Illinois Senate Floor Debate — May 16, 2007

(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)

Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has objections or suggestions to offer.

Mr. President, I rise on a point of personal privilege.

Mr. President, I am proud today to have with me Jonathan Berg-Einhorn of Skokie as my Page for the Day. Jonathan is a seventh grader at the Solomon Schechter Day School in Northbrook. His interests, beside government and politics, include theater, clarinet and the piano. And he’s joined with his grandparents, Minna and Marvin Einhorn, in -- of Skokie, in the gallery, directly behind your Podium. And please give them all a warm State Senate welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have a -- an announcement, or a -- point of personal privilege.

Thank you. I have a very, very special guest with -- with me here today. Jillian Weingart is Miss Macomb 2007. She is a 7  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 sophomore, I guess going to be a junior, at Western Illinois University in Macomb this fall. She’s originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She’s going to be competing in the Miss Illinois contest in June this -- over the summer here, up in St. Charles. And also with her today is Bob and Nancy Foote, up in the gallery. They are the directors of the Miss Macomb Pageant. I’d like everybody to welcome them to the Senate here today.

Thank you, Mr. President, for allowing us this honor. Members of the Senate, today we have the opportunity to hear Soeren Palumbo. He’s an eighteen-year-old native of Palatine, 15  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Illinois. He’s currently a senior at Fremd High School where he maintains a 4.0 grade point average, ranking number one in his class. He is co-captain of the swim and diving team, a member of the National Honor Society and participates in numerous clubs and community service organizations. He was recently recognized as a National Merit Scholar Finalist and he plans to attend the University of Notre Dame and has already been designated a Notre Dame Scholar. In February, Soeren delivered a speech to an assembly of high school students in honor of his twelve-year-old sister who is developmentally disabled and to sensitize others about the all-too-casual word of “retard”. His speech has gained local acclaim and has become an inspiration among those involved in advocating for the rights of the developmentally disabled. He and his sister were the subject of a human interest feature that aired on CBS News in Chicago on April 22nd. And since then, Soeren has received numerous invitations to speak at local and regional conferences and meetings. So this morning, I want you to welcome Soeren, who will be able to read the abridged version of the speech that he gave in February.

Let’s give Soeren another round of applause, because I think he has taught us something today. And also thank his dad, who is here with him, and Olivia and his mom, who’s at home.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) House Bill 1778. Senator Luechtefeld. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senator Millner, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery rise and the Senate welcome them? Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests in the gallery rise and the Senate welcome them? House Bill 1797. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Illinois Information Service seeks leave to video. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. House Bill 1798. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll go back to House Bill 1822. House Bill 1835. Senator Maloney. Out of the record. House Bill 1855. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. House Bill 1864. Senator Hultgren. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1875. Senator Rutherford. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill -- with leave of the Body, we’ll go back to House Bill 1876. House Bill 1881. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1888. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne. Out of the record. House Bill 1900. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. With leave of the Body, we’ll go back to House Bill 1917. House Bill 1926. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1976 {sic}. Senator Millner. House Bill 1979. Senator Millner. Senator Millner. Out of the record. House Bill 2036. Senator Righter. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2044. Senator Halvorson. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2106. Senator Demuzio. Out of the record. House Bill 2179. Senator Demuzio. Out of the record. House Bill 2307. Senator Meeks. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 2920. Senator Syverson. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3165. Senator Frerichs. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to House Bill 3383. House Bill 3395. Senator Dillard. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. House Bill 3434. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 3455. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senator Cronin, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise in the gallery and the Senate welcome 30  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 them? House Bill 3490. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3586. Senator Watson. Senator Watson. Out of the record. House Bill 3627. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter. Out of the record. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to 3649. House Bill 3658. Senator Viverito. Senator Viverito. Out of the record. House Bill 3721. Senator Sieben. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3728. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. House Bill 3729. Senator Viverito. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 3730. Senator Murphy. Out of the record. Will all Members in the sound of my voice please come to their desk, because we are going to 3rd Readings - House Bills 3rd Reading. All Members at the sound of my voice, we are going to House Bills 3rd Reading. Senator John Jones, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the Senate welcome our guest? Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

I have with me today Ellen Brummer. She’s a sophomore at Taylorville High School and I’m very proud to have her as my Page for today. And I’d like to give her a warm welcome from the Senate.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …the Senate welcome our guest. House Bill… Will all the Members please be at their seat? We will be going to 3rd Readings, page 35, where we left off yesterday. We will be starting on page 35. Will the Members please be at their desk? House Bill 457. Senator Millner. House Bill 457. Senator Millner. Out of the record. House Bill 463. Senator Schoenberg. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 33  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senate. House Bill 463 is an initiative of the Illinois Commerce Commission to provide some clarity and enhancement on the enforcement of wireless 9-1-1 safety. Specifically, it allows for the transfer of unused funds from the Wireless Carrier Reimbursement Fund to the Wireless Services Emergency Fund if those funds have not -- if the -- if monies have not been accessed in the former -- in the prior two years. There is a penalty provision for noncompliance, which did not exist previously. And also the proposal would extend the sunset of this WETSA law by ten years to 2018 {sic}. There’s no known opposition to this and we urge your favorable support.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 463 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. House Bill 463, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 470. Senator Frerichs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 470 authorizes a hearing officer appointed by the University Civil Service Merit 34  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Board to preside over demotion, removal and discharge hearings. This bill is in response to a JCAR recommendation. Basically the bill claries the discrepancy between administrative rules and State law, and this is identical to Senate Bill 110, sponsored by Senator Trotter, which passed out of the Senate 57 to nothing. I would entertain any questions, but request a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is -- all those in favor will -- the question is, shall House Bill 470 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. House Bill 470, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 486. Senator Kotowski. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Kotowski.

Thank you, Mr. President and Lady -- Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 486 adds Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom to the list of conflicts for which children of veterans are eligible to receive honorary scholarships to the University of Illinois. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions. 35  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 486 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 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 486, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 496. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill is a bill which allows a contractor to accumulate asphalt, used asphalt, to be stored for future use. And it requires that twenty-five percent of the reclaimed asphalt be reused each year from that pile so as to avoid a speculative accumulation. EPA had no problem with it. They helped write the bill. There was a previous law which required they get rid of it all after a certain -- thirty days, which was a draconian requirement they couldn’t meet because some of this stuff is recyclable. All of it is, in theory. So, I’d ask for an Aye vote. There’s no opposition.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger. 36  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 496 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 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 496, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 499. Senator Sieben. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sieben.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 499 pass. Those in -- 37  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The -- the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 499, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 508. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 508 provides enhanced penalties regarding reckless driving resulting in bodily harm to a child or school crossing guard while the school crossing guard is performing his or her official duties. That translates into a Class 4 felony, which is one to three years and twenty-five thousand dollars. And then additionally, where the reckless driving causes great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement to the child or school crossing guard, it would be a Class 3 felony, which is two to five years and twenty-five thousand dollars. Be happy…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 508 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 38  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 508, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 516. Senator Wilhelmi. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 516 is in reaction to what we did last year where -- where the General Assembly passed legislation, and the Governor signed the bill, requiring nuclear power plants to report spills of radioactive materials within twenty-four hours of the event. Additionally, the bill required the IEPA and the IEMA to propose rules prescribing standards for detecting and reporting unpermitted releases. Last year’s bill also allowed the rules to include standards for self-inspection. We don’t think that’s proper. We don’t think the power plants should be able to self-inspect. This bill removes that provision from the -- from the current statute. And I ask for your support and I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 516 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 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 516, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cronin, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will ours guests rise and we welcome them to the Senate? Senator Cronin, I hope you weren’t reading notes about that was 40  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 your wife. I hope you recognized her without the notes. House Bill 517. Senator Kotowski. Out of the record. House Bill 518. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 536. Senator Koehler. Out of the record. House Bill 553. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 553 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 59 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 553, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 566. Senator Halvorson. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Halvorson.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 566 creates the Southwest Suburban Railroad Redevelopment Authority and this is basically an authority that will be charged with addressing railroad and infrastructure problems in Bloom, Thornton, Calumet, Bremen, Orland, Worth and Palos Township. They are prohibited from using eminent domain in any way and they have no taxing authority. It will be disbanded once they figure out how to either fix the railroad congestion or do something else about it.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 566 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. House Bill 566, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 570. Senator Delgado. Out of the record. House Bill 572. Senator Brady. Senator Brady. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 42  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Brady.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The board is temporarily frozen. I didn’t want to give Senator Brady a head start on his vote total, but we’ll continue discussing the bill. Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 572 pass. Those -- those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, 43  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 572, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 574. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. This is just really a simple bill that increases the membership of the Social Security Task Force to include a member appointed by the Comptroller and a member appointed by the State Superintendent of Education.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Yes, it -- it does. It -- the original mission was to examine the -- procedures used by the State to protect an 44  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 individual against the unauthorized disclosure of his or her Social Security number when the State requires the individual to provide his or her Social Security number to an officer or agency of the State. This bill expands the mission to explore changes needed to implement a unique identification number system to replace the use of Social Security numbers by State and local government agencies.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

From what I’ve been told, that that -- that bill failed in committee.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Senator, I would think that the whole point of having a task force is to hear what everybody has to say, and that discussion obviously would take place within the task force, not in a committee meeting or separate piece of legislation.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett, to close. 46  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Yeah, I -- I -- obviously this should require a unanimous vote. But to Senator Radogno’s point, I would hope that the task force would take some of the considerations into mind when they move forward. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 574 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. House Bill 574, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 576. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. House Bill 586. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. This House bill amends the Property Tax Code. It provides that if land is improved with a water-retention dam that is operated primarily for commercial purposes, that dam is not considered to be used for open space purposes despite the fact that any resulting man-made lake may be considered to be used for open space purposes. This is the result of a court ruling. It passed out of committee unanimously and I request a Aye vote. 47  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 586 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. House Bill 586, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 615. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 615 strengthens current law relating to the - - confidentiality of arrest records and court records of juveniles charged -- charged with offenses under the Juvenile Court Act. It makes clear that only a judge assigned to hear juvenile court cases may issue an order releasing the arrest records or court records of -- of -- of juvenile offenders charged in juvenile court cases. It expressly states that civil 48  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 subpoenas cannot be used to circumvent the confidentiality provisions of the Juvenile Court Act. I urge your support.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

Yeah. The judge that would be assigned the -- the -- the case.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

