PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The regular Session of the 94th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Michael Keppler, Springfield Southern Baptist Church. Pastor Keppler.
(Prayer by Pastor Michael Keppler)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Thursday, May 5th, 2005, and Tuesday, May 10th, 2005.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Madam President, I move the -- move that the Journals just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government, reports Senate Resolutions 38, 92, 110, 115, 116, 139, 147, 148, 156, 157 and 178 Be Adopted; and Senate Joint Resolutions 3, 5, 13, 14, 20, 22, 26, 28, 31, 32, 34, 35, 41 and 43 Be Adopted; and House Joint Resolution 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13 and 19 Be Adopted. Senator Schoenberg, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations II, reports Senate Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1548 Be Adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Senate Resolution No. 187, offered by Senator Collins and all Members. It is a death resolution, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 2521, offered by Senator Rutherford. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3511, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3524, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 3523, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the House bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) On page 92 of the Calendar is the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. After we do 2nd Reading, it’s our intention to go directly to 3rd Readings. So at this time I would like to make sure all the Members come to the Floor so that we can proceed. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I brought some ringers for tonight’s softball game with me today - a bunch of thirteen-year-olds. My son, Michael, has brought his friends, Tommy Crowley, the only Democrat in the group over here; Jack Smith, Joe McIlhattan, Sean Whitney and Mike Zimmerman. If the Senate could welcome them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. From the looks of things we could probably use all of you for the softball game tonight. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 I also have some relief players.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) All right.
I’d like to ask the Senators to welcome to the Senate Floor today, Andrew, here on my left, and we have Garrett, Samantha, Josh and Billy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. And with all of you guys, we’ve got quite a baseball game. Senator Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
I’d like to introduce to the Body my Page for the Day, Niki Fremarek. She’s a seventh grader from Homer Glen and she’s visiting with us today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. Thank you for being here. Okay. Page 92 of the Calendar. Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. Senator Crotty, on House Bill 2. Senator Crotty, on House Bill 3. Senator Dillard, on House Bill 18. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 18. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 21. Senator Righter, on House Bill 23. Senator Haine, on House Bill 27. Senator DeLeo, on House Bill 35. Senator DeLeo. Top of page 93. Senator Crotty, on House Bill 44. Senator Winkel, on House Bill 48. Senator Dillard, on House Bill 53. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 53. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, on House Bill 55. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate {sic} Bill 55. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Housing and Community Affairs adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sandoval, on House Bill 56. Senator Maloney, on House Bill 60. Senator Silverstein, on House Bill 62. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 62. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Brady, on House Bill 120. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 120. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, on House Bill 121. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 121. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on House Bill 130. Senator Roskam, on House Bill 132. Senator Link, on House Bill 157. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. I apologize. Out of the record. There’s a hold on that. Senator Geo-Karis, on 174. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 174. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Trotter, on House Bill 175. With leave of the Body, we’ll return to 188. Senator Peterson, on 190. Senator Haine, on 212. Top of page 95. Senator Petka, on House Bill 220. Senator Dillard, on 237. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 237. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Brady, on 265. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 265. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 298. Senator Harmon, on 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 315. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 315. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Peterson, on 316. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 316. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Insurance adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Peterson, on 316. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. Oh! I’m sorry. I just did that. Senator Winkel, on 325. Senator Collins. 328. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 328. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Jacobs, on 330. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 330. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sieben, on 340. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
House Bill 340. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’re going to return to page 92 and pick up House Bill 3. Senator Crotty. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator DeLeo, on House Bill 35. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 35. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Back to page 96. Senator Schoenberg, on 348. Senator Dillard. 349. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 349. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Collins, on 350. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 350. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Winkel, on 360. Senator Righter. 361. Senator Righter. Oh, no. Senator Trotter, on 369. Senator Raoul, on 380. Senator Lightford. 383. Senator Lightford. 384. Senator Cullerton. 394. Senator Watson. 395. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 395. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Top of page 97. Senator Petka, on 396. With leave of the Body, we’ll return to 399. Senator Meeks, on House Bill 406. Senator Sandoval, on 438. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 438. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Cronin, on 457. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 457. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Raoul, on 466. Senator Dillard, 480. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 480. (Secretary reads title of bill) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Health and Human Services adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Harmon, on 481. Senator Wilhelmi, on 487. Senator Clayborne. 488. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 488. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 504. Senator Hunter, on 511. Out of the record. Top of page 98. With leave of the Body, we’ll return to House Bill 504. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 504. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or -- or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Clayborne, on 515. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 515. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Collins, on 523. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 523. (Secretary reads title of bill) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Lightford, on 527. Senator Hendon, on 529. Senator Righter, on 551. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 551. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Revenue adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 561. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 561. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link. 566. Senator Hunter, on 595. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 595. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Jacobs, on 596. Senator Winkel, on 598. Senator Righter, on 610. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 610. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Martinez, on 615. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 615. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Althoff, on 655. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 655. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on 657. Senator Link. 657. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 657. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Althoff, on 668. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 668. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Cullerton. 672. Senator Petka. 676. Senator Petka, on 676. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 676. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator del Valle, on 678. Senator Righter, on 690. Senator Lightford. 695. Top of page 100. Senator Crotty, on House Bill 700. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 700. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd -- 3rd Reading. Senator Sullivan. 708. Senator John Sullivan. Senate -- Senator Martinez, on 712. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 712. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on 720. Senator Risinger, on 721. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 721. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Hunter, on 733. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 733. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Meeks, on 755. Senator Meeks. Senator Lauzen, on 756. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 756. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Ronen, on 760. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 760. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 766. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 766. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Althoff, on 767. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 767. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator DeLeo, on 780. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 780. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 793. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
House Bill 793. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Shadid, 804. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 804. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Righter, on 805. Senator Righter. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 805. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 815. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 815. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 816. Senator Haine, on 816. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 816. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Hendon, on 823. Mr. Secretary, read 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 the bill.
House Bill 823. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Jacobs, on 829. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 829. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on 834. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 834. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, 864. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 864. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Cronin, on 866. Senator Cronin. 866. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 866. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator DeLeo, 870. Senator DeLeo. 870. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill -- House Bill 870. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Silverstein, on 872. Senator Harmon, on 873. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 873. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on 875. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 875. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Ronen, on 876. Senator Ronen. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 876. (Secretary reads title of bill) 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator del Valle, on 881. Senator Harmon, on 884. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 884. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Roskam, on 892. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 892. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Dillard, 893. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 893. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator DeLeo, on 900. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 900. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading. Senator Clayborne, on 918. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 918. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Harmon, on -- 920. Senator Demuzio, on 931. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 931. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 956. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 956. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator del Valle, on 960. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 960. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sandoval, on 1039. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1039. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Althoff, on 1041. Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. I appreciate it very much. We have a group with us today who, I believe, are from my district and Senator Haine’s district in Edwardsville. It’s the Trinity Lutheran School and they’re in the Senate gallery behind the -- the Democrats and we’d like to welcome ‘em here to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Senator Sieben, on 1074. Senator Cullerton, on 1079. Senator Martinez, for what purpose do you rise?
For the point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
Today I have with me, Kirsten Edfors, from Ogden School. She is eleven years old. She’s in sixth grade and her favorite class is mathematics and she’ll help us with our budget. So, I want to welcome her, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) All right. Well, welcome to Springfield. Welcome to Springfield. Senator Sandoval, on 1106. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1106. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sandoval, on 1109. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1109. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 1149. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1149. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 1177. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1177. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on 1195. Senator Sandoval, on 1197. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1197. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Link, on 1285. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1285. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 1289. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1289. (Secretary reads title of bill) 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Clayborne, on 1321. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1321. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 1334. Senator Schoenberg, on 1336. Senator Link, on 1391. Senator Link. 1391. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1391. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Schoenberg, on 1457. Senator Schoenberg, on 1457. Senator Cullerton, on 1469. Senator Cronin, on 1471. Senator Cronin. 1471. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1471. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator John Sullivan, on 1511. Senator Link, on 1517. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1517. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 1541. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 1541.
House Bill 1541. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Trotter, on 1548. Senator Link, on 1562. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1562. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on 1565. Senator Munoz. Senator David Sullivan, on 1569. Let’s go back to… With leave of the Body, we’ll first return to 1565. Senator Munoz. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1565. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Sullivan, on 1569. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1569. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Top of page 106. Senator Raoul, on 1870. Mr. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1870. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Wojcik, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I rise for point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
I have next to me my Page and he’s from -- Bartlett High School. He’s also received the Eagle Scout Award from Troop 26 and his parents are in the gallery, Frank Forestiere and Kim Forestiere.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the gallery rise? And welcome to everybody to Springfield. Senator Shadid, for what purpose do you rise?
Well, you surprised me, Madam President. I have an announcement to make. There happens to be four of our colleagues who are having a birthday in May and we’re going to start with the oldest one. Lou Viverito, who has threatened me if I tell you how old he is. All I can tell you is, he’s been on Social Security for quite awhile and he didn’t start collecting it at age sixty-two. Lou, happy birthday to you, buddy. And the -- the one -- next one’s birthday has been today -- was today, and I talked to him. He called me last night and I told him, “Are you going to show up for your birthday tomorrow?” And he said, “Boy. I’d like to.” He said, “But I don’t think I can make it, but I’ll be looking down on you.” Now, Vince Demuzio was born on May 7th and he said he’s having some fun up there. He’s visiting with my kid and they’re just having a great time, smoking a cigar every now and then and enjoying themselves. So, how about a big hand for our late Senator Demuzio? And it also happens to be -- 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 it’s not her birthday. She won’t tell us when it is or how old she is. My seatmate, Deanna Demuzio, who’s celebrating a one- year anniversary today. How about a big hand? We’re glad to have her. Thank you. Senator Wilhelmi is May 14th. He -- I don’t know how old he is. He looks like he’s about thirty. Nice guy. Happy birthday. And the only reason we’re celebrating this altogether is we don’t have the money that some of you folks, like Clayborne and them have. They can have their own birthday cake. So we all chipped in and we’ve got cupcakes. And they’re -- you know, and Lou always says cupcakes with a limp wrist. So, I don’t know what he means by that. So, and it’s also my birthday and I was born on May 15th. So, thank you for -- we…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Happy birthday to everybody.
