PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will all our guests please rise in the galleries? The invocation today will be given by Reverend Paul Bacon, Bethesda Lutheran Church, Chicago, Illinois. Reverend Bacon.
(Prayer by the Reverend Paul Bacon)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Clayborne, would you lead us please?
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Clayborne)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, April 24th, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senator has additions or objections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Will all the Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We’re going to go to 3rd Readings. Would all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 We’re about to go to 3rd Readings. Would all administrative assistants please contact your Senator and send them to the Senate Floor? We’re going to go through 3rd Readings. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 153 through 155, offered by Senator Dillard and all Members. And Senate Resolution 156, offered by Senator Holmes, Harmon and all Members. They’re death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Resolutions.
Senate Joint Resolution 48, -- offered by Senator Ronen. It’s substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Crotty, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports House Bills 169, 405, 802 and 1670 Do Pass; and House Bills 4 and 924 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Garrett, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports House Bills 204, 209, 258, 421 and 732 Do Pass; and House Bill 653 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Munoz, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports House Bills 133, 167, 293, 358, 1024, 1138, 1238 and 3624 Do Pass; and House Bills 654 and 903 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Jacobs, Chairperson of the Committee on Housing and 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Community Affairs, reports House Bills 759 and 1425 Do Pass. Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary- Criminal Law, reports House Bills 260, 281, 845 and 1293 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Pensions and Investments, reports House Bills 804 and 824 Do Pass. Senator Meeks, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports House Bills 295, 304, 808 and 1646 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We are about to go to 3rd Readings very soon. Madam Secretary, Messages.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 306. We’ve received like Messages on House Bills 618, 680, 734, 820, 855, 962, 1072, 1116, 1380, 1460, 1514, 1519, 1775, 1839, 1842, 1876, 1900, 1998, 2304, 2973, 3289, 3597 and 3627. All passed the House, April 24th, 2007. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bills -- House Bill 263, offered by Senator Peterson. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 House Bill 374, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 592, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 614, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 618, offered by Senator Wilhelmi. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 640, offered by Senator Bomke. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 680, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 634 {sic} (734), offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 822, offered by Senator Harmon. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 855, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 962, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1072, offered by Senator Delgado. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill -- I’m sorry, House Bill 1268, offered by Senator Lightford. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1286, offered by Senator Ronen. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1380, offered by Senator Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 House Bill 1592 {sic} (1519), offered by Senator Halvorson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1558, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1741, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1842, offered by Senator Jacobs. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3289, offered by Senator Frerichs. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3455, offered by Senator Garrett. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3512, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3628, offered by Senator Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 3766, offered by Senator Hultgren. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. -- thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go right ahead. State your point, sir.
Up in the President’s Gallery, right above your head, is a - 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 - a group of ladies from around over the State of Illinois. They are with the National Conference of Catholic Women, and we’d like to welcome them to Springfield as they tour the Capitol today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Our guests please rise, the lovely ladies, and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate. Welcome. And quite lovely they are, each and every one of you. Welcome to Springfield. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go ahead and state your point, Senator.
First, Mr. President, I want to compliment you on your red suit. I -- I know you were inspired by the Kappas last week. Secondly, I’d -- I’d like to announce that the State University Retirement System is having an open house in the Rathskeller and they are providing boxed lunches as incentive for you all to come learn of the need to fund the pension system.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Thank you, Senator, and we will most certainly make our way down to the Rathskeller for that excellent box lunch, but this is burgundy, Senator - burgundy, wine burgundy. Thank you very much. Senator Dahl, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go ahead, Senator. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
In the gallery back up here today, we have a group from the Will County-Grundy County Center for Independent Living. They’re down here today visiting with us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests from Will County please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate? Welcome them to the Senate, Senators. Welcome. Continue the excellent work. Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go right ahead, Senator. State your point.
Thank you. I am pleased today to be joined by my Page for the Day, Sean Flannery. Sean is a fourth grader at the Thompson School {sic} (Thompson Instructional Center) in Joliet, in Senator Wilhelmi’s district. Sean is here today because of his commitment to the Leukemia Society of America, and his interests also include football. Please give Sean and his sister, who’s directly behind me in the -- in the balcony, a warm Senate welcome. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome, Sean; welcome, your sister, to the Illinois Senate. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Yes, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 State your point.
Want to make an introduction of someone from Peoria who is quite well known - in fact, just about as well known as Senator Shadid, who he’s with today. But up in the gallery behind me is Dana Davis, who is the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, and he’s here visiting us today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guest please rise? Welcome to the Senate? And who’s that guy with you? Lord, have mercy. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege. I have two young people here with me today, Sergio Velarde and Candice Tyler. They are seniors at WIU University in Macomb. They’re also interns in my Macomb district office for this semester, and I’d like everybody to welcome them to the Senate Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise from Leader Sullivan’s district? And welcome to the Illinois Senate. Welcome. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. For personal privilege. Behind the -- the Democrats in the gallery, the young fourth-grade students from Lutheran School here in Springfield, and I will tell you, often I ask high school students if they know who their two Representatives are that serve with me and they knew - bright, bright young -- young people. 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our young people from the fourth grade please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate? The future leaders of America, welcome. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Straight A’s, we expect straight A’s. Thank you. We’re now going to go to the Order of 3rd Readings. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For purposes of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your announcement.
Thank you. Like the record to reflect that Senator Burzynski is not here today. His mother’s having surgery down in Benton, and so he’s with his family.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Thank you, Senator. Our prayers go out to Senator Burzynski, and his family, and his mother. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn to page 38 of your Senate Calendar. On the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1665. Senator… This is where we left off yesterday. Senator John Jones. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1665. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Jones.
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1665 amends the Technology Advancement and Development Act to provide grants that -- made under the Act may be made for research to test products that render the use of anhydrous ammonia inert in the production of methamphetamine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1665 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, 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 that question, there are 56 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1665, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Watson, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Just a point of personal privilege. I want to…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point.
