or onto the local land, is there any increase in penalty to be imposed upon the owners of it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Donahue.
No, this bill doesn't address the pollution side; it's addressing the head side. But I understand that the penalties can be upwards of fifty thousand dollars and ten thousand dollars a day for any find of a -- finding in pollution, yes. That's the law today, Senator Welch.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there further discussion? Senator Donahue, to close.
Well, thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen. I would just simply say that under Illinois law today we only can react to 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 pollution situations. There is nothing in place in our law that's proactive, that says, "Look, we need to have you conscience conscious of the concerns." We have a certified manager, We have management waste plans. We have legislation -- this legislation puts things in place that says to the community, "Look, we need to -- to address lagoons and hog facilities -- large hog facilities and we want to do it in the best interest of the environment and this State." And I think this bill does that. It goes a long way to doing that, and I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) The question is, shall House Bill 3151 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record, Madam Secretary. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Members voting Nay, no Members voting Present. House Bill 3151, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 3186. Senator Madigan. House Bill 3240. Senator Watson. Senator Watson on the Floor? House Bill 3233. Senator Parker. Top of page 6, House Bill 3300. Senator Rauschenberger. House Bill 3396. Senator Barkhausen. House Bill 3451. Senator Bomke. House Bill -- that -- out of the record. House Bill 3578. Senator Raica. House Bill 3617. Senator Raica. House Bill 3629. Senator Fawell. Senator Fawell. All right. Let's return now to -- that's all the House bills on 3rd Reading. Let's return to the start, on page 3. House Bill 115. Senator Dudycz. House Bill -- House Bill 379. Senator Jacobs. Senator Jacobs? House Bill --427. Senator Peterson. Senator Peterson. House Bill 456. Senator Rauschenberger. House Bill 527. Senator DeAngelis. House Bill 907. Senator Fitzgerald. Senator Fitzgerald. Read -- out of the record. Top of page 4. House Bill 995. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin, House Bill 995? House Bill 1645. Senator Luechtefeld. House 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 Bill 1684. Senator Cronin. House Bill 2294. Senator Mahar. Senator Mahar. House Bill 2338. Senator Cronin. House Bill 2347. Senator Madigan. House Bill 2406. Senator Dillard. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
House Bill 2406. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill added a technical amendment in this particular Chamber, and its ultimate destination, should we pass this today, I believe is to send this bill to conference committee, dealing with some land at the University of Illinois' Chicago Campus near Roosevelt Road. And we really I would recommend that we pass this bill here. The House will nonconcur in our technical amendment, and this bill is going to be destined to conference as we work on a an amendment from conference committee for this ultimate disposition. But I'd like to get this bill out of here and would request a favorable roll call. It is really nothing but a shell bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there discussion? Is there discussion? If not, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2406 pass. Those in favor House I'm sorry. It's House Bill 2406 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record, Madam Secretary. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, no Members voting Present. House Bill 2406. having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day House Bill 2516. Senator DeLeo. House Bill Syverson. Senator Syverson? House Bill 2631. Senator Lauzen. Senator Lauzen, 2631? House Bill 2632. Senator Rauschenberger. Read the bill, Madam Secretary.
House Bill 2632. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
(SENATOR MAITLAND) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, House Bill 2632 contains the consolidation compromise that Members from both the Senate and the House, as well as the Executive Branch, have been working diligently to organize for the last four months. Basically it's a combination of the Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Rehabilitation Services. In addition, transferred into this new Department are the social services from the Department of Public Health and most of the services other than Medicaid from the Department of Public Aid. Rather than the initial Governor's proposal of about twelve billion dollars in spending, this bill would deal with about four billion dollar's worth of the budget. The the bill is designed to transfer the function, the staff and the the program into the new Department. It makes no programmatic changes. It also organizes the new Department of Human Services with a secretary who would be paid at the same rate as the Director of the Department of Corrections; three deputy secretaries; and nine assistant secretaries that could be appointed by the Governor. All of those executives would have to be confirmed by the Senate. I think this is a good first step toward streamlining human services in the 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day State of Illinois. May 2, 1996 It provides an organization for a single front door into the human services program in the State of Illinois and provides the -- the potential for consolidated case management. I would urge its adoption.