Well, I can’t give you my age, but my wife and I’ll be celebrating our fifty-second anniversary May 30th, so I got married when I was about eight years old and she was nine. So, thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Congratulations. Thank you, Senator. Happy birthday to everybody. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
I have with me today as an Honorary Page, Kaitlyn Peterson from Chatham, who is visiting with us and helping us today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
Madam President, I’d like to call the attention of the 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senate to visitors from Bethalto, Illinois. They’re school children, the eighth grade of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Bethalto. They’re accompanied by Rosemary Dorsey, their eighth- grade teacher, and they’re also accompanied, besides a number of parents, Assistant State’s Attorney Theresa Hagans, who is an outstanding prosecutor for Madison County. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, Our Lady Queen of Peace, behind the Republican Caucus.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? And welcome to Springfield. Senator Ronen, on House Bill 1971. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1971. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Munoz, on -- out of the record. Senator Jacobs, on 2137. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2137. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Labor adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Demuzio, on 2190. Senator Demuzio, on Senate -- on House Bill 2190. Senator Viverito, on 2241. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2241. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 2343. Senator Garrett. Senator Risinger, on 2351. Senator Schoenberg, on 2451. Senator Trotter, on 2509. Senator Maloney, on 2531. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2531. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Health and Human Services adopted Amendments No. 2 and 3.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Trotter, on -- House Bill 2533. Senator DeLeo, on 2580. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2580. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator John Sullivan, on 2596. Senator Link, on 2611. Senator Radogno, on 2700. Senator Radogno. 2700. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2700. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Althoff, on 2853. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2853. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will return to 2596. Senator John Sullivan. 2596. Okay. Senator -- Senator Schoenberg, on 2892. Senator Risinger, on 3272. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3272. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Garrett, on 3417. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3417. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) I’m sorry, Mr. Secretary, Senator Garrett says out of the record. Senator Radogno, on 3480. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3480. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Righter, on 3504. Senator Hunter, on 3515. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3515. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Winkel, on 3526. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3526. 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Risinger, on 3532. Senator Althoff, 3544. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3544. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Harmon, on 3650. Senator DeLeo, on 3694. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3694. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Wilhelmi, on 3755. Senator Althoff, 3819. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3819. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 3rd Reading. Senator Silverstein, on 3874. On page 67 of the Calendar is the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. This is final action. House Bill 15. Senator Demuzio, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 15. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Yes. Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 15 is a bill that started out locally with our Macoupin County Otter Lake Water Commission, and this allows -- this bill would make the changes and give a little bit more power to the Otter Lake Water Commission in Macoupin County. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 15 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 15, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hunter, on House Bill 20. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 20. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 20 amends the State Commemorative Dates Act and it basically -- designates November of each year as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and I’ll ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. I rise in support of this bill. It passed out of the Health and Human Services Committee, I believe, on the agreed bill list, and appreciate the sponsor’s work.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 20 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. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay and 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 none voting Present. And House Bill 20, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 29. Senator Maloney, on House Bill 43. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 43. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 43 would create the Construction Site Temporary Restroom Facility Act to ensure compliance with OSHA’s requirement. This would -- is an initiative of the Illinois Plumbing Inspectors Association. It - - generally, OSHA requirements aren’t enforced locally and this would give authority to municipal and county inspectors to ensure compliance with the Act. This would result in a cleaner work environment and increased worker productivity. I would -- happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Madam President. This came before the Labor Committee. It’s a very good bill. I urge your Aye support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 43 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. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 43, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on House Bill 59. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 112. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 114. Senator Cullerton, on 115. Senator Bomke, on 116. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 116. (Secretary reads title of bill) 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Bomke.
Thank you, Madam President. This simply amends the State Employment {sic} Group Insurance Act of 1971. Allows active duty military personnel to add time in active duty to the time they can be enrolled in a school and still be considered a dependent. This comes by way of a constituent that son had entered the military, spent four years in the military, when they got out, as we all know, at age twenty-three you do not qualify for group health insurance or to be under your parent’s group health insurance plan. This would allow a -- a person who’s been in the military at least two years to be covered up to age twenty-five. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Thank you. Senator, does the individual involved who’s enrolled in school have to be living at home or what -- what’s the residence requirements?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Bomke.
They -- they have to be enrolled as a full-time student, not unlike it currently is in order to qualify for group health insurance up to age twenty-three. The same criteria applies.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 116 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. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, and none voting Present. And House Bill 116, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Clayborne, on 156. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 156. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton. I mean -- I’m sorry. Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Madam President. I’m just -- I’m -- I don’t think it does. Under House Bill 156, a student may continue enrollment with a school district if he or she must move outside the district due to military service obligation of a legal custodian. The resident -- residency exemption is valid only for the length of military obligation and the school district that the child attends is not required to pay for transportation. I would ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 156 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 156, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 172. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 172. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank -- thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 172 amends the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act regarding reports where there is alleged child abuse and neglect. What this does is to allow DCFS -- they must maintain for an interval of no less than fifty years after a report of child abuse or neglect has been -- has happened. I ask for a favorable roll. 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. I rise in support of the bill. It did pass out of committee unanimously and I urge its support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 172 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 172, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Pankau, on 173. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 173. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Pankau.
Thank you. Senate Bill -- or House Bill 173 provides that income tax withholding notices shall not {sic} include the Social Security number of the obligor only. Right now, you’ve got the obligor, the obligee, and the children. So, this -- in other words, the guy who owes the child support is the only one whose Social Security number is on there, and this, again, is another one of the bills to help secure identity and privacy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 173 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 173, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 181. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 181. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 181 amends the Department of State Police Law -- regarding children’s fingerprints. This bill would ask for written permission from a parent or a guardian to retain the fingerprint records of a child collected at the State Fair or other locations. It also allows the use of the record only where the child is missing or abducted or in the case of an Amber Alert or a missing persons report and for no other purpose. Also the fingerprint record must be destroyed after the child has reached the age of eighteen. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 181 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 181, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Geo-Karis, on 197. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 197. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this bill amends the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan. Provides that a person is not eligible for coverage under the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan if the person has or later receives benefits or funds from a settlement, judgment, or award resulting from an accident or injury and the remaining amount exceeds three hundred thousand, rather than one hundred thousand. 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 I ask for favorable passage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 197 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, and none voting Present. And House Bill 197, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator John Sullivan, on 203. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 203. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 203 amends the Election Code with regard to the delivery of absentee ballots. Current law allows for the personal delivery of absentee ballots to a qualified voter admitted to a hospital five or fewer days before an election. This legislation adds persons admitted to a nursing home or a rehabilitation center. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 203 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 203, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Pankau, for what purpose do you rise?
For a matter of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point. 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Behind you in the gallery today are Gertrude and Florian Roman. They’re from Bloomingdale. And Florian is a usher with my husband, John, at five o'clock mass on Saturdays. So would you please greet them from Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Senator Hunter, on House Bill 210. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 210. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 210 amends the Illinois Early Learning Council. This -- this bill came out of the Health and Human Services Committee on the agreed bills list. And, basically, what it does is to require nutrition, nutrition education and physical education activity in early childhood education programs and I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 210 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, and none voting Present. And House Bill 210, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Burzynski, on 229. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 229. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill came to me. It allows for noncontiguous properties to be included into an Ag area. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 229 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 229, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Brady, on 245. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 245. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Brady. Out of the record. Senator Demuzio, on 264. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 264. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 264 amends the Cemetery Protection Act and what this does is it establishes procedures for determining if burial plots are abandoned. It amends the Act to -- include mausoleum crypts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there…
I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.
Thank you -- thank you, Madam President. Rise in support of 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 the bill. The bill passed out of the committee unanimously.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Pankau. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 264 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 264, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 270. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 270. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 270 amends the Property Tax Code regarding exemptions up to assessed value of seventy thousand for home owned and used exclusively by disabled veterans or their unmarried surviving spouse. I ask for a favorable roll.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill enjoyed the unanimous support of both sides of the aisle in Revenue Committee. Urge a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 270 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 270, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 295. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 295. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Madam President and Members of the Senate, House Bill 295 amends the Illinois Pesticide Act regarding nonrestricted use pesticides. What this does is require pesticide dealers that sell nonrestricted use pesticides for use in agricultural commodities in containers greater than 2.5 gallons or ten pounds to register with the Department of Ag. I ask for a favorable roll.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there -- is there any discussion? Senator Dahl.
Madam President, this bill passed Ag Committee with a favorable vote. I encourage the Members to vote Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 295 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 295, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Collins, on 312. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 312. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. As we prepare to remember the victims of the Holocaust, I think this legislation is very appropriate today. Basically, as we know, what the legislation asks is that in addition to the Holocaust being taught in elementary and high schools, this bill 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 requires an additional unit of instruction regarding other incidents of genocidal activity, including, but not limited to, the Armenian Genocide and the most recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and the Sudan. Thank you and I ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Cronin.
Thank you very much, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. You know, I rise in reluctant opposition to this, because the intentions are good, the subject matter is important and -- and I think everyone here in the Body believes that these horrible atrocities that have occurred in recent history are things that our students definitely should know. The problem with this, of course, is -- is the fact that we have a limited amount of time to teach and a limited amount of resources to -- to convey those instructions and today it’s the -- the Rwanda Genocide, which is a -- a horrible atrocity. Tomorrow, you know, we don’t know what it is and the next day it’s going to be even more. I mean, I guess the point is, is that we need to trust the local school boards. We need to trust the administrators that they are going to design curriculum that is -- that is truly important, and for us to tell people what we believe is important, because we know better, I think is sort of a dangerous precedent. It’s a practice that we’ve done around here for a long time, and, you know, I guess the Governor said it best when he dropped that giant book of mandates on the Podium when he delivered his State of the State address. And he said that he wants to do something very meaningful and significant to get away from the mandates and this is just another mandate. I -- it’s an important subject matter, but that’s beside the point. I rise in reluctant opposition and I ask for you to consider my thoughts on this matter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. I -- you know, I -- I know that the sponsor is really sincere about this, wants to do good things. I guess I just would -- I -- I taught 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 school for a long, long time. History. And I guess I just would ask the Members of the Senate on both sides of the aisle, are we really sure we want to do this? You know, what -- what you’re asking is certainly not bad and -- and -- and anyone who might vote against it might be accused of not caring, not understanding, all of that sort of stuff. But I -- I guess I say, where do you stop? What next? Or do we find next year we have another bill like this? You know, I guess I would let it to the -- to the discretion of the teachers. Hopefully they will do a good job and do a lot of this on their own. Where -- where do we stop this sort of thing - the mandates that we require? You know, I found it very difficult to get the -- to get the history -- history gets bigger every year. And I found it extremely difficult to -- to get through the book that you had and then have a lot of other mandates to do. You know, I -- again, I -- I know that likely this may pass, because people are going to say, you know, they -- the people who vote against it don’t care, but I -- I just think this is a bad road to go down. We’re already trying -- we’re trying to teach more than we can possibly teach already. And, again, on both sides of the aisle, I -- I would give this some thought, really, before I’d vote for it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in strong support of this bill. I heard recently on a St. Louis radio station a quiz given young adults - those attending the later years of high school, early years of college. These young adults could not determine accurately who Adolph Hitler was or Joseph Stalin. Now, something is amiss when we produce students who do not understand these momentous events, especially events which are filled with terror sponsored by government. I think we lose something as a society if our people remain ignorant of what terrible evils have been perpetrated on mankind as a result of government terror, primarily government terror. And this bill would say to the teachers, without any lack of respect, the people of Illinois consider it important to have an educated citizenry and we do not wish to repeat history because we know 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 what evils have been done in the past. So this is a good bill. This is a balanced bill. These are not topics which are trivial and they’re -- they come right up to recent times. I would like the students to know of these great crimes and the misguided leadership of otherwise civilized nations that brought this to occur. Thank you, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Ronen.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise in strong support of Senator Collins’ bill and I want to commend her for bringing this forward. And I want to associate myself with all of the remarks of Senator Haine. He’s exactly right. If history becomes too much for us to teach, there’s something wrong - something terribly wrong, not only with our schooling system, but with our society. Now, somebody once said the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. We need to recognize and understand and make sure our children understand what is happening around the world. That’s the only way, the only way we can make sure that history does not repeat itself. So, would urge all my colleagues to vote for this very reasonable bill that sets forth what our beliefs are and our policy and says very clearly that we stand firm against these atrocities that happen around the world and we need to make sure that children everywhere are taught about them and understand them. That’s the only hope we have to make sure they don’t happen again.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Silverstein.