I want to introduce one of those former heavy-handed Republicans that was in the Chair that -- during the last ten years when we were in control and trampled all over the rights of the Minority during that particular point of time, Walter Dudycz. Where’s Walter? Oh, right here. All right, Walter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Dudycz, welcome to the Illinois Senate. You should have been here yesterday when we gave you back some of your own medicine. Welcome, Walter. Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 you seek recognition, sir?
Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, Senator.
I would like to introduce my Page for a Day, Joshua Gerovac. He is a third grader at St. Charles Borromeo School in Hampshire, Illinois. He is brought here this morning by his mom, Rebecca Gerovac, who is in the gallery up here, and I just ask you to welcome both of them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Stand up young man, Walter {sic} and his mother. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. You will learn a lot from that Senator you’re sitting with today. Senator Clayborne, for what purpose do you rise, sir?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, Senator.
I have Mayor Bruce Nowak behind me from the Village of Millstadt. I would like for the Senate to welcome him.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Welcome. Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I -- I have with me today a -- a lady who is from my district. She is 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 head of the curriculum at Waterloo school system. She’s also getting her doctorate degree at Saint Louis University, and one of the things that she’s supposed to do is to come to Springfield as part of her doctorate and take a look at what’s going on. So let’s show her something. Let’s show her at least a welcome. Dottie Barbeau.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate, Donnie {sic}. Senator Noland, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have a couple of guests -- point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go ahead, Senator.
Thank you, sir. I have a couple of guests here over on the Republican side, couple visiting here, couple of nice ladies who do great work in our community in Elgin. Representing Elgin Community College, we have with us Dana Sendziol, Director of Community Relations, and Dr. Phyllis E. Folarin, who is the Chair of the Board of Trustees, who does great work throughout our community and throughout the 22nd District. Like to give them a warm Senate welcome, if we could, please. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate, or wave your hand? That’s good enough. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, Senator.
We have visiting with us in the Chambers one of our former colleagues, State Senator Alice Palmer. Let’s please welcome her to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Alice Palmer, welcome to the Illinois Senate. This is amazing. We have Senator Walter Dudycz and Senator Alice Palmer back on the Senate on the same day. It must be family reunion. …now go back to the order of business of today. On the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill -- and the Senate is awful -- awful noisy today. Could we please calm down? Senate Bill 1675. Senator Collins. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1686. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1686. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1686 is an initiative of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and, as amended, reflects an agreed bill with all the interested parties: The Chicago Bar Association, the Juvenile Justice Institute {sic} (Initiative), the John Howard Association and others. In essence, it transfers 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 responsibility for the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center from the Board President to the Chief Judge of Cook County. I’m not aware of any opposition. I’d ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1686 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, 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 that question, there are 57 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1686, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Moving right along and we’re going to move -- Senator -- Senator Hunter, your button. Thank you. Senate Bill -- moving right along. Senate Bill 1687. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1692. Senate Bill 1697. Senator Jacobs. 1697. Senator Jacobs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1701. Senator -- out of the record. Senate Bill 1729. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1729. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is for the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program. Under this bill, it amends the front-door referendum and it just moves the years to seven years and five years. I 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Discussion? Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: This came through the Local Government Committee and we passed out unanimously, for this side of the aisle. I’d urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? The question is, shall Senate Bill 1729 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, 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 that question, there are 57 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1729, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1733. Senator Link. Senate Bill 1734. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1733 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. 1734. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1734. Madam Secretary, are there any -- amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a clarifying amendment. The bill deals with the labor and this 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 would be an amendment to make sure it doesn’t overlap with existing federal law. Move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Cullerton moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1734. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. And -- all in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1734. Madam -- Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1734. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is an important bill. Please pay attention. Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill deals with labor rights. It’s a bill which would give Members of certain labor unions a bill of rights. It’s patterned after a federal law, which was, interestingly enough, passed by Barry Goldwater and John F. Kennedy in Congress. The federal law applies to all public sector unions, but it does not apply to -- I’m sorry, the -- the State -- the federal law applies to private 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 sector unions, but it does not apply to public sector unions. So this bill would apply to AFSCME, fire department and police unions. It does not include, just basically because of an oversight, the education unions. And what it’s designed to do is give a bill of rights to the rank-and-file members. As I said, there’s already a federal law. This is almost word for word patterned after that federal law. And what the bill does is to say that it -- since it’s the responsibility of the State government to protect the rights of municipal, county, and State employees to organize, to bargain collectively, and engage in -- union activity, we should make sure that they have certain rights within their own union. And so it’s very straightforward. It’s a bill of rights. They have equal rights. They have freedom of speech and assembly. They have protection of the right to sue. Again, it’s patterned after a federal law. Now, let’s make it real clear, this is not an agreed bill. The unions in question are against this bill. The unions in question are against this bill. That is, the bosses of the unions don’t want their members to have these rights, and they’ve come out and said they’re against the bill. As I said, it does not apply to the IEA or the IFT. That was really just an oversight, and if the bill goes to the House, that perhaps can be negotiated. But right now it basically affects AFSCME, the -- the Fire Fighters, the FOP, -- and -- and that’s what it’s for. I’d be happy to answer any questions. I -- I can tell you that the labor folks who are against it have said that it’s going to cause a lot of litigation. Not true. The federal law has very, very little litigation because it’s so clear. It’s just simply a bill of rights to the rank-and-file members. But for those of you who 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 are worried about voting with the bosses of the labor unions, if you’re worried about that vote, you should vote No. But if you’re -- want to help the rank-and-file folks from the public sector unions, just like the private sector, you should vote Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Millner.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the Members of the Assembly here, I’d like to say that, this bill, I urge a -- a No, a No vote, because the union’s list of law enforcement officers’ home addresses, home telephone numbers will be disclosed as part of a civil discovery in cases filed by those who claim violations under the bill. Also, the Public Labor -- Relations Act provides protection against unfair treatment by unions. The balance of this bill, however, relates to internal union matters that should be left to the union members to decide. Also, there is a likelihood of raids by rival unions to secure the other unions’ membership list, methods of operation, and financial records, all in the guise of individual member benefits. Since the bill calls for each member to have the right to participate in all deliberations of the union, union employees will be denied fairness of having personnel matters privately discussed. So the thing’s open to everybody. You have a private issue, now everybody can hear it. I don’t think this is fair. I don’t think it’s right. The Fraternal Order of Police is against it. The AEA, AFL-CIO, Teamsters, AFSCME, all are listed as opponents in this bill, and I think this is really something that needs to be redone. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Senator Cullerton. No.