Yeah. The -- the presiding judge will -- always has the discretion to assign what -- what judge. Even in my county, which is -- which you have judges assigned to certain calls, there are times when that judge cannot be there and another judge is assigned by the presiding judge and that judge can -- has the discretion to make that decision.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 615 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. House Bill 615, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 616. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 616 amends the Abused and Neglected Reporting Act {sic} with regard to strengthening current statutes relating to investigating the death of -- of -- death or serious injury of children. This bill adds to current language regarding child 50  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 death review teams that the Director of the Department of Children and Family Services must reply to each recommendation made by a team indicating whether the Director intends to implement the recommendation. Further, the Director must submit a report to the team within ninety days detailing the schedule and manner for implementation of the recommendations. Within a hundred and eighty days of those original recommendations, the Director shall submit a report to the team outlining specific changes made in DCFS’ policies and procedures made in response to the recommendation. This bill also adds language to the Act requiring the Department also to report on serious life- threatening injuries of children in care of the Department, along with already required child deaths. It also -- it also provides -- allows the court to enter an Order of Protection setting reasonable conditions of behavior for children’s parents to be observed in a reasonable time frame, not exceeding twelve months. In addition, if a parent violates the Order of Protection and the court determines that it is a violation of a critical services component for the safety and welfare of the child, the court may order temporary custody of the child to the Department. This basically is to strengthen the child death review teams.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 616 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. House Bill 616, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 617. Senator Clayborne. Out of the record. House Bill 619. 51  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. As amended, the penalties section of the Income Withholding to -- for Support Act to make any officer or employee of any payor, the person responsible for paying income to a person obligated to make child support payments, personally liable if the employee willfully fails to withhold or pay over income and the employer is unable to pay over the wrongfully withheld funds. The officer or employee should be personally liable for a penalty equal to the total amount the payor willfully failed to withhold or pay over. The bill provides that the personal liability of the officer or the employee will -- will survive regardless of dissolution of a partnership, limited liability company or corporation. I will be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 619 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 55 -- 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 619, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 623. 52  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 623 provides that employee benefit plans of credit unions, where there are investment limitations, would not apply to the benefit obligations if a -- if an investment was made in terms of an employee’s pension or benefits, and this would exempt that. As you know, there are limitations on what credit unions can invest in on behalf of their Members. This would set aside the part where it’s solely for a pension plan or a benefit. So, I’ll -- be happy to answer any questions and I’d appreciate an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 623 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. House Bill 623, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 53  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 625. Senator Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein.

Thank you, Mr. President. This just provides that a change of ownership of facilities under the -- licensed -- facility licensed under the Nursing Act {sic} must be -- meet the requirements of that Act. And further it declares that it will be taken out of the exclusive possession -- provision of the Health Care {sic} Facilities Planning Act. There was an amendment that excludes county nursing homes and Illinois veteran nursing homes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 625 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 625, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 634. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you much, Mr. President. House Bill 634 amends the Illinois Procurement Code by permitting a five-percent preference to be given to bidders who will use biobased products. A biobased product is defined by the federal biobased product procurement standard. Passed out of committee unanimously.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 634 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. House Bill 634, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 639. Senator Bomke. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 639 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. House Bill 639, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 642. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Yes, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this bill is a -- a follow-up to a House bill we passed last year and it tightens up the provisions of that bill, in -- in that it -- it more clearly delineates the duties of the Department, subject to appropriation, to prepare and distribute health and maternal care providers with written publications which contain standardized, objective data concerning umbilical cord -- cord blood banking. It’s a companion bill to the bill we passed out of here just last month. And it more completely delineates the duties of the Department, consistent with the bill we passed last year. It informs mothers as to the benefits of cord blood -- banking in a specific way.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 56  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

I honestly don’t know.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau. Senator Haine, to close.

I -- thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 57  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senate. I appreciate very much Senator Radogno’s comments and I will personally take ‘em to heart. And this matter will not be left unaddressed with the administration. I ask for an Aye vote on this. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 642 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. House Bill 642, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 652. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 653. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 653 prohibits emergency medical employees or other persons responsible for the administration or operation of a fire station, police station, emergency medical facility, child placing agency or DCFS, where a baby has been relinquished or transferred under this Act, from publicly disclosing any information pertaining to the relinquishment of the infant and the individual involved.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 58  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 653 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. House Bill 653, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 654. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. 654 holds that the first-time offenders driving an uninsured vehicle shall receive a hundred-dollar fine and court supervision if they can show proof of insurance by the court date and, two, they have proof of insurance for the entire supervision period on the last day of supervision.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Was that a question, Senator Bomke?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne indicates he will yield. Senator Clayborne.

It’s five hundred to a thousand dollars.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne.

Only for first-time offenders.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne.

As -- as far as I know, we did amend it, and I think that removed their opposition to the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 654 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 42 Ayes, 12 Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 654, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 668. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. As amended, House Bill 668 retains the underlying language of the bill and adds amendatory language to the definition of “Armed Forces of the United States” to include members of the Illinois National Guard and members of the United States Reserve Forces so that these men and women may -- may also receive the preference.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 668 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 61  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 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. House Bill 668, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 679. Senator Crotty. Mr. Secretary, read the bill, please.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Crotty.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. House Bill 679 is identical to the Senate Bill 374. It was brought to me by the Water Reclamation District. It would add water quality improvement projects in the definition of “construction purposes”. More modern water quality improvement projects more and more represent the environmental solutions to water quality requirements and regulations. Such projects may include low flow augmentation, sediment redimentation {sic}, supplemental aeration, and wetland creation and restoration.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 679 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. House Bill 679, having received the required 62  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 680. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank you again, Mr. President. House Bill 680 requires the establishment of a program by the EPA and the Department of Public Health to monitor the presence and concentration of designated chemicals in citizens of the State of Illinois. The Illinois Environmental Council and Sierra Club are proponents. The Chemical Industry Council of Illinois is neutral. And basically what it does is establish a -- a panel that works with the University of Illinois and the Great Lakes Center for Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health to -- to provide information that might be applicable to people’s health.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Yes. From what I understand, the panel would be reviewing the thousands of new chemicals, or even hundreds of new -- chemicals, that are being used in our clothing, as an example, and relate back as to what type of impact they may have. But it’s -- it’s reviewing all the newest chemicals that are being used.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Well, you know, I don’t really have the answer that you’re looking for. But the bill did come from Representative Nekritz, who’s been working very closely with environmental specialists in Illinois. So, my guess is that there’s a reason for this. I don’t know exactly what the CDC’s program is.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter. 64  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

The -- there will be no new equipment needed and the panel serves without compensation. So the expense to the State, I think, maybe except for transportation, will be negligible.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 680 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 54 Ayes, 2 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 680, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 682. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. House Bill 682 amends the Procurement Code to exclude public institutions of higher education from having to print on their published materials, 65  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 “Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois”, the publication date, the number of copies printed, and the printing order number, when such publications meet criteria.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 682 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 682, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 703. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. House Bill 709. Senator John Jones. Mr. Secretary, read the bill, please.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 66  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 shall House Bill 709 -- the question is, shall House Bill 709 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. House Bill 709, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 720. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 720 is an initiative of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association. And what this would do is it makes changes that are intended to -- parallel the Open Meetings Act. And the provisions of the Open Meetings Act applying to community college boards, this legislation will further ensure those provisions -- apply to the community college board. Also, this bill is identical to House Bill -- House Bill 720 is identical to Senate Bill 402, which passed out of the Senate 56 to 0.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 720 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 67  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 720, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 721. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 721 amends the Public Community College Act regarding public notice of the trustees meetings, and it requires that public notice of the schedule of a regular community college trustee meeting must be given at the beginning of the calendar year. The bill addresses an administrative concern of community college boards regarding whether public notice is required following the board’s organizational meeting, which is usually held in the spring or at the beginning of the calendar year. This bill clarifies that -- clarifies that community college boards only have to give notice once and that’s the beginning of the calendar year.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 721 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 721, having received the required 68  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you rise?

Guess what, Mr. Speaker? My button didn’t come on and I’m sure I hit it. So can I be recorded as a Yes, please?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record shall reflect your intention. House Bill 724. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.

Thank you, Mr. President. This bill removes the dates on which an educational institution must have enrolled the majority of its students in degree programs and maintained an -- an accredited status in order to not be considered a private business and vocational school under the Private and Vocational Schools Act {sic}. I know of no opposition and I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 724 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. House Bill 724, having received the required 69  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 732. Senator Holmes. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 732 creates the Health Access Network Act. The Act specifically requires the Department of Public Health to develop a pilot program in Kane County to furnish funding for and coordinate specialty health care services, pharmaceutical drug assistance, and diagnostic testing for individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid and who are uninsured. Access to specialty care has been severely limited for the uninsured in Kane County and has become less available with the elimination of these services at Stroger Hospital for residents outside of Cook County. This Act is subject to appropriation. I’ll take any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 70  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Holmes.

Because -- because it is subject to appropriation, they had mentioned that they were looking for about three and a half million, but that’s over some time. And at this point, it being a pilot program, they’re willing to take whatever they can get to get it started and get it up and moving.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Being that it -- like I said, they’re -- I mean, they would be requesting three and a half million for a year. So cut that in half if they’re looking for a half a -- I’m -- I -- like I said, it’s subject to appropriation, so they’re -- they’re looking to deal with what they can get and get that program up and going. It’s -- it’s a pilot.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes. 71  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

…you. It was never ten million. There was a figure bandied about at that time before I had Kane County do some research and come up with this three and a half. It was that point somebody had mentioned a figure of five million, but never a ten million.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

I am not sure. I know in committee somebody mentioned seventeen million, but I don’t know if that statistic is true or not.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Kane County does have the infrastructure in place to do this, to set up a pilot. I suppose, if it’s successful, there would be no reason other counties could not be learning from that. There are some -- some differences between counties. So, it is Kane County who brought this to me. I will say, this did pass the House unanimously. So this was definitely something I think people were looking at as definitely being a matter of concern for specialty care for Kane County as being much needed, with Stroger Hospital no longer taking Kane County residents.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno, to wrap up.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes. 73  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Being that we don’t have a proposal in place yet, that is a question I can’t answer. I can tell you there are some differences between DuPage and Kane County. In DuPage, they have an established network of physicians, many who provide care on a pro bono basis. They have physicians that accept Medicaid. Their local hospitals are very supportive. I mean, there are some -- some very big differences. Kane County doesn’t have a public hospital like some of the other counties do.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Could we keep the noise down, please, so we can hear the debate on this subject? Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Sun-Times asks leave to do still photos. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Senator Pankau. 74  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Yeah. I believe there is Access DuPage and there’s a Chicago-based access program. What other counties have, I don’t know.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Halvorson.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the General Assembly. You know, let’s not forget that this bill doesn’t include the money. We pass ideas out of this General Assembly every day all day. This is another idea. It’s a pilot program. And -- and I know as long as I’ve been here, we’ve talked a lot about pilot programs. So, let’s give Senator Holmes some credit for doing something for the county that she’s from and let the appropriation process be able to sort it all out. I think it’s a good idea to help counties with pilot -- projects, and if they don’t work, then you don’t fund ‘em. So let’s give it a chance.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