Thank you, Madam President. I stand in strong support of this bill. You know, it’s kind of apropos we do this today, ‘cause at 11 o'clock we have the Holocaust memorial service today. And anytime you go to a Holocaust memorial service, the words are “never again” repeated - “never again”. And the reason we say that is in order to have it “never again” is we have to educate, whether it be in the schools or anywhere else, and to educate children about other events that have happened, as Senator Haine pointed out, by the government is extremely essential. So, I -- and I understand there are concerns on the 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 other side of the aisle, but “never again” means educating our children and -- and I hope that we get a lot of greens -- lights on the board. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I, too, stand in -- in strong support of -- of this bill and I also would like to commend my colleague, Senator Collins, for -- for being honest enough to bring this bill to the Floor. You know, as events occur -- this is -- this is what current events that -- that we’re taught in school is all about. You’re supposed to keep abreast of what’s going on in the world, and if we do not do that, then shame on us for not doing so. So I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. Who can -- who can not be in support of a bill as presented this morning by Senator Collins, but I echo the sentiments of my colleagues, Senator -- Cronin and Senator Luechtefeld. Where do we draw the line here? Where do we draw the line in the classrooms of the children in the State of Illinois? I want to refer to the remarks made by the gentleman from Alton, Illinois, Senator Haine, talking about the rein of terror by many governments. Well, we don’t need to go very far to -- to learn about the reign of terror of governments, ‘cause we’d experience it right in our own country. We -- it right in my own backyard in Little Village and Cicero with the deportation of American citizens whose parents are undocumented immigrants from Mexico. When we see that our -- when we see the social injustice reign on by the American government on the undocumented children in not providing health care to young children in Little Village. You know, where do we draw the line? Where do we draw the line? And there are enough atrocities that occur in this country, social injustices, discrimination. Where do we draw the line? Let’s look -- let’s be a little more reflective of what happens in our own backyard, in southern Illinois, in Beardstown, in Alton, in Elgin, in 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Waukegan, in La Villita, in Cicero, and let’s talk about real -- let’s -- let’s educate our children about real American values like family, God, belief in the American way of life. So, I stand in support of Senator Collins’ bill, but I also want to say that, you know, I think we need to get back to the basics in the classrooms and spend the amount of time, the little amount of time that our children have in the classroom, learning about math and science and technology.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.
Thank you, Madam President. With all due respect to the last speaker, I’m supporting this bill, but I don’t think it has anything to do with documented immigrants, undocumented or whatever. I think it has to do with atrocities. That’s the way I understand. Now, if it doesn’t, I wish the sponsor would tell me what it means. This bill, I think, is talking about the Holocaust and anyone else that was involved, stuff like that - not immigrants who are legal or illegal. So, I just want to make sure my vote is correct. Would you explain that? Does this have anything to do with the undocumented immigrants?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield. Senator Collins.
Thank you. This bill specifically deals with human atrocities, but we’re trying to set a climate where kids or children in -- are educated to the capacity for people to develop a insensitivity that leads to discrimination that might also be reflected in how we treat our neighbor or the immigrants. But basically, this specific legislation deals with human atrocities and genocide.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Shadid.
Thank you very much. In other words, atrocities like what was happening in Iraq. Those were atrocities. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Emil Jones. 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Thank you, Madam President. I rise in strong support of this legislation and I -- I have the utmost respect for those who are in the classrooms throughout the State of Illinois and their teaching, but sometimes, you’ve heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, we are all teachers equally as well, and usually a teacher will convey to the students her experiences of what they think is best, and I was the sponsor of the bill that included the Holocaust being taught in the school system throughout the State of Illinois. And I know from attending school how limited the teachers are as relate to history, because when I went to school I was programmed. I did not know all the great contributions folks made of color to this society - the inventions and the things that they did. I didn’t know about the kings and -- and queens of Africa. I didn’t know about all that, ‘cause it was not taught and it was taught by teachers, as far as history. So we are part of that village. Children should be educated, not programmed. So we must educate them on what’s going on in the world and we are part of the village that -- that’s -- that’s here to help educate children. It’s not that we -- we leave it all to the educators, but we are part of that team. So I cannot see why one would stand in opposition to this bill, because I’ve heard the same words spoken on legislation when we talked about divesting funds in South Africa and the same funds as relate to divestment of funds in -- in -- in -- in -- in the Sudan. Children need to know. They should be educated and not programmed. That’s why this legislation is important, because we are part of that institution and it should receive unanimous support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins, to close.
In my closing, I would like to address some of the concerns raised before I make my closing remarks. These -- the -- each school board has the capacity to determine the minimum instructional time needed to satisfy the requirement. And if you do any basic Internet search, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge already developed - developed resources, including lesson plans and supporting materials for education. So, it could -- it could 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 even be just as limited as one hour where you can require the students to look at a -- a film, like the Hotel Rwanda. So it’s not that expansive, because the school board still has the discretion to determine how much time they want to -- to direct to the instruction. And let me just say that, as a Democrat living in a democracy, we take our values for granted sometimes and democratic institutions and values are not automatically sustained, but need to be appreciated, nurtured and protected. That silence and indifference that comes when we see the suffering of others is an infringement on civil rights and human rights in our society. Many people, when they look back at the Holocaust and other genocides, they say, “Well, I would not have been involved in such human degradation or atrocities”, but we find that people can be complicit in their silence and not understanding the damage that comes from -- when a government engages in legal discrimination, which allows prejudice and hatred and slaughter. As a -- a -- a descendant of slaves in America, I think that it is very important for us to be inclusive in our history, and so sometimes that -- that requires us to go back and insert what might have been left out of the history books, because history is usually written by those in power. So -- but we are all a part of this nation and we should all be recognized for the contributions and we should be proud to stand on creating the character in our students that can export the -- the principles that make us strong as a nation. We are an inclusive society. We respect others, and we want to recognize that we have the capacity to do evil and let’s make our children not victims of repeating history. For those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. So I just ask for a favorable vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall House Bill 312 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 47 Yeas, 5 voting Nay, 5 voting Present. And House Bill 312, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on House Bill 324. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 324. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill is a -- a bill which would allow local government employees and private sector full- time employees who work for companies with over fifty-one - fifty or more employees to have an hour off to donate blood. It is with the permission of the employer and it’s only consistent with the Department of Public Health’s guidelines. And it just -- it’s consistent with the Organ Donor Leave Act, which has been applicable to State employees, and it has increased the donation of blood, because it brings it to the attention of employee and employer. So I would ask for -- your support on this bill. It’s -- we need more blood.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. This bill came through the Labor Committee. It was a unanimous Aye vote out of the committee. However, for those who are sensitive to the accumulation of bills that we have had this Session about leave, this is a voluntary thing; however, some of the business industry are telling us to be very careful of the number of bills that we are passing dealing with leave. So this is -- if this is a sensitivity to you, please be aware that this is in this bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 324 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, 1 voting Present. And House Bill 324, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you, Madam President. For purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your announcement.
Thank you. My understanding is we’re going to recess for a period of time. We will be having a Senate Republican Caucus at 12:30 today in Senator Watson’s Office. 12:30. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The Senate will stand in recess until the call of the Chair. After the Senate will convene, somewhere around 1 o'clock, we will return for further Floor action on 3rd Readings. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senate will come to order. Will all Members within the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Chamber? We will be going to 3rd Reading. Members, please come to the Senate Chambers. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 188, offered by Senator Maloney. Senate Resolution 189, offered by Senator Sandoval. And Senate Resolution 190, offered by Senator Winkel. They’re all substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) We are prepared to go to the Order of 3rd Reading, final passage. We ask Members to please come to the Floor. Senator Wilhelmi, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, it is my honor to introduce to you one of the principals from my district who happens to be in the gallery - in the President’s Gallery. His name is Brad Buzenski. He’s also with 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 two of his colleagues and I’d like to give a warm welcome to Principal Buzenski and all the good work he does at Richland Grade School.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Welcome. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of clarification.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
The Senator just introduced a gentleman in the -- in the Gallery. How was that named pronounced again?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President. And yes, Senator, I found it to be very remarkable the similarity, but I want to assure you, it’s not Burzynski. It’s Buzenski. So there is a difference and I’ll show you the card to prove it, too, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.
Welcome, to my friend.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To Members -- for a point of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
I would like for the Members of the Chamber to welcome a group from my district in -- in the State of Illinois: Muneer Aliuddin, from the Council of -- Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago; and Hana Algarin and -- with a group of AP U.S. History students from Bridgeview, Illinois, and from the Aqsa School. They’re seated here to my left. So, please give them a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
Personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Thank you. Seated in the balcony is a wonderful group from throughout the State who have been in existence for seventy-one years. They are the Illinois Council of Area Projects that are in the business of providing services to juvenile delinquency prevention and youth and community services. Will you-all please stand and give my group a -- a round welcome of applause?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome. Senator Wendell Jones, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, while we’re in a little bit of a lull here, I have some people from my district I’d like to introduce: Mayor -- former Mayor of Rolling Meadows, Tom Menzel; Linda Ballantine, from the Chamber of Commerce in Rolling Meadows; and the Assessor of Wheeling Township, Dolores Stephan. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Mr. President, as you know, tonight is the annual softball game between the House and the Senate. A lot of these young people will be here to see us destroy the House tonight and one of our Members has called every game that I’ve been in since I’ve 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 been here some twelve years. She’s the Harry Caray of sixteen- inch softball in Springfield, the Jack Brickhouse of this game. She has announced all the games and led us to victory and we wanted to acknowledge her with this honorary softball, which has been signed by President Jones and Leader Watson and many of the members of the softball team. We want to give her her flowers while she can still smell ‘em. She’s the greatest announcer ever in the history of the game. Adeline “The Foxy One” Geo-Karis.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Well, thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senator Hendon, you do me proud and I am looking forward to you today to catch the balls you dropped the last time. And…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) On page 7 of the Calendar is the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. This is final action. We will be calling those Senate Bills with Floor amendments that have been adopted or are ready to be adopted. On the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1548. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1548 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Is leave granted? On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1548. Madam Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 2 deletes the language from Amendment No. 1, which was the supplemental bill. Specifically, there is one change and that change proposed will delete the transfer from the circuit breaker of 5.7 million dollars and only provides a straight appropriation of twenty million dollars to the homemaker Community Care Program. I’ll further explain the bill when it’s back on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Is there any discussion? All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1548. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1548. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, again, and Members of the Senate. Senate Amendment No. 2 to 1548 provides a one- hundred-and-sixty-seven-million-dollar all fund supplemental appropriations to finish out FY 2005. The GRF portion of the supplemental amounts to approximately seventy-eight million dollars. Included in this supplemental is eighteen million dollars from General Revenue funds to Department of Corrections to cover a shortfall in personnel services throughout the agency to prevent furlough days and cuts in staffing. Also within DOC is a transfer of 4.9 million dollars to lessen the impact to GRF. Additionally, ten million dollars of other State’s funds to DCFS to fund a shortfall in the institution of group home care prevention line as a result of higher than anticipated caseload. As stated earlier, twenty million dollars will go to the Department of Aging from GRF to fund their anticipated utilization and caseload issues. 22.5 million dollars to DHS to cover a shortfall in cash -- in the cash assistance program, including TANF, and eighteen million dollars to DHS to maintain operations of the State’s MHDD facilities.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. A question for the sponsor. 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator, is this the -- the second supplemental that we have done this year, and if so, what’s the total of both of those supplementals?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
This is the second and I will get that number for you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Syverson.
My concern is that last year, for those of us who were here and spent all the -- the time in overtime Session working to try to craft a budget that was reasonable, we worked to come up with an agreement that we were going to cut the budget by a certain dollar amount. My concern is that it didn’t happen, that we made the cuts, but the spending continued. And with this supplemental, we have restored now over eighty percent of all the agreed cuts that we had last year and I’m not sure if we have even the resources even to pay these. In the discussions with this additional supplemental, were there discussions from the Second Floor as to why they felt they got themselves into this kind of financial trouble? Or were there discussions about the fact that they weren’t living up to the commitments that they had made last year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
Sir, you’re -- absolutely correct. We did make a concerted effort to have our balanced budget and to live within our means this year, but as in every year, and again, having a supplemental is not unusual, because unusual circumstances do come up. In this case, we have increased caseloads with DHF and along with TANF. Because of the Department of the State Police increased their fingerprint checks for local governments, this increased our -- the cost of doing business with those agencies and, of course, we have in -- in Corrections, as a -- a consequence of 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 their union contracts, we do see now that we are going to be short at least one paycheck to those DOC workers. This will alleviate us having to furlough anyone under those circumstances.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Syverson.