…think that was a question, so I’ll -- I’ll respond…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Murphy. I mean, Senator -- Murphy.
Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield. Senator Murphy.
Senator Cullerton, is there any opportunity to, in the litigation through a protective order, to shield the information that Senator Millner expressed concern about from public view? And is there any way to include such a shield in the bill to address that concern?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you for asking that question. I had a lawyer draft this bill for me. He’s a labor lawyer and we had discussions with the opponents. That red flag that Senator Millner just recited from that script he was given was raised. It’s my -- the guy who drafted this bill said that’s flat out not true. Remember, this bill is identical to a federal law, which has been in -- in existence since the fifties and applies to all the private sector unions. Nobody’s list of members is given out. It -- it’s nonsense; it’s a read flag. The labor bosses don’t want the rank-and-file members to have rights. That’s why they’re against the bill. What he said is flat out not true. 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in strong support of this bill. Many of these positions when you take a job, you are automatically a part of that union. But when you do that, you should have rights. You should be equal to everybody else in that union. This bill protects that for those that don’t have it now. I urge your strong support of this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hultgren.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield. Senator Hultgren.
Just a quick question, and, Senator Cullerton, you explained a little bit in committee. This was before the Labor Committee. We talked a little bit about where this bill came from, where it started from. I wondered if you should tell us, the Senate Body, just a little bit more about the purpose of this bill originally and -- and the reason for -- for sponsoring this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
Well, I’ll just tell you that there’s a -- a very prominent labor lawyer named Tom Geoghegan who is a constituent of mine, who’s written four or five books on -- one of -- some of which on labor law, he told me that there is a gap in our State statutes. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 There’s a gap. I’ve talked to another labor lawyer recently who -- who confirmed it, this federal law, which the motivation back in the fifties when it was passed might have been because of the concern about unions having gang -- I’m sorry -- organized crime influence. But he has pointed out that that Landrum-Griffin Act has provided rights for rank-and-file members for decades, that there’s a problem in Illinois with public sector unions. These members don’t have these rights. And he -- he drafted it for me and said it would -- it -- it makes sense. He came and testified. He was a very articulate witness at the -- at the committee hearing. We had lawyers come from the labor union bosses saying that they’re against it. It was going to cause all this litigation. We had meetings with them and, quite frankly, they just weren’t convincing, because there’s very little litigation that goes on right now at the federal level because of the federal law, ‘cause it’s so clear. It’s just real simple - equal rights, freedom of speech and assembly. That’s it. So that’s the background.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hultgren.
Senator -- Senator Cullerton, have other states acted to include this? Do you know?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
I really don’t know. I didn’t ask him that question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hultgren. 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
To the bill, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Cullerton, for your responses to this. I would just encourage the Members of our side of the aisle to take a close look at this. This is a contentious bill. The way I perceived it, and I think other committee members perceived it, is that it really is a -- a pro- union member vote. Now the heads of the union don’t like it at all. Potentially it takes away some authority from them, and I can understand that. We want to keep that balanced and not completely disrupt what the unions are trying to do. They obviously serve an important purpose. But I supported this in committee, again, because it was something that was helpful to the rank-and-file union members. So, I encourage our Members to look closely at this, understand that it is a contentious issue, and there are some people that obviously are good friends of all of ours that are very strongly opposed to this. So I encourage you to take a close look before you vote on this. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton, to close.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you very much for the discussion. I think I’ve made it real clear what the bill does. It’s a pretty simple choice. If you want to help the rank and files and give them the same rights that the private sector union members have -- for decades, you should vote Yes. If you want to vote for the labor bosses who don’t want to give up that power over their members, you should vote No. I would ask for an Aye vote. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Question is, shall Senate Bill 1734 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And 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 21 voting Aye, 24 voting Nay, 3 voting Present. Senate Bill 1734, having not received the required constitutional majority, is declared failed. Senate Bill 1746. Senate Bill 1746. Senator Delgado. Senator Delgado seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1746 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bills {sic} 1746. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Amendment No. 1 is going to retain the underlying bill. Makes technical changes, replacing “will” with “shall” on two occasions. It eliminates a typographical error where “the” was written into the bill. Also makes the Commission subject to appropriations. I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, -- Senator Delgado moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1746. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado, to explain Floor Amendment No. 2.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Amendment No. 2 retains the underlying bill also. It will remove a vague reference to an -- advisory body that would help the Governor make appointments to this Commission, and I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Delgado moves the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1746. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1746. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1746. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado. 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1746 will do the following: It’s going to create the -- Illinois Latino Family Commission Act and the Illinois Latino Family Commission, as well as defining the purpose of the Commission as being to advise the Governor and the General Assembly, as well as work directly with State agencies to improve and expand existing policies, service, programs, and opportunities for Latino families. The bill also requires an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the Commission’s progress towards its goals and objectives, and I would ask for your Aye vote.
PREESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator -- Leader Watson.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. A question of the sponsor, if I might.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will -- yield. Senator Watson.
Senator, can you tell me who appoints the members?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Yes. This would be coming from the Office of the Governor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Leader Watson.