I -- no, I have not spoken with them. So…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Well, it’s -- it’s a pilot program and Kane County does have their KCHAIN, which is a very -- very good health care network sort of set up. So they sort of have the infrastructure in place to try to accomplish this. And I mean, the hopes would be in this pilot program, that is eventually they might be able to procure the funding or do similar to what DuPage does. But right now, in -- the KCHAIN case managers have reported to me that sixty-two percent of Medicaid patients were referred out of Kane County for specialty care due to the lack of Kane County providers that accept Medicaid, forty-one percent of self-pay patients had to be referred out of Kane County for specialty care due to the lack of a system to deliver specialty care to the uninsured, and thirty-two percent of all specialty care referrals received by KCHAIN had to seek care from Stroger Hospital, Loyola Hospital, University of Chicago, Children’s Memorial due to the 78  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 lack of care available in Kane County. So this is the reason to bring this up as a Kane County initiative.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

I sat on the Kane County Board. I am not sure there is a federal health -- I -- I -- in Kane County.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

I don’t know, but that very well could be a factor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson, to wrap up.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

No, I obviously would not know that.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Noland.

Thank you, Mr. President. The -- those Senators in opposition’s points are well-taken. Their points are well-taken. Some of the concerns regarding why Kane County being noted, let me answer that, if I may. Why Kane County? Because Stroger Hospital is no longer taking a significant number of people from outside Cook County. We have, in Cook County - in my district anyway - we have Hanover Park, Streamwood and Schaumburg, and those areas of those -- those communities are of a social economic status, if you will, that cause -- and geographic location that causes them to go to places like Elgin and go to places like -- like Aurora or Carpentersville, and those areas as well, which also from a socioeconomic standpoint, are -- are 80  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 challenged. Cook County ends up sending us people. We try to send people back to Cook County if they are, in my district, for example, from the Cook County section of Elgin. It doesn’t always work. They have to go somewhere. And because Kane County has not had the tax base to provide for -- for the funding of public health care in its -- in -- in our county is no reason to deny those people that live in this part of our State health care access under the public health care grant system. If there’s a reason for providing Kane County a disproportionate share of those grants, it’s because Kane County is accepting a disproportionate share of patients from Cook County. Now, those areas such as Lake County and Will County, for example, that have been mentioned, they’re much more affluent. And those corresponding border areas of Cook County are more affluent. On the north side of Lake -- near Lake County, you have the communities of Wilmette, of Northbrook, Palatine and communities like that. They’re not similarly situated to those communities like Streamwood and Hanover Park and portions of Schaumburg. And the same is true on the southern part of Cook County that is adjacent to Will County. The same socioeconomic demographics are similar. I believe that Senator Holmes has made the case for providing this grant money to Kane County. She’s answered these questions, I believe, directly and adroitly, and I urge a Yes vote on this bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Luechtefeld.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

That would be based on federal guidelines. There is nothing in this bill that -- that addresses that. This is -- this is an -- this is a pilot program. This is an access to specialty care program. It is subject to appropriations. It’s not saying that we’re going to cut into the seventeen million. So I guess what I’m -- that -- that’s okay. I -- I’m -- did you have any further questions?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Watson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval.

Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Senate. I stand in strong support of -- of House Bill 732 presented by my dear colleague from -- the lady from Kane County, Aurora, one of the fastest growing cities in Illinois and one of the fastest growing populations of Latinos, both documented and undocumented. It is truly a need in Kane County to service all people of Kane County. It is no news to anybody that public health departments stand there to serve all people of their respective counties. And so we must, like Cook County, like John Stroger Hospital in Cook County, who has made the hallmark of serving the poor and the indigent. There continues to be large pockets of poor and indigent in Cook County and this bill deserves to pass so that we can provide future health services to all the people of Kane County. I rise in support.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg.

Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I rise in strong support of House Bill 732. This bill is here today as a result of our need in a particular region of the metropolitan area to ensure that there is public health infrastructure that keeps people out of 86  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 emergency rooms. There’s nothing in Kane County right now that would provide this level of public health infrastructure, and as there’s nothing that would preclude Kane County from making a financial contribution on the local level to this. Now, we do, indeed, have programs that serve suburban Cook - Access to Care. I heard what some of the prior speakers in opposition had to say. Some of those speakers who live in suburban Cook County have actually signed support letters in favor of the State’s investment in suburban Access to Care, and as a result of the investment we made last year, we eliminated the entire waiting list. And that’s a program that requires a modest co-payment. There’s a local contribution that’s made by the county. And not only that, it’s so successful that this public/private partnership also works with Walgreens to do collective purchasing on pharmaceuticals so that they can bring the costs down. Kane County is one of the most dynamic growing areas in the State. Forty-two percent of the State’s population is in the suburbs. And then demographics are diverse and the need is growing for this public health infrastructure. There’s nothing that precludes this pilot project from having citizens of Kane County contribute toward it. There’s nothing conversely that prohibits people from DuPage County, for Access DuPage, to ask us to support that program the way we support Access to Care for suburban Cook County. We are poised to have federal dollars coming in from the Hospital Assessment Program that can precisely pay for something like this project, because this program, in the end, will keep people out of emergency rooms. And if we are keeping people out of emergency rooms through programs such as this one, then we are helping to fight the fight successfully on 87  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 cost containment for health care by having proactive primary health care in our fastest growing areas. And that’s why, even though Kane County, you need a passport to get there from Evanston, I’m going to vote for this bill and I think you should too. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hendon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I rise in strong support of Senator Holmes’ bill and just wanted to briefly and softly and kindly defend our Governor. You know, he was elected. He’s a great Governor. Hate Leader Watson left, because he seemed to want to just beat Rod up over everything and this is not the Governor’s bill. This is Senator Holmes’ bill. It’s about health care and -- and it’s a great bill and I urge an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes, to close.

Wow! Who thought we’d get here. I do want to say, I do welcome the debate. I also want to thank my colleagues, particularly Senator Schoenberg, for bringing up -- I mean, his years of experience as an advocate for -- for health care for people in Illinois is -- has certainly been a benefit. What I would like to ask for is an Aye vote. This is a pilot program. This is needed in Kane County due to Stroger no longer doing specialty care for our residents. So, please, I urge an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 732 pass. Those in favor 88  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 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 39 Ayes, 15 Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 732, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 734. Senator Forby. Out of the record. House Bill 735. Senator Wilhelmi. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 735 is a land conveyance bill that requires two hundred acres of Department of Correction property at Stateville Prison to be declared surplus property and to be sold pursuant to the State Property Control Act. The moneys received from the sale are to be deposited into the Road Fund and shall be used to pay for the costs of improving the single worst traffic intersection in northern Will County and that is Weber Road and I-55. This is a unique approach to fixing a road problem, but this interchange is uniquely dangerous to thousands of drivers in Will County and throughout the region. Let me share some brief statistics with you, please. A hundred and seven thousand vehicles travel I-55 each day south of this interchange. Approximately a hundred and thirty-three thousand vehicles travel I-55 each day north of the intersection. On Weber Road, thirty- 89  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 one thousand seven hundred vehicles travel north of the -- of the interchange and thirty-one thousand vehicles travel each day south of the interchange. Most importantly, this interchange has been ranked one of the top ten most dangerous interchanges in the State and there’s a second interchange just south, less than a mile south, which is Normantown and Weber Road, which is also one of the top ten most dangerous intersections in the State of Illinois. Ladies and Gentlemen, this sale will occur pursuant to the State Property Control Act. The Director of the Department of Central Management Services will receive an annual report showing -- a -- an Annual Real Property -- real -- Utilization Report identifying this as surplus property. Then there are certain procedures that will be in place to make sure this is done right. Appraisals will take place and other agencies and municipalities will have the option of buying this property at the fair market value based on those appraisals. And the Administrator, or the Director, can at any time decide that this property should be sold pursuant to a public auction to make sure we’re maximizing the money and also to be put to use in this particular way if the Director feels it’s important enough to do so. And I believe it is. In closing, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to make sure you know this is a regional issue. This is not just a Will County issue. This issue affects people in Will, Cook, DuPage and Grundy counties. It affects hundreds of thousands of motorists each day and it is one of the most dangerous intersections in the State. I ask for your support along with -- just so you know, the support of every mayor in this region has been put on this bill: Mayor Claar from Bolingbrook, Mayor Dewald from Romeoville, Mayor Churnovic from 90  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Crest Hill, Mayor Schultz from Joliet, Mayor Waldorf from Plainfield, Mayor Pradel from Naperville. Every mayor in this area, Ladies and Gentlemen, is supportive of this unique approach for this uniquely dangerous intersection. This will save lives. This will make motorists safe and this will allow us to make sure we’re traveling safely with our kids and that our businesses can get their goods and product where they need to go in a safe manner. I’ll be happy to answer any questions and I ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi.

Yes, Senator Jones, two hundred acres, Stateville property that is far west from the prison itself.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi.

Senator Jones, this prison is quite old, as you probably know. This property was purchased back, I believe, in the forties and it was a working farm for many years. It still is a working farm. And there -- back then, the thought was that prisons needed to have a buffer in case of escapes. There’s a huge amount of property. It’s over a thousand acres that surrounds Stateville. That’s why the Department of Corrections is supportive of declaring this property surplus. It’s being 94  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 farmed now in one of the most economically advantageous areas of northern Will County. The Weber Road corridor is a incredibly popular place to set up retail and commercial and light industrial, the manufacturing, as well as the transportation that Senator Dillard talked about. This property is extremely valuable. It’s not needed for the working farm operation and it’s not needed for the buffer. And that’s why they’re supportive of -- surplussing this property.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi.