(SENATOR MAITLAND) Is there discussion? Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Let me first say that I, too, recognize the need for us to do some consolidation of services to minimize duplication of services and, most certainly, to maximize the number of taxpayers' dollars that we advocate -- I mean, appropriate each year for the administration and carrying out delivery of services to those citizens of this State who are in critical need of those kinds of human services. That is our first responsibility, to do that. However, the bill before us today, the way it is drafted, leaves a lot to be desired to accomplish that end. I am concerned, deeply concerned, about how the organization is structured, all of the unanswered questions about what kinds of programs will be put into the various divisions, and who will make the decisions as to what services are compatible -- more compatible to be in those divisions with each other to maximize service delivery. In the bill that we have drafted today before us, there's absolutely nothing that I can see in it -- and -- and unlike Senator Jones, who said he read it all, I didn't see anything in it that actually downsized -- that's what we talked about all the time: downsizing government -- because -- nor does it purport to do so. Now, it may come out in the media that this is a way to reduce the size of government, but this bill states that every -- every staff person, every service division will be transferred intact that are designated to this super human service agency. That in itself does not downsize. The other thing that it purport to do is to 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 allow for improved service delivery through networking in duplication of service. I see nothing in this bill that establish the kind of technology that is essential for bringing on-line the different divisions so that there can be that direct computer data available SO that one entity can punch in and that the services of a client -- we will minimize duplication SO that we will know what other services are being provided to that particular client. That is the only way you minimize duplication of services. That is not contained in this document. The other thing that disturbs me greatly is, we are not experts here in this Chamber on all of the various services that we provide under the human service delivery system in this State. In order for us to improve those services and the quality of those services, it is imperative that we involve those persons who are on the frontline of service delivery, directly to the clients. This whole process has taken place without input -- without input -- from any of those people. It goes on to establish and create a task force that's as bad as the bill, because it allows that process to take place in this one secretary. By the way, it's very interesting that they are named -- changed the names of directors. That's the greatest change in this bill, that we've now changed the names from directors to secretaries: secretaries, associated {sic} secretaries and assistant secretaries. That is a change. If you want to call that reform, so be it. And it gives this one person all of the powers and duties to set up these agencies. No real input from any of the people that deliver service. It sets up a purely political Republican task force. Only two Democrats are going to be involved in this process, and no service providers, no -- no people that know about service delivery, will be involved, except the directors or these new secretaries, who probably know less than we do about delivery of services. Unfortunate this whole thing, as I said, seems to me that if we are going to change 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 the names of the directors, we'll probably change the names of the various job categories and create all new jobs, and we will have twenty thousand new employees under the control of the Governor. So, to me, while the intent of some of you may be to create a better service delivery system in this State, because of the rush in trying to do this, because you are -- rejected the Governor's Executive Order, this is just something that you're trying to put together in a rush to cover your backs. This is too important, and we are spending too much of the taxpayers' dollars without adequate accountability. If we are going to do it, we should have postponed it, do it right, put the right kind of task force together and come back in the fall and act on it. I would just say to the people on this side of the aisle: This is not the document we want to vote on today. Vote No or vote Present.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MAITLAND) Further discussion? Senator del Valle.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Rauschenberger, this was handed to us, this amendment -- hefty amendment -- probably the largest amendment I have seen since I have been here, was handed to us hours before the Executive Committee hearing, where we were told that action would be taken, an Executive Committee hearing where testimony was limited. I think only one opponent was allowed to testify and was given only a couple of minutes to do so. And yet, this is probably the most important undertaking of this Legislative Body, because it affects thousands and thousands of lives throughout the State of Illinois. This is big. And what we're doing here is we're going to create a big, massive bureaucracy. And it wasn't that long ago that this Body took action to separate alcoholism and substance abuse programs out of the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities because it felt that it needed to be looked at carefully, that we 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day needed focus, that we May 2, 1996 needed to really concentrate in this important area in order to be more effective. And so here we are undoing what we did back then. Maybe a few years from now we'll come back and we'll separate things again because we will say that we were ineffective. And so, I guess maybe government's way of of dealing with things when -- when they're not sure of what to do is to set up task forces and to reorganize, and reorganize, and reorganize, rather than taking the time necessary to come to grips with why certain problems exist and what needs to be done by government and what role government needs to play to address those problems. You have indicated that there aren't going to be any changes, no staff reductions; that staff will simply be transferred into this superagency. But I think it's interesting that this takes effect around the same time that the AFSCME contract expires, and so I think it'll really, if this goes through, put the Governor in a very interesting bargaining position with AFSCME and other collective bargaining units. But that can be talked at another time. Costs may increase, not decrease. Here we're talking about modifications to computer systems of seven agencies, and let me remind you that the Department of Public Aid has spent millions of dollars over the past four years trying to integrate two child support enforcement computer systems and it still hasn't been accomplished. But we're going to do it with seven -- seven agencies. We just heard that the federal government, last week or the week before, finally adopted a budget, a federal budget. That budget contains cuts in human services. We are going to see those cuts filter down during this federal fiscal year. Next fiscal year will include more. We are going to be acting on a pension bill in this Body that's going to cost us another forty million dollars next year, a pension bill sponsored by Senator Bomke, and we're all probably going to vote for that. Where is the forty million dollars going to come from? 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 We want to support our retirees, certainly. I'm going to vote for it, but I ask myself: I wonder where we're going to get the forty million dollars that Senator Bomke's bill is going to cost us next year? I wonder where we're going to get the additional monies to deal with Medicaid, because Medicaid is not part of this consolidation. This is not the Department of Human Services that we're creating; this is the Department of "Some" Human Services we're creating. "Some" human services. And so, when you talk about one-stop shopping, this isn't going to be one stop; this is going to be half a stop. Where will the other half or the other quarter be at? We're going to send them to another agency to deal with Medicaid and deal with other matters. We've got tremendous pressures on the education front. Speaker Daniels has pushed approp bills in the House reducing budgets of the Department of Public Aid, the Department of Public Health and other departments. And so, for us to say that this proposed reorganization is not going to affect direct services, I think we are not being honest with the constituents. We know that it will affect direct human services. I proposed and introduced an amendment in committee yesterday that would have protected direct services. My amendment said if we're going to do some cutting, because cutting will be necessary given what's happening at the federal level, given what's happening in these Chambers, then let's protect direct services and let's take it out of administration. No. No. This amendment was voted down. And so we know, I guess, that we're going to have to do some cutting of direct services. That is not going to help our constituents. And the saddest thing about all this, as Senator Collins indicated is, is that there were no hearings to speak of. The Governor's focus groups included no participation, or little participation, from our districts. Our side of the aisle was not involved at all, and yet, this is being put forth as being a consensus proposal. And yet, the providers 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 are SO fearful of what's going to happen to their budgets next year and the following year that they, in essence, have been silenced have been silenced. The individuals on the front lines are afraid are afraid to come out and talk about what the impact of this reorganization is going to be. That's not the way State government should operate. Let's hold this bill. Let's hold this bill. Let's leave it out there. Let's wait the summer. Let's conduct hearings. And if we can reach real consensus, then let's move on this bill in the fall. It won't affect the timetable called for in this bill, and it will allow your task force that we're going to create when we adopt your resolution to have a meaningful role a real role so that it could advise, it could take opinions into consideration and really allow us to deliberate before we take action on a measure that will affect so many lives in so many areas. So I ask you, Senator, maybe we can hold this bill. Let's leave it on 3rd Reading. Let's hold our hearings during the summer, and let's come back in the fall and make a final decision.