Did you ever give any consideration to having the Leaders 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 appoint a couple of members?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Yes, I did, Senator Watson. Very good question. I hope that this will then move on to the Senate {sic}. It is my wish that all Leaders have a full process into making it. I brought this legislation from a consortium I have in my district, that is, Dr. Layla Suleiman. I want to say her name. She’s a brand- new mother and a doctor at DePaul University. Does a lot of research for me. And it’s my recommendation, as it goes over to the House, we will add on the Leaders so that everyone can add someone on to this Commission. It’s conducive. It’s good for me. It’s good for our communities, and it’s the right thing to do and that’s where it’s going.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Leader Watson.
That’s very -- very good. I appreciate that, Senator, and we -- I would certainly stand in support. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) …discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Mr. President, thank you. I’m -- I’m standing in support of this with Senator Delgado. I -- I visited with Senator Delgado a number of weeks ago about this and some of the constituencies he spoke of, and what particularly drew my personal attention to this was the area in regards to children - Latino children - and some of the things that perhaps have been challenging in the 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 coordination of our efforts in State government today and of days of the past. So I stand in strong support here, Senator Delgado, and look forward to working with you on this Commission.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1746 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. 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 that question, there are 57 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1746, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we’re going to go to the top of the order, page 2 of your Senate Calendar on 3rd Readings. Senate Bill 1. President Jones. Out of the record. Top of page 3. Senate Bill 2. Senator Schoenberg. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3. Senator Trotter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 5. Trotter. Senate Bill 7. Senator Demuzio. Senate Bill 7. Senator Demuzio. Out of the record. Senate Bill 8. Senator Kotowski. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 8. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Kotowski. 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the General Assembly State Senate. Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 8 is a great bill. It’s a great bill which allows us to serve our veterans the way they have served our country, and it’s a great way to honor that service. There’s four components to this bill. One of ‘em has to deal with making sure that we provide grants to nurses who are working in veterans’ homes and VA hospitals to make sure they have every opportunity to work there, that will make it more attractive to work in veterans’ homes. I think that’s an excellent component of the bill. The second and third component of the bill deals with funding for programs dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder for veterans in the State of Illinois. And the third component deals with making sure that we provide property tax relief to veterans in the State of Illinois based on the extent of their disability. This bill passed out of the committee with bipartisan support. It’s a terrific bill and I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator, this is not your first bill, is that correct?
No, sir, it’s not, but you can do whatever you would like, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 8 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, 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 that question, there are 57 voting Aye, none voting 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 8, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hultgren, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point.
Mr. President, Members of the Senate, I’ve got some very special Pages with me here today. I’m very pleased to have my oldest two children - my son, Karsten, who just turned thirteen last Friday, and my daughter, Kylie, who turns eleven in about a week. They’re down helping me out today and -- very thankful having ‘em. Ask for the Senate’s welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests -- they already rise. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Standing there with your fine father, Senator Hultgren. Welcome, the little Hultgrens. ABC Channel 19 seeks leave to video-record the -- the proceedings. Is leave granted? Leave is granted. Leader Watson, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, Leader.
Yes, I also would like to introduce a special guest here today. My sister, Melissa Walker, and her husband, Rich Walker, are in the gallery here right behind us. They live in Burr Ridge 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 and they’re visiting us here today with friends, John and Barbara Corn. We’re just glad to have ‘em here. Would you please stand? And like to welcome ‘em.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our special guests please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate? Welcome. Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, sir.
Like to welcome some guests from the 12th Legislative District, the southwest side of Chicago and the western suburbs. Like to welcome today several students from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society: Fidencio Montalvo, Paola Suir, Yovana Rosales and Blanca Gutierrez, who is the advisor. Like to give them a warm welcome to Springfield, Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise, be welcomed to the Illinois Senate? Welcome. It’s always great to have honor students here. Now back to the business of the Senate. Senate Bill 10. Senator Halvorson. Out of the record. Senate -- Senate Bill 11. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 15. Senator Harmon. Senate Bill 17. Senator Sullivan. Senate Bill 18. Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 20. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 20. 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 20 amends the Jury Acts to include in the list of those eligible for jury duty persons claiming the earned income tax credit. It makes corresponding amendments to the Illinois Income Tax Act to -- in order to permit that. I’d be happy to answer any questions, and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Mr. President. I don’t have a problem with what Senator Harmon is -- is doing here. The more people that serve on juries, the better off we are. But we did have a suggestion in committee - and Senator Harmon, you know, I hope you’ll work with us as it goes over to the other Chamber - that we ought to expand this list. While we add people who are earned income taxpayers to the jury pool, I think we ought to work on making this list as broad as possible so that people from all spectrums of life serve on our juries throughout Illinois. And, you know, I’m going to vote for this bill, but, Senator Harmon, I clearly think that when his bill goes over to the House, we ought to continue to work on making this as broad as possible. I know that’s always been a goal of -- of Senator Cullerton as well. Every person who is in Illinois, from all walks of life, ought to serve on juries. That is how you get a jury of your peers rather 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 than a selective, small group of people. So I know what you’re trying to do here, Don. I -- I support it. But I think we ought to try to broaden this good idea that you’ve had, and, you know, I look forward to working with you and whomever you pick as your House sponsor and Senator Cullerton to maybe make this thing even broader, with the help of the -- the lawyers’ associations in Illinois. So thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of Senator Harmon’s bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 20 pass. All those in favor -- Senator Righter, I’m sorry. I apologize. Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I -- I did have my light on late. I apologize for that. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will. Senator Righter.