Senator, two -- two responses on that: Number one, based on comparables, we’re pretty confident that this sale will generate anywhere from twenty to thirty-five million dollars, because again, this is very, very popular and lucrative property; number two, the statute that will be followed in this is the State Property Control Act, and whenever property is worth more than five thousand dollars, three appraisals must be done and then the average appraisal -- the average of those three appraisals sets the fair market value. So that’s how the fair market value is determined. But at the end of the day, this is sold by way of a 95  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 public auction. So in two, three, four years, this might generate fifty million dollars as a sales price.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Viverito.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. I’d like, very much, to say how much I appreciate what Senator Wilhelmi is doing here this afternoon. This is rather a little bit of a personal matter as well. But I want to commend him on the efforts of bringing different departments together in addressing this very, very dangerous intersection. Obviously, back in January, I had a nephew, my grandnephew, who was twenty-five years old, just had finished his apprenticeship as an electrical worker with 134, was going to do some work for his grandmother. At five o’clock in the morning, at I-55 and Weber Road, he was killed. And I can tell you this, that same day there were -- there were two or three other accidents that occurred. And this intersection is, with obvious reasons, deep concern to a great many people. It has a great senior citizen complex just south of 55 on Weber Road. There are hundreds and thousands of senior citizens in this particular area. It goes -- it -- it -- it narrows down into an intersection that, believe me, he was killed instantaneously, twenty-five years old. And I can tell you from my heart, I’ve never seen a more worthwhile project than what Senator Wilhelmi is doing for all of us in the State of Illinois. Don’t just address his district. This is a statewide problem that has not been addressed and the growth in that area is 97  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 obvious to anyone out in the -- Bolingbrook, Will County. And believe me, this is something that has to be done and I hope that all of you will give it your consideration in voting Yes on this issue. Thank you very much.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sieben.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Jacobs.

I rise in strong support of the Senator’s bill. I would like people to know that I have a hundred-and-forty-five-million- dollar brand-new prison in my community that hasn’t been opened up for many years. If anyone is interested in buying that prison, we would love to sell it, take that money and turn it into a university. So I’m in strong support of the Senator’s bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hendon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I’m -- I’m so pleased to hear Senator Radogno sounding like a Democrat today, because she’s absolutely right. We will support any Senator that comes up with a creative way to solve a problem here in the State of Illinois. This is an excellent piece of legislation. Seems like the people who are against it, again, have a problem with Governor Blagojevich, and instead of taking it to him, they want to punish this young outstanding Senator. I do want to point out that this bill came out of the House 115 to nothing. 115 to nothing. And guess what? The State Representatives who passed this bill in the House were all Republicans, all Republicans - Hassert, Cross, Kosel - fine Republicans. They do exist. Fine Republicans, with brains. They came up with a creative idea, a way to solve a problem. What happens if we don’t get a capital program? Then this dangerous intersection doesn’t get done. And this is not just for Senator Wilhelmi’s district. Many of us pass Weber Road to and from Chicago, coming to Springfield. I have friends who live off Weber Road. It is a very dangerous intersection. If my friend, Senator Sieben, has some surplus property around Dixon, he can bring it forward. We will listen to it. If any Senator has some surplus property somewhere you want -- like Senator Radogno said, like a good Democrat, like a good Republican, we’ll listen to all proposals. I urge -- there should be fifty-nine Yes votes for Senator Wilhelmi today on this measure. 100  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Wilhelmi, to close.

Thank you, Mr. President. And -- and I appreciate all the comments and concerns about this bill. I think the bottom line is, it is a unique solution, but it is also a uniquely dangerous intersection. I want to close also by saying thank you to State Representative and Minority Leader Brent Hassert, who’s with me today. This was his idea and I’m happy to pick it up in the Senate. And I will tell you what, what Senator Radogno says, nails it. We need to think creatively. We need to find solutions and I welcome all of you to bring those kinds of solutions to this Body, and I urge a -- an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 735 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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 51 Ayes, 6 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 735, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) …our guests rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

Mr. President, I’m joined here today by a group of gentlemen and ladies who have provided a tremendous amount of service to our country. I have with -- with us today -- they’ve traveled down to Springfield from far and wide in order to advocate for issues of concern to veterans. These are great individuals who’ve served our country and I think we owe it to them to not only give them a great round of applause, but to do whatever we can to serve them in the way in which they have served our country. I’d like to recognize and acknowledge the members of the Northwest Suburban Veterans Advisory Council, who are here today for a Veterans Lobby Day.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will our guests rise and the Senate welcome them to Springfield? House Bill 736. Senator Koehler. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 736 mandates that the Illinois Commerce Commission shall ensure transparency and public participation at each regular and special meeting that is open to the public. This would further allow the public to make comments and to ask questions of the Commission, and that, through a telephone or website, the ICC would establish an avenue for comment that shall be collected by staff and reported to the Commission. I know of no opposition and I would appreciate your Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 736 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 736, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 742. Senator Frerichs. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

103  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 742 expands whistleblower protections to educational employees and local governments. It prohibits retaliation against employees who disclose information to a court, administrative hearing, or any other proceeding. And this preempts home rule. I would ask a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hultgren.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 742 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 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 742, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to be acknowledged as voting Aye on the last bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Your -- record will so reflect your intention. Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. Me, too. I will be a Yes on that 104  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 last one.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record will reflect your intention. House Bill 744. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 744 is an initiative of the Illinois Bankers Association. It consolidates three bills that passed the Senate unanimously in the last General Assembly but were not considered in the House. The three provisions regard emergency -- banking, electronic consumer notices, and affiliated {sic} transactions. I’d be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 744 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no 105  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 744, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 759. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill -- 759, which is subject to appropriation, creates the Condominium Advisory Council Act. The Council will be made up of seven members, four of whom will be appointed by the General Assembly and three by the Governor’s Office. And the point of this is to identify issues facing condominium owners, owners’ associations and others interested -- other interested persons as they pertain to condominiums. The proponent is the Association of Condominium Homeowners. The opponent is the Chicago Bar Association. And it is subject to a small appropriation. I’d be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

I appreciate that question. In my district, especially in Cook County, whenever I have town hall meetings, we are deluged by condominium owners who have an incredible number of questions, feel that they’re -- the condominium law is too complex and difficult for them to understand exactly what their rights are. Sometimes we get letters and then we have special meetings just with condominium owners. And I looked into this and -- and another state, Florida, that also has a large amount of condominiums actually has an ombudsman to deal with these kinds of issues. And as we see more and more condominium sales and -- and -- member -- people moving into condominiums, these kinds of issues and problems are going to increase. So the point of doing this is to be able to help these -- these owners resolve some of their issues and problems.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Senator -- Schoenberg said the appropriation is one billion dollars, but it’s not. It’s negligible. It’s, you know, the cost of traveling or whatever. But the reason why I believe this is important, Senator, is because the condominium associations not always have the best interest of the condominium owners. And I hate to say that, but it is true. And even more difficult is the way the laws are written. If you’re not a condominium lawyer and are a specialist in the field, it’s almost impossible to understand. So I think we have nothing to lose by addressing this issue at this level. And I think we ought to do it and, you know, I just don’t see any reason -- I -- I just don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t go forward with this.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett, to close.

Let me clarify, Senator, the appropriation is not a million dollars. I was kidding when I said that. It’s negligible. And really what we’re doing is setting up a panel to look at this. This panel is not a permanent panel. They are going to look at the issues. They will make recommendations. That’s the way we do it here in Springfield before we move onto something permanent. I would ask every Member to vote Yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 759 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 759, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 792. Senator Cronin. Senator Cronin. Out of the record. House Bill 802. Senator Frerichs. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. House Bill 802 provides that if a contract exists between a fire protection district and a separate fire department entity transferring the control of firefighting assets to the entity and the entity is dissolved, ownership of the assets reverts back to the original fire protection district. This legislation is entirely permissive and it deals only with cases where the transfer of assets is not already explicitly provided for in the contract.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 802 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. House Bill 802, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 804. Senator Wilhelmi. Out of the record. House Bill 808. Senator Koehler. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 808 amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act to require that all employees who are subject to Health Care Worker Background Checks {sic} (Check) Act to meet the requirements of that Act as a condition of the issuance of a new or renewed license for that facility. Before it was only for direct care staff and this just broadens it to mean all the staff. I know no opposition. I’d appreciate an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 808 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 808, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 809. Senator Delgado. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Delgado. 111  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 809 requires the case coordination units under the Illinois Department on Aging to have responsibility to prescreen individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease or related disorders, blindness or other disabilities when a discharge from a hospital to a skilled nursing facility is pending to determine whether the patient can be satisfactorily cared for with home and community- based support services. The bill also requires hospitals to notify the case coordination units at least twenty-four hours prior to discharge of a patient to a skilled nursing facility. And I’m available for questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 809 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 809, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 811. Senator DeLeo. Senator DeLeo. Out of the record. House Bill 816. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

112  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 816 amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code in respect to the transfer of parental rights to a special education- eligible student when that student reaches the age of eighteen. It also retains the -- the intent of -- with special education- eligible -- -eligible students in regards to the child’s parents under the Citizens {sic} with Disabilities Act and the transfer of that rights to a child. Senate Bill 396, which passed out of the Senate, this bill is identical to that bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 816 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 816, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?

Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

I have here with me two special guests from the City of Chicago, our City Treasurer, a -- a old high-school friend of mine, Stephanie Neely, as well as the Chairman of the Board of the CTA, Carole Brown. Will you give ‘em a warm welcome?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the Senate please welcome our guests to Springfield? 113  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Raoul, I can’t believe she’s an old high-school classmate of yours. She’s much younger than you. House Bill 817. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Before we can continue, can we please have some quiet in the Chamber? Can we keep the conversations down in the Chamber so we can hear the bill that we’re being presented? Senator Demuzio.

Yes, thank -- yes, thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 817 also amends the Children with Disabilities Article of the School Code, and this is in regard to the age of eligibility for special education. It specifies that an eligible student may receive special education services through the day before his or her twenty-second birthday. This bill is identical to Senate Bill 397, which passed the Senate 53 to 0. Also under current law, State law, “children with disabilities” means children between the ages of three and twenty-one who are determined, through certain procedures, to need special education services.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 817 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 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 817, having received the required 114  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I’m very proud to announce that we have a great visitor on the Floor this afternoon - a good friend of mine, my mentor, my great State Senator, now City Clerk of the City of Chicago, Miguel del Valle. Welcome.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome back to the Senate, Mr. Clerk. Now -- now, will the City Clerk please keep the noise down in the Chamber, please? Thank you. House Bill 819. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, would you please read the bill?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 819 is identical to Senate Bill 376, which passed the Senate unanimously. It is an initiative of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and provides for the elimination of phosphorus from cleaning agents. As presented to the Senate, it is an agreed bill. We worked on it with industry over the summer. I’m not aware of any opposition and I would ask for your Aye votes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 115  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 819 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. House Bill 819, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 820. Senator Althoff. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

Just a quick question of the sponsor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.

