The regular Session of the 91st General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? Our prayer today will be given by Reverend Larry Goetz, Our Savior Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Springfield, Illinois. Reverend Goetz.
(Prayer by the Reverend Larry Goetz)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Radogno. Reading of the Journal. Senator Myers.
Mr. President, I move that reading and approval of the Journal of Wednesday, March 22nd, in the year 2000, be postponed, pending arrival of the printed Journal.
Senator Myers moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. WHAM-TV requests permission to videotape the Session. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. I will turn over the Chair to Senator Bomke to introduce a championship basketball team. Senator Bomke.
Can I have your attention, please? Can I have your attention? It's a pleasure for me to introduce you to the State Class A Boys State Basketball Champions, the Pleasant Plains Cardinals. If any of you had an opportunity to see the semifinal game against the local Riverton Hawks and the Pleasant Plains Cardinal, you will agree that it was the best high school basketball game you've ever seen and probably ever will. Pleasant Plains won that in a triple overtime and came back that evening to beat Teutopolis, avenging a loss to our own State Senator Dave Luechtefeld, who got beat out STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 in the super-sectionals. And I know we were all rooting for Senator Luechtefeld. We all went down to watch him play. Well, we -- I thought Dave would be here. Dave, we avenged that loss and beat Teutopolis. It's a great basketball team. And I'm particularly proud because it is my alma mater. I went to school there and I don't want to tell you how many years ago. And my daughter goes to school -- in fact, one of these boys dates my daughter and if I -- and while I'm on the subject, Jimmy, keep your hands to yourself. We -- we have with us, in addition to the boys today, the Athletic Director, Gary Fraase. Gary and I went to school together. It's hard to believe he's a couple of years older than me, and he was a pretty good ballplayer himself back then, a few years ago. We have John Nelson and Danny Watson, Assistant Coach, and we have Superintendent Dr. Hunt, back here someplace, and the Principal with us, Maureen Talbert, who's with -- behind me today. And I'm extremely proud of these young men, and -- and as I indicated, had you had an opportunity to see that game, you know exactly - what I'm talking about. I also have behind me, next to -- well, I would say my favorite coach. Dave Luechtefeld's a very good friend and he's a great coach, but my favorite coach is Cliff Cameron. Cliff, I don't know if you want to say anything or not?
(Remarks by Coach Cliff Cameron)
Let's give 'em all a round of applause. Thank you. Thank you.
If I might have your attention. This is the day for introductions, it seems, but it's my pleasure to introduce the Illinois County Fair Queen, Sara Irle, of Thomasboro. Thomasboro is in my district. And Sara is a graduate of Rantoul Township STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 High School and is now a student at the University of Illinois. She is majoring in Animal Science and hopes to become a veterinarian one of these days. Sara comes today as a member of the Illinois Agricultural Legislative Day Delegation and her objective is to promote agriculture in Illinois and to increase the awareness of agriculture to the residents of Illinois. Please welcome Sara Irle.
(Remarks by IL County Fair Queen Sara Irle)
Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention, please. You have seen today throughout the Capitol the sea of -- of blue jackets here on Agriculture Day, the State FFA members are here, too, and I'm proud to introduce to you-all today a Mr. Abel Wurmnest, who's eighteen years of age and is the State FFA Vice President. He's the son of Jim and Bonnie Wurmnest, of rural Sibley, and his FFA Advisor is Mr. Larry Littlefield. Abel served as Section 17 President in 1998 and '99, and the Section 17 Treasurer the previous year. He's served as a member and an officer in the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley FFA Chapter. He's now the State Vice President, traveling throughout the State, representing FFA members everywhere, and will be a student at the University of Illinois next year. So, Ladies and -- Gentlemen, would you please give a warm Senate welcome to Mr. Abel Wurmnest, who is State FFA Vice President? Mr. Wurmnest.
(Remarks by State FFA Vice President Abel Wurmnest)
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, if I may have your attention, please. We have two very special guests with us this afternoon who flew down to Springfield from Chicago to promote Organ Owner (sic) (Donor) Awareness. Please welcome to the STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Illinois Senate two members of the 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl Champions, Mr. Dennis McKinnon and Mr. Otis Wilson. First, Mr. Dennis McKinnon.
(Remarks by Mr. Dennis McKinnon)
(Remarks by Mr. Otis Wilson)
Thank you, very much. Be an Organ Donor.
