Illinois Senate Floor Debate — April 7, 2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) The regular Session of the 94th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor John Hamilton, Laurel United Methodist Church in Springfield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Pledge of Allegiance. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.

(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter.

Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal of Thursday, April 6, 2006, pending arrival of the -- printed transcripts.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal pending arrival of the printed -- transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Resolutions Consent Calendar. All Members that hear my voice, please come to the Chamber. We will be doing Floor action. Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be going to the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. The leave of the Body, we will be going to page 4. Senate Bill 1216. Senator Ronen, do you wish to proceed? Senator Ronen seeks leave of the Body to return to Senate -- to Senate Bill 1216 to the Order of 2nd Reading to the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objections, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading, to Senate Bill -- 1216. Madam {sic} Secretary, are there any amendments?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Ronen, to explain your amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President. Amendment 1 becomes the bill and it creates the Condominium Advisory Council to be appointed by members of my -- each caucus and -- four members by each of the four caucuses and then three members by the Governor’s Office. They’re unpaid. The purpose of the Council is to review 2  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 condominium law, but also be a resource for individuals who might have issues or questions about condominium law or condominium practice.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Ronen moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1216. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Is there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Cullerton, to explain your amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President and Mr. Secretary. This amendment provides that the Council shall elect the chairperson of the Council. The language of Amendment No. 1 had the Governor designating the chair, and this amendment provides that the Council shall elect the chairperson from the -- from its own members. Move for its adoption.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Cullerton moves the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1216. 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?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Now on the Order of 3rd -- 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 1216. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Ronen.

Thank you, Mr. President. I explained most of the bill on 3  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Amendment 1. This creates the Advisory Council on Condominiums to -- it will work out of the Illinois Department of Revenue, and will be an assistance to people in relation to disputes or issues related to condominiums. I would urge an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does Senate Bills -- Senate Bill 1216 pass. Those in -- favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote 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 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1216, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, leave of the Body, go to page 8. Senate Bill 2983. Senator Hendon leaves -- seeks leave of the Body to return 2983 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, Senate Bill 2983. Mr. Secretary, are there any amendments?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hendon, explain your amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is a -- we -- still working on the film bill. This is the same as the House version. Amendment No. 4 makes it a two-year tax credit, instead of one year.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hendon moves the adoption of Amendment -- Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 2983. 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?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hendon.

Thank you -- thank you, Mr. Chairman. Amendment No. 5 is 4  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 the -- reporting requirement that the -- has DCEO submit an annual report to the General Assembly as to the success of the tax credit.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hendon moves the adoption of Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 2983. 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?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) 3rd Reading. Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ll be going to House Bills 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will go to page 9. House Bill 4676. Senator Hunter, you wish to proceed? Senator Hunter seeks the leave of this Body to return to House Bill 4676 in the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objections, leave is granted. In Order of the 2nd Reading in House Bill 4676, Mr. Secretary, are there -- any amendments?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter, to explain your amendment.

I would like to have this amendment adopted and I will read it further -- I will go into further discussion during the bill on 3rd Reading.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, Senator Hunter moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4676. 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?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter.

5  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 I -- I, too, would like to adopt this amendment and I will go into further discussion during the 3rd Reading.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hunter moves the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to House Bill 4676. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Is there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) 3rd Reading. Now in Order of 3rd Reading, House Bill 4676. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the city {sic}. Floor Amendment 2 retains House Bill 7676 {sic} (4676), as amended by Floor Amendment 1. It further makes changes by declaring if the court attempts to ex patriate {sic} (parte) order -- an ex patriate {sic} order under this Act for an evaluation of a report of alleged or suspected self-neglect or for the provision of essential services in conjunction with the alleged or suspected self-neglect. So this -- this bill, basically, enhances the rights of senior citizens and improve the due process procedures under the Act. This bill was a compromise bill. It reflects -- the bill, as amended, reflects more than two years of work by the Illinois Department of Aging, the City Department of Aging, the Governor’s Office, provider agencies, Attorney General’s Office, AARP, Illinois Medical Society and various other stakeholders to achieve this bill I present here today. And I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Are there any comments? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4676 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 6  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 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 55 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 4676, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we will now proceed to page 12. On Order of Secretary -- Secretary -- Desk of Concurrence. Senate Bill 2336. Senator del Valle. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator del Valle, explain your motion.

Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I move to concur with House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2336. It is a technical amendment. It clarifies that the housing data that’s collected to determine what school districts are eligible to participate in the free breakfast program, that the housing data will be used to determine the number of low-income students within that area. I move for its adoption.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Any discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall Senate Bill -- shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2336. 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 55 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2336, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Althoff, what do you rise for?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) What is your point of personal privilege?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Let’s give him a warm welcome. Welcome, son. Senate Bill 2569. Senator del Valle. Senator del Valle, do you wish to proceed? Madam -- Madam {sic} Secretary, read the motion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator del Valle, to explain your motion.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to concur with House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2569. This amendment corrected a problem with the bill as it passed the Senate that made the bill apply to all types of deeds. With this amendment, we make it clear that the only deeds we’re talking about are quitclaim deeds and not the other main type of deed, which is the warranty deed.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Senator Rutherford.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2569. 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 55 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2569, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2986. Senator Wilhelmi, do you wish to proceed? No. Out of the record. We will now proceed to page 11, in Order of the Secretary’s Desk, Resolutions. Starting with Senate Resolution 515. Senator 8  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Cullerton, do you wish to proceed? Senate Resolution 687. Senator Haine, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Are there any Floor amendments?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Haine, explain your amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an amendment which merely adds the name of another little child, tragically, permanently injured by the shaken baby conduct. And it -- this child is from Decatur, Senator Watson’s -- district. She was one of the two children that were brought in to testify last year on the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, Senator Haine moves the adoption of Amendment 1 to Resolution -- Senate Resolution 687. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any other Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Now we are on Resolution 687. Senator Haine, explain your resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a -- a resolution recognizing not only National Child Abuse Prevention Month for the month of April, which is a tradition started by President Carter in 1979, but this draws specific attention to the shaken baby trauma, the abusive head trauma, including Shaken Baby Syndrome, which has cost the lives of many children over the years, and is -- and also damaged -- irreparably damaged many others - to further draw attention to it 9  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 in order to prevent it.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Haine moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 687. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 688. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Tomorrow we want to recognize April 8th, 2006, as the YMCA Healthy Kids Day.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Martinez moves the adoption of Resolutions -- Senate Resolution 688. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 689. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Demuzio.

Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Joint -- Senate Resolution 689 proclaims March of 2006 as American Red Cross Month in the State of Illinois. And it -- encourages all Illinois citizens to support our American Red Cross. As we have observed over these last few weeks, we can definitely see how important the -- the American Red Cross has played into a number of lives due to the devastating effects of not only Katrina, but through our own area here with our tornadoes. So, Senate Resolution 689 proclaims March is -- is their -- their month. 10  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Thank you, Senator. Senator Demuzio moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 689. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 692. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Are there any Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter, please explain your amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the -- of the Senate. Floor Amendment 2 retains the resolution and it adds a new provision that requires the Board of Higher Ed, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Commerce and Community Economic {sic} to assess and report from the Board of Higher Education’s findings on textbooks, programs, the economic impact. And I'd like to move -- I'd like to adopt the amendment.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Hunter moves the adoption of Amendment 2 to Senate Resolution 692. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any other Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Thank you. Senator Hunter, please explain the resolution -- amendment.