And I’m sorry if you did say this when you began. I missed the beginning of your -- is Six Flags exempt from this?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Holmes.

That -- that was it. I will support this bill. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Jacobs. 117  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates she will yield.

Senator, have -- have we had a problem in Illinois with carnival workers?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Jacobs.

I think I understand what you’re attempting to do, but I -- I have to tell you, I’m very nervous about declaring one group of people problematic. I don’t know why we don’t spread this to every worker in Illinois. Why -- why just carnival workers?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sieben. 118  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff, to close.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 820 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, 1 Nay, none voting Present. House Bill 820, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 822. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. House Bill 824. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. House Bill 825. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 825 requires the ICC to conduct an audit of each electric utility to determine whether or not the respective utility has adequate in-house staffing to maintain quality reliability. It prescribes the criteria by which the ICC shall make the assessment and orders the ICC to use aggregate data acquired during this process to set benchmarks for staffing levels by each classification of worker and each employee training for a classification.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 825 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 825, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 828. Senator Frerichs. Out of the record. House Bill 840. Senator Millner. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Millner.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 840 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. House Bill 840, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’ll come back to House Bill 841. House Bill 845. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill, quite simply, raises the -- the penalty for involuntary manslaughter of a police officer or reckless homicide of a police officer in the line of duty from a Class 3 to a Class 2 felony.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 845 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 845, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 855. Senator Delgado. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Delgado.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 855 amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that when a parole or mandatory supervised release is not revoked for violations of conditions of parole or mandatory supervised release, the period of tolling of the term of parole or mandatory 122  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 supervised release shall be credited to the term, unless a community-based sanction is imposed as an alternative to revocation and reincarceration, including a diversion established by the Illinois Department of Corrections Parole Services Unit prior to the holding of a preliminary parole revocation hearing. Provides that parolees who are diverted to a community-based sanction shall serve the entire term of parole or -- mandatory supervised relief -- release, if otherwise appropriate. It would be effective immediately and I would ask to join me with your Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 855 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 855, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 857. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 857 is identical to the amended version of Senate Bill 1380, which passed the Senate by a vote of -- by -- 123  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 with 55 votes. It deletes requirements of the State Universities Article of the Pension -- Pension Code that -- that a report quantify the reduction in State contributions to the Retirement System as a result of offering a self-managed plan. It brings language concerning emerging investment managers to conform with other Sections of the Pension Code, and authorizes the Comptroller to pay employees through electronic fund transfers. I know of no known opposition.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Brady.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) He indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul.

No.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 857 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all 124  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 857, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 876. Senator Noland. Out of the record. House Bill 892. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 892 adds the operable heating and air-conditioning equipment in certain areas to the list of minimum requirements the Department of Public Health must regulate for facilities under the Nursing Home Care Act. It also requires that DPH submit a report to the General Assembly concerning -- in -- July 1, 2008, concerning the impact of this legislation.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 892 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 892, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 894. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 125  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This House bill is similar to the bill that Senator Clayborne passed out of here last month. It repeals the reciprocity clause that was in the Consumer {sic} (Customer) Choice and Rate Relief Law of ’97, which had the effect of limiting competition to our present power suppliers, Ameren and ComEd. This allows other out-of-state brokers and sellers to come into Illinois more freely, opens up the system to -- competition as long as they’re licensed and thoroughly reviewed according to Senator Harmon’s bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 894 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 894, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 126  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 895. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 895 creates the Green Cleaning School Act, which requires all elementary and secondary public and nonpublic schools to establish a green cleaning policy and exclusively purchase and use environmentally sensitive cleaning products no later than ninety days after implementation of the guidelines and specifications established by this Act. The bill also allows the schools to deplete its existing cleaning and maintenance supply stocks and implement the new cleaning requirements in the -- the procurement cycle for the following school year. The bill also states that if adopting a green cleaning policy is not economically feasible, the school must provide annual written notification to the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council. This Act only applies to public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools with fifty or more students. I would be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

It applies to public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools with fifty or more students.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 895 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have -- have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Ayes, 5 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 895, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 900. Senator Murphy. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Murphy.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is nothing more than an incumbent protection bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 900 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Those 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 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 900, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared 129  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 passed. House Bill 903. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you. House Bill 903 creates the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fund. Provides for the issuance of Ovarian Cancer Awareness license plates. The bill holds that in addition to the appropriate registration fee, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged an original issuance fee of twenty-five dollars and a fee of twenty-five for each renewal. The bill provides that ten dollars additional original issuance fee and twenty- three of the renewal fee shall be deposited into the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fund and that fifteen dollars of the original issuance fee and two dollars of the renewal fee shall be deposited into Secretary of State Special License Plate Fund. Subject to appropriation -- General Assembly and approved by the Secretary of State, the moneys in the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fund shall be paid as grants to the Ovarian -- National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Incorporated, for ovarian cancer research, education, screening, and treatment. Finally, the bill provides that the State Finance Act provision allowing the transfer of money from other funds into the General Revenue Fund does not apply to moneys deposited into the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fund.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 130  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 903 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 903, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 909. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. House Bill 913. Senator Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Cullerton.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a very simple bill. And I’ll tell you what it does and then give you a little background. The -- the bill extends the period of time for which a short-term guardian can be designated for a minor from a renewable term of sixty days and we change it to a year. Short-term guardianships is statutorily authorized temporary guardianship for a child. It kind of acts like a power of attorney. It is used where parents designate certain trusted family members to care for their children for a specific period of time. It can be used when the parents are hospitalized or away from home on work or military assignments or enrolled in treatment programs. And we have found that since we passed this in 1994, many families have used it, but it’s proven to be a 131  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 little awkward to only have the period for sixty-day limitation because some of these assignments people might have, especially military, certainly extend past that. So, it simply changes it from sixty days to a hundred days. It’s supported by the Bar Associations, AARP, numerous other organizations. There was original concern about the bill from an organization called SCOPE - South Cooperative Organization for Public Education. We put an amendment on that exempted -- took out the School Code from this bill. So as a result, there’s no opposition. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 913 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 913, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez, for what purpose do you rise?

For a point of personal privilege.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.

I would like all the Members of the Senate to help me welcome some young people from my district who are here visiting during the Charter School Day here at the Capitol. I would like to present the school, ASPIRA, who is right up here. Can you please rise and be welcomed by us? 132  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Our guests in the gallery please rise and be welcomed to Springfield? With leave of the Body, we’ll go back to 924 later. House Bill 937. Senator Meeks. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Meeks.

…you -- thank you so much, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 937 exempts a waste wood- burning electric generation facility located in a county with a population greater than three million. This is a bill that’s designed to help the City of Robbins. And I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 937 pass. Those in favor 133  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 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 54 Ayes, 2 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 937, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 938. Senator Peterson. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Peterson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 938 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, 1 voting Present. House Bill 938, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 943. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 134  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 948 {sic} amends the Mercury Fever Thermometer Prohibition Act, basically stating that after July 1st, 2008, no person shall sell/distribute certain mercury-added products in this State. And I know of no opposition and I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 943 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 943, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 950. Senator Hendon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hendon.

135  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Thank you, Mr. President. This is simply an exemption off of the sales tax, an exemption for horse breeders and horse owners here in the State of Illinois. I appreciate Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any -- discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 950 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Ayes, no -- 1 Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 950, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 961. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 136  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 shall House Bill 961 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 961, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 962. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is brought to me by the Municipal League, and let me just state that this is the product of many hours of work by the Legislative Committee, which is composed of mayors, board members, clerks, treasurers, attorneys, and all the people that are involved in this. What House Bill 962 does is it amends the statute in the Municipal Code governing the filling of vacancies of municipal officers. Specifically, this legislation clarifies the procedure for an elected official resigning from office. It also clarifies when the vacancy begins. Other provisions of this legislation address the filling of a vacancy of a board member when a current board member does not approve of the nominations from the mayor. This -- legislation allows the mayor to make a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy after the sixtieth day of the vacancy so long as the mayor nominated a minimum of two persons 137  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 for the appointment. The temporary appointment must be made from those persons that were nominated but failed confirmation. And lastly, the legislation clarifies that a person does not have to live in the municipality for a year to be a municipal officer if that municipality is a newly incorporated one. This legislation has been part of the Illinois Municipal League’s legislative agenda previously and this has no impact on Chicago. I’d appreciate an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 962 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 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 962, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 976. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 138  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 976 adds two appointees to existing county boards for the cure and treatment of persons with developmental disabilities. Existing boards have three appointees. Under this legislation, they would now have five. All future boards created for the same purpose would also have five members. I know of no opposition. I would appreciate a Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

My understanding is that the need is just to have few more people that represent the community in looking at this -- this whole area.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.

139  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 …me just -- let me just add to that, Senator, that this could help in terms of discussions amongst a couple of members with Open Meetings Act as well.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 976 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 976, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 977. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 977 is identical to Senate Bill 165, which I introduced, which passed the Senate Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee 7-0. This initiative is the initiative of the City of Chicago and it provides that for the offenses of criminal damage to property and criminal defacement of property, the State is not required to prove the property owner did not consent to the defendant’s action. House Bill 977 provides that the owner’s consent shall serve as an affirmative defense to both charges. I ask a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 140  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 shall House Bill -- 977 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 977, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise?