(SENATOR MAITLAND) Further discussion? Senator Karpiel.
Thank you, Mr. President. Well, first of all, I do rise in support of House Bill 2632, but before I -- I go any further, I do want to explain something that Senator del Valle just mentioned. He said that only one opponent was allowed to speak in the Executive Committee yesterday. I want all to know and to realize that only one opponent signed in yesterday. We had one opponent slip, where, one signed in to speak. So, the opponent that did want to speak in opposition to the bill was allowed to. It wasn't like there were droves of them and we didn't allow them to speak. That's one thing I wanted to say. The other thing I wanted to say is that this did not start out as a legislative initiative. This 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 started out as a Governor's Executive Order, which we will get to. And had we not had meetings with the Governor's staff and had they not been gracious enough to work with us and compromise and -- and change some things, we would be facing, right now, an Executive Order putting all the service -- the departments under this Human Services Agency and we would have no input whatsoever. So, to say that there was no input, there was. We had lots of meetings with the Governor's people. They, in turn, met with all the providers, and I think that we have worked together quite well on this to come up with what I think is a good bill and a good first step in reorganizing all these human service departments. I think we should commend Senator Rauschenberger for the excellent work that he has done. Our staff, Senator Sieben, Senator Walsh and myself attended all those meetings, and we do have a good start to consolidating these myriad of services that we have in this State. You know, I used to be a township supervisor many years ago, and as such, I worked with the general assistance department and a lot of the different social service needs in my township. I never knew where to go, whether I should go to a county human services department, a State one. There are so many programs in so many departments that I believe the people of this State who need help really don't know where to go, because it's so fragmented and all over the place. I think it's a good idea to start consolidating these things and try to get into what Steve calls a "one-shop shopping" type situation, and I strongly urge your support for House Bill 2632.
(SENATOR MAITLAND) Further discussion? Senator Carroll.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Couple points, if I may. Maybe just a little comment to the last speaker and -- and to the sponsor, as well, and to those who are 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 listening. Why don't you invite us once in a while? Talking about all these wonderful meetings with the Office of the Governor and specific Members, you know, we were elected too, and some of may have some ideas. Some may be bright ideas, some may not. But, you know, in the old days, no matter who was in control of this place and I know I repeat myself, but I did serve under Republican leadership here before - usually Democrats were at least invited to meetings and let in on the discussion. Maybe some of this could have been good if we had been involved in the discussion. But let's talk about what is in there. You know, you talk about how many people showed up to testify against it. I've heard that three people filed slips. The Chairman said one person. Either is fine. Doesn't matter to me. How could anybody have known what was in this bill? You've got a nine-hundred-and-fifty-six-page bill nobody had a chance to read. Show me an interest group around this State that had the opportunity to read this and be available to comment. If this was that important and truly good, would we not have had some weeks of hearings, let people come in, read, lobby, come to you, come to us? Maybe some of them are afraid to speak in committee 'cause they have contracts coming. But they're not afraid to speak to you, and they're not afraid to speak to me. Here, they didn't have a chance to find out what was going on. You talk about one-stop shopping. This is "shop hopping," not one-stop shopping. Maybe the Governor's proposal was one-stop shopping, where Senator Karpiel's people could go into one place and find out all services that they and their family may not -- may be entitled to. Not under this approach. This is "as many shops as you can find." I mean, what's important that they put in? Let's look at the list. They added into one agency some important programs, I agree: women, infants and children programs, infant mortality, renal dialysis, diabetes prevention, hemophilia, sexual assault, 31 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 prenatal and newborn care, problem pregnancy. What did they not put in? What did they not put in? Anything to deal with Medicaid usually a little larger population than renal dialysis, I would think. They did not put in any employment or training programs from the DCCA program. They did not put in child support enforcement from Public Aid. They did not put in about ninety percent of the Public Health programs. They did not put in children's substitute care or protective services from DCFS. These are one-stop shopping issues. What about in-home care for the elderly one of the things people come into State government for subsidized insurance coverage, like CHIP, or rights of person's with disabilities, or veterans' assistance? And again, probably the biggest is Medicaid. If you talk to your constituents who need State services forget the provider groups for a minute they want one-stop shopping. They don't want to shop hop. This is shop hopping at its worst 'cause it's attempting to fool people that they can come in and get one-stop shopping. So I think if we're going to look at this, let's look at it realistically for what it does and what it doesn't do. One of the other things you talk about is legislative control and legislative insight and oversight. This will be a four-and-a-half-billion-dollar agency of twenty thousand employees, with no indication that there's any downsizing involved in this "regional shopping mall" that we are creating. And in this regional shopping mall, there'll be the ability to play with ten million dollars of taxpayer money with no accountability to the General Assembly the largest transferability of anything we've ever had. Just to give you an idea: If you take total funds, twenty-two of about the seventy agencies of State government twenty-two of them have total budgets of all funds for operations under ten million dollars. So this agency can transfer more money than about a third of the agencies of State government. And if you talk about just General 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 Revenue funds and the ability to transfer, twenty-eight agencies out of fifty-six, have less than ten-million-dollar budgets. Are they big agencies? No, obviously. But you can transfer out more than whole programs of State government. And when you want to talk about where we as Members will get in trouble, it's when one of you or one of us come up with a great idea for government, pass it, see it signed, fund it and find this super regional mall of a shopping center saying "I don't care what the General Assembly said; I'm not spending that money 'cause I can transfer that into a program that the secretary, or assistant secretary, or deputy secretary, or secretary to the secretary likes better." So there's only one advantage I see in this piece of legislation where it -- it will become more like one-stop shopping, and that's in the people who sue the State. Right now they've sued the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Aid, and the court has ordered all of these departments on how to function. Now maybe we'll only have one place that they'll have to sue, and instead of the State and the Attorney General spending a million and a half to defend this suit, and a million eight to defend that suit, and a million three to defend that suit, we'll only need one lawyer to defend the State 'cause they'll only be suing one agency. That's the only benefit I could see. I think this is a -- a proposal to save face, not to save dollars, to help the political environment and not the people, and it should be rejected.