And, Senator Trotter, I appreciate the work that you have done. I think you’ve been a very sincere negotiator in trying to work on this. But we know that you listed some of those things that were clearly things that we have done in the past with supplemental budgets. But a large portion of this is things that they knew they were underestimating - for example, not putting any pay raises into their last year’s budget, knowing full well that they had authorized pay raises to take place before the budget was even -- even passed. So I guess -- let me ask this question: How much of that is due to contractual obligations that were made in the budget before we passed it last year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
The coveted shortfall that increases net point 4. -- I’m sorry. There -- sir, to answer your question, and we are making a guesstimate here based on the -- the short time to look at the -- the exact question that you presented us, is about fifty million dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Syverson.
Thank you. So most of this supplemental, or a large portion of it, is due to salary commitments that were -- that were made, that we’ve had a year to make adjustments in, that weren’t made. And I guess my -- frustration is that these were all things that were known at the time agreements were made last year and yet we moved forward with this -- with this massive amount of spending and now you’re stuck and we’re stuck having to backfill commitments that were made last year. So, I guess my concern is that people back home agreed that we stayed down here all that time last year to come up with a budget that was going to be a -- a budget that was lean, a budget that was what we had promised 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 the taxpayers it would be - balanced, and now that commitment wasn’t kept and the spending continued and now we’re back having to bail out that with money that we don’t have. So, appreciate the work that you’ve done and it’s unfortunate that we’re back here with this kind of a supplemental.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson.
Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I guess the difference of -- of a lot of you here on the Floor and -- and myself and President Jones is, we were in the room. You know, we were there; budget was discussed, all the memorandums of understanding, some fifty some memorandums of understanding, in which we had to have signatures of the Governor, the Leaders, others that had interests, simply because of the matter that we just didn’t truly believe that maybe there wouldn’t be a follow- through with some of the agreements. So we have to sign all these memorandums of understanding. You participated in that. We participated in that. Both -- both Chambers and the House participated in that. But one that we didn’t participate in, unfortunately, was a budget agreement. We sat around the table and I can remember, I said specifically, “Now, what does this mean? Are you going to be able to operate within the budget deal that has been dealt with - the hand that we’ve been dealt with today? Are you going to be able to live within this? Will there be a supplemental?” No -- and the answer was, “There will not be a need for the -- any supplementals. We will be able to operate within the manner in which we’ve agreed.” This is the administration talking. This is the administration telling us, “Oh. There won’t be a problem, Senator. There won’t be a problem. We’ll be able to fulfill the obligations of this budget.” And we have four hundred million dollars that we cut, because we didn’t have the revenue in this State. We didn’t have the ability to pay for a lot of the programs that many wanted to have, but we cut four hundred million dollars out of this budget last year, out of the Governor’s proposed budget - by four hundred million dollars. Two hundred and fifty million of that was Medicaid. A hundred and fifty million of it was what we would consider to be General Revenue. Right now, after last 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 January, after today, we are now going to be restoring a hundred and twenty million of the hundred and fifty we cut. Is that a deal? Is that an agreement? Is that living up to the commitments that were made last July when we sat here after fifty-four days - fifty-four days of negotiating a budget in which we knew was going to be tough to live in -- within? But the Governor said, “No problem.” “No problem.” And then, as Senator Syverson just mentions, to go out in the Department of Aging and negotiate a contract after we’ve given ‘em the money - they know the why -- which -- the parameters in which you have to live - negotiate a contract that blows it apart. Blows the whole deal apart. The inability -- the inability of this administration’s to -- to balance the budget and to operate and manage the budget in a manner than -- we all do in our own homes, in our own businesses, wherever it is. We know what we have to live with. We know what’s available and that’s what we spend - not with this administration, not whatsoever. How many of you’ve been contacted by people who have the underground storage tank issue? They’ve -- they’ve removed the tanks and there’s no money in the EPA to pay for it - no money in the LUST Fund to pay for the people who’ve removed the tanks and their subcontractors. I’m sure many of you right now are negotiating, talking to EPA, talking to the Comptroller’s Office. Why isn’t there any money available to pay these people their due? They’ve -- they’ve done the service. Why not -- isn’t -- why isn’t that money available - for over thirty-five million dollars? Thirty-five million dollars has been taken out of the -- the LUST Fund, the Underground Leaking -- LUST -- the Underground Leaking Storage Tank Fund to fulfill obligations outside of the requirements in the dedicated fund that’s there, and that’s the General Revenue Fund - once again, mismanagement. It’s all about mismanagement. They can’t operate within the parameters that they’re given. They ignore the legislative process. The whole budgetary process we might as well throw out the window, because the Second Floor, the Governor, and this administration simply do not recognize or respect -- or respect our responsibilities as legislators. So I’m urging you. I’m asking you. Let’s see what happens. Let’s see what happens. They don’t have the ability to lay people off. Last January I sat in the Governor’s Office and asked the 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Governor, “Governor, what are we going to do when we -- when you’re talking about having to lay off all the people in Corrections and Department of Human Services?” He was talking about that last December, last January, and they look around and nobody’s got an answer. So the next meeting, I ask the same question and there’s no answer. Now, here we are, the tenth of May, and we’ve got an answer to try to satisfy the concerns by June 30th. There’s no way they can lay off anybody. I’d just like to see us just call their bluff. See what they’re going to do. They can’t manage a thing. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Emil Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I believe this is the first time in the history of the General Assembly that we’ve had a supplemental. And all the years I’ve been here practically every year you sit down, you negotiate a budget and then later on you got -- you come back with a supplemental. As relate to TANF, sometimes the projections are off. Due to the economy more, the caseload goes up. You need more revenue. Sure, I sat in those meetings, and we sat down there, and I believe the budget director and the Governor, to their best estimate, recognized that we may not need a supplemental. But like all previous Governors, you cannot tell me one time that they said we had a balanced budget and come back during mid-Session saying, “We need these additional dollars.” It’s happened every doggoned year. You listen to the proponents on the other side, they were acting as though it never happened. The other Governors, Ryan, Edgar, Thompson, they all did the same identical thing. When you’re trying to manage a budget, you got employees. They’re doing their work - correctional officers. You want to lay ‘em off? The Minority Leader said lay off the correctional officers. They are working and they deserve to get paid - be it mental health, be it developmental disabilities - to be able to deliver the service for those people. It’s unconscionable for us to sit here and talk about what took place in the room. I’ve been in the room many, many times. When we leave Session, we leave with a balanced budget, but all the administrations in the past have come back and said, “Well, our calculations are off. We need 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 these additional dollars.” In the personal service line item, for example, you say they can’t lay ‘em off. If they are performing work and the money’s not there, you said don’t pay them. That is the irresponsible thing to do. The responsible thing to do, say, “Yes, there were miscalculations this time, as there has been in the past.” The right thing to do is take care of those people who are performing the services for the people of the State of Illinois and vote positive and give them the money. It’s not the last supplemental you’re going to have. There will be others. Every year the administration come back and say we need a supplemental appropriation. But to sit there talking about principles and what the agreement was, I was there too. Maybe you should not have tried to force the issue that way. State government needs money. Tell those people down there in that correctional center that you say you want to keep open, that you’re going to work, but the money’s not there so we’re not going to pay you. The responsible thing to do is to vote for this supplemental appropriation and everyone in this Body should do that. Go ask those people who are working for the Department of Mental Health, the mental health institutions in the State of Illinois, that we are not going to pay you, or those people serving the developmental disabilities, that we are not going to pay you. It’s time and no sense in continuing to play the game. This Governor has done no different than all the previous Governors. I saw you support the appropriation for Governor Ryan, Governor Edgar, when they ran short. We left on -- on -- on the time we was supposed to adjourn saying we had a balanced budget. They all come back. It’s no different this time, and I urge an Aye vote on the supplemental.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator, is this the last supplemental we’re going to see from this Governor this year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senator Trotter.
I would think it may be, but not necessarily so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Brady.
Because in recent weeks we’ve heard the Comptroller speak to the fact that he’s got seven hundred and fifty million dollars in bills he can’t pay, he’s got a seven-hundred-and-fifty-million- dollar loan he can’t repay, and he believes the Governor’s hoarding medical bills that he doesn’t even know about. Can you respond to that, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
I couldn’t tell you what the conversation was between the Comptroller and the Governor’s Office; however, I’ve heard those numbers as well. I think our fiscal year doesn’t legally end until the -- the first of July.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Brady.
Senator, do we have any increased revenues to pay these bills with?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter.
We are accomplishing this one with transfers from within the Department’s federal funds and through other State funds. So, they are -- the dollars are there. Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Brady.
So, Senator, you’re suggesting that this won’t add to the Governor’s hole this year? Speaker Madigan said a billion and a half. The Comptroller seems to think is 3.5 billion dollars. You don’t think this will add a hundred and forty or eighty million dollars to the Governor’s budget hole?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senator Trotter.
As you just pointed out, Senator, those numbers are floating. So, we don’t know what the -- actual number is. It could even be less.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Brady, last question.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just to clarify, Senator. What -- what you have said is that you don’t know if the money’s there. The Constitution requires a balanced budget. The Governor’s coming back to us. He spent more money than we have. Senator Watson’s right. You know, when is he going to wake up and live within our means? I mean, he can’t keep ignoring the Constitution of the State of Illinois. He can’t keep spending money we don’t have just because he thinks it pays to mismanage CMS, to see campaign contributors get money. You need to join us and send a message to this Governor. Don’t tell us you save money at CMS when you blew it. Don’t tell us you lived within a budget when you blew it. You need to help us send a message to this Governor that the taxpayers of Illinois deserve fiscal responsibility. Vote No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Hendon.
Well, thank you, Mr. President. I rise in strong support of Senator Trotter’s bill. Clearly, he is not the Governor. But let me say this. I rise in strong support of our Governor. I think Governor Blagojevich has done a great job in -- tough times. He believes in America. He believes that Illinois will bounce back from 9/11. Clearly, we still haven’t bounced back from 9/11. I can’t help, when I listen to these speeches, I just wonder would you be making these same speeches if you were in the Congress and it was President Bush who was saying we needed additional monies for this and additional monies to fight the war in Iraq and additional money for homeland security and so on and so forth. All around the country state governments have not bounced back from what was put on us by the terrorists who -- who put an economic, not just a physical attack on America, but an 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 economic attack on this country. Governor Blagojevich is doing the best he can under these circumstances. And as President Jones has said, ever since I’ve been here, I’ve seen Governor Ryan and Governor Edgar every year - every single year - come and make requests for supplementals - every single year. This is nothing new. Let’s vote Aye and get this out of here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Watson, for a second time.