Mr. President, I just wanted to point out that today was a historic day. That’s the first time we had a Marty Sandoval bill with no discussion.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) House Bill 979. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio. And can we please keep the noise down? I think it’s coming out of the hallway or somewhere, but can we keep the noise down? If the guards can keep the noise in the hallways down somewhat. It is getting very loud in here. Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 979 amends the Illinois Act on the -- on Aging. And what it does, it sets up an Older Rural Adults Task Force and it requires the Department {sic} (on) of Aging to identify the special needs and problems of 141  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 older residents and evaluate the accuracy {sic} and accessibility of existing programs and information for older rural residents. Further, House Bill 979 creates the Older Rural Adults Task Force and -- to be made up of individuals appointed by each of the four Leaders of the General Assembly. Representatives from the Department on Aging, HFS, DHS, DPH, DCEO, the Rural Affairs Council, and the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall serve as nonvoting members on this Task Force. And further, the Task Force must report to the General Assembly by January 1st of 2009 and is dissolved upon the submission of this report. I ask for your favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

Senator, I don’t think that’s possible.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 142  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 The question is, shall House Bill 979 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 976 {sic}, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 983. Senator Schoenberg. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Schoenberg.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 983 emerged out of some unintended consequences. This impacts when the -- increase in property tax value of a TIF district is developed on a closed military installation, that that can be recovered when, in fact, the TIF is retired. To refresh your memories, the Economic Development Project Area Tax Increment Act that became law in 1995 made it possible to redevelop former military installations that were ultimately closed after several rounds of the federal BRAC decisions in the early and mid-1990s. At that time, the Act was passed to incentivize the redevelopment and reuse for both public and private sectors of any closed military installation. And it also authorized municipalities to use TIF instruments in any approved economic development project areas. Unfortunately, at 143  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 the time, the new law inadvertently didn’t include PTEL in the definition of recovered tax value, which would obviously provide for the recovery of any increased assessed valuation after that - - TIF district retired. This is a situation that has emerged with the former Glenview Naval Air Station in the Village of Glenview. There’s no opposition to this and I’d urge your support.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lauzen.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 983 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 983, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 984. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 984 removes a Section of the Children and Family Services Act which required the 144  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Department to conduct a study in relation to the training of persons who are mandated reporters in reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. House Bill 984 will clean up the statute and assist the Department by removing a recurring audit finding. It was brought to me by DCFS. It passed unanimously. Would ask for support.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 984 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 984, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 987. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 987 creates the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council Act. It creates the Wabash and Ohio Rivers Coordinating Council. Sets forth its membership and terms of its members and the powers and duties of the Council. Currently, there are three large river watershed districts in the State, two of which are represented by such councils, the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and we would like 145  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 to see the Wabash and Ohio Rivers created as well. I would request a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) He indicates he will.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Who is appointed to the commission? …top of my head, I don’t remember that question in committee. What’s that? It has thirteen voting members, including Lieutenant Governor, Directors of the following administrations: Department of Agriculture, Commerce and -- Economic Opportunity, Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources, and Transportation. An additional appointee shall be appointed by the Governor and represent soil and water conservation districts in the proximity of the rivers. Six more members are appointed by the Governor and represent local communities and not-for-profit organizations working to protect the rivers and their tributaries, businesses, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and the environment.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff. 146  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Think the reason is, when these coordinating councils were created by statute by this Body, that’s how they were set up and we’re following the same line of appointments for the Mississippi and the Illinois River Councils.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

It comes through the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and they are picking it up, not requiring new moneys.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 987 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all 147  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 987, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 991. Senator Millner. Out of the record. House Bill 1004. Senator Dahl. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Dahl.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Lightford.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I apologize for rising on personal privilege in the middle of a debate, but I would like for the Body to welcome our former Senator, who I proceeded, who is an outstanding woman. She’s a Commissioner now in the City of Chicago. Please welcome Senator Earlean Collins. 148  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome back to the Senate, Senator Collins -- or, Commissioner Collins. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1004 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1004, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1019. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sullivan.

I’m sorry, Mr. President. I want to take it out of the record, please.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Out of the record. House Bill 1020. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sullivan.

149  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1020 amends the Illinois Bovine Brucellosis Eradication Act. States that all animals diagnosed with brucellosis by an official test at a livestock market may be slaughtered or returned to the herd of origin by permit and must remain under quarantine. This is identical to Senate Bill 557, which passed out of the Senate 56 to nothing.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1020 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1020, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1024. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sullivan.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1024 amends the Vehicle Code and the State Finance Act. It creates the Illinois Ag in the Classroom Fund in the State treasury. It provides for the issuance of Ag in the Classroom license plates, of which I have a sample of what those plates could possibly look like. In addition to the normal fees for the 150  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 plates, there will be an additional forty-dollar fee, of which twenty-five dollars will go into the Ag in the Classroom Fund, fifteen dollars will go into the Special License Plate Fund at the Secretary of State. All moneys in the -- in the Ag in the Classroom Fund shall be paid as grants to the Illinois Ag Association Foundation to support Ag in the -- Classroom program -- programming for schools. Be more than happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1024 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1024, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1030. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Garrett.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1030 requires that the State Board of Education issue an annual report to the General Assembly and Governor that identifies each school district’s special education expenditures, receipts received for special education, as well as the amount of expenditures in 151  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 excess of the amount the district received. And the reason to do this is to understand not what the school districts are forecasting in expenses, but what their real expenses are.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1030 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1030, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1031. Senator Forby. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Forby.

Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1031 would expand the number of municipalities that are covered by the Volunteer Emergency Workers Job Protection Act by raising the population from seventy-five hundred, was currently thirty-five hundred. And it will still protect the people and volunteers if they was on job site, they got called to a fire, that they would not get fired. Proponent: Illinois Ambulance Association, Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts, Illinois Firefighter’s Association, Illinois Chief Associations {sic} {Chiefs Association), Professional Firefighters. I don’t know of 152  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 any opposition to this bill. It came out of the House 115 to nothing.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1031 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1031, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1041. Senator Maloney. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Maloney.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate {sic} Bill 1041 is similar -- or, same as a bill we passed out of here in the Senate recently. It -- it is initiative of the Water Reclamation District, amending its statute to improve their ability to lease the land. This also -- since MWRD property is tax exempt, this would put these properties on the tax roll to support municipalities, schools and local taxing districts. I know of no opposition and would appreciate an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 153  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 shall House Bill 1041 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1041, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1066. Senator Ronen. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Ronen.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill sets up an advisory board to be appointed by the Director of the Department of Public Health. The board was a request of the Department. Several years ago, we set up legislation regarding the regulation of a hospice. The rules have never fully been promulgated because there was a backup in their process. The Director of the Department suggested we create a committee to do that, and that’s just what this bill does. I’d ask for an Aye vote and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 154  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 The question is, shall House Bill 1066 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1066, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1076. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1076 increases the maximum age of the victim from sixteen to seventeen years for soliciting for a juvenile prostitute, keeping a place of juvenile prostitution, and juvenile pimping. It is an initiative of the Cook County State’s Attorney. I would ask for an affirmative vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1076 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1076, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1080. Senator Sandoval. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. With 155  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 leave of the Body, we’ll go back to 1084. House Bill 1100. Senator Munoz. Out of the record. House Bill 1116. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Frerichs.

Thank you, Mr. President. This House bill permits municipalities that operate a fire department and fire protection districts to apply for special registration plates that are designated as Fire Chief license plates. It has support of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. The provisions of this have been agreed to by the Secretary of State’s Office and the Fire Chiefs Association. It’s helping to fix the problem of fire chiefs who respond directly to a call in their personal vehicles from being pulled over, being delayed, and doing their duty. Would request a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1116 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1116, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1124. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 156  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill clarifies the definition of a game of skill -- bona fide contest of skill are currently exempt from the definition of gambling. This -- this clarification, the language is as follows: The offers of prizes, awards, or compensation to the actual contestants in any bona fide contest between two or more individuals participating, and it lists several games. This would allow video games, such as Golden Tee Golf, trivia or video bowling, which are now being construed narrowly as -- as gambling. It does not expand gambling; does not authorize games where a person plays against a machine for prizes, such as a slot machine. Doesn’t authorize that. And it does not authorize card games or simulated card games, such as video poker. I would ask for an Aye vote. Apparently, this prevents State Farm Rail Classic, the Western Open, dart tournaments and trivia games to pay out prize money for such contests or tournaments.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 157  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Indicates he will -- yield for one question.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Answer to those two questions are yes and yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 1124 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 46 Ayes, 5 158  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1124, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1236. Senator John Jones. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1236 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1236, having received the constitutional -- required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1238. Senator Demuzio. Out of the record. House Bill 1239. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1239 expands preventive health services that community health centers must offer under the Act to include ovarian cancer screening. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

Senator, this is just an expansion of the -- of the -- making sure that ovarian cancer is part of the screening.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez. 160  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Senator Pankau, through existing funds that are there. This just helps us make sure that ovarian cancer also is included in some of the screenings that they already pay.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

It’s not the Department. It’s existing community health centers. However some of them get their funding in, it will take into account that we have to also offer ovarian cancer screening.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez.

I said that? There -- some of the community centers already have existing funding sources that come in, let it be via the county, let it be federal. All we want to make sure that in these -- in some of these tests, these screenings, that we also 161  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 include ovarian cancer screening.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 1239 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1239, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House -- Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?

I’m about to get throwed out of here. I need a Yes vote on that last vote -- on that last bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record will so reflect your intentions. House Bill 1241. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Collins.

Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1241 amends the Build Illinois Act to determine that loans made to small businesses denoted as minority, female or disability small businesses are not to exceed a hundred thousand, rather -- rather than the current fifty thousand, or fifty percent of the business project costs unless the Director of the Department of Commerce and Economic 162  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Opportunity determines that a waiver of the limits is required to meet the purpose of the Act. I don’t know of any opposition. I ask for a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1241 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1241, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1254. Senator Haine. Out of the record. House Bill 1256. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1256 is an initiative of health and disability advocates. It provides for an expansion of eligibility for the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities program, also known as the Medicaid Buy-In program. It would allow employed individuals with disabilities to establish Medicaid eligibility even though they earn more than the customary Medicaid income threshold. The policy is to encourage folks with disabilities to be productive workers when they would 163  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 otherwise be receiving Social Security benefits. I’m not aware of any opposition. We’ve amended it to address concerns by the Department of Human -- or, Healthcare and Family Services. And I’d ask for your Aye votes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 1256 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1256, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1257. Senator Ronen. Senator Ronen. Out of the record. House Bill 1259. Senator Delgado. Out of the record. House Bill 1279. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. House Bill 1284. Senator Ronen. Out of the record. House Bill 1288. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Yes. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, 164  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 this is a bill which is the initiative of the Illinois Credit Union League. And it regularizes the Director of Department of Financial and Professional Regulations’ requirements as to examiner appointments to assure that the examiners have the necessary training and continuing qualifications. It -- it specifies under what circumstances the board may declare a vacancy on the board or a committee, which the Act currently does not have. It’s non-controversial; has no opposition.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1288 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1288, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1300. Senator Collins. Out of the record. House Bill 1301. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1301 amends the Illinois Act on the Aging regarding -- long-term care ombudsman services. And what this does, we have changed the -- the requirement here, or we have added an amendment to make sure that 165  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 those under sixty years of age are serviced with an ombudsman. We know of many individuals that are in long {sic} care facilities or in nursing home facilities and that what this would do is to provide those under the age of sixty with -- with a voice to be heard for their -- for their care.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1301 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1301, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1303. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you rise?