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Channel 20 requests permission to videotape. Is permission granted? Permission is granted. Senator Geo-Karis.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, my understanding is that this human services reorganization will take all of the functions of the Department of Mental Health and 33 101st Legislative Day Developmental Disabilities, Rehabilitation May 2, 1996 Services, and Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to the new Department effective July 1, 1997. What's wrong with that? They're all allied. In addition, certain programs and functions of the Department of Public Aid, Public Health, and Children and Family Services would also be transferred to the Department of Human Services effective July 1, 1997. What's wrong with that? I think those are related problems, and I think we'll have more efficiency, more expedition of services than we've ever had before. And talk about having -- seen a bill about nine hundred pages, let me tell my colleagues on the other side: I've been here going on twenty-four years eighteen years in the Senate. I can remember when seventeen your side of the aisle threw it to us on the day that we were supposed to act on it. Now, this was given to your Leader several days ago. So don't complain that it's just now that you're seeing it. And you did have a fair hearing yesterday. In fact, it was an extensive hearing, and the Chairman of that Executive Committee did all she could to have it very well-argued. So don't -- don't be small about it. I've been here. Don't ever tell me that we're throwing things at you. You don't know what things would -- what it means to have things thrown at you unless you served before the prior administration of Senator Philip. So I speak in favor of this bill and ask for a vote.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) For what reason does Senator Jones seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Just to respond, since I was mentioned in debate, and a question came up Tuesday on the Senate Floor when Senator Carroll asked Senator Philip about the thousand-page bill, and he was -- and it was indicated to him by Senator Philip that I would get the bill sometime Tuesday afternoon, which I did receive the thousand-page bill, which I 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 have right here, Tuesday afternoon. So in response, Senator Geo-Karis, you are unaware of this, but we received this big package on Tuesday. The hearing was Wednesday, and I don't think any provider group across the State of Illinois had the opportunity to respond. So I -- I just wanted to set the record straight on this particular issue.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) WCIA-Channel 3 wishes permission to videotape. Permission is -- permission is granted. Senator Demuzio.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I'd like to ask a couple of questions of the sponsor, if I may. First of all...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Sponsor says he will yield.
First of all, on page 8 of the -- of the bill at the bottom - I think I posed this question the other day -- it declares that the rights of State employees, the State and its agencies under the Personnel Code and applicable collective bargaining agreements and retirement plans are not affected by this Act. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
Yes, it is, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Demuzio.
Senator DeAngelis, the television tape is running, so would you keep me on schedule? Senator Rauschenberger, let me ask you another question, if I may, and it'll probably be the last question I... Are there a number of grants that are also included 35 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 in the money that we are transferring from the various agencies and departments that we currently have, for vendors and -- those individuals who deliver service in the local communities?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
Senator, yes, there is. Exactly what was in the -- the preceding department or in the existing department that it's being transferred from, both the programmatic and the programmatic dollars are being transferred.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Demuzio.
Thank you very much. Let me indicate that I rise in opposition to this proposal, and let me, first of all, indicate that I am certainly not opposed to reorganization of State government, being more effective and downsizing and et cetera. But as an individual who came to this Body previous, who ran a -- a number of categorical programs at the local level, I think we're finding right now that there is a great deal of fear in our local communities with respect to the various providers and vendors that provide services for both the State as well as the federal government. And that fear, I think, has been heightened by virtue of the fact that -- that our federal legislators keep talking about block grants. This obviously will make it much easier for block grants to be administered in Illinois, because now you are going to take and put all that money under this various -- under this Department of Human Services, making it much easier and therefore cutting down a lot of the dissension that may be arising as a result of competing constituencies out in our community. I think there are some good points in this proposal, but let me tell you, there is one particular proposal that I am opposed to and 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 that is the one dealing with the Department of Rehabilitation Services. I have had the opportunity to represent the Jacksonville area for a number of years, and in Jacksonville there are two residential schools. One is the School for the Deaf and the Visually Impaired, and the other is the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education. All the period of time that I had represented them in the General Assembly and I -- I still do the major thrust has always been that they wanted to be separated from the Department of Rehabilitation Services and that they felt that they would do better out on their -- on their own, on their own turf. The -- they have been concerned about the decision-making process, that there are too many layers before decisions are -- are to be made by those individuals who are allegedly, supposedly administering to the -- both the School for the Deaf and the Visually Impaired and the Center for Rehabilitation and Education. This only forces them down even further into the bowels of the bureaucracy. I think this only continues to heighten the fears of -- of the deaf and the -- and the blind community. For that very reason, I would rise in opposition. Now, I suppose that this does not take effect until July 1st of next year. I would assume that there would be a number of changes that perhaps would be made to this proposal, and I am not prepared to support this proposal for that -- just that very reason. But I would hope that if this does pass, that those two particular areas of reorganization are given some priority and some attention. And therefore, today I will join in -- in the opposition, and although I am in favor of reorganization, I am not in favor of the proposal that is before us today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Fawell.