The Senate will please come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Rauschenberger, Chair of the Committee on Appropriations, reports Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 1534 Be Adopted. Senator Mahar, Chair of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports House Bills 4466, 4481 and 4482, all Do Pass. Senator Cronin, Chair of the Committee on Education, reports House Bills 2904, 2977, 3406 and 3993 Do Pass; and House Bill 2917 DO Pass, as Amended, Senator Parker, Chair of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 2870, 3176, 3420, 3951 and 4352 Do Pass; House Bills 3476 and 3936 Do Pass, as -- as Amended; and Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 3312 Be Adopted. And Senator Syverson, Chair of the Committee on Public Health and Welfare, reports Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 182 Be Adopted; and Amendments 3 and 4 to House Bill 2574 Be Adopted.
Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 326, offered by Senator del Valle and all STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Members. Senate Resolution 327, by Senator Link. And Senate Resolution 328, by Senator Emil Jones and all Members . They're all death resolutions, Mr. President.
Consent Calendar. Senator Walsh, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
Mr. President and Members of the Senate, in the President's Gallery, from my district...
Wait. Could we have some quiet for a minute, please? Senator Walsh.
Thank you. In the President's Gallery from my district is the Clifton Central High School Freshman FFA Chapter, with their teacher Michelle Beckmier, visiting here today for Ag Day. I'd like to have them welcomed to the Illinois Senate.
If they'd please rise and be recognized by the Senate. Senator Geo-Karis, for what purpose do you rise?
For a point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point.
STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Mr. President, I have three of my finest constituents sitting in the President's Gallery up there: the Mayor of my town, Lane Harrison, Jim -- from Zion; Jim Belli, from Newport Township, who is an eminent architect/designer; and Andrew Nelson, from Antioch, who is with the Kennedy Brothers Construction. Three wonderful citizens and I'd like you to welcome them here today.
If they would please rise and be recognized by the Senate. Senator Myers, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, point of personal privilege.
State your point.
I have a lot of friends in the galleries everywhere. They're from Coles County, Clark, Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion. In addition, the young people who are filming today are from Mayo School, from Paris, and my two Pages are from Danville. They're Whitney Showers and Sarah Rahn. And if we could welcome all of them, I'd appreciate it.
If they would please stand and be recognized by the Senate. Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President -- thank you, Mr. President. Let the record reflect that Senator Viverito is absent due to a funeral in the -- in his distr ict.
The record will so indicate. We're now going to go to House Bills 2nd Reading, the bottom of page 7 in your Calendar. House Bill 390, Senator Rauschenberger. House Bill 390. Senator Rauschenberger. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary. STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000
House Bill 390. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 730. Senator Geo-Karis. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 730. (Secretary reads title of bill 1 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted one amendment.
Have there been any other Floor amendments been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. The top of page 8. House Bill 2109. Senator Watson. Senator Watson. Take it out of the record, Mr. Secretary. House Bill 2110. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard. House Bill 2109. Senator Watson. Senator Watson. Take it out of the record, Mr. Secretary. House Bill 2110. Senator Dillard. House Bill 2110. Senator Dillard. Take it out of the record. House Bill 2346. Senator Myers. Take it out of the record. House Bill 2570. Senator Syverson. Excuse me. House Bill 2574. Senator Syverson. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 2574. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Public Health and Welfare adopted one amendment. STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative March 23, 2000 PRESIDENT PHILIP Have there been any Floor amendments been approved for consideration?
Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Syverson.
Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Amendment No. 3 is -- is some technical clean-up language to the triplicate legislation that was passed last year.
Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, Senator Syverson moves the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to -- excuse me, Amendment No. 3 to House Bill 2574. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Any further amendments have been.. .
Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Syverson.
Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Amendment No. 4 is language put in from the Department of Human Services that just brings our laws into the new federal guidelines.
Are there any -- discussion? Any discussion? If not, Senator Syverson moves the adoption of Amendment No. 4 to House Bill 2574. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments? STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000
No further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 2855. Senator Donahue. Senator Donahue. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate -- or, House Bill 2855. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3114. Senator Dudycz. Take it out of the record, Mr. Secretary. House Bill 3119. Senator Parker. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
Senate {sic) (House) Bill 3119. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3131. Senator Sieben. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3131. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3225. Senator Dudycz. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3225. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 3rd Reading. House Bill 3293. Senator Clayborne. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3293. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. N o committee or Floor amendments.