Thank you, Mr. President. This resolution is aimed at giving us accurate, comprehensive information on textbook costs, recommendations the General Assembly could consider for helping students meet growing burdens of textbook costs. And I ask for a favorable vote. 11  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hunter moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 692. In the opinion of the Chair, this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, and therefore a roll call vote must be taken. Those in favor of the resolution 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 52 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. The resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 700. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Are there any Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Demuzio.

Mr. President, Committee Amendment No. 1 expands the study on -- on benefits of historic -- barn preservation program in Illinois. It also broadens the study to include comprehensive plan for the development and promotion in tourism in rural areas, including the potential for expanded heritage tourism efforts to take advantage of the increased interest in the Lincoln and underground railroad sites, as well as the potential for expanded agricultural and natural resources tourism efforts.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator… Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Demuzio moves the adoption of Resolution -- Senate Resolution 700. It is the opinion of the Chair that this resolution requires the expenditures of State funds, and therefore a roll call must be taken. Those in favor of -- resolution 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 55 voting Yea, none 12  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 voting Nay, none voting Present. The resolution is adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 66. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please -- read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Lightford, please explain your resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Joint Resolution 66 is identical to Senate Joint Resolution 47 that we did pass out of here on the last day of Session of last spring. However, the House failed to act upon it. I would like to send this initiative over that calls upon the Illinois Congressional Delegation and the U.S. Department of Education to address concerns of the General Assembly regarding the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. And it urges the President of the United States and Congress to fully fund the requirements of NCLB. There’s some other provisions here, but it didn’t change from last year. I'd be happy to answer questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Lightford moves the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 66. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay -- Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 75. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Joint Resolution 77. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Sandoval, to explain your resolution.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. SJR 77 urges Congress to enact the Employee Free Choice Act. Even though the nation’s workers ostensibly have the freedom to form a union 13  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 under the current law of the National Relations Act of 1935, in - - in reality they were truly denied that right. Each year -- twenty thousand of America’s workers are illegally threatened, coerced or terminated for attempting to form a union. Most violations of worker’s freedoms to join a union occur behind closed doors, and each year millions of dollars are spent to frustrate worker’s effort to organize. Often companies hire extensive -- hire expensive consultants and launch campaigns to intimidate workers and to keep them from supporting a union. The Act also requires employers to come to the table to negotiate a first contract and it levels the playing field for employees who are attempting to organize a union and obtain a first contract. The Act provides for court orders to stop employers from firing or threatening these workers. The Act also puts real teeth in the law by strengthening the penalties in the current law for workers that support a union. I ask a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Senator -- Millner, proceed.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Sandoval moves the adoption of -- to Senate Joint Resolution 77. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 82. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Any Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Lightford, to explain your amendment.

14  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to table Amendment No. 1 and allow Amendment No. 2 to become the bill, please.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Lightford moves to table No. 1 -- Senate Amendment No. 1. It’s tabled. Are there any Floor amendments for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Lightford, to proceed.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, as you know, twice a year the State Board of Education submits to us a report detailing school districts’ requests for waivers of School Code mandates. The wavier law requires that any school district seeking a wavier to -- demonstrate that its request is based upon a specific plan for improved student performance and school improvement. I have before me three school districts that we would like to make some adjustments. We’d like to actually deny Huntley Community School District 158 a request to waive statement of affairs requirements. And we’d like to reduce a request in place of five years to two years for the Aurora West School District 129 to request to waive statement of affairs requirement. And then we would like to reduce the request from Warren Township High School District 121, a request to raise student fees for drivers’ education. Reduce them to a one-year request, opposed to five years. I'd be happy to answer questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion on Amendment 2? Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Senator Lightford.

Yes. They originally requested five years and we thought two years would be acceptable.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Lightford moves the adoption of Amendment 2 to -- Senate Joint Resolution 82. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any other Floor amendments for approval?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Lightford, on the resolution. Senator Lightford, on the resolution.