Thank you very much. We have heard a lot of what the other 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 side thinks is wrong with this consolidation. I'd like to tell you a couple of things that I think is very right with it. One of the main problems that we have with children that are being born at the present time that are impaired is that a number of them are coming to us as crack babies and as fetal alcohol syndrome babies. This is a fairly new phenomena, but it is progressively getting worse. Part of the problem that we have had in treating these children is that we're not sure which department they belong to. Do they belong to the Department of Mental Health and Developmentally Disabled, do they belong to the Department of Public Health, or do they belong to the Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse (sic)? By consolidating those three agencies, this question should be answered. I happen to serve as vice president of a alcohol and drug treatment facility in DuPage County non-for-profit, of course and one of the problems we are finding with the adults that are coming to us is that after we treat the alcoholism and after we treat the drugs, we find that they are schizophrenic or we find that they are manic depressive. And again the question comes up: Who gets them? Unfortunately, there has been a a problem in the past where agencies have looked at each other and said, "Well, yeah, he's a schizophrenic, but he's really a drunk so, DASA, you take him." "Well, yeah, he's he does have trouble with alcohol, but, you know, his problem is he isn't employed and he can't be employed because, frankly, he isn't trained to do anything, and that's the reason he's drinking. So, Department of Rehabilitation, why don't you take him?" We've had too many people that have been falling through the cracks. The Governor has attempted to solve some of these problems. This isn't the entire solution, but at least it's a good start. I think we all should be on board at that start. No bill is perfect. We will probably have to come back and revisit some of these things as we progress in this direction, but 38 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 it certainly is something that is long overdue. And I urge all to vote in favor of this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Palmer.
Thank you, Mr. President. Some questions of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Sponsor says he will yield.
Senator Rauschenberger, if this -- the intention of this is, as Senator Fawell so eloquently pointed out, to bring together the functions and, therefore, the delivery of services to groups of people, would you tell me, please, the rationale for bringing these particular programs and these three agencies together to the exclusion of others? In other words, is there a program rationale for this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Senator. Let me see if I can give you a couple of the rationales. DASA, DORS and DMHDD, if you go back historically fifteen years ago, were -- were together and are very closely related agencies. DORS operates institutions like Department of Mental Health does. DASA contracts for a provision of service out in the community, just like the other half of Department of Mental Health does. The three directors were -- were very active in the organization and the discussion and felt like that they were very excited or -- or willing to move ahead as a first step. They've worked together before. They have very related clientele. As to the programmatic transfers out of other agencies, let me point this out: What we -- what we tried as a first step out of the Department of Public Health were the social services, the ones 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 10lst Legislative Day May 2, 1996 that directly apply to people, rather than the regulatory functions of the Department of Public Health. We tried to leave regulation over where it is and tried to move the social services. In regards to the Department of Public Aid, the key transfer there is the front door, the county and -- and regional offices, where people first contact the State of Illinois, because we thought that was the logical beginning, together with the cornerstone computer program from the Department of Public Health, to an integrated case-management process and an integrated entry. And I guess the last thing I'd point out: The reason we didn't take Medicaid is, Medicaid is not really a social service; Medicaid is a reimbursement methodology. Service is provided in the medical community by hospitals, by doctors and by providers. Medicaid acts as a reimbursement. And -- and with all of the concerns about Medicaid, we were afraid that, a) it might overfocus the new secretaries, it might distract people, and it was too political for the important human services that we're trying to move into this Department.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Palmer.
Senator, were there public -- two questions combined in one: Were there public hearings throughout the State of Illinois on something this important, and secondly, with the State of Illinois including some of the topflight schools of social work in universities and so forth -- and any number of children's hospitals and other experts on much of what you're talking about, was there any gathering together of people who could identify and could name what best practice is at this point in time? Because I suspect that that's not the case. Senator Fawell was talking about the tragedy of crack babies. That program is not included in this package. 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
Let me try to reassure you a little bit or at least give you an answer to your question. The Governor formed a Task Force on Human Services more than two years ago. It's held statewide hearings all over the State of Illinois. They've worked with people from the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University. Much of the emphasis -- the whole beginning of this in the Governor's Executive Order and his State of the State comes from Gary MacDougal's Commission on -- on Human Services. They did a lot of hearings. In addition to that, as we kind of winnowed down and -- and shrunk the proposal, the Governor's Office held -- I don't know how many, but there were far more than fifteen -- major focus group gatherings where they invited people who were representative and advocate of the -- of the -- the clients of the State of Illinois to come and talk about how reorganization might work and what kind of shape it might take. There -- I have not held any statewide hearings on this bill. The hearing we had is in the Executive Committee, as we do normally.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Palmer.
Thank you. Just a comment, then, on this bill. I have never heard of any of the public hearings, and I represent a district with one of the major universities in the country with one of the major schools of social work. If this were really serious, I cannot understand how we would not have heard anything about the hearings, how we would not be involved and how there would not be consultation on matters this serious. I am very concerned about this. My desk is piled high with letters from organizations, from 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 providers, from constituents, and so forth, deeply troubled by not participating in a discussion of something this major. And I really agree with my colleagues over here who say there is no rush to do this today. If we're serious, then let's have those public hearings and let's bring in people who can help us define what "best practice" is at this point in time and have a real rationale that we can share on why we should do this and how we should do it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Jones.
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Would the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Sponsor says he will yield.
Senator Rauschenberger, in the Exec Committee yesterday, could you tell me, other than the directors who had had to go for this whether they liked it or not, other than them, who else came out and testified in favor of this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
The the Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities signed a a slip in support and attended the the hearing. I I don't have the witness slips with me, but I do recall them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Jones.