Senator Harmon, I’ve not been privy to any of the discussion on this, in -- in committee or otherwise. Why this one select group, as opposed to all taxpayers or maybe those who hold professional licenses? It seems to me that there is a long, long list of -- of individuals or categories of individuals we could add to this and greatly expand the jury pool. Why this -- just this one narrow strip?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator, for your 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 question. As you know, the jury pool includes folks who have a driver’s license or a State ID or are registered to vote. It has been the experience of practitioners that the jury pool skews towards a higher income demographic, however. This is an incremental attempt to remedy that by ensuring that the jury pool does, in fact, look like the community. I’ve talked to others who, like Senator Dillard, had suggested a -- a broader base. I’m happy to work with those folks, but to date those conversations have -- have not yielded what I would think would be a sensible agreement. I’ll be happy to keep working with them in the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
Senator Harmon, as a procedural matter, how are the jury commissioners going to access the information about who -- who receives the earned income tax credit?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Senator, we’re -- we are making corresponding amendments to the Income Tax Act to permit that information to be shared in an appropriate format. The jury administrators would then, just as they do with the list of those folks who have driver’s license, State IDs, or are registered to vote, aggregate that information into a consolidated list of people eligible for jury duty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter.
33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Harmon, what if I’m an individual who takes benefit from -- or, gets benefit from the earned income tax credit and I don’t want people to know that? I -- don’t I have that right? I mean, what -- it’s my -- it’s always been my understanding that -- that my tax records are not for public disclosure. Why is it now that -- I mean, is there a concern for that individual who doesn’t want other people to know that I’m receiving the earned income tax credit?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Senator, I’m not sure that I understand your question. Right now when you go to jury service, it is not disclosed to anyone whether you’re there because you are a registered voter or you have a driver’s license. Similarly it would not be disclosed that you are there because you are qualified for the earned income tax credit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senate -- Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Right, Senator Harmon, but someone is going to have to pull those names out of the Department of Revenue’s records and someone’s going to know that that list was generated because they are beneficiaries of the earned income tax credit. Who are those people going to be and is there a remedy for the individual who doesn’t want that information disclosed?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon. 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
The only folks who would handle that information are the -- the Department of Revenue and the jury administrators. I don’t believe there’s a -- a real gap in the confidentiality or security. That -- that information will be treated just as any jury information were treated.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Righter, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your indulgence. Ladies and Gentlemen, I rise in reluctant opposition to the bill. I appreciate the sponsor’s intent here, but if we’re going to take one category of taxpayers and tell them that we’re going to use their information to add them to the jury pool, we ought to do that to everybody. It shouldn’t just be those who are serving -- who are earning the least among us. It ought to be everybody who is subject to this. If we’re really going to have a jury pool that reflects our society as a whole, then we ought to get everybody who is filing tax returns. I would urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Murphy.
Thank you for your indulgence, Mr. President. To the bill: I guess a -- a concern I’ve got with this bill is that we’re targeting it at people getting the earned income tax credit and there are a lot of people -- I think there’s broad support in this Body for the earned income tax credit and trying to help the people who are getting it have a better life and move up that ladder in the -- in the -- in the jobs market. While I strongly 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 support all serving -- jury service, a concern I have for those that we’re trying to help with the earned income tax credit is that we’re going to be taking ‘em away from their job just when they’re getting onto the bottom rung of the jobs’ ladder and taking them away from the employer that’s giving ‘em a chance and giving ‘em the opportunity to move forward. I want everybody represented in the jury pool, but maybe even more than that, I want to make sure that those who are getting the -- the -- these job credits are having the best opportunity to succeed, and I wonder if maybe this doesn’t jeopardize that. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Raoul.
To the bill: I rise in strong support of this bill. And to the -- to the comments that were just made about removing people from -- who fall into a pool of those who be -- would be recipient of the earned income tax credit: Having done jury trials myself, those are the people who are particularly not often seen in the venires that juries are picked from. And, in criminal trials at least, they’re often the -- the -- the people who are defendants in criminal trials are often falling into the pool of those who would also be recipients of the earned income tax credit. As a result, you have people less likely to be privy to a trial by a jury of their peers, and that’s what we want to promote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. And I appreciate the concern that 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 folks have for justice and for protection of those folks who are claiming the earned income tax credit. There was a day when to serve on a jury you needed to be white, you needed to be a man, you needed to own land. We’ve come a long way from -- from there. This is simply another incremental step forward in making sure that our juries look like our communities. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 20 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. 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 that question, there are 41 voting Aye, 17 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 20, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. There will be a Rules Committee meeting in the President’s Anteroom immediately. Would all members of the Rules Committee please come to the President’s Anteroom? Senator Link in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In the gallery today, we have a group from Knox County from the Council for Development {sic} (Developmental) Disabilities, and I -- I wish the Senate would give them a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Will our guests in the gallery rise, and the Senate welcome them? Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
On a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I also have guests from back in my district. Behind the Republican side, in the back here, we have Dan Strick, who is the Executive Director with -- with SouthStar Services, who does a lot of the training and rehab services out in the south suburban region. So I would love to introduce him and all of the people from SouthStar that came down today. Welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery rise and the Senate welcome them? Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
With me, I have Dr. Sharon Hahs, the President of Northeastern University, a -- university in my district where I am proud to attend. Wish you -- would the Senate give her a warm welcome?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the -- will the Senate give our guest a round welcome? Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 For purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Senate Revenue Committee will meet today at 1 p.m. in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Halvorson, Chairperson of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture and Conservation Committee - House Bill 1833; refer to Education Committee - House Bill 1030, 1330, 1559, 1648, 1910, 1926, 1964, 2787, -- 3327, 3377, and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 3654; refer to Environment and Energy Committee - House Bill 150, 351, 375, 463, 516, 1407, 1563 and 3672; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 593, House Bill 1084, 1743, 1744 and 3504; refer to Higher Education Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1455, House Bill 414, 721, 724, and Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 182; refer to Housing and Community Affairs Committee - House Bill 1610; refer to Human Services Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 544, House Bill 616, 892, 809 and 1009; refer to Insurance Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 484 and House Bill 2786; refer to Judiciary-Civil Law Committee - House Bill 619 and 3393; refer to Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 607, House Bill 39, 42, 132, 236, 270, 335, 615, 977, 1076, 1080, 1382 and 1504; refer to Labor Committee - House Bill 985 and 1542; 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 refer to Licensed Activities Committee - House Bill 121 and 1366; refer to Local Government Committee - House Bills 987, 1031, 1041, 1059, 1391, 1562, 1608, 1671, 1881, 1923 and 3425; refer to Pensions and Investments Committee - House Bills 857 and 1702; refer to Public Health Committee - House Bill -- House Bills 192, 642, 691, 813, 981, 1254, 1674 and 1711; refer to Revenue Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 764, Floor Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 774, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1697, House Bill 811, 950, 983 and 1921; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - House Bill 486, 549, 743, 1241, 1509, 1780, 1988, 2781, 3618; refer to Transportation Committee - House Bill 333, 362, 552, 566, 624, 841, 1100, 1554, 3132, 3412 and 3583. Senator -- Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. Dated April 25th, 2007.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Thank you, Mr. President. My timing was off. The Senate Revenue Committee will meet at 1:05 in Room 400 today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator Harmon. Senator Demuzio.