3rd reading. Top of page 9. House Bill 3312. Senator Dudycz. Senator Dudycz. Take it out of the record. House Bill 3431. Senator Tom Walsh. Take it out of the record. House Bill 3455. Senator Sullivan. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3455. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 3859. Senator Walsh, Larry. Oh, I'm sorry. Senator Molaro. Take it out of the record. House Bill 3861. Senator Madigan. Senator Madigan. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3861. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 4043. Senator Parker. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 4043. (Secretary reads title of bill 1 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted one amendment. STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000
Have there been any other Floor amendments been approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. House Bill 4092. Senator Demuzio. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 4092. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 4280. Senator Madigan. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 4280. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
3rd Reading. House Bill 4348. Senator Silverstein. Read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 4348. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted one amendment.
Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported. STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000
3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Committee Reports. Can we have it a little more quiet so you can hear them?
Senator Weaver, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports that the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Education Committee - House Bills 2902, 4029, and Senate Resolution 314; refer to Executive Committee - House Bill 3588; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - House Bills 3838 and 3286; refer to Judiciary Committee - House Bills 4237, 4279 and 4300; refer to Local Government Committee - Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 2261.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Resolutions. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, will you turn to page 15 on today's Calendar? And we will start with the Secretary's Desk, Resolutions. Senate Resolution 203. Senator Parker. Madam Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 203, offered by Senator Parker. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Parker.
Thank you, Madam President. Last year we created the Mental Health Evaluation...
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) May we have it a little more quiet? This is an important resolution.
Last year we created a Mental Health Evaluation/Treatment Task STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Force to examine the ways that we actually have involuntary or voluntary admissions. And we did work on that last year, and we came up with some resolutions that we actually have already passed through the Senate. What this resolution does is reauthorize the Mental Health Evaluation and Treatment Task Force to meet on a different topic and that is to -- to -- how to improve the treatment of persons with mental illness in pre-trial detention facilities. I would ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Senator Parker moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 203. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed will say Nay. On this particular resolution, we need a roll call. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Take the record, Madam Clerk. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And this resolution is hereby adopted. Senate Resolution 261. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. We'll pass that over. Senate Resolution 262. Senator O'Malley. Read the resolution, Madam Clerk.
Senate Resolution 262, offered by Senator O'Malley. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator O'Malley.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 262 calls on the federal government to not impose a new proposed federal rule on our states which would require trains to sound their whistles at all railroad crossings. It also provides for an opt-out provision for states like Illinois STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 which have made strides in the area of grade-crossing safety. The new proposed rule would go into effect in 2002. In the current law in Illinois, horn blowing at railroad crossings is left up to the states to regulate. The Illinois -- in Illinois, railroads must sound locomotive horns at all public crossings unless the Illinois Commerce Commission, after a hearing, orders that railroads are excused from sounding their horns at specific crossings. One -- something I'd like to make sure that everybody understands and make sure that I put in the record is that the nature of this mandate is what I would call a -- a very expensive left-handed mandate, because the only way to avoid the rule is to make some very, very costly improvements that aren't necessary. We in the State of Illinois have a wonderful record over the last twenty years of reducing incidents at railroad crossings. And I'll give you the numbers so you know this. In 1978 there were eight hundred and twenty-seven incidents. Because of the work done by the Illinois Commerce Commission in regulating this area in Illinois, it was reduced to one hundred and sixty-eight incidences in 1998. Now having said that, any incident is one too many, as far as I'm concerned. But we need to keep in mind that this mandate that would come with this rule would be very, very expensive to us in Illinois to deal with, and our citizens are increasingly calling some of us about the amount of horn -- horn blowing that is going on in their communities. And the last thing I want you to know - and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have - is that I'm told by one of the individuals who works for the Illinois Municipal -- I'm sorry, for the Northwestern -- the Northwest Municipal Conference, under his research, that actually half of the crossings in the nation that would be affected by this rule are located in the State of Illinois. Another half of -- half of the citizens in the nation affected by this proposed federal rule live in Illinois. So I'd appreciate your support, STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 and be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Senator O'Malley moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 262. There'll be a roll call vote on this. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Take the record, Madam Clerk. On that vote, there are 58 voting Aye, none voting No, no one -- none voting Present. And the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 284. Senator Lisa Madigan. Read the resolution, Madam Clerk.