Yes. Thank you. Since my name was used in debate, I -- I have to comment about one -- one of the previous speakers that said that - and several of the previous speakers - that former Governors -- that this is not unusual. Well, I thought this Governor was all about doing business not as usual, and that’s not, obviously, the case. I don’t think any of us expected it to be this bad when he talked about not doing business as usual. And to even suggest -- and -- and if, in fact, the Governor and the administration would have addressed this issue, the budget issue, back when we brought it to their attention last January, there wouldn’t be the need for all of this clamor now. They could have addressed it at that point in time and they could have managed the budget in a manner in which we wouldn’t see these draconian -- potential draconian cuts and we wouldn’t be laying off the men and women who work for this State, especially in the Department of Corrections, who put their lives on the line every day for us and -- and -- and sacrifice a great deal to work for this State. We wouldn't be asking them to do this. In fact, Henry Bayer, the -- the -- the President of AFSCME union, came to us last summer when this was being negotiated and he said, “Senator, this isn’t going to work. This Governor is not going to be able to live up to the commitment he has made to live within the means.” Because with -- even within the Department of Corrections, and he was talking about human services, all the other State employees of which AFSCME represents, they can’t do it. So, at least last summer -- at least the AFSCME union was saying a message, giving -- sending us a message that this isn’t doable, but unfortunately, we live with a handshake. We live with an agreement and that’s the way we do business here in this -- this process, but unfortunately, I guess, maybe that’s not the 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 way we can do it in the future, because business as usual is going to change. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rauschenberger.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I want to also compliment the sponsor. I know it’s not fun to carry supplementals. My recollection is, I think I carried five before the General Assembly. So, when Senator Jones says there have been previous supplementals, he’s absolutely right. But there are some differences in this supplemental that I’d just point out to the Membership for your consideration that are fundamentally different than supplementals we’ve had in the past. In the past, whether it was Jim Edgar, whether it was George Ryan introducing a budget, when they were contemplating a contract with unionized employees, they allowed in their budget for an amount to -- to pay for the increases they expected to negotiate with their collective bargaining employees and with their merit comp employees. In this case, the Governor presented a budget and said he could live within it and said don’t worry about the collective bargaining agreements. Well, suspiciously the amount of increase in the Correctional budget is pretty close to what it costs to -- to do a -- a pay increase across the correctional facility, but only for the collective bargaining employees. There’s nothing in here for the merit comp employees. So this is -- and then take a look at the Department of Aging appropriation for twenty-million-dollar increase in the -- the community -- the homemaker services line. That’s suspiciously about the amount of money that it cost since the Governor permitted the collective bargaining of homemakers and for SEIU to organize them. SEIU which interestingly enough was one of the largest contributor -- contributors to the Governor’s campaign and been one of his most generous contributors since. Seems like that twenty million might be paying off the increase in those wage contracts. So, to say that a supplemental to adjust the spending of an administration trying to live up to the statutes of a -- an appropriation bill is one thing, but when you see an agreement that was made to manage spending at a time when we don’t have resources. And it appears that the largest single 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 appropriations in here fulfill political deals made by the Governor’s Office after we adjourned, makes a mockery of the Governor’s relationship with the General Assembly. The budget is an agreement between the -- the parties. This is not fulfillment of an agreement. This is a fulfillment of political deals that benefited the Governor. We need to send a message and tell him, “Not this time.” You know, “Manage your political deals on your own resources. You can’t bankrupt the State of Illinois building your reelection fund.”
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Trotter, to close.
Thank you very much. Senator Syverson, the answer to your question of the two supplementals was a total of 372.5 million dollars. Of that, 122.5 million dollars was out of General Revenue funds. This bill specifically asks for eighty-eight million dollars -- excuse me, 83.6 million dollars out of General Revenue Fund, but the total is 122.5. Just to address a couple of the other issues about -- and I don’t want to get into apples and oranges when we talk about contracts and we’re talking about actual services that are being delivered to the constituents of the State of Illinois. This supplemental represents those services to be rendered to our citizens, to our constituents. This is not about contracts for anyone’s friends or whatever else we’ve been reading in the paper. This is a -- a supplemental that is needed at this time. There have been thoughts of -- questions came up about being layoffs. Well, layoffs, it’s too late to achieve those eighteen million dollars through layoffs, but the employees still can be furloughed. We feel if people are going to work, they need to get paid. This supplemental allows those individuals to work, and especially in our Department of Corrections that we fought so hard for last year to keep open, now to get a paycheck while they’re working there. This is a -- a -- a supplemental that is needed at this time and I ask all for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1548 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 40 Ayes, 17 Nays, 1 voting Present. And Senate Bill 1548, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Behind the Republican side with us today are members of the Springfield Education Association, including, but not limited to, Sena Nelson, Jonnell Basket and my wife, Sally Jo Bomke. Please help me welcome ‘em here today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to the Capitol. Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I have a -- a group of young people here with some of their parents and teachers from Giant City School down the south of Carbondale. Two -- two -- two young men here on the Floor that I’d like to introduce, Aaron Hvidston and Aaron Ekstrand and his mother, Mary Ekstrand, and then up in the bleachers, we’ve got a -- a couple of teachers and I think five or six other young people from the eighth grade at Giant City School. So, if you’d welcome them, I’d appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests please rise? Welcome. Senator Dahl, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
In the gallery behind you today, we have from Coal City, Patti Jens, Debbie Kasperski and Jane Provence. Will you please rise?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome. With 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 leave of the Body, we will go to page 4 on the Calendar. Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 572. Senator Emil Jones. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 572. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Emil Jones.
Yeah. Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 572, as amended, would allow local units of government, county, municipalities to -- to set up a intermodal facility development authority -- authority. They would -- it has powers to issue revenue bonds. It will have -- it will establish a TIF district. Seventy percent of all rails in the country flow through the State of Illinois and -- and the County of Cook. We established a intermodal zone in Joliet a couple -- about three years ago and what it does is put us in competition with the State of Indiana as relate to establishing these zones. It would create great job opportunities for those individuals dealing with transportation and the rail industry. It -- it is a bill that it will -- will deal with the situation in the southern suburbs as relate to a lot of the obsolete rails. If you have a intermodal situation -- a zone established there, they’d be able to pool all the resources together, all the rails will work together and -- for transportation, as well as delivery of products, throughout the State of Illinois. It will have a master developer to handle the entire project. It is something that is needed. It’s a good piece of legislation. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of this bill. President Jones presented it in Executive Committee and -- and we’re wholeheartedly supportive, at least those on the committee. I -- I just want to know what -- I think, Senator Jones, there may be a couple of -- I think there might be a couple of drafting errors that the staff has brought to the attention and I -- it’s 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 my understanding that you’re going to attend to that in the House and so forth, and I would urge its passage. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.
Thank you. Senator Jones, just a couple of very, very quick questions. Can intermodal facilities that are already existing be incorporated into one of these TIF districts? Is that the point of the bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Emil Jones.
Not to my knowledge. Not the ones that’s already in existence. But I know there have been others who have -- we worked on the one for Joliet, for example. But I don’t know if it could be incorporated into this district due to the -- this is between the facilities.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President. As Mr. President has said, there is an intermodal facility in Joliet. It has been an incredible project. It, at one point in time, was the largest earthmoving private project in the country and I can speak on behalf of that project and hopefully we’ll be able to develop more with this bill. I rise in support of the legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Emil Jones, to close.
I just ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall Senate Bill 572 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 572, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We will now proceed to -- we will proceed to page 70. Top of the page. Page 70. House Bill 337. On the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading is House Bill 337. Senator Link. House Bill 339. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 373. Senator Winkel. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 373. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel.
Thank you, Mr. President. What this legislation, House Bill 373, does is it, until January 1, 2006, allows current participants in a downstate police pension fund to transfer non- vested prior work service credit from IMRF to their downstate police pension fund. Also, it allows current -- participants in IMRF to transfer non-vested prior credits in downstate police fund to IMRF prior to January 1, 2006. Currently, there is -- in current law, there’s very limited transferability or reciprocity between IMRF and downstate police pension funds. This would create a window of reciprocity for downstate police and county deputies. Be glad to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Martinez.
Members of the Committee, this passed the Pensions Committee unanimously and I ask and urge for from our side of the aisle.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.
67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you. Senator, is there a cost associated with this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel.
The transfer of credits should cover the cost of the benefits. So, this should have no fiscal impact.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.
Just, if you would, repeat that again so I make sure I hear it right. Because of the transfer of credits from the other pension fund, there should be no fiscal impact.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel.
Transfer of credits should be sufficient to cover the cost and so it should have no fiscal impact on our budget.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.
What level of funding are each of these pensions enjoying right now? The downstate police, at what percent are they funded? And then also the -- the IMRF.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel.
Told -- I’m told by staff that IMRF is ninety-five percent. It’s difficult to answer the rest of your question since these are independent funds. So, I really can’t address -- I don’t even have an average figure.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lauzen.
The question that I would ask then is, generally are they 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 healthy or are they in a condition similar to the State pension funds?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel.
The -- the best information I have to answer your question is, yes, generally these independent downstate police funds are indeed healthy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Winkel, to close.
I ask for a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 373 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 373, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 381. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 381. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 381 amends the Criminal Code, and what it does is it provides that in addition to any other penalties imposed by law, that any individual or entity that knowingly obtains or knowingly assists another to obtain a contract with a governmental unit by falsely representing that the individual or entity or the individual or entity assisted is, one, a minority-owned business; two, a female-owned business; or three, business owned by a person with a disability, is guilty of a Class 2 felony. This bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee unanimously, and I would appreciate a favorable roll call. 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 381 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 381, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 386. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 386. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.
…you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill authorizes Secretary of State, upon receipt of proper application, to issue Purple Heart plates to an Illinois resident who’s a surviving spouse of a person who was awarded the Purple Heart by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States. This is similar -- identical to Senate Bill 1666 by Senator Jacobs, which passed out of here almost unanimously. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 386 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 386, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 398. Senator Crotty. House Bill 404. Senator Cronin. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 404. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.
70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 404 is a bill that seeks to address a practical issue in the classroom on days when the PSAE is administered. That is the Prairie State Achievement Exam, you all know. As you all know, the way that we fund our schools, it’s based on a five-clock-hour day of a hundred and seventy-six days of actual pupil attendance. When they administer the test, the time that the child’s in the school taking the test, it -- it happens to be slightly less than five hours, and so what happens is, is the school, of course, has to have staff and they have to administer the test and they have to do all the things that they have to do, but they’re not getting reimbursed for that day, because it’s just short of five clock-hours. So what this bill seeks to do is to say, look, it can -- the day can be shortened to accommodate the required testing procedures. May be less than five clock-hours. They maybe get their -- and shall be counted toward the hundred and seventy-six days provided that the school takes that time that they’re short on that day and they -- they apply it to another day or another period of time so that the child is not missing one minute of instruction, but we’re dealing with a practical issue with time management and the administration of a test. I think it’s good policy. I ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? The question is, shall House Bill 404 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 404, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 413. Senator Wojcik. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 413. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Wojcik.
71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 213 {sic} amends the Municipal Code in relation to municipalities less than five hundred thousand residents, regarding the appointment of deputy clerks. Currently, municipalities under five hundred thousand residents may only appoint one deputy clerk. Home rule units are not allowed any additional deputy clerks under this current law. This bill will allow them to appoint more. Allows the municipal clerks to appoint as many deputy clerks as necessary to discharge the duties of the office. I ask for its favorable passage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 413 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 413, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 414. Senator Link. House Bill 415. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 415. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this bill simply raises the per diem authorized for a member of the Illinois National Guard or the Illinois Air National Guard who is ordered from private life to active duty for the sole purpose of funeral honors duty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill passed out of committee unanimously, and I rise in support of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 415 pass. All those in 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 415, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 433. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 433. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Raoul.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 433 amends the Environmental Protection Act to make the unlawful disposal of asbestos a Class 4 felony. Under current law, it’s a Class 4 felony for someone to illegally remove asbestos, but it’s merely a Class 4 misdemeanor for someone to illegally dispose asbestos. This would increase it to a Class 4 felony. I would ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Dave Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill passed out of committee unanimously. It’s a good piece of legislation and the boys wanted to see me speak on the Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 433 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 58 Ayes, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 433, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 444. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 444. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Raoul.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 444 is identical to Senate Bill 104, which passed out of the Senate unanimously. It enhances arson that results in a injury to a correctional officer in the course of duty to aggravated arson. I'd ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 444 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 444, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Proceeding to the top of page 71, House Bill 445. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 445. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill classifies nonmotorized paddle boats as a Class A watercraft, instead of a Class 1 or Class 2 watercraft, and reduces the registration fee from fifteen dollars or forty- five dollars to -- to six dollars. This came out of Holiday Shores in my Senatorial District, but it also, most importantly, is my State Representative Dan Beiser’s first bill in the House for which he took an unwarranted amount of grief. So I would appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Dahl.