I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Lightford moves the adoption of Joint -- Senate Joint Resolution 82. This resolution -- regarding school waivers require a record vote. Those in favor of the resolution 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 52 voting Yea, none voting Nay, none voting Present. This resolution is adopted. For the record, there were 2 voting Nay on Senate Joint Resolution 82. Senate Joint Resolution 83. Senator Jones. Senator Emil Jones. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Emil Jones, to explain your resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Emil Jones moves the adoption of Senate Joint Resolution 83. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution -- all right. House Joint Resolution 76. Senator Munoz. Senator Munoz. Senate -- Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Hold it, hold it. Excuse me. Take it out of the record. Take it out of the record. Thank you, Senator. House Joint Resolution 98. Senator Munoz. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Senator Munoz, to explain.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Joint Resolution 98 encourages the United States Department of Labor, United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the Illinois Congressional Delegation to take action to ensure that benefits due to Illinois veterans are indeed given to Illinois veterans, and are, in fact, actually received by the Illinois veterans in equal proportion to benefits by veterans in other states.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Munoz moves the adoption of House Joint Resolution 98. All those in favor 17  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Link.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to state, Senator Silverstein is absent today due to medical reasons.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) Thank you, Senator. It will be recorded. Senator Burzynski, I don’t see your light on -- to your light. Senator Burzynski, proceed.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR VIVERITO) It will be recorded. Mr. Secretary, do you have any motions on file?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Let the motion be reflected on the Calendar. Senator Link.

Thank you, Madam President. I neglected to say that Senator Meeks is absent today due to district business.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you, Senator Link. Senator Axley, for what purpose do you rise? Your light was on by mistake? Okay. Thanks. We’re going to the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we will be turning to page 4 and going to Senate Bill 1520. Senator Trotter, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Trotter.

18  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Thank you very much, Madam President, Members of the Senate. If I can get your attention, please. Senate Bill 1520 is a vehicle bill. We are passing this over to the House. As we know, we are in the middle of our budget cycle. This is in keeping with the policies that we’ve done in the past. And to move the process on, we would like to send this vehicle out of this Chamber today so it can be acted upon in the House.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you, Senator Trotter. Is there any discussion? Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he'll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Trotter.

That is the intent, yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Trotter.

Excuse me. I have no details, Senator, other than that the process is where we usually are at this phase. Discussions are still going on about which dollars will be allocated to which programs and what we can’t afford as a State.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 19  STATE OF ILLINOIS 94th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 99th Legislative Day 4/7/2006 Senator Trotter.

Yes and no. In that, we’ll be voting on what they send us, but hopefully there’ll be -- the -- well, the intent, we won’t pass it over here if it doesn’t have what we need in that bill, as well. So it’ll be all of our bill once it comes back.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Trotter, do you wish to close?

Just seek its passage. An Aye vote, please.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Thank you. The question is, shall Senate Bill 1520 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 30 Yeas, 25 Nays, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 1520, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Roskam.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Roskam, that is always in order. Senator Roskam has requested a verification. Will all Members be in their seats? The Secretary will read the affirmative votes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Does Senator Roskam question the presence of any Member voting in the affirmative?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) All right. On a verified roll call, there are 30 Yeas, 25 Nays, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 1520, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Will our guests in the galleries please rise? Welcome to Springfield. We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolution on the Consent Calendar?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 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, and the motion carries. The resolutions are adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, for purpose of an announcement. It is our intention to return on Monday at 3 p.m., just so everybody knows. Since -- Monday, 3 p.m., that is our intention, just so everybody knows. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise? Okay. Some -- there is a phantom person touching everybody’s buttons. Senator Roskam.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Roskam, as a Legislator, you know you work twenty- four/seven, so I would expect a much richer schedule. Mr. Secretary, Messages.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Viverito moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 120. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are adopted -- or suspended. Senator Viverito now moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 120. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Pursuant to House Joint -- pursuant to House Joint Resolution 120, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 3 p.m., on Monday, April 10th, 2006. The Senate stands adjourned. 22