PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the gallery please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Chad Pickering, Hope Free {sic} (Evangelical Free) Church, Springfield, Illinois.
(Remarks and Prayer by Pastor Chad Pickering)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, March 13th, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has corrections or additions to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journal just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. All Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Floor immediately. We will be going -- 2nd Readings. And if you -- not here, we can’t move your bills. Please come to the Floor immediately. Senator 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 Dahl, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Moment of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I have with me today three members of the Conness family, Mary Kate, who is a sophomore at Marquette High School, in Ottawa, Illinois, and John and Pat, who are both -- a freshman and a sophomore at Marquette University. They’re down here today to spend the day with us in the Senate. Let’s give ‘em a welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will we please welcome our guests to the Senate? Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Garrett, the -- Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bills 133, 264 and 1566 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 654, 1237, 1324, 1349, 1350 and 1471 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Cullerton, Co-Chairperson, and Senator Dillard, Co- Chairperson, of the Committee on Judiciary-Civil Law, reports Senate Bills 472, 478, 1434, 1435 and 1576 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 68, 146, 148, 319, 330, 389, 404, 461, 1162, 1230, 1306 and 1733 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 345, 399, 494, 523, 539, 632, 733, 735, 744, 1188, 1201, 1261, 1276, 1453, 1493, 1494, 1504, 1508, 1568, 1729 and 1746 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 290, 417, 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 684, 689, 1250 and 1656 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Jacobs, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and Community Affairs, reports Senate Bills 258, 487 and 688 Do Pass. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary- Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 121, 200, 607, 677, 697, 710, -- 711, 1369, 1375, 1391 and 1627 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 30, 62, 69, 100, 115, 265, 328, 386, 450, 532, 1346, 1397, 1418, 1509 and 1686 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Bills 26, 33, 166, 314, 378, 514, 639, 682, 1164, 1173, 1265, 1318, 1344, 1409, 1438, 1460, 1527 and 1575 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 308, 391, 435, 438, 489, 577 and 1291 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports Senate Bills 1169, 1383, 1539 and 1587 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 647, 719, 1166 and 1481 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 216 and 346 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 550 and 570 Do Pass, as Amended. And Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports Senate Bills 51, 175, 1415 and 1739 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 147, 322, 340, 381, 390, 511, 544, 591, 731, 1245, 1581, 1664 and 1699 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Bugle seeks leave to photograph the proceedings. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I’m pleased to say today, Mr. President, Members of the Senate, that I’m joined by Sasha Weiss, who is my Page for the Day. Sasha is a -- who lives in Skokie, is a fifth grader at the Roycemore School. His interests include basketball, math and history. And he’s here today to be -- our Page for the Day. So please give him, his father, Jeff, and his sister, Amelia, a warm State Senate welcome. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will -- will our guests in the gallery please rise? And welcome to the Senate. We will proceed to Senate Bill 729, where we left off yesterday, page 4 on the Calendar. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 729. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007
Mr. President, I would ask the indulgence of this distinguished Body to introduce one of my five daughters, who’s in the gallery - my daughter, Mary - born at home, I might add, and -- for my bill, my midwifery bill - and my wife, Anna, and one of our grandchildren, Rosaria Elizabeth. I would ask a warm Senate welcome for them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We would like to welcome them to the Senate. Thank you. Senator Luechtefeld. Senate Bill 1159. Senator Luechtefeld. Senate Bill 1165. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1165. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll pass over… Senate Bill 1224. Senator Holmes. Senator Holmes. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1224. (Secretary reads title of bill) 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Financial Institutions adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1225. Senator Ronen. Senator Ronen. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1225. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any -- any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1226. Senator Ronen. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1226. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1228. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1228. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1241. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. With leave of the Body, we’ll skip over to Senate Bill 1248. Senate Bill 1253. Senator Noland. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1253. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1267. Senator Noland. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1267. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1279. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1279. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on -- the Committee on Insurance adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1293. Senator Sandoval. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1304. Senator Schoenberg. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1304. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1326. Senator Schoenberg. Senator Schoenberg. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1326. (Secretary reads title of bill) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1348. Senator Munoz. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1358. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1358. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1360. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1360. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1381. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1384. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1424. Senator Halvorson. Senator Halvorson. Senator Halvorson. Madam Secretary, please read the bill. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007
Senate Bill 1424. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Could we keep the noise down a little bit so we could hear what’s going on? Thank you. Senate Bill 1426. Senator Murphy. Out of the record. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Inquiry of the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your inquiry.