Well, isn't it true, Senator, that that this big, thousand-page bill, which I received yesterday I mean, Tuesday and my staff went over it Tuesday night, now was this bill given to any of these focus groups that you talk about two weeks ago, 42 101st Legislative Day three weeks ago?
STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Rauschenberger.
May 2, 1996 Senator, you received one of the first finalized drafts. We we in no way would be take those bills and give them out to people before the legislators had seen them.
Senator Jones. (SENATOR DEANGELIS)
Well -- well, thank you very much, Senator, because you just answered the question. Here you have a thousand-page bill that's going to deal with all the social services in the State of Illinois. You give the bill to us on a Tuesday. You hold a public hearing on Wednesday, and you expect the people, by way of osmosis or they read your mind, and they're going to fly down here automatically and testify. I received hundreds of letters on this issue. And let me say this for the Body and for the public at large: We, on this side of the aisle, are in favor of one-stop shopping. We favor that. But as Senator del Valle pointed out, this is the Department of "Some" Human Services. And I agree with one of the previous sponsors when she talked about some people falling through the crack, because when she talk about the crack babies and she talk about Medicaid, why, Medicaid is not part of this, Senator. Most of the functions of the Department of Public Health are not part of this -- this -- this program. And when you talk about a task force -- and I read practically every word in this bill -- not one word in this bill referenced a task force. You have a resolution, but the resolution is separate and apart. Not one word in this bill indicate there will be a task force assigned to oversee your recommendations and things of that nature. So when you talk about employees of the State of 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 Illinois, there are many employees in Springfield who works for these various agencies. And when you talk about transferring them to a Department of Human Services, and at the same time, you fight against the -- you fight against the court-ordered Rutan agreement, each one of those employees, their job security is at stake. Now, if you -- if you were genuinely sincere -- and it does not take effect until July 1 -- then you would hold this bill to give all those focus groups that you talk about time to give their comment. But when you have a hearing and you have a bunch of yes yes-men or yes-persons there -- and these are the honorable directors of the various departments -- if they were against the bill, if they thought it was wrong, if they thought some -- there should be further input, they would not have the courage to say so, and they did not say so. So, again, the Members on this side of the aisle, if you want to have input, if you want to protect those people who needs protection, if you want to be sure that we have one-stop shopping, then you would be -- either vote No or Present on this bill, because it does not do what the sponsor says it does. END OF TAPE TAPE 2
Senator Philip.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I rise in support of House Bill 2632. And I want to compliment Senator Rauschenberger on all the long, hard work in 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 his committee did trying to put this together. And let me go back a little bit in history. We seem to have very short memories on the other side of the aisle. And we had what we called, if you'll remember correctly, the Chicago School Reform in the mid-eighties, which was a very controversial thing, to say the least. And if I remember correctly, we had a three-hundred-and-sixty-five-page conference committee report. Just a small little document. And if I remember correctly, we did not have a hearing on that last minute amendment. We were promised a hearing. We were promised a synopsis. We were promised some time to evaluate it because it was a very controversial thing. It was printed, plopped on our desks; fifteen minutes later, we passed it. So I hope that the other side of the aisle realizes that occasionally we have to expedite things and shorten things up. Now let me say this that I did: the first copy, other than my office, of this nine-hundred-and-some-page bill went to the Minority Leader's Office, before the Governor's Office even had it. So I went out of my way. I had called him that morning and told him we were going to send it over, and I did send it over as soon as I had it. The Second Floor didn't even have it. Now let me just say this: I think the answer to this whole consolidation is the task force that we're going to create by resolution today. Three from the House; three from the Senate; the Governor picks the Chairman. And let me suggest this: that those Departments, when they're eventually put together -- and remember, the first reporting date of the task force, I believe, is February 1, 1997. So we have some time. That's the first reporting date. And that they all ought to be on the same computer, the same program, and we ought to have a management audit. I'll give you an example: The Department of Public Aid has over a hundred different programs -- a hundred different programs -- and they're all entitlements. What that means is, they get bigger and fatter every year. They have never 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 had a management audit of any of those programs. And some of those programs probably work very well. Somebody ought to come to us and say, "Program A is very good, continue to do it, put more money there. Program B simply doesn't work; you ought to kill it; you shouldn't do it. Or, program C, if you did want two or three, you would improve it." That is the intent of this task force. We hope to have somebody that knows what they're doing evaluate these programs and come back to us and make reasonable recommendations. We intend to have public hearings. So time is on our side; we're not going to do this in fifteen minutes. '97 is the first reporting date. We will have other hearings and another commission report. So I think time is on our side. This isn't going to be done in thirty seconds. So bear with us a little bit. And you remember, the report has to come back to us and we have to adopt this as the law. So you're going to have hearings on those amendments; you're going to have debate on it, SO everybody is going to have their input. Under the Governor's executive order, that would not be true. So we have changed the circumstances. This is a step in the right direction. We ought to have one-stop shopping, where a person that deals with maybe one, two or three different departments, in Human Services, could go to one counselor for their help, their information. I think it's a good idea. In the end, in my judgement, it'll do away with duplication. We ought to end up with a smaller budget, and we ought to end up with less employees.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Collins, for the second time. to close.