Thank you, Mr. President. I was trying to get your attention. I did attempt to press my button on the -- on the last bill to vote affirmative and I was unable to do so. I’d like the record to reflect my intentions of a Yes vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The record shall reflect your intention. Senator Haine.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of 166  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 the Senate. This is a very interesting bill which deals with the machines that one sees when one goes to an -- an outdoor concert that are portable sanitation devices to wash hands. If you recall, we passed a bill last year - and I was the Senate sponsor - that lowered the requirements for those who clean out the portable toilets because they were -- the way the Department was construing them, it was -- it was -- the people doing them had to be overqualified. Well, in doing that, we failed to take into account the units that -- the people that serve portable handwashing units, which we learned are separate. So what this Act does is apply to that entity. And these are very important to the industry. It allows them to -- to do this with a minimum of -- of bureaucratic delay or requirements and expense. The -- the -- one of the proponents is the Department of -- of Public Health. So it applies to hand washing only; completes the symmetry of last year’s bill. And it’s a bill that Pontius Pilate would support if he was in the Senate.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 1303 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. 53 Ayes, 0 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1303, having received the required constitutional 167  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 majority, is declared passed. House Bill -- House -- Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise? House Bill 1313. Senator Haine. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This -- purpose of this bill is to expand the duties of the Illinois Ethanol Research Advisory group; make it into a more -- comprehensive panel that would help with the training, expansion, research and marketing for the renewable fuel industry, especially the facility located at Southern Illinois University at -- at Edwardsville. It’s supported by the Farm Bureau, the Corn Growers and, of course, SIU. And I -- I would ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Peterson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Haine.

No.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall House Bill 1313 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1313, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 1330. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. House Bill 1348. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1348 amends the Public Community College Act regarding the trustee districts in Community College District No. 526. This bill allows Greene and Macon counties to elect members of the Community College District 526 board of trustees. These counties pay taxes into and are served by the district’s Lincoln Land Community College. When the boundaries were drawn to elect trustees for the Lincoln Land Community College district by district rather than at large, two counties were inadvertently left out. Thus, Greene and Macon 169  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 counties are being taxed by the district but do not have a vote for the board of trustees. House Bill 1348 is identical to Senate Bill 1949, which passed the Senate 54 to 0 on April the 11th.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1348 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 1348, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Halvorson in the Chair.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Noland, on House Bill 1355. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Noland.

Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1355 amends the Capital Development Board Act and determines that the State of Illinois is to give preference to locating its facilities, whenever operationally appropriate and economically feasible, in historic properties and buildings located within government- recognized historic districts or central business districts designated as such by a local or regional planning agency. This 170  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 bill passed unanimously out of committee. I know of no opposition and I ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1355 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1355, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you rise? You’re not there. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 1359. Senator Bomke, on 1363. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 171  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 shall House Bill 1363 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1363, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Kotowski, on 1384. Senator Holmes, on 1391. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Holmes.

Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1391 provides that in any county in which a Children’s Advocacy Center provides services, the county board may adopt a fee between five and thirty dollars to be paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or a grant of supervision under the Code of Corrections for a Class A, Class B or a Class C misdemeanor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Holmes.

The -- the -- the fee is paid by the defendant on a judgment of guilty or a grant of supervision.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Holmes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1391 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1391, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator DeLeo, on 1439. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise? There is a ghost out there turning everybody’s lights on. Senator DeLeo, on 1439. Senator Garrett, on 1460. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1460 amends the Government Buildings Energy Cost Reduction Act of 1991 to determine that in order to reduce energy consumption, all buildings owned or leased by the State that are one thousand square feet in size or larger shall, where -- practicable, use Energy Star labeled light bulbs. That’s pretty much it.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

That would be my understanding.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

Well, hopefully we won’t be noncompliant. I think this is a pretty simple bill, pretty simple thing to do. I don’t know what the challenge would be here.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

Senator, I thought you weren’t going to cross-examine me anymore. No.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

We’re checking on this. Hold on. Okay. So, the legislation doesn’t require the -- anybody to throw away the 175  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 light bulbs. So, when those light bulbs that are currently in place are used up, I believe the point is that they have to use these new Energy Star light bulbs. So -- and there’s going -- go ahead.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

I -- I don’t know that. I’m assuming they are, but I don’t have the answer to that. Does it -- I mean, I would assume that they are.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

If it helps, the way the bill actually reads, it -- it says that we will use these Energy Star labeled light bulbs as defined by the Energy Star Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. So, my guess is that they wouldn’t be recommending light bulbs that are made -- made outside of -- of 176  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 the United States.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Haine.

Would -- would the sponsor yield for a question, Madam President?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

I -- I -- I noted in the synopsis of the bill that buildings that are listed on the Illinois Register of Historic Places are exempt. My question is, would that also include the Illinois Supreme Court Building? There are -- there are many -- when they designed that building in 1910, light bulbs were a -- a part of the structure of the design.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

In the legislation, it says where it’s -- practical. So, if they can’t install the Energy Star bulbs because it’s not practical in the Illinois State Supreme Court, they won’t do it. Maybe the State Supreme Court is on the Historic Preservation list, and if -- in that case, they would be exempted.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.

May I respectfully ask the sponsor if it would be her legislative intent that the Supreme Court Building, the interior courtrooms and the library, it would be within their discretion 177  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 as to whether to use these light bulbs consistent with the architectural design of the court? Quite simply, they’re ugly, and to require the Supreme Court to use ‘em would detract from the beauty of those old courtrooms. May I ask that that would be your intent to allow the Chief Justice to make that determination?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

Senator, I’m not on the Supreme Court, so I don’t have the right to make those decisions on behalf of the original bill sponsor. But, I think the language is very clear, that when practical, these Energy Star bulbs will be used. Maybe what could be done is a letter could be written if they are not exempt, Illinois State Supreme Court, that it’s not practical to have the Energy Star bulbs there. But -- or -- or talk to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on that as well. I don’t think that I’m in a position to -- to make that kind of intent in the legislation without really hearing from others on it. I just feel uncomfortable.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine, please wrap it up.

Oh! And it’s -- it’s just to close. I don’t want to beat a dead light bulb. But I would ask that the EPA consider not only whether these light bulbs are practical, but whether they are -- whether they enhance the structure or whether they detract from the structure because of the light bulb’s design themselves. That’s all I’m asking. Thank you. 178  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Jacobs.

Question of the sponsor.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates she’ll yield.

What -- what was the decision to exempt buildings that are a thousand square feet? Why are we just -- why are we only using buildings a -- over a thousand square feet?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

Well, I -- I guess it’s because of size and the energy output. So it would make more sense to conserve energy in buildings of a thousand square feet. And remember, this is the first time the State’s doing it, so it’s a good place to begin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.

I guess what I’m wondering is, is this really necessary? It -- do we really need a law in Illinois to change light bulbs? Couldn’t we just get a nice letter of reference from you suggesting that perhaps we do this? I know you didn’t sponsor this bill, but my question becomes, does this seem superfluous to you?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.

179  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Well, we just had a bill about washing hands. So, this -- this particular bill is part of a bigger picture, so to speak, where the State is going. They’re trying to conserve energy and it takes little steps to get to the overall goal of cutting back. This is not just what the State of Illinois is doing. Every state in the country is doing this. We’re actually playing catch-up. So, this -- you know, we’re not -- this is not going to save anybody’s life, but what it will do is get the State closer to being much more energy conscious and efficient. And so we ought to practice what we preach. If we’re asking other people to do this, we should be doing it in our own State buildings.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Let me remind the Body, this is not Senator Garrett’s first bill. Is there any further discussion? Senator Murphy.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) I hate to say this, but Senator Garrett, to close.

You know, I -- for some odd reason, there’s been a lot of discussion. I think I’ve made it clear that this is really meant to bring Illinois -- to move Illinois forward when it comes to being energy-efficient. I -- I hope you’ll vote Yes on this.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall House Bill 1460 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all 180  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there were 58 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1460, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bomke, on House Bill 1475. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator -- Bomke.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1475 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1475, having received the 181  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bomke, on 1499. Top of page 45. Senator Ronen, on 1509. Senator Cullerton, on 1517. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Out of the record. 1517 is out of the record. Senator DeLeo, on 1525. Senator Pankau, on 1535. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1535 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1535, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Crotty, on 1539. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.

Thank you very much. House Bill 1539 amends the Illinois Lottery Law regarding the distribution of revenues received from the Veterans Cash instant scratch-off game. The bill limits the amount to be spent for health insurance costs to twenty percent of the funds appropriated, starting in Fiscal Year ‘08. This issue was brought before JCAR and I’d ask for a Yes vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1539 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1539, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Althoff, on 1553. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1553 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1553, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator -- oh! With leave of the Body, we’ll return to House Bill 1554. Senator Haine, on 1557. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill -- this House bill increases the -- the prison time that someone must do for certain enumerated crimes, such as 184  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 gunrunning, narcotics racketeering, controlled substance trafficking, methamphetamine trafficking, drug-induced homicide, methamphetamine-related child endangerment, et cetera. It raises it from day-to-day credit for good time to seventy-five percent. They have to do seventy-five percent of their sentence. And I would ask for an Aye vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1557 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1557, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, on 1611. Senator Schoenberg, on 1628. Senator Koehler, on 1637. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a bill that is supported by the Realtors Association. This requires in that all counties other than Cook, in order to plat property, the original piece of land must be subdivided, must be more than five acres. It changes it from what currently is ten acres. I know of no opposition. I’d 185  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 appreciate an Aye vote on this.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1637 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1637, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Frerichs, on 1638. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Frerichs.

…Madam President. House Bill 1638 establishes the Prescribed Burning Act. It declares prescribed burning “a land management tool that benefits the safety of the public, the environment, and the economy of the State.” It’s used for land - - land management. It passed out of the House 114 to 0. Passed out of committee unanimously. I would request a favorable vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1638 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Yeas, none voting Nay, 186  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 none voting Present. And House Bill 1638, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Munoz, on 1641. Senator Pankau, on 1643. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1643 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1643, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Top of page 46, on House Bills 3rd Reading, is Senator Link on -- Senate 187  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Bill 1646. Or, House Bill. I’m sorry. Senator Link, on House Bill 1646. Senator Cronin, on House Bill 1647. Senator Cronin. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Senate -- House Bill 1647 is out of the record. Senator Demuzio, on House Bill 1648. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Madam Secretary, -- House Bill 1648 also out of the record. Senator Demuzio, on House Bill 1651. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Demuzio.