Mr. President, the Ag Committee passed this unanimously. I’d encourage a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 The question is, shall House Bill 445 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 445, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 497. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 497. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 497 amends the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding six organizations that would be subject to appropriation to provide grants to those veteran six service organizations for the purpose of furthering their work for providing assistance to vets. I ask for a favorable.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of this bill. This is a good bill, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 497 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 497, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 509. Senator Luechtefeld. House Bill 518. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 518. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senator Haine.
Yes, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, House Bill 518 authorizes an organization to perform military funeral honors if the Adjutant General determines that the Illinois National Guard personnel are not available and this would be based upon experience, and it would have to be subject to the appropriation to the Department of Military Affairs. This came from the veterans groups.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.
Mr. President, this is a -- a good bill. It passed unanimously out of committee, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 518 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 518, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I would just like to take the time to introduce to you Vicki Bowen, who is here from with a group, as many of us have the young youth from our area from that church. So, if everybody could welcome them, I’d appreciate that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Senator DeLeo, on House Bill 521. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 521. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 521 is a very simple bill. It increases the optional member-paid life insurance. This bill would allow active employees and -- and immediate retirees, they can opt up to eight times their basic life insurance if they’d like to opt into the program. I ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Althoff. Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just stand in support of the bill. It codifies the AFSCME contract, and I’ll vote Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 521 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 521, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 524. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 524. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 524 is an amendment to the Criminal Code. It mandates a sentence of imprisonment for certain Class 2 felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of weapons by a felon or the aggravated unlawful use of weapons. Unlike many of the gun bills that we’ve seen in the last few weeks, this is -- has no opponent that I’m aware of, and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 524 pass. Senator Haine.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 strong support of Senator Harmon’s gun measure. This is a good bill and I appreciate his hard work on this gun measure. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Thank you, Senator. The question is, shall House Bill 524 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 524, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 528. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 528. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill amends the Township Code. Provides that a township with an open space plan may receive and retain funds in surplus of the amount actually necessary to maintain the township open spaces. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 528 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 528, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 544. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 544. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Link. 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Thank you, Mr. President. Beginning in -- with the 2007 registration year, the issuance fee of fifteen -- fifteen dollars for registration plates will be eliminated for recipients of the military Gold Star. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 544 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 544, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 577. Senator Maloney. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 577. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill simply provides that all monies that are deposited into the Illinois Fire Fighters’ Memorial Fund shall be used exclusively for the purposes listed in the provisions, which include maintaining the Fire Fighters’ Memorial and providing scholarships to children of firefighters killed in the line of duty. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 577 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 577, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 582. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 583. Senator Rutherford. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 583. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rutherford.
Thank you, Mr. President. When a financial institution has accounts that have been idle for up to five years, those unclaimed properties are turned over to the Office of the State Treasurer. What this legislation would do, was to allow that if the same person has multiple accounts, but there’s been activity on a least some -- one or some of those, that then they do not need to go through and do all the mailings and background check for all of the other accounts that may be with that institution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Collins.
Thank you. I would like to inform the Members on this side of the aisle that this bill -- legislation passed out of Financial Institutions unanimously, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 583 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 583, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 593. Senator John Sullivan. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 593. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator John Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 593 amends the Service Member’s Employment Tenure Act with regard to employment offers. Requires an employer, at the request of the employee, to provide an 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 employment offer notice to an individual who was hired but called to active duty before his or her employment began. It authorizes an individual, upon an honorable discharge from the military, who is able to perform the duties of the job and who applies for the same job within ninety days after the discharge, to be given preference for employment. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 593 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 593, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Proceeding to the top of page 72. House Bill 594. Senator Jacobs. House Bill 601. Senator John Sullivan. House Bill 603. Senator Peterson. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 603. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Peterson.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 603 extends the tax credit for donations made under the Illinois Housing Development Act until the taxable year ending on December 31st, 2011. This tax credit is intended to -- maximize public/private partnerships, which will fill a needed gap in affordable housing. Currently, renewal of this program is needed to continue the momentum built between nonprofit sponsors, donors and the administrative governmental agencies. I know of no opposition and I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 603 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 603, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 611. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 611. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 611 is identical to Senate Bill 326, as amended, which passed out of the Senate 53 to 2 and passed out of the Senate Judiciary unanimously. What it does is it provides an additional sixty days of good credit to inmates earning GED certificates. It also requires the Department of Corrections to develop a program to increase inmate enrollment in GED programs. So, I would just ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 611 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, 2 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 611, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 617. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 669. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. House Bill 669. House Bill 701. Senator Rutherford. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 701. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Rutherford.
Mr. President, thank you. About twenty-five years ago, a young lady in Pontiac, Illinois, by the name of Michelle Eppel, 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 was so severely beaten - she was raped - that she today must wear two hearing aids. She suffers from posttraumatic stress and disorder, such that she will eventually, because of this severe beating and rape, she’s going to lose complete loss of her hearing. She has medication and treatments today of approximately nine hundred dollars a month and she has to pay for those out of her pocket. What 701 does is it creates a provision that allows a court to order restitution payment beyond the current statute of five years of limit if it has been determined that the long-term medical and mental health costs are there. And as -- and as a result of this underlying violent crime, the payments would be then made, by the order of a judge, on a monthly basis. I do not know of anyone that is objecting to this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? There -- is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 701 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 701, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 715. Senator Schoenberg. House Bill 723. Senator Forby. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 723. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Forby.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is the same bill we run out of here before, Senate Bill 299. 723 came out of the House with no opposition. What this bill does, it just change the board members if the mayor and the county boards wants to.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Wendell Jones.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. The Republicans voted 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 against this in committee. We think it sets a precedent when you change a board in the middle of the -- middle of the term and this just eliminates a whole board and allows a -- an increase backed by local appointees. We thought it set a bad president -- precedent and I would recommend a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Forby, to close.
I just ask for an Aye vote. This is a good vote -- good bill. We done a poll on this and this is what the people wants in my district and, you know, I don’t go in other people’s districts. This is what the people wants in my district. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Question is, shall House Bill 723 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 38 Ayes, 17 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 723, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 728. Senator Sieben. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 728. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Sieben.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this legislation amends the School Code and provides that a school district shall not be required to certify, for the purpose of tuition reimbursement, its inability to meet a child’s needs because of the child’s disability. This is an initiative of the Illinois Association of Special Education Administrators. I know of no opposition and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? The question is, shall House Bill 728 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 728, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 729. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 729. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.
…President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this amends the Hazardous Material Emergency Response Reimbursement Act by adding an agency that does mass care or assistance to displaced persons. So, if there was a tremendous spill of some sort with toxic substances and the Red Cross came in to move people out and take care of them, they would be entitled to be reimbursed also. So they would be in the line as listed by law.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 729 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 729, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 731. Senator Righter. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 731. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. House Bill 731, which passed out of the Insurance Committee unanimously and passed out of the House previously to that unanimously as well, amends the State 85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971. That’s, of course, a program that allows local governments to buy into a plan to help make health insurance more affordable for themselves and their employees. This would add a hospital with fewer than one hundred -- one hundred or fewer beds to be defined as a local government for participation in the plan. It doesn’t cost a plan any additional money. Obviously, that they would have to pay their fair share as everyone else would. It’s an initiative to try to assist these very small health care providers to help provide for health care, health insurance for their employees. Be happy to answer any questions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 731 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 731, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Proceeding to the top of page 73. House Bill 741. Senator Righter. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 741. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. House Bill 741, which also cleared committee -- the Pensions and Investments Committee unanimously and before that the House unanimously, makes a small change to the Pension Code. Already teachers are allowed to come back if they’ve retired. They are allowed to come back in a school district and work in what is called a teacher shortage area. But the advertising requirements that State law puts on the local school districts right now effectively prohibits a school district from advertising a position for the spring semester and still fulfill those requirements. This would simply amend those advertising 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 requirements to allow school districts to fill in a teacher shortage area for the spring semester, as well as the fall. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill came out of the Pensions and Investments, and I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 741 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 741, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 744. Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of special privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I have a wonderful group of children here from the Village of Forest Park. They’re from St. John’s Lutheran School. They’re right behind me in the gallery. I would love for you to welcome them here to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. House Bill 744. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 744. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This 87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 legislation amends the Department of Transportation Law of Civil Administrative -- Administrative Code, creating the Safe Routes to School Construction Program. Upon enactment of a federal transportation bill with a dedicated fund available to states for safe routes to school, the Department of Transportation in cooperation with the State Board of Education and the Department of State Police shall establish and administer a Safe Routes to School Construction school {sic} Programs Fund.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 744 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 744, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 748. Senator Haine. House Bill 759. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 759. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 759 is a bill that is -- the goal is to furnish comprehensive mental health services to children with mental illness who are in the care of DCFS. According to the Summit, which totally supports this provision, services to children who once had a significantly decreased future due to mental illness will have the chance and skills to succeed in school and improve their social skills. This bill also brings us into compliance and allows Illinois to receive a pass-through for federal funds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for a question? 88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Thank you. Just one very quick question. I know we do a lot of things relative to being able to get federal funds, but is this a mandate that every child in the care of DCFS receive mental health screening?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Garrett.
I don’t think it is a mandate, but I do think that it -- it provides that opportunity for that screening to take place.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Burzynski.
But it isn’t a mandate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Garrett.
As I said, it is not a mandate, but it provides that opportunity.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Garrett, to close.
I just ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 759 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there 54 Ayes, no Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 759, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 763. Senator Cullerton. House Bill 769. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 769. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. The bill holds that in Cook County only, the Secretary of State may not remove notice indicating a driver failed to pay fines, penalties and court costs until the Secretary of State has received directly from the court of -- revenue {sic} written notice and adds that it -- if in full payment has been received, the court shall provide the driver with a receipt indicating payment in full. The receipt provided by the driver {sic} may not be used by the driver to clear his or her record. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 769 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 769, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 783. Senator Martinez. House Bill 785. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 785. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate -- House Bill 785 amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the Non-Support Punishment Act and the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984. The bill deletes in each of the amendment’s Acts the current Section dealing with notification by the Department of Public Aid to clerks of the court that a person is receiving support payment. This bill amends the Illinois Public Aid Code, the Illinois Marriage Code, the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 so that the Department of Public Aid may provide notice at any time to the parties in a support action that the Department is providing 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 child support enforcement services. The Department is entitled to notice of further court proceedings as if it was a party to the proceedings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. I rise in support of the bill. This is an attempt to try to clean up the confusing process that I think a lot of our constituents get caught up into when it comes to child support payments, and I urge its passage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 785 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 785, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 806. Senator Martinez. House Bill 808. Senator Garrett. House Bill 828. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 828. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Jacobs.
Mr. President, House Bill 828 is an initiative of the Illinois County Treasurers’ Association. It changes the requirement for publishing information regarding mobile homes. Under current law, the county treasurer is required to publish the name, the owner, the street, the common address where the mobile home is sited, the vehicle identification number. Furthermore, they are currently required to provide the mobile home park name, model, year, and the square footage of the home. The county treasurers would like to exempt the last three items as they are very difficult for them to find, and they also are not required for real property tax sales. So I appreciate your favorable consideration. 91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill came out of the Housing and Community Affairs Committee unanimously, and I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 828 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 828, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Proceeding to the top of page 74. House Bill 832. Senator Risinger. House Bill 847. Senator Radogno. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 847. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. You know, sometimes we have to have a little fun around here and I think this bill will qualify as a part of the lighter side of our legislative agenda this year. But this bill designates a State amphibian and a State reptile for Illinois. You may be aware that Lieutenant Governor Quinn, Representative Biggins, the Brookfield Zoo and the Chicago Herpetological Society teamed up to have the first ever virtual election of an amphibian and reptile and the winners were the Eastern Tiger Salamander and the Painted Turtle. So I would be happy to try to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Dave Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I just want to let you know, I took a quick poll among these seventh graders here and five of the six of them like this idea. I urge its support. 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno, to close. Oh! Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. I -- I’m sure that the one that was opposed was a Sullivan, but would the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor will yield.
