PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 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 gallery please rise? The invocation today will be given by Dr. Maryam Mostoufi, Islam {sic} (Islamic) Society of Greater Springfield, Springfield, Illinois. Doctor.
(Prayer by Dr. Maryam Mostoufi)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.
…President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal of Thursday, March 23rd, 2006, pending arrival of the printed transcripts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins moves for -- to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending arrival in the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Messages.
Communication from the President, dated March 23rd, 2006. Dear Madam Secretary - Pursuant to Rule 3-2(c), I hereby appoint Senator Debbie Halvorson to temporarily replace Senator Rickey Hendon as a member of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee. This appointment takes effect immediately. I have like Messages dated -- all dated March 23rd, 2006, from the President replacing Senator Hendon with Senator Clayborne on the Executive Committee and replacing Senator Hendon with Senator Raoul on the Labor Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, reports House Bills 4079 and 5337 Do Pass. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports House Bills 5284 and 5377 Do Pass; and House Bills 4342 and 5299 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 4561, 4728, 4746, 4768, 4782, 5220, 5274 and 5506 Do Pass; and House Bills 4727 and 4835 Do Pass, as Amended. Senators Cullerton and Dillard, Co-Chairpersons of the Committee on Judiciary, report House Bills 4204, 4238, 4297, 4357, 4375, 4383, 4398, 4527, 4649, 4717, 5216, 5288, 5336 and 5376 Do Pass; and House Bills 1299, 2067, 2946, 4179, 4203, 4438, 4446, 4606, 4711, 4715 and 5342 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Martinez, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports House Bills 2469, 4463, 4541 and 5331 Do Pass. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports House Bill 5407 Do Pass. Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Energy, reports House Bill 4977 and 5555 Do Pass. Senator Ronen, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Human Services, reports House Bills 4195, 4853, 5330, 5339, 5343 and 5382 Do Pass; and House Bills 4135, 4186, 5259, 5348 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports House Bills 4362, 4369, 4789, 4793 and 5283 Do Pass. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government, reports House Bills 4559 and 4703 Do Pass; and House Bill 4137 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 83 Be Adopted; and Senate Resolution 662 Be Adopted; and House Joint Resolutions 80, 84, 85, 89 and 95 Be Adopted; and Senate Amendment No. 3 to Senate Resolution 578 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Silverstein, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports House Bills 4752, 5305 and 5524 Do Pass; and House Bills 448, 1261, 1604, 2708, 4442, 4453, 4666, 4729, 4829 and 4974 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 2983 recommended Do Adopt. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports House Bills 4192, 4960 and 4971 Do Pass; and House Bill 4173 Do Pass, as Amended. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 Senator del Valle, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports House Bills 4308, 4310, 4365, 4987 and 5550 Do Pass; and House Bills 2012, 5416 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 82 Be Adopted. Senator Collins, Chairperson of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports House Bills 4345 and 4736 Do Pass. Senator Forby, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, reports House Bill 4904 Do Pass. Senator Demuzio, Chairperson of the Committee on Licensed Activities, reports House Bills 4370 and 4726 Do Pass. Senator Maloney, Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education, reports House Bills 4339, 4406 and 5429 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The State Journal-Register requests -- to allow -- be photographed. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the Governor.