Thank you. Mr. President, already in the brief 2nd Readings that we’ve gone through thus far, there have been a number of bills positioned on 2nd Reading which -- at least my information is, is that the sponsors of those bills have made commitments that amendments or something else will be done to the bills before they’re called for a vote on 3rd Reading. The inquiry specifically, Mr. President, is, is it -- has it been your instruction to your Members to move - or suggestion - to move those bills to 3rd Reading as a procedural matter, and that’s why 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 that’s happening, as opposed to us forgetting about commitments that may have been made in committee about adding amendments to the bills?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Chair has not informed any Member to move a bill from 2nd to 3rd. If you have an inquiry with a particular Member, I suggest you talk to that particular Member on that particular bill. Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just as a brief follow-up, I -- I -- I appreciate the advice. It’s not -- I don’t think it’s physically possible for all of us to go to Members who we think made promises in committee to stop them before they make the decision to move the bill from 2nd to 3rd, so I hope that the Chair will remind all the Members on both sides that if you’ve made commitments, to make sure and be mindful of those, otherwise we’ll wind up stopping the process as we go along 2nd Readings, saying, “Wait a second, Senator, I thought you said you were going to hold that bill.” Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senate Bill 1428. Senator Sandoval. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1430. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1446. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1448. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1455. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1463. Senator Lightford. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1463. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1464. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1482. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1497. Senator Wilhelmi. Senator Wilhelmi. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1553. Senator Frerichs. Senator Frerichs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1559. Senator Frerichs. Senator Frerichs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1579. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1579. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Human Services adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1580. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1580. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. The Rules Committee will meet immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Rules Committee will meet immediately in the Senator -- in the President’s Anteroom. Will the Rules Committee meet immediately in the President’s Anteroom? Rules Committee in the President’s Anteroom, immediately. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator -- Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative -- Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Appropriations I Committee - Senate Bill 241; refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1317; refer to Education Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 671, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1472, Committee Amendment No. 1 to -- No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill l474 and Committee -- Committee Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1702; refer to Executive Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 125, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 141, Committee Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 157, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 593, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1305, Committee -- Committee Amendment -- Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1327, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1591, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1701, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1751, and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate -- Senate Resolution 65; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 171, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 537, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 549, Committee Amendment No. 1 to 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 Senate Bill 1468 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1675; refer to Insurance Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 210, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 484, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1211, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1365 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1487; refer to Labor Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1249, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1290, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1314 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1475; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 155, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 230, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 280, Committee Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 385, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 463, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 495 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1398; refer to Revenue Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 101, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 117, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 327, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 455, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 519, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 660, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 698 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1395; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 8, Committee Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 66, and Committee Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 1511; and Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1592. Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, are there any motions on file? 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007
I have a -- I have a Motion to Discharge from the Senate Rules Committee Senate Bill 1836. Filed by Senator Righter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Let that be printed on the Calendar. Madam Secretary, Messages.
Have a Message, dated March 14th, 2007, from Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President. Dear Madam Secretary - Pursuant to Senate Rule 2-10, I hereby establish March 30th, 2007, as the committee deadline for Senate Bill 750. Very truly yours, Emil Jones, Jr., Senate President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of an announcement. The Senate Republicans would request a caucus immediately following adjournment. We will require, Mr. President, about a half an hour, in Senator Watson’s Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) That is always in order, but can we -- can we keep that -- make sure that that half-hour is right on time, because we’ll be keeping committees in delay at that time? I said, can we keep that half-hour right on time, because we’ll be keeping committees in delay otherwise? Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise?
15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007 Yes, sir. That’s my caucus and I’ll make sure that we get out of there in thirty minutes. Thank you for your consideration. I just wanted to take this opportunity, Mr. President, to introduce a group of ladies in the gallery here that are visiting Springfield. It’s the Lincoln Series Republican Women from throughout Illinois and I’d just like for them to be recognized here in the Senate and we certainly welcome ‘em here to Springfield and the Capitol.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests please rise in the gallery and the Senate welcome them? Ladies and Gentlemen, for a purpose of an announcement. Please listen. All committees will be delayed one hour. So, for the 1 o’clock meeting, it will be a 2 o’clock meeting, and so forth. So, we will hope that that caucus, Senator Watson, will be one-half hour so at -- that 1 o’clock meeting will start promptly at 2 o’clock. Thank you. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State -- state your point.
I want to introduce to the Senate people from Peoria who are part of the Chamber of Commerce Political Leadership School and my good friend, Roberta Parks, who is the head of the Chamber, if they’d stand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery please rise and the Senate welcome them? Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise? 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 18th Legislative Day 3/14/2007
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a point of personal privilege. I would just like to suggest that if I were a wagering individual, I would wager that our caucus Members will be at those committee meetings prior to your Members. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 15th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 17