Yes, thank -- Yes, thank you, Mr. President. Purpose of an 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Yes, State Government and Veterans Affairs will meet today in Room 409 at 1:05 p.m. Also, tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., Commerce and Economic Development will meet in Room 409.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator. Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
Well, I have two announcements.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcements.
Today at 2:30 in Room 409, Licensed Activities will be meeting. And tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. in Room 400, Human Services will be meeting.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator. Senator Maloney, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I just would like to announce that Higher Education Committee will meet in Room 409 at 4 p.m. today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of information, Mr. President. 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
The Insurance Committee will meet this afternoon at 4 p.m. in Room 400. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Yes. Senator Schoenberg, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise for the purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Appropriations II Committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you…
For an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Appropriations III Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. in Room 212. Tomorrow morning, 9 a.m., Appropriations III.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you, Senator. Senator Wilhelmi, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of announcement, Mr. President. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Thank you. The Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 10:15 in Room 400. Judiciary-Criminal Law, 10:15 tomorrow, Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you. Senator Sullivan, again? No. Senate Bill 21. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 21 for purposes of adding an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading, Senate Bill 21. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill deals with insurance. This amendment was the suggestion of the Illinois Life Insurance Council. It makes it clear that the bill applies to individual and group major medical policies, but not specified disease policies. So, move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Cullerton moves for the adoption of Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 21. All those in favor will say Aye. Those opposed, say Nay. The amendment is adopted. Are there any other Floor amendments approved for consideration? 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 21. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is now, with the amendment, an agreed bill. It’s supported by the American Coalition Against Underage Drinking, Department of Human Services, the Illinois Hospital Association, Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Life Insurance Council and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. What it does is to basically say that certain types of provisions in insurance policies called alcohol exclusion laws shall not be allowed. The proponents indicate that these laws prevent hospitals from being paid if medical emergency room patients are identified as having used alcohol or drugs. And, quite frankly, what has happened is that -- and the fear is that these hospitals and physicians will just not indicate that a person was under the influence or had -- had alcohol, and as a result, they would not get the assistance that they would need down the line. As I indicated, I got the support of all of these organizations. I know of no opposition. Be 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 happy to answer any questions. In fact, Indiana just passed this same bill just a couple days ago, and I think it’s a good idea and urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. I stand in support of the gentleman’s bill, as amended. For those of you who do want to know, though, this -- this is a mandate, but it’s a mandate that’s been supported by the industry. It’s something that wouldn’t adversely affect the cost of health care and put more people on the rolls of the uninsured.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 21 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 21, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 26. Senator Burzynski. Out of the record. Senate Bill 27. Senator Crotty. Out of the record. Senate Bill 30. Senator Luechtefeld. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 30. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Luechtefeld.
45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 30 amends the Illinois Controlled Substance Act so it effectively expands the current controlled substance prescription monitoring program to Schedule III through Schedule V drugs. This particular bill was brought to me by a person in my district who deals an awful lot with undercover on -- in the -- in the -- in the drug world. and in the process, the Department of Human Services, when we introduced the bill, said, you know, we’ve been trying to do this for the last couple of years. This is great. We’ll work together and try to come up with a situation which there -- there are no opponents, and it appears that that’s the case. I would be glad to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 30 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 30, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 34. Senator Sieben. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 34. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sieben.
Thank you, Mr. President. This legislation amends the Auto 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Dealers {sic} (Dialers) Act and adds three new provisions to tighten up the restrictions and regulations dealing with auto dialers. It did pass the Housing and Community Affairs Committee without objection. I’d ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 34 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 34, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 38. Senator Brady. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 38. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. This piece of legislation affects the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority, as well as the Springfield Airport Authority. It expands the membership and gives more appointment privileges to the cities. One of the problems we have is that these boards are often too small to operate efficiently and effectively and find themselves in conflict with open meetings laws. This works in favor to make them more efficient and effective. It was unanimously supported. There’s no opposition and I ask for your Aye vote. 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 38 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 38, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 50. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 50. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Inquiry of the Chair, Mr. President. Did we adopt Amendment No. 1 - Floor Amendment No. 1?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton, yes. Amendment 1 has been adopted.
I’m ready -- I’m ready to go then.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 50. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Senator Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This also, I believe, is a -- a agreed bill and a very important one. This establishes the Great Lakes Water Compact. The Great Lakes are -- is a very fragile resource that only replenishes itself at the rate of one percent a year and current laws are insufficient to really protect them. So it -- what happened was, after five years of negotiations, this Great Lakes Compact Agreement among the Great Lakes states was established. In order for it to go into effect, the states involved have to pass it, as well as the federal -- Congress. The -- what it would do is to prohibit new or increased out-of-basin diversions from the Great Lakes, establish uniform standards throughout the Great Lakes for evaluating uses of -- of the Great Lakes water. And really the best part about it is, the State of Illinois actually is operating under a U.S. Supreme Court consent decree that goes all the way back to the 1900s, which already authorizes Illinois withdrawals from the Great Lakes, but we would get a seat at the table on the regional water use decisions that are -- that are affected by this -- this law. The -- as I indicated, it’s all the Great Lakes states. I’m -- I’m not sure how many have already passed it, but that would include Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. As I indicated, it’s a agreed bill, and be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.