Message from the Governor by Joseph B. Handley, Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs, dated March 24th, 2006. Dear Mr. President - The -- Governor directs me to lay before the Senate the following Message: To the Honorable Members of the Senate, 94th General Assembly - I have nominated and appointed the following named persons to the offices enumerated below and respectfully ask the concurrence and -- in and confirmation of these appointments of your Honorable Body. Signed by Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber, I have a Page with me here today that I would like to introduce. His name is Mr. Caleb Trimble. Actually, he is a constituent of Senator John O. Jones. I’m assuming he likes me 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 better than Senator Jones and that’s why he’s paging for me. His father is a Farm Bureau manager in two counties, one of which is in my county and one of which is in Senator Jones’ county. Caleb is a senior at Newton High School, is going to go to Southern Illinois University and major in political science. So he came here, Mr. President, to learn about the process. So, I know you’ll put on a good show for us today to show him that it really works. Would appreciate if you’d give him a warm Capitol welcome. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our Members please welcome him? Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Purposes of announcement. Like the record to reflect that Senator Cronin is absent today due to illness. Senator Millner is absent due to illness in his family. Senator Winkel had a family emergency. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record shall reflect. All Members at the sound of my voice, we will be going to 2nd Readings. Will you please come to the Floor? All Members at the sound of my voice, we will be going to 2nd Readings. Please come to the Floor. Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 4301, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3179, offered by Senators Rauschenberger and Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 676, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 Senate Resolution 677, offered by Senator Hunter. Senate Resolution 678, offered by Senator Hunter and all Members. Senate Resolution 679, offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolution 680, by Senator Dillard and all Members. Senate Resolution 681, by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 682, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. Senate Resolution 683, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. Senate Resolution 684, offered by Senator Clayborne and all Members. Senate Resolution 685, offered by Senator Harmon and all Members. They are death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Resolution Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 686, offered by Senator Trotter. Senate Resolution 687, offered by Senator Haine. Senate Resolution 688, offered by Senator Haine -- by Senator Martinez. And 689 offered by Senator Demuzio. And they are substantive resolutions. And Senate Joint Resolution 87, offered by Senator Hunter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Axley, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President. I’d like to introduce my…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I’d like to introduce my two handsome Pages today: Matthew Brendza and his brother, Christopher Brendza, from Park Ridge. If the Senators could please welcome them to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our -- will our guests stand up, and we please welcome 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 them to the Senate? Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 2878, along with House Amendment No. 1. Passed the House, as amended, March 16th, 2006. Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution No. 98. Offered by Senator Munoz. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We’re going to go to House Bills on the -- on the top of page 11. House Bill 874. Senator DeLeo. Senator DeLeo. Out of the record. House Bill 1620. Senator Dahl. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1620. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Energy and Environment adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1744. Senator Raoul. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1744. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Revenue adopted Amendment No. 1. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2151. Senator Forby. Senator Forby. Out of the record. House Bill 3126. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 3126. Or, House Bill 4121. Senator Sandoval. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4121. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4127. Senator Sieben. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4127. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any -- 3rd Reading. House Bill 4134. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 4147. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 4147. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4161. Senator DeLeo. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4161. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4193. Senator del Valle. Senator del Valle. Out of the record. House Bill 4217. Senator Viverito. Senator Viverito. Out of the record. House Bill 4302. Senator Ronen. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4302. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4306. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 4314. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4314. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4377. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006
House Bill 4377. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 4425. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter. Out of the record. House Bill 4449. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4449. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there -- 3rd Reading. House Bill 4461. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. House Bill 4519. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4519. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll go back to 4760. House Bill -- with leave of the Body, we’ll go back to 4788. House Bill 4822. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4822. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 5251. Senator Jacobs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 5251. (Secretary reads title of bill) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to 5260. House Bill 5267. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 5267. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to 5370. With leave of the Body, we’ll go back to House Bill 2151. Senator Forby. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 2151. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any of the resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections have been filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carried. The resolutions are adopted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 86, offered by Senator Halvorson. (Secretary reads SJR No. 86)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 91st Legislative Day 3/24/2006 Senator Halvorson moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 86. Those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The rules are suspended. Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
We would like to welcome Mr. Ibiyinka Alao, who is the Ambassador for Art from Nigeria. Mr. Alao has been in the United States for three years speaking to students of all ages about the importance of art, character and taking action to make the world a better place. He has won several prestigious awards for his artwork, including a first place award from the United Nations. And he is seated at the -- to my left. And I would like for the -- my colleagues to give him a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guest rise and we all give him a round of applause? Senator Halvorson now moves for the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 86. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 86, the Senate now stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon, Monday, March 27, 2006. The -- the Senate stands adjourned. 11