Thank you. Is -- is there a -- a fiscal cost to this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno.
No, there is not.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Radogno, to close.
Thank you. I just ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 847 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 847, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 885. Senator Cronin. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 885. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a bill that could more -- more accurately, more appropriately be called the “Patrick Leahy Law”. This proposal is motivated by a tragic incident that occurred in Winfield, Illinois, where a six-year-old child playing in the front yard of his home was run over by a -- a driver and killed. The driver left the scene of the accident and proceeded to try to 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 avoid investigation and prosecution for a number of years until the statute of limitations subsequently had tolled. This is -- is a serious crime, of course, and this proposal seeks to remove the statute of limitations to permit law enforcement to pursue those who leave the scenes of accidents that cause death. This is a very important bill to the family of this victim. You -- received unanimous support and bipartisan support. My colleague, Representative Mendoza, is very committed to this as well. I ask for your favorable consideration. Happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Geo-Karis.
Would the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Is there any limitation in your bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.
It’s a -- there’s a three-year limit of statute of limitations, instead of the prior two-year. It gives ‘em an extra year, I guess, to look for… No, forgive me. You kind of threw me off there. There’s a current three-year limit. It removes any limit. So, as I stated in my opening remarks, when there’s a serious incident like this and death is a result, our feeling is that there ought not to be a statute of limitations. If you can find the perpetrator, whether it’s two years, three years or twenty years, you ought to be able to find ‘em.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Geo-Karis.
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I speak in favor of the bill and urge everyone to vote for it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin, to close.
Ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 The question is, shall House Bill 885 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 885, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 887. Senator Cronin. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 887. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill seeks to address a -- a -- a sort of a trend that’s been occurring among municipalities across the State of Illinois. Many municipalities prosecute DUI cases and they have found that this is a -- a -- an effective way to address the problem and it also happens to generate money for the local municipality. The problem occurs when the local municipality seeks to prosecute a -- a drunk drive -- a drunk driver if there’s a -- it’s a multiple offender or it’s a -- an offender that -- that whereby there may be felony implications. I don’t think anybody in this Body, and even those who support municipal prosecutions, which I do, wants a municipality to prosecute somebody who really is deserving of a much -- much more serious procedure that could be prosecuted by the State where there are implications for jail time and so on and so forth. This simply says that if the bill -- or if the perpetrator or the incident has felony implications, that there must be a review with the local State’s attorney’s office and they must refer the case to them if so appropriate. I ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 887 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. 95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 887, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 888. Senator Cronin. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 888. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Cronin.
Thank you very much. This is the last in a -- series of bills that the State’s attorneys and State’s Attorney Joe Birkett from DuPage County was promoting. This bill simply says that -- it simply provides for a penalty enhancement. Penalty enhancement after a certain number of convictions for the offense of driving on a revoked driver’s license is currently a Class 4. In this case, if the offender is guilty of -- if the offender is guilty of driving on a revoked license, a person convicted of a fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth offense of driving on a revoked or -- driver’s license or permit is guilty of a Class 4. It provides that a person convicted of a tenth, eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth offense - sounds a little goofy, but it happens every day in our courts, unfortunately - is guilty of a Class 3 felony, and a person that’s convicted of a fifteenth or subsequent offense - sixteenth, seventeenth and so forth - would be guilty of a Class 2 felony. These are the very serious, most dangerous drivers, who we just are -- are so frustrated and all of us have tried very hard here to figure out a way to get them off the roads. They are -- they are just driving time bombs just waiting and -- to -- to wreck havoc and to ruin people’s lives. We got to get ‘em off the road, these repeat offenders, and the only thing we can do in this bill is to make the penalties more severe and keep ‘em locked up. Ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 888 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 888, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 908. Senator Lightford. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 908. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 908 amends the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act regarding fair share payments. It amends the State Mandate Act regarding State reimbursement. What the bill does is it would inquire -- require employers to continue deducting fair share fees upon the continuation or expiration of collective bargaining agreement until an agreement has been reached and it also establishes any failure by the employer to continue making such deductions be considered a violation of the duty to bargain and an unfair labor practice. I’d be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Mr. President. This came before the Labor Committee. It just puts it in line with other things that we have previously voted on. There’s nothing basically new in this bill, and I urge your Aye support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 908 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, 2 voting Present. House Bill 908, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 909. Senator Halvorson. Madam -- Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 909. (Secretary reads title of bill) 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 909 is a very important bill for Grundy County. They’re -- they’re the only county left that has a machinery and equipment tax and what this bill will do, will give them the opportunity to create economic development areas to enhance their ability to increase commerce and industry within the State, and I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator John Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of the bill. The Senator’s done a good job on this. It passed out of Commerce and Economic Development Committee unanimously, and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Dahl.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to congratulate Senator Halvorson and Representative Gordon -- excuse me, for bringing this bill forward. It’s very important for Grundy County economic development. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 909 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 909, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 911. Senator Halvorson. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 911. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Halvorson. 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 911 was brought to me from the Operating Engineers Union and it amends the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act with regards to joint insurance pools. What had been happening was a -- a municipality has a pool of insurance and the operating engineers who have some of the public works department employees -- part of the union wanted to be able to offer them insurance. Well, what was happening was -- were these municipalities were then dropping the remainder of the people. What this bill does is it works in cooperation with each other that if the operating engineers would like to offer them insurance, they can only do it at certain points in the renewal process and they cannot then retaliate on the remaining employees that are with the pool.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Brady.
Yes. I just rise in support of the bill. Came out of committee unanimously.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 911 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 911, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 917. Senator Ronen. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 917. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Ronen.
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill -- the -- the State Department of Human Rights was receiving federal dollars from HUD. So, it’s -- in order to maintain that contractual relationship, the State Human Rights Act is required to be substantially equivalent to the federal 99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Fair Housing Act and that’s what this bill does. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Roskam.
Thank you, Mr. President. Even though we’re getting bored to death over here with noncontroversial bills and we were hoping that this would be one, we’re all disappointed and -- to know that this is a unanimous bill, yet again. It came out of the Executive Committee, and I urge its passage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The -- the question is, shall House Bill 917 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 917, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 923. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 923. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Haine.
Yes, Mr. President, to continue a boring afternoon, I’m presenting a bill that -- that increases the penalty for conspiracy to commit first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, criminal sexual assault and predatory criminal sexual assault of a child to a -- from a Class 2 felony to a Class 1 felony. This is a -- an initiative of the State’s Attorneys of Illinois, the Appellate Prosecutor and the State Police.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 923 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 House Bill 923, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 930. Senator Haine. House Bill 942. Senator John Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 942. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator John Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 942 amends the Grain Code with regard to electronic receipts. It allows electronic -- warehouse receipts to have the same validity and enforceability as other types of issued receipts. This bill is identical to a bill that we passed -- that I passed out 58 to nothing. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Senator Dahl.
Mr. President, this bill passed out of Agriculture Committee unanimously. I encourage a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) The question is, shall House Bill 942 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 942, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Proceeding to the top of the page 75. Page 75. House Bill 947. Senator Haine. House Bill 950. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 950. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Harmon. 101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 950 is a modest amendment to the Good Samaritan Act. It clarifies the circumstances under which dentists are protected when they provide services free of charge to the community. I am not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 950 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 950, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 973. Senator Link. House Bill 984. Senator Haine. House Bill 991. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 991. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Hunter. Out of the record. House Bill 992. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 992. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 992 provides that a person sentenced to life imprisonment or death shall be required to provide DNA samples to the State Police within forty-five days from their sentencing.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 992 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 992, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 996. Senator Halvorson. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 996. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 996 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code and provides that a fire chief may drive a vehicle using a red or white oscillating, rotating or flashing light if the vehicle is designed or authorized as a fire department vehicle. What has happened in some of the larger rural areas is a firefighter -- a fire chief doesn’t have time to go back to the station and pick up a -- a vehicle that’s already got a light. So sometimes he has to use his own and this would just allow him, then, to save time by going straight to the fire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 996 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 996, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1002. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1002. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senate. House Bill 1002 is an initiative of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. It expands the definition of money laundering to include structuring. That is arranging a financial transaction to avoid the State reporting requirements. The State law, as contemplated by this bill, would mirror the federal law, including the forfeiture provisions. It’s a tool needed by State law enforcement because the -- the -- the federal authorities rarely prosecute this and the State has a great opportunity to do so. This hits the gangs where it hurts financially and nevertheless all the due -- process protections remain in place. So I’d ask you all to -- to vote Aye to give local law enforcement the tools they need to prosecute the -- the gangs and their financial transactions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 1002 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1002, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1005. Senator Crotty. Senator Viverito.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is an agreed upon bill. It amends the board of…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Mr. -- excuse me, Senator. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1005. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Senator Viverito.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is agreed upon bill. It amends the Board and Care Home Registration. The proponents are Department of Aging, AARP, the Illinois Association of Home Care Workers. I’d appreciate a favorable vote. 104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR DEL VALLE) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall House Bill 1005 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1005, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Munoz, on House Bill 1031. Senator Lightford, on 1051. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1051. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1051 is an improvement to our special education teacher tuition waiver program. It simply adds that military families and adult students are now allowed to apply for this waiver program if it’s enacted. I’d be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1051 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. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1051, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we will be returning to House Bill 1031. Senator Munoz, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the bill. Senator Munoz, we’ll return to that bill in a minute. Senator Hunter, on 1058. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1058. (Secretary reads title of bill) 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1058 amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Businesses {sic} Act. And this is basically an identity theft bill, which occurs when a -- a thief steals the vital information of a consumer and uses it to create new financial accounts and new identities or to simply steal money from existing accounts. Unfortunately, victims have no direct way of taking control of their credit report. The organization supporting this bill is the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the Treasurer, AARP, Citizen’s Action and many, many more. I simply ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. I rise in support of the bill. It’s my understanding the bill passed out of the Executive Committee unanimously, and we passed out identical legislation a little bit earlier this Session. This is good consumer protection legislation. I urge its passage. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1058 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1058, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Pankau, on 1071. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1071. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Pankau. 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
House Bill 1071 amends the Procurement Code to provide that e-mail service being provided under contract to the State of Illinois must be provided reasonably free of spam. And I think we all want this, because we need our employees working and not deleting, deleting, deleting, deleting, deleting. I ask for your favorable approval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1071 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1071, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Collins, on 1077. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1077. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. This legislation is -- replicates Senate Bill 660, which passed the Senate 52 to 3. Basically, what it does is if a person’s name appears on the registry, organ procurement organizations, tissue banks, doctors and hospitals will not be required to get consent from the next of kin. And I just -- I’ve been working on this bill with the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donation Network. And it creates the First Person Consent organ and tissue donor registry, and I ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1077 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, 2 voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1077, having received the required 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Collins, on 1088. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. I’m sorry. I’m just -- 1081.
House Bill 1081. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 1081 provides that a person convicted of aggravated DUI may not be sentenced to probation unless the court determines that extraordinary circumstances exist and require probation. This bill replicates Senate Bill 1495 that passed out of the Senate 58 to 0. I ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1081 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1081, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Watson, on 1095. Senator Lightford, on House Bill 1100. Senator Harmon, on 1102. Senator -- oh, we’ll return to 1125. Senator Geo-Karis, on 1132. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1132. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this bill provides that any person convicted on -- on the sixth or subsequent time of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or intoxicating compounds is guilty of a Class X felony. I urge your favorable support. 108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1132 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1132, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator del Valle, 1133. Senator Radogno, 1134. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1134. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Radogno.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill simply adds licensed professional counselors to the providers that can be paid for services under the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1134 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1134, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 1151. Mr. President {sic}, read the bill.