49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: The bill did pass out of committee unanimously, but there is a lot of concern about the issue itself. The bill is being debated in -- in some of the other states. I know Ohio, it’s a very contentious issue. So, there’s not unanimous agreement that this is a good thing. But in our opinion, I think this is the way to go. I support the bill and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 50 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 50, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 51. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 51. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, Mr. President. Basically what Senate Bill 51 does is makes sure that the inclusion of autism spectrum disorders is included in the cross-disability database. It’s an agreed-upon bill with no opponents.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 51 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 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. Senate Bill 51, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Maloney, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In the gallery behind me, there are a number of people from Chicago State University, here on Higher Education Lobby Day, doing a tremendous job at that university, exposing it more and more beyond the Chicago area, and I’d like to -- Senate to welcome them to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise in the gallery? And we welcome them to the Senate. Senate Bill 61. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 69. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 69. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.
Mr. President, are there amendments? Did we adopt the 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 amendments? Okay. I’m sorry, Mr. President. This bill, Senate Bill 69, as amended, places certain requirements on scrap buyers. When -- and -- and the reason for it, it was brought to me by the local -- by a local sheriff and several police chiefs whose communities are being, in effect, looted by individuals - thieves - who -- who come upon abandoned homes, construction sites, churches and steal whatever is -- they can find to scrap, and the police are finding it very difficult to hunt down and prosecute these thieves. What this does is mandate that scrap purchasers keep records; make them available to the local police to assist them, as in the case of pawn shops, in locating immediate purchases of scrap. There’s no opposition. It was an agreed bill. The scrap dealers -- we amended the bill to take into account some of their concerns and we added some people who wanted to be included, like the breweries, because their beer kegs were being stolen en masse. The contents, of course, consumed and then they were sold for scrap. And we want to take care of the breweries.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I rise in support of the bill. It’s a big issue in -- in my district. We’re seeing more and more of this. And in my prior days with the Illinois Department of Transportation, we saw individuals stealing the aluminum handrail off of bridges to the point now where the Department does not put aluminum on the bridges. They just make it out of concrete. So this is a good bill and I appreciate the sponsor’s effort in bringing it forward. 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, to close.
I would ask for an Aye vote. It’s -- this is not a silver bullet or even a copper bullet, but it certainly is another tool for law enforcement. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 69 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wished? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 69, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Dahl, for what purpose do you rise?
Matter of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In the gallery behind us up here today, we have some people from Horizon House in my district that are down here watching this esteemed Senate today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise in the gallery, and the Senate welcome them to Springfield? Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 State your point.
I would like to introduce to the Senate some high school students who have traveled from around the world to be here today to watch the proceedings in the Illinois State Senate. They are part of the American Foreign Exchange Program and I would like to attempt, without causing an international incident, to try to pronounce their names as I -- introduce them in the gallery here in the back: Aida Zhurgenbayeva from Kazakhstan, Hisako Harada from Japan, Giulia Dalla Serra from Italy -- or, Julia, Mona Koerber from Germany, Mayu {sic} (Dayu) Permata from Indonesia, Koranid Poomviset from Thailand, Victor Luiz Bianchi from Brazil, Marcela Meira from Brazil, Mikko Koistinen from Finland, and Adrian Moreno Puertas from Spain, Shamira Nashiru from Ghana, Javier Kenigsberg from Argentina, Qistina Kamarudin from Malaysia, and Aaron Asir from Malaysia. They are accompanied by their chaperons and hosts from Batavia, Illinois: Cathy Burdick, Ann Keck and Jayne Scales. They’re up. If you would welcome them to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will we welcome all our guests to Springfield? Thank you. Senate Bill 71. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 71. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton. 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill is in response to a tragedy that occurred last December and it would -- pointed out the fact that we have a gap in our -- one of our highway safety laws. There was a crash of a truck on the Bishop Ford Freeway and the driver was killed and some young children were seriously injured. Turns out the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found out that there were no laws that protect children from riding unbuckled in the cab of a commercial tractor trailer. So -- and the reason for that, quite frankly, is because when we passed the seatbelt law back in the eighties, we -- we exempted certain vehicles by weight so as not to include the law to cover school buses. And so this bill does two things: It first closes that loophole. And again, it only requires children in trucks to be belted if -- if the truck itself is required to have seatbelts under federal law. And the second part of the bill is also at the request of the Department of Transportation. It removes -- it removes a provision in the Child Passenger Safety Law dealing with the child restraint systems, and the reason for this request is that we will qualify for what’s called Section 2011 SAFETEA funding. The passage of this bill will allow for Illinois to obtain about a half a million dollars in new funding. So with that, I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just simply rise in support of 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 the bill. It’s a good bill, one that probably has been overlooked. It should have been passed long ago. It came out of committee with no opposition and know of no opposition. Mid-West Truckers support the bill also. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 71 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wished? 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. Senate Bill 71, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 100. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. Senate Bill 101. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 101 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purposes of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading, Senate Bill 101. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Garrett.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett, to explain your amendment.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2 basically keeps the language intact, but it makes one change concerning the responsibility of the county assessor in counties with less than three million inhabitants. The amendment stipulates that in counties of that size the chief county assessment officer shall -- shall provide to each person granted 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 homestead exemption under this Section a form to designate any other person to receive a duplicate of any notice of delinquency in the payment of the taxes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Senator Lauzen. No. Seeing no discussion, Senator Garrett moves for the adoption of Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 101. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 101. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 101. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, Mr. President. Basically, Senate Bill 101 has been around the General Assembly for several years. What we’ve tried to do in the past is give disabled persons a freeze, just like we give the seniors if they qualify. Because that has not really been picked up in the House, we instead this year are allowing that any disabled person would be able to, if they qualify, be able to receive an exemption, a homestead exemption 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 in the amount of three thousand five hundred dollars, to be deducted from the property’s value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. And the point of this is, is that so many disabled people continue to see their taxes go up. This is one more opportunity to allow the disabled to stay in their home so they don’t have to go into a different type of facility.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. Two questions for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, this bill received unanimous support in the Revenue Committee, so I just ask for a little clarification in this Floor discussion. What is the definition of “disabled” that’s going to be used for people to apply for this exemption?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.