Senator Rauschenberger, Well, I appreciate the debate and -- and the thoughtfulness that this Chamber's giving this. I'd like to thank Senator Collins for pointing out, after she had read the bill, that there 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 are no programmatic changes at all in this bill. This bill moves these services in together, into one house, so that we can begin to reorganize that house, through recommendations from a task force that's bipartisan and bicameral, in an effort to make those services better. The people of Illinois deserve better human services. I don't think anyone in this Chamber would say that our our human service program is is so defensible that we can't embrace some change and that it wouldn't bear some study. It also makes sense that people shouldn't have to go shopping to seven or eight agencies to fill out different forms, to to speak with different caseworkers to find out if they're eligible for support and help from the State of Illinois. This is the beginning of something that makes sense. But I would agree, absolutely, this is not the total solution; this is the beginning of a process. We've tried to move things together. We've tried to organize it in a fashion where there'll be input from a lot of people. But just one moment, to input, because, I guess, sometimes I get a little thin-skinned. As Chairman of Appropriation and having been identified with this whole process for more than four months, I have met with every single group that's come to my office, either at the district or here in Springfield. I've been down here most Mondays, in addition to my to the regularly scheduled Session days. I stay almost all Fridays. I've met with every single affected Director and tried to query them and find out what makes sense and what didn't. We tried to make sure everybody had all the input they needed. The task force met with anybody who asked. The focus groups met with all of the interested parties that would a that could come. I mean, the whole idea that this has been surprise, or that we dug this up out of the bowels of the Capitol yesterday, just simply isn't true. People in the press box have known what was going on, what we were discussing for more than two weeks you know, in precise detail. I mean, it's been leaked. 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 Capitol Fax had it for -- two weeks ago. You know, for heaven sakes, Howie, you knew about it. This bill is big, but this bill doesn't do a lot. It's a beginning; it's a beginning that the people of Illinois deserve. I would urge your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) The question is, shall House Bill 2632 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 37 Ayes, 16 Nays, 2 voting Present. House Bill 2632, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. For what purpose does Senator O'Malley seek Resolutions. recognition?
As a matter -- a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) State your point, Senator.
I'd like to welcome some additional fourth-graders from Palos West School. They're here with their teacher, Mrs. Husak. And if they would please stand and be recognized by the Senate. They're over in the rear gallery over here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Will our guests please stand and be recognized? Welcome to Springfield. For what purpose does Senator Demuzio seek recognition?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to -- also, while we're at a lull here, to have the record reflect that Senator Molaro is absent today due to illness.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 The record will -- shall note. Okay. On page 11 of today's Calendar is the Order of Secretary's Desk, Resolutions. Senate Resolution 52. Senator Sieben, you wish that called? Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 52, offered by Senator Sieben. There are no committee amendments, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Are there any amendments that have been approved for consideration?
Amendment No. 1, offered by Senators Sieben and Philip.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Sieben, to explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 1, approved for consideration by the Executive Committee, would effectively become the bill {sic}, and it would disapprove the Governor's Executive Order No. 3 to create the Department of Human Services. Ask for the approval and the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Sieben moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Resolution 52. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say No. The amendment is adopted on the resolution. Now, Senator Sieben, to the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 52, now as -- as amended by Floor Amendment No. 1, effectively moves to disapprove the Governor's Executive Order No. 3, which would have proposed the consolidation of seven existing human service agencies into one Department of 49 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT Human Services. And I -- ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) May 2, 1996 The question is, shall the Senate move the adoption of Senate Resolution 52. All those in favor will vote Aye, and the opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, none voting No, none voting Present. The resolution is adopted. On the Order of Secretary's Desk, Resolution is House Joint Resolution 26. Do you wish that read, Senator Maitland? Read the -- read the resolution, Mr. Secretary.
House Joint Resolution 26, offered by Senator Maitland. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Maitland. Have there been any Floor amendments, Mr. Secretary?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) To the bill {sic}, Senator Maitland.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Joint Resolution 26, as amended, does create the Task Force on Human Services Consolidation, and its responsibilities will be to review, monitor and make recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly regarding the whole area of reorganization of -- of human service agencies and functions. Members, this task force resolution has been addressed a number of times by the speakers this afternoon. And I would suggest that it -- it does -- there are seven voting Members appointed: two by the President of the Senate, one by the Senate Minority Leader, two by the 50 101st Legislative Day STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT May 2, 1996 Speaker of the House, one by the House Minority Leader, and one by the Governor. There would also be seven ex officio members. They'd also be nonvoting members, of course: From the Department of Mental Health, Developmental -- the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Public Aid, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Public Health, and the Bureau of the Budget. The task force is required to monitor the implementation of the Human Services program and to study the effect that this is having upon delivery of services to citizens of the State of Illinois. The Senate President did refer to its first reporting date, that being February 1st of 1997. And they will make other reports as they deem necessary to the Governor and the General Assembly. I think this is just oversight, this umbrella that we've talked about. It was -- it was discussed a great deal in the Executive Committee last week. Mr. President, I'd be happy to respond to any questions that would -- and otherwise would -- would appreciate the Body's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator del Valle.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, as -- as you know, I filed a resolution, that was held in Rules, that would have created a task force, and I appreciated the fact that you kind of copied us, because we were the first to propose that a task force be formed. We had a different time frame in mine, and certainly we didn't intend to act on any legislation prior to the completion of the work of the task force. But our task force called for each legislative leader to have four appointments, and also called for two of the four appointments to be individuals representing provider groups, advocacy groups or consumers. This task force in 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 this resolution has seven members: five Republicans, two Democrats. Six of the seven will be legislators. Consumer groups, provider groups, associations, once again, will be locked out of the process. And so, I urge you to reconsider and to maybe come forth, because I think we do have time with a task force that is going to be bipartisan to the greatest extent possible and also one that will ensure the participation of individuals most affected by this reorganization and individuals out there and groups out there trying to work with the people that are going to need the services and are utilizing the services of these different components.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Maitland, to close.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senator del Valle, your -- your points are -- are well-made, as -- as they always are. A couple of points: Keep in mind this was initially a -- an effort put forth by the Governor to reorganize his agencies. He is in control of these agencies. It is not uncommon for there to be a -- a balance in favor of the Majority Party; that's not -- that's not anything that's unprecedented. And I think that's -- that's as it should be. But let me comment, Ladies and Gentlemen, on the more important issue, on this task force. This is an attempt -- an attempt -- to bring those very concerns that you have, and I have, with respect to all the groups around the State who have a concern on both sides of -- this issue to the task force, to hopefully a hearing or some process like that, to air their concerns and -- and try to help us put together other recommendations that will be made ultimately to the Governor and the General Assembly. This is the openness that we're calling for, and it seems to me this is the responsible way to go. Mr. President, I think this addresses the needs and concerns of -- of 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 all those who have had some concerns this afternoon, and I would would encourage an Aye vote.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Maitland moves the adoption of Senate {sic} Joint Resolution 26. Those in favor will vote Aye. The opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 42 Ayes, 9 voting Nay, 4 voting Present. The resolution, having received the required constitutional majority, is adopted. Senator Weaver moves to suspend the rules... Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution 104, offered by Senator Weaver. (Secretary reads SJR No. 104)
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Senator Weaver moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of the immediate consideration and the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 104. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The Ayes have it. Senator Weaver, to explain the resolution. Senator Weaver has now moved for the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 104. Those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is now adopted. We'll now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With the leave of the Body, all those read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any of the resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections have been filed, Mr. President.