House Bill 1151. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes, Madam President and Members of the Senate, House Bill 1151 amends the Uniform Conviction Information Act to allow the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to review as necessary the maximum fees that local criminal justice agencies 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 may charge for processing requests for conviction information. Current law requires the Authority to go through a detailed review process annually, and the Authority believes it would be more fiscally prudent to do this review on a as-needed basis.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1151 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1151, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Top of page 77. Senator Lauzen, on 1157. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1157. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1157 merely gives the Village of Kaneville the opportunity to incorporate. It cleared out of Local Government Committee by a unanimous vote, 10 to zero. I would ask the Senate’s passage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1157 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1157, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we will return to 1173. 1181. Senator Jacobs, on 1182. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1182. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Senator Jacobs.
Madam Chairman, this is a Department of Natural -- Resources cleanup legislation. It cleans up as a result of an Illinois audit finding, the Illinois -- Vehicle Code. Currently it requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules of operation of ATV and off -- off-road motorcycles. We are currently not in compliance and need this change. The change simply moves from “shall” to “may”. I ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1182 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1182, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Silverstein, on 1301. Mr. President -- Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1301. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Silverstein.
Thank you, Madam President. This provides that law enforcement authorities may collect information if there is suspicion that by a customer or bank that an elderly individual has been a victim of financial exploitation. Take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Madam President and -- not only is the underlying subject matter of this legislation outstanding, but the stellar presentation that Senator Silverstein gave in the Senate Financial Institutions Committee necessitated a unanimous consent and has moved forward. And I would encourage an Aye vote. 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1301 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1301, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, on 1310. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1310. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. The bill provides that if a township board has vested control of a public graveyard in three trustees, the township board may, by resolution, diverse {sic} the trustees of control and assume the control of the public graveyard. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, House -- shall House Bill 1310 pass. Oops! Senator Lightford, do you have… Okay. Question is, shall House Bill 1310 pass. The -- all those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1310, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, Senator Meeks stepped away to do some filming regarding an education issue, but I 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 wanted you all to know that his class is here from his church. Salem also has an academy and we’re joined by his seventh graders, and I’d hope that you-all can welcome them here to witness our process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to Springfield. Senator Link, on 1311. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1311. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. I think everyone should listen. This is probably everybody’s reelection bill. House Bill 1311 gives township electors the power to regulate and prohibit poultry from running at large. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? I figured. Senator Rutherford.
Just what’s the genesis of this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield, Senator Rutherford. Senator Link.
We don’t know if it crossed the street or not, but we just - - we want to have the locals decide if the poultry should run at large. I think former Senator Larry Walsh was the one that originated this bill, and I’m just following through in his absence.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Rutherford.
Has there -- does Lake County have like a -- a -- a massive chicken problem, or what -- what prompted -- what prompted this to come forward? And if -- and if it isn’t the townships that regulate the running chickens, who regulates them now? 113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Well, on -- on -- on a serious note, Senator, if you want to know, Lake County is one of the largest farming areas in the State of Illinois. We have one of the largest farm bureaus in the State of Illinois, so we still are a farming county, so -- contrary to public belief. But the townships will have the decision over there. I don’t think anybody controls it now, so that’s why we’re trying to put the control over the townships right now.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Peterson.
Thank you, Madam President. Senator, since you moved from wonderful Vernon Township, we haven’t had any problems with poultry running wild, so it must be Waukegan Township that has all the problems. Is that correct, or is it Sheridan Road problem up there?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator -- Senator Link.
I had to get a bigger yard for my -- my chickens up in Waukegan Township.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Ronen.
Yes. Will the -- I just wanted to make a statement. I’m -- don’t wish to sound too conspiratorial, but after Senator -- Rutherford questioning Senator Link, I’m wondering if there’s some relationship to this bill and the potluck bill that we passed last year. It just sounds kind of suspicious.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Geo-Karis.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I would suggest, Senator Link, that you send all the poultry to Senator Peterson’s, since he has it so clearly undefined.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Is there any further discussion? Senator Link, do you feel the need to close?
No, Madam President. I think there’s been enough said about this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Okay. If there is no further discussion, the question is, shall House Bill 1311 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, 1 -- 1 voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1311, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, do you wish to proceed on House Bill 1313? Senator Forby, 1314. Senator Forby. Senator Wilhelmi, on 1315. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1315. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1315 would amend the Election Code by deleting a provision related to disabled voters who are requesting assistance, and it takes out the provision that would make that disabled voter tell us whether or not it’s a permanent disability. And I know of no opposition to the bill. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1315 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1315, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Munoz, on 1316. Senator -- we’ll return, with leave of the Body, to 1318. Top of page 78. Senator Collins, on 1319. Senator Winkel, on 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 1323. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1323. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Winkel.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1323 amends the School Code. What it does, it allows for deactivation of an elementary school district in the same manner as deactivation of a high school facility. I’ll be right back.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) We’re at ease for a second while Senator Winkel figures out what we’re doing. Is it -- out of the record. Senator Sandoval, on 1333. Mr. Secretary. Oop! I’m sorry. Senator Winkel, on 1324. Okay. Mr. Secretary, read 1324.
House Bill 1324. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Winkel.
Thank you, Madam President. I just hope that the monitor shows red. House Bill 1324 deactivates an elementary facility just as we already allow for deactivation of high school facilities in Illinois. This is identical language to Senate Bill 1639. It passed the Senate 57 to zero. I’d be glad to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1324 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, 2 voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1324, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Sandoval, on 1333. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
House Bill 1333. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1333 amends the Counties Code as it references -- refers to adult entertainment. The bill provides that no adult entertainment facilities within an unincorporated area of a county shall be located within a thousand {sic} feet of a specified area, such as a school, a day care center, a public park, a place of religious worship, or a residency {sic}. Current -- currently the ban applies throughout the county, but does not include residences. The bill also authorizes fines up to a thousand dollars per day for violation and injunctive relief to abate violations or to prevent violations from continuing. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1333 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. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, 1 voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1333, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Crotty, on 1338. Senator Jacobs, on 1339. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1339. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.
Mrs. President, House Bill 1339 prohibits a person from operating a snowmobile or watercraft when their license has been -- been suspended for DUI. In addition, a person’s watercraft 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 privilege shall be suspended for involvement with an OUI, and any accident that -- that’s occurred over two thousand dollars must report it to the Department of Natural Resources in a five-day period. I know of known -- opposition and I appreciate your support for this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1339 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, and none voting Present. House Bill 1339, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez, on 1343. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1343. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you. House Bill 1343 creates the -- Child Welfare Student Loan Forgiveness Act. This Act establishes the -- the program administered by ISAC to provide loan assistance, subject to appropriations, to students pursuing upper-level undergraduate or graduate work in social work or human services who also agree to work for the State or a contracting agency in child welfare.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Madam President. On -- I don’t have the analysis showing on my screen. So, I wanted to ask some questions and I think I should just so that I understand better what this does. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.
Thank you. Senator, I remember some of this in -- in the discussion, but I’m trying to recall whether or not if someone 118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 actually doesn’t continue to work, if that loan is still forgiven or if there’s a -- a problem and there aren’t jobs available through DCFS or child welfare, whether that loan is still -- forgiven.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Senator. Not only can they get jobs with the State, but they also have an opportunity to get jobs with the State agencies affiliated with the State. I think when you look at the number of -- of welfare workers that we have and people to work in DCFS or some of the other agencies that deal with child welfare, you know that we are in desperate need of being able to fill those positions. I think this is a way of getting our young students involved and knowing that they will have job available once when they finish college.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
Yeah. Evidently I was in an Appropriations meeting at the same time that Higher Education meeting was going on, because I didn’t vote on the bill, and I notice that everybody else on the Republican side voted No. But, there -- if the individual stops working, they will have to be responsible for paying back the loan. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
Yes. Plus…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
Go -- please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
Yes. And also including interest.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski. 119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
Okay. And again, if students don’t get hired, but they go through this process, they still have to pay the -- repay their loan. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
My understanding is that ISAC is developing rules for that particular program. I would say yes, but I think with the current need of social workers, I think we’ll be okay in making sure that they fill these positions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. A question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.
Senator, if you remember, in committee I asked you the question, and at the time I think you said you didn’t know, but you would -- you would look it up. You know, I think we all know that if that young person graduates, that some will not get a job for -- either the jobs won’t be available or they really won’t be the -- maybe they won’t be someone that the Department of -- of Human Services wants to hire. Will that person have to pay that loan back, or is it forgiven?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
I believe that every effort will be done by the State agencies and affiliates in trying to fill positions. We have a lot of them out there, but more important, I believe that ISAC is still developing the -- the -- the rules and regulations on how this is going to work.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Luechtefeld.
So you’re saying that right now you don’t know the answer to 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 that question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Martinez.
What I’m saying is, that ISAC is going to be developing the rules and regulations. So, I can say is, no, right now, but they are developing that as we speak.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1343 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 40 Yeas, 16 Nays, none voting Present. And House Bill 1343, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Clayborne, on 1344. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1344. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1344 makes it a violation of the Automotive Collision Repair Act to fall up under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act {sic}. It’s just a cleanup.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1344 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 1344, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Crotty, on 1345. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1345. (Secretary reads title of bill) 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.
Thank you. The purpose of Senate {sic} Bill 1325 {sic} is to help fulfill the State’s obligation under the Olmstead decision by enhancing the level of funds for both developmental disability and the mental health services and supports whenever they’re transferred to another facility or community-based setting. It also prohibits appropriations to be redirected or monies taken away from those services to furnish funding for some other governmental purpose or to relieve other State funding expenditures. The plan for using any savings realized from a closure or reduction must be shared and discussed with advocates, advocacy organizations, labor organizations and advisory groups whose mission includes advocacy for persons with developmental disabilities or persons with mental illness.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion on House Bill 1345? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1345 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1345, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Harmon, on 1349. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1349. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1349 amends the Criminal Code to mandate that handguns be sold with trigger locks, either external or internal mechanisms. This bill, as amended, was negotiated with the NRA and, as amended, I don’t believe it has any opponents. I ask for your Aye votes. 122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
I -- I just didn’t want him to think he was getting by with a -- one of those gun bills, but, Senator, you just said something and I don’t remember that in the -- in the course of the -- the debate on the question. It says the -- that guns -- firearms may be sold with either internal or external locks, but does it mandate that they have to have a lock or that a lock is offered? I -- I’ve forgotten and I -- I was thinking that it just said that the dealer offer a lock at the same time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon.
It is unlawful for a dealer to offer for sale a handgun, unless he offers for sale, sells or includes with the handgun a device or mechanism that renders the handgun temporarily inoperable.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1349 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 50 Yeas, 5 voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1349, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Harmon, on 1350. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. Out of the record. Senator Collins, on 1351. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1351. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Collins.
123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005 Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 1351 provides that any person arrested for leaving the scene of an accident involving personal injury or death or for failing to report an accident involving personal injury or death is subject to testing for the presence of alcohol or other intoxicants if the testing occurs within twelve hours of the accident that led to the person’s arrest. This legislation -- or this bill passed out of Judiciary unanimously. I know of no opposition and I ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1351 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1351, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we will return to page 75, on House Bill 1031. Senator Munoz. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 1031. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Munoz.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1031 creates a new Division VI license for pharmacies. Division VI licenses are for pharmacies that provide services to patients of institutions serviced by pharmacies within a Division II or Division III license, without using their own supply of drugs. Division VI pharmacies may provide services only in cooperation with an institution’s pharmacy or pharmacy provider. I know of no opposition and will attempt to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Wojcik.
I just rise in support of this legislation. It went out on agreed -- a do pass bill, and I ask everyone to vote for it. 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/11/2005
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1031 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1031, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
The following correction was made to the report of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services of May 5, 2005. The Committee reported House Bill 3812 to the Senate with a recommendation of “Do Pass, as Amended”. House Bill 3812 should have been reported with a recommendation of “Do Pass”.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 45, offered by Senator Lightford. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 8:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 12th, 2005. The Senate stands adjourned. 125