Senator, I knew that -- sorry. I had it all ready to go in -- in the bill. It -- the proposal defines “disabled” as a person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that, one, can be expected to result in death or, two, be -- has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen. 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
Can you -- can you share with us how -- how will that be administered? It’s -- it’s certainly a good intention and folks need this relief. Could you share with us some of your thoughts as far as the administration, the practical administration of that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.
Thank -- thank you for that question. They will have to apply for this exemption, fill out the forms. It will be -- reviewed by the Department of Revenue, and obviously records will be kept on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen.
Just the final question then. Can you -- is -- are the -- is the IEA and the School Management Alliance still opposed, probably for the obvious reasons? Could you just tell us about the nature of the opposition, if they are still opposed, as amended?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.
They are opposed. I -- I -- I would say it’s mild opposition, just out of principle, because this takes away from any tax revenue that may, in fact, go to the schools. But, in effect, it’s a very minor amount of money, but it would really help the disabled. And -- and other states do provide these 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 kinds of programs as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The -- the question is, shall Senate Bill 101 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 101, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Frerichs, for what purpose do you rise?
I rise for a point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I want to acknowledge some guests we have in the President’s Gallery here from the State University {sic} (Universities) Annuitants Association. If they would stand, and amongst them is a former colleague, former State Representative Helen Satterthwaite, in the group.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery rise and be welcomed to the Illinois State Senate? Senate Bill 108. Senator Haine. Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 108 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purposes of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 108. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Haine. 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, to explain your amendment.
Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 108 is the result of the concerns raised by the minority members of the committee, directed -- a very reasonable concern directed at a -- a situation where a minor may be the source of the problem in the home which causes the lockout, and provides remedies to DCFS for -- take immediate steps to place that minor into a proper health care facility, protective custody or law enforcement custody, as is deemed necessary.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine moves for the adoption of Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 108. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, to explain your amendment.
Floor Amendment No. 3 is a result of discussions with the Department of Children and Family Services. They asked that this be made subject to appropriation and that’s what this amendment does. And they are now neutral on the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine moves for the adoption of Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 108. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine, to explain your amendment.
This is another amendment that grew out of discussions with members of the committee and others that adds another living arrangement agreeable to the minor and the parent, guardian or -- or custodian. There may be a group home or some other living arrangement with a youth service agency that would be permitted under the terms of the bill, and it’s -- again, it seemed to be a good and proper thing to do.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine moves the adoption of Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 108. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 108. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine. 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 108 grew out of a pilot project a few years ago with some private child agencies and DCFS where -- trying to meet the problem of locked-out teenagers. These are adolescents and preadolescents that have a dispute with the mother, father, whoever is the caregiver in the home. They end up on the streets. They end up subject to abuse. Some of them end up committing criminal acts and most, again, end up to be the subject of great abuse, child prostitution and -- and other terrible things. This is a -- a program which allows and mandates the immediate intervention by DCFS, which in the pilot study showed that in eighty-five percent of these situations with an official intervention, the minor and the parents or the single parent, perhaps, can be brought together to bring that minor back into the home. It provides immediate services rather than letting the situation fester and the situation harden into hatred. The amendments, as discussed, met the concerns of the members of the committee, all reasonable concerns. We tried to make this bill a -- a -- a bill tailored for each individual need, but not too broad in scope. And the Department, again, wanted it subject to appropriation, although there was some question as to how much it would really cost. It would not be an onerous cost, because in eighty-five percent of the cases in the pilot study, these young people did not go into their care. However, to satisfy the Department, we put that in the bill and they are neutral on the bill. There are many people that are proponents of the bill. There are no opponents to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 The question is, shall Senate Bill 108 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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. Senate Bill 108, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Senate Education Committee will convene at 2:30 in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Thank you. Senator Watson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Must be my day to have guests here in -- in the Capitol and I’d like to welcome a self-advocacy group called Illinois Voices. Illinois Voices is a statewide self-advocacy group initiative, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, designed to empower people with developmental and other disabilities to make their own decisions, stand up for their rights and speak for themselves based on their strengths and desires. Illinois Voices is -- hosting a two-day rally across Illinois to learn more about the political process for systems changing for a hundred and twenty self-advocates and support staff from around Illinois, including thirty from my home district. So, Mr. President, they’re all -- as you can tell, they’re scattered out throughout the gallery, but we certainly 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 want to welcome Illinois Voices.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise in the galleries so we welcome them to the Illinois State Senate? Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of -- purpose of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Executive Appointments -- Executive Appointments Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. in Room 212. Tomorrow morning, 8:30 a.m., Executive Appointments in Room 212. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Viverito, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of -- excuse me. Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I believe we have a outstanding State Treasurer here with us, the Honorable Alexis {sic} (Alexi) Giannoulias. Why don’t we give a warm welcome? Alexis.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Senate, Mr. Treasurer. Senator Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/25/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. To -- request a Republican Caucus at the conclusion of today’s business for about twenty minutes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We will be adjourning immediately. We will ask that the committees stay on schedule as they were assigned. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11:30 a.m., tomorrow, April 26th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 66