Senate Resolution 284, offered by Senator Lisa Madigan. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Lisa Madigan.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 284 simply encourages the State Board of Education and the Teacher Certification Board to work with the public universities of the State to create Asian foreign language certification programs. Currently, the State of Illinois certifies Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Latin and Russian. But there are numerous schools throughout the State that are offering courses in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Urdu and Hindi, and they would like to have a program so that the teachers of those languages can receive certification. I know of no opposition and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Hearing none, Senator Lisa Madigan moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 284. Those in favor will say Aye. Those against, Nay. In the STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 opinion of the Chair, the Ayes have it, and the resolution's adopted. Senate Resolution 296. Senator Dillard. Read the resolution, Madam Clerk.
Senate Resolution 296, offered by Senator Dillard. There -- the Committee on Executive adopted Committee Amendment NO. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any Floor -- further Floor amendments?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 296 encourages the University of Illinois and other research-based public universities to expand their role in statewide economic development and to make good-faith efforts to work with appropriate State and private agencies and local community leaders and those interested in economic development. It encourages them to use their facilities, equipment and research and staff in the commercialization of new technology and scientific innovations, as long as it doesn't somehow conflict with their teaching and research missions. And finally, it encourages the U of I and the other research universities to seek and work with other State public and private institutions for expanding technology transfer efforts throughout the State of Illinois. I'd encourage its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Senator Dillard moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 296. All those in favor will say Aye. All opposed will say Nay. In the opinion of STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 the Chair, the Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution -- Senate Joint Resolution 43. Senator del Valle. Madam Secretary, will you read it, please?
Senate Joint Resolution 43, offered by Senator del Valle. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator del Valle. SENATOR dEL VALLE: Thank you, Madam President. This resolution urges the County Board to use its authority under the Longtime Owner-Occupant Property Tax Relief Act to grant an exemption or deferral. This is to reduce the property tax burden for longtime homeowners in areas that are experiencing a lot of development and gentrification. And with reassessment coming up again in the City this year, we're hoping that the County Board will come up with a way of reducing that tax burden -- property tax burden for people who live in these areas. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Hearing none, Senator del Valle moves the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 43. All those in favor will say Aye. All opposed, Nay. In the opinion of the Chair, the Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 48. Senator O'Malley. Read the resolution, Madam Clerk -- Madam Secretary.
Senate -- Senate Joint Resolution 48, offered by Senator O'Malley. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) A little more order, please. Senator O'Malley.
STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Joint Resolution 48 is intended to deal with the funding coming from the federal government, in a specific area. Since 1975 and -- and later on in 1997, with the passage of Individuals with Disabilities Education amendments, federal law has authorized appropriation levels for grants to state under that law, the 1997 law, at forty percent of the average per-pupil expenditures in public elementary and secondary schools. Congress has never appropriated funds equivalent to the authorized level. To put this in perspective for us, the Illinois budget for FY2000 calls for funding in this area totaling eight hundred and sixty-eight million four -- four hundred and twenty-two thousand dollars. Of that amount, the State anticipates receiving approximately one hundred and ninety-five thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven -- a hundred and ninety-five million seven hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars in federal special ed funds, leaving us, if you calculate the forty-percent requirement at the federal level, short two hundred and eighty-one million seven hundred and forty-two thousand dollars. So what we're calling on with this amendment is for the General Assembly to suggest to the Congress, in particular our Congressional Delegation, to do what they can to make sure that the federal government meets its own mandated requirement of forty percent of the funding and alleviate the burden on Illinois taxpayers so special education is properly funded. I'd appreciate your help and support on this and answer any questions you may have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Hearing none, Senator O'Malley moves the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 48 and the adoption thereof. And those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed will say Nay. In the opinion of the Chair, the Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 Joint Resolution 53. Senator Noland. Madam Secretary, will you read the resolution?
Senate Joint Resolution 53, offered by Senator Noland. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Noland.
Thank you. Senate Joint Resolution 53 will establish a task force to investigate the need for appropriate residential facilities for individuals with Acquired Brain Injuries and it'll explore options for providing those residential settings for those individuals.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Any further discussion? Any further discussion? On this resolution, there will be a roll call. And those in favor -- Senator Noland moves the adoption of Resolution -- Senate Joint Resolution 53. And those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. And the roll call is -- voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present, and this resolution is hereby adopted. Madam Clerk, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 3901, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Yes, for an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 State your announcement.