(SENATOR DEANGELIS) Any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 favor, say Aye. Opposed will say No. The motion carries and the resolutions are adopted. Committee Reports.
Senator Weaver, Chair of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Referred to the Committee on Education Senate Joint Resolution 94; to the Committee on Executive Senate Joint Resolution 92 and House Joint Resolution 106; to the Committee on Insurance, Pensions and Licensed Activities Committee House Joint Resolution 97; to the Committee on Judiciary Committee Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 3451 and Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 3617; referred to the Committee on Revenue Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 2702; and to the Committee on Transportation Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 2294.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) For what reason does Senator Watson seek recognition?
Yes, Mr. President. Just an announcement, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) State your announcement.
Thank you. As you know, the softball game, unfortunately, was rained out, but that gives us another couple of weeks to get ourselves in better shape. And so I wanted to announce that 15th of February beg your pardon 15th of May we will have the softball game and we'll go ahead and plan as scheduled. So we'll try to get together again, probably next week, and -- as we have over the last several weeks, and practice and get ourselves into into excellent shape. So we're looking forward to taking on the House once again.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEANGELIS) Thank you, Senator Watson. Is there any further business to 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 101st Legislative Day May 2, 1996 come before the Senate? If not, the Senate, pursuant to the adjournment resolution, stands adjourned until noon, Tuesday, May 7th. Have a good weekend. 55 REPORT: TIFLDAY PAGE: 001 STATE OF ILLINOIS 89TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE DAILY TRANSCRIPTION OF DEBATE INDEX MAY 02, 1996 96/10/07 13:44:24 HB-0022 SECOND READING PAGE 2 HB-0024 SECOND READING PAGE 2 HB-0346 SECOND READING PAGE 3 HB-0347 SECOND READING PAGE 3 HB-1014 SECOND READING PAGE 3 HB-1249 SECOND READING PAGE 4 HB-1286 SECOND READING PAGE 4 HB-2250 SECOND READING PAGE 5 HB-2406 THIRD READING PAGE 22 HB-2413 SECOND READING PAGE 5 HB-2421 SECOND READING PAGE 5 HB-2524 SECOND READING PAGE 6 HB-2529 SECOND READING PAGE 5 HB-2557 SECOND READING PAGE 6 HB-2621 SECOND READING PAGE 7 HB-2632 THIRD READING PAGE 23 HB-2658 SECOND READING PAGE 7 HB-2691 SECOND READING PAGE 7 HB-3057 SECOND READING PAGE 8 HB-3151 THIRD READING PAGE 16 HB-3157 SECOND READING PAGE 8 HB-3193 SECOND READING PAGE 8 HB-3199 SECOND READING PAGE 9 HB-3227 SECOND READING PAGE 9 HB-3238 SECOND READING PAGE 10 HB-3271 SECOND READING PAGE 10 HB-3309 SECOND READING PAGE 10 HB-3348 SECOND READING PAGE 11 HB-3414 SECOND READING PAGE 11 HB-3448 SECOND READING PAGE 11 HB-3455 SECOND READING PAGE 12 HB-3510 SECOND READING PAGE 12 HB-3547 SECOND READING PAGE 13 HB-3601 SECOND READING PAGE 13 HB-3613 SECOND READING PAGE 13 HB-3618 SECOND READING PAGE 14 HB-3638 SECOND READING PAGE 14 HB-3670 SECOND READING PAGE 14 SR-0052 ADOPTED PAGE 49 SR-0204 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 2 HJR-0026 ADOPTED PAGE 50 HJR-0106 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 1 SJR-0103 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 2 SJR-0104 ADOPTED PAGE 53 SJR-0104 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 53 SUBJECT MATTER SENATE TO ORDER-SENATOR DUDYCZ PAGE 1 PRAYER-PASTOR RICK WENNEBORG PAGE 1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PAGE 1 JOURNALS-POSTPONED PAGE 1 MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE PAGE 1 SENATE STANDS AT EASE PAGE 16 SENATE RECONVENES PAGE 16 COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE 16 RESOLUTIONS CONSENT CALENDAR-ADOPTED PAGE 53 COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE 54 ADJOURNMENT PAGE 55