Yes, I know a lot of you have been asking about the softball game and there's another -- a lot of interest in that again this year, and it's April 5th, is when we're going to have that. So put that on your calendar. April 5th is the softball game. Some of us went to spring training last week. I see quite a few good tans around, so I know people have been working out and getting ready. So -- and the House is going to take it serious this year. I've talked to 'em over there. They're -- you know, they haven't over the last couple of years, and they -- they're recruiting people and they're working out, they're practicing, and so we've got to get ourselves together. So next week, probably, we'll -- we'll have a night we'll go out and practice. So bring down some gear or bring up some gear whatever -- however you get over here. And -- and we'll have a practice probably next week. This is -- a good possibility it's going to be Carl Hawkinson's last game. I guess we hope so, running for Supreme Court Justice. Maybe we can bring him back as -- next year, but anyway, so this -- this is -- make sure you understand, April 5th is the softball game - House-Senate softball game. Just -- thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Thank you, Senator Watson. Senator Klemm, for what purpose do you rise?
For the purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) State your announcement, sir.
The Senate -- the Senate Executive Committee's Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments will be meeting in Room 212, at 1 o'clock, and then at 1:10, the Senate Executive Committee, the STATE OF ILLINOIS 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 88th Legislative Day March 23, 2000 full committee, will meet in Room 212 at 1 o'clock -- or, ten after one. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) All right. The Senate Executive Subcommittee will meet at 1 o'clock in Room 212. And the regular committee meeting of the Senate Executive Committee will be meeting at -- at 1:10 p.m. in Room 212. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Thank you, Madam President. I -- I was just concerned that people weren't paying attention when our captain talked about the softball game and how important it is. It's earlier this year, and some of the guys are kind of old, over fifty, unlike the captain and myself, and I -- they need to stretch and get out there and take this game seriously. It will be Carl Hawkinson's last game, as he goes to the Supreme Court, We got to send him out with a victory.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR GEO-KARIS) Well, I must say, if -- if you're over fifty, you've -- you ' ve been doing very well, except when you drop your balls. But -- any further discussion? Any further business to come before the Senate? Senator Duane Noland moves that the Senate stand adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., Friday, March 24, 2000. We stand adjourned till 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. REPORT: TIFLDAY STATE OF ILLINOIS PAGE: 001 91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE DAILY TRANSCRIPTION OF DEBATE INDEX MARCH 23, 2000 HB-0390 SECOND READING PAGE HB-0730 SECOND READING PAGE HB-2574 SECOND READING PAGE HB-2855 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3119 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3131 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3225 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3293 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3455 SECOND READING PAGE HB-386 1 SECOND READING PAGE HB-3901 FIRST READING PAGE HB-4043 SECOND READING PAGE HB-4092 SECOND READING PAGE HB-4280 SECOND READING PAGE 89-4348 SECOND READING PAGE SR-0203 ADOPTED PAGE SR-0262 ADOPTED PAGE SR-0284 ADOPTED PAGE SR-0296 ADOPTED PAGE SR-0326 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE SR-0327 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE 3-0328 RESOLUTION OFFERED PAGE SJR-0043 ADOPTED PAGE SJR-0048 ADOPTED PAGE SJR-0053 ADOPTED PAGE SUBJECT MATTER SENATE TO ORDER-PRESIDENT PHILIP PAGE PRAYER-THE REVEREND LARRY GOETZ PAGE JOURNAL-POSTPONED PAGE INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS-SENATOR BOMKE PAGE REMARKS BY PLEASANT PLAINS COACH CLIFF CAMERON PAGE INTRODUCTION OF GUEST-SENATOR WEAVER PAGE REMARKS BY IL COUNTY FAIR QUEEN SARA IRLE PAGE INTRODUCTION OF GUEST-SENATOR MAITLAND PAGE REMARKS BY STATE FFA VP ABEL WURMNEST PAGE INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS-SENATOR DUDYCZ PAGE REMARKS BY MR. DENNIS MCKINNON PAGE REMARKS BY MR. OTIS WILSON PAGE COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE COMMITTEE REPORTS PAGE ADJOURNMENT PAGE