Yes. Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 1651 amends the School Code regarding activation and deactivation referrals - - or referendums. It removes the references to the regional superintendent of schools from the notice of the referendum forms for deactivating and reactivating schools, thereby removing the requirement for the regional superintendent to sign the form. Deactivating -- or, under current law, a regional superintendent and the county clerk sign the deactivating and -- reactivating forms. Having the regional superintendent sign the deactivating and reacting {sic} forms is a holdover from old election laws and -- when the regional superintendent was the local election 188  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 authority. Today the county clerk is the local election authority, so the signature is not necessary.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator -- excuse me. Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1651 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1651, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 1654. Senator Cronin, on 1666. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Risinger.

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

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Risinger. 190  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cronin.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Risinger.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Garrett. 191  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007

Yes. To the bill: I -- I stand up in strong support of this bill. And we have to remember why we have forest preserves. It’s for people to recreate, to be away from the roads and from traffic and from shopping centers. And as a State, in counties, we have set these pieces of property aside for a specific purpose and -- and they weren’t set aside to put roads through them, and -- and very seldom would there ever be that opportunity anyway. So, I think this is a really great bill and we should all be able to support it if we want to keep the integrity of our forest preserve system in place in Illinois.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Peterson.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Cronin, to close.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall House Bill 1666 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 46 Yeas, 7 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. And House Bill 1666, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator DeLeo, on 1671. Senator Koehler, on 1708. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1708 increases the maximum taxable family income to not less than sixty-five thousand dollars annually for the Family Assistance Program operated by the Department of Human Services. Currently, the Department has set the rule, the maximum taxable family income as -- at not less than fifty thousand dollars annually. The Family Assistance Program provides monthly cash stipends for families caring for a child 194  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 with a development or mental disability. I’d ask for your approval.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1708 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1708, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on 1711. Madam Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. The Senate had passed this bill three years ago. Unfortunately, it did not pass the House three years ago. But this year, the House, with a vote of 74 to 41, did pass the bill. This bill prevents Illinois from remaining the only state in the nation to continue to slaughter horses for food. The facility in Illinois that recently was closed by court order has reopened and they are slaughtering horses. This bill has an immediate effective date, and after we hopefully pass this bill, we will ask the Governor to sign it as quickly as possible so as to outlaw this practice. The horse meat is banned from being consumed in the State of 195  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Illinois. This bill makes sense because horses are clearly recreational, companion animals. They are not livestock raised for food. And I talked to the Farm Bureau about this bill and assured them that as -- for -- for whatever benefit they -- it might provide to them, that this is not a first step down a slippery slope. Livestock are raised for the purposes of humans to consume that -- that food. Those -- that livestock exists for that purpose. Horses are different. Horses are recreational, companion animals. They have been raised, medicated, regulated as recreational or sport animals and taxed as such, rather than commercial livestock. This is something which is incredibly popular, this concept of banning the slaughter of horses, because there are so many people in our -- our State that recognize this as the humane thing to do. People who are animal lovers also happen to be horse lovers. This bill is supported by a great number of organizations that have come together as a coalition: The Thoroughbred Horsemen, Thoroughbred Breeders, Arlington Park, Churchill Downs, and a number of other facilities, including the Teamsters and all the other racetracks in the State of Illinois. I’d be happy to answer any questions and ask for any Aye vote again on this bill. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

I don’t really know if I understand your question, concern - - concerning a health problem. I’m not -- I’m not familiar with any health problems associated with this. Maybe…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

199  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 I’m not on the Rules Committee anymore. You said health and welfare. This certainly affects the welfare of the horses that are not going to be slaughtered anymore.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

Okay. Well, is that a question or you want me to respond to the… Well, I -- I think I -- when I stated the reason for the bill, there -- there’s a number of levels that the people are interested in this bill, including myself. We’re talking about the humane disposal of animals versus slaughtering animals for food, animals that are not raised for livestock and yet they’re being treated as livestock. So there’s that whole element. If you want to talk about the economic issues - which I would be prepared to respond to you right now: You talked to your constituent. He said, “What are we” -- “What am I supposed to do with my horse?” Well, I guess the question is, what do they do in forty-nine other states with their horses? And they don’t send them to Illinois. The -- the -- the opposition that you 200  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 referred to from the Farm Bureau was - and I talked to the Farm Bureau about it - they said they’re -- they’re not really -- it’s not about the horses that they’re concerned about; they’re concerned that it might lead to the -- some kind of a concept that we would ban the slaughter of livestock, which is a slippery-slope argument, which is really absurd. I mean, this is not an effort on -- on people’s part to ban the use of -- of pork or -- or beef. And I would point out to you, Senator, the thing that’s new from the last time you debated this bill was that in Texas, the facilities that were open down there closed - and this is important - within two weeks they reopened and they’re working and operating, using -- the same facility, the same jobs are saved, slaughtering pigs for -- for consumption. So, this -- your guys up there in your district are not going to lose their jobs. They had been out of work from March 28th when the -- they were shut down by a court order. They’re not going to lose their jobs. Within two weeks after the Governor signs this bill, they can be up and running and serving a -- a -- a lawful purpose.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Jacobs.

Thank you, Madam President. Question of the sponsor.

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

Senator, so from your point of view, it’s okay to eat Elsie the Cow, it’s okay to eat Chicken Little, and it’s okay to eat Bambi; you just don’t want us to eat Mister Ed?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

Yes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.

I think perhaps we could get a solution. If they close the horse facility in DeKalb, the folks in DeKalb can ride those horses right down 80, past my House, into Iowa, and up to Canada. 202  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 And you know where they’re going to sell them -- them -- horse meat to? The same place the folks in DeKalb are selling them to. They’re going to send the horse meat to -- or they’ll send the horse meat to Belgium, to France and Japan. And for all you sushi lovers, you better know what you’re eating.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Sieben.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Sullivan.

Thank you. Question of the sponsor.

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

Senator, I’d like to first of all clarify. According to our analysis here, it says the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois is a proponent. Senator Burzynski said that they were an opponent. Could you clarify that, please?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

The -- well, I don’t have his list of opponents. I -- the - - the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association, thoroughbred and standardbred breeder farms throughout Illinois are proponents of the bill. There was one opponent in the committee and I, quite frankly, can’t remember 204  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 what the -- what the name of the association was.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.

Thank you. So, just so everybody knows, the -- on this side of the aisle, that the -- our analysis says the Horsemen’s Council is a proponent. Apparently they are an opponent. Wanted to make sure that that was clear, first of all. Secondly, in your opinion, what -- when you have a horse that is -- is -- reached its -- towards the end of its life, it’s an older horse, what -- what do you think should happen to that animal?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

Well, I understand that -- that horses are rendered humanely and their carcasses are used and disposed of properly. The -- the purpose of this bill is to ban the slaughter of horses for a particular use - a use for consumption of meat, which is banned in our -- in our country and in our State.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.

Thank you. When a horse is rendered, what happens to that - - to that animal? What happens to -- when a horse is -- is killed? What -- what happens to that animal?

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton.

I believe that the carcass is -- is disposed of and made 205  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 into -- into products. Okay? Other than the consumption of -- of horse meat.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Sullivan.

So, we have an animal that’s reached the end of its life and it is no longer -- it needs to be disposed of, and now we’re saying that although we cannot consume horse meat in -- in this country, but we can -- what we -- and now this legislation says that this horse cannot be -- that we’re going to close down the slaughtering of -- of this particular plant up in DeKalb, but it’s okay to have a horse rendered and the byproduct of that animal used for other purposes. I -- I live on a farm, as many of you know. I’ve raised horses. I’ve ridden horses. Have a lot of respect for ‘em, but there comes a time when you have to make a decision, what are you going to do with that animal. I have cows on my farm right now and some of those cows are as -- I can walk up to any one of ‘em and pet ‘em and know ‘em by name. You know, they -- but they are still an animal and when the time comes to dispose of that animal, you know, they’re going to go to the sale barn. They’re going to go to the market. They’re going to be slaughtered for consumption. This -- folks, I -- I agree with Senator Burzynski. I think we’re starting down a slippery slope. I -- I -- I love horses. I think they’re a majestic animal. But, you know, when you want to do the humane thing, the humane thing is when they come to the end of their life, you going to let ‘em die out on the farm? You know, if you do that, you’re going to have to call a rendering truck and that owner is going to have to pay a -- a price to have that animal rendered. 206  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Right now, they can at least sell the horse and -- and, you know, it’s -- it has some value to it. I know it’s a -- it’s a tough issue. I -- I have as much respect for these animals as -- as anybody in this Chamber, but it is -- you get to the point where you have to do what you have to do, and I -- for that reason, I urge a -- a No vote.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Holmes.

Quite frankly, this is not -- these horses are not just slaughtered when they come to the end of their life or the end of their, quote, what we deem to be their useful life. Plain and simple, this is not a humane practice. And like it or not the perception of many people is a horse is more of a companion animal than livestock. And I’m very sorry that you -- when you’re having a -- you have a business and you decide, oh, wait a minute, I’m having horses in my business, but now the horse has reached the end of my use for the horse, I can just go and have it taken off and slaughtered. This is not appropriate and this is not what we do with our companion animals. It would be nice to think that people wait until the animal is at the end of its life to the point where the animal is ill and suffering and now we’re going to take it away and have it disposed of. But this -- you can try to couch it in economic terms if you’d like, but plain and simple, this is an animal cruelty. And we need to be humane. And being that we are one of the only states left doing this, I think it’s time we decide that it’s time to stop. I am definitely supporting this bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 207  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Cullerton, to close.

Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) I’m sorry. Senator Forby has his light on. Do you wish to speak on the bill?

Yes, I’d like to.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Forby.

To the bill: I’ve heard a lot of things in here today. I don’t guess anybody in this room has had any pets. Boy, it’s got quiet, didn’t it? No dogs. No cats. No horses. Pet cow. Farmers got pigs that are pets. Rabbits. You’re right, whatever. Pets are pets. A family pet. Let’s go back to dog and cats again. What’s people do with ‘em? They can’t take ‘em out in the yard and just shoot ‘em. Let ‘em hang out there to die. No difference. You can say whatever you want to. A cat, a dog, a horse, there’s not even a difference. They’re companions, aren’t they? That’s what I’m hearing on the Floor. It is humane. It is somebody that thinks a lot in their heart for one of these animals. It is -- I can’t -- if I had an animal -- I got dogs. I couldn’t take a gun and go out and shoot one of my dogs. I got one that’s getting old. I’m thinking I’m about to take him to a veterinary, having it put asleep. No different than a horse. This is not wrong people. Have you ever seen horses that’s got old like John says? Their hoofs hangs out. They can’t walk. They got arthritis. They can’t move. So you 208  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 just let him suffer? This is wrong. This bill is wrong. I like John. John was in my district not very long ago. I got to tell you a little story about him. He never shot a shotgun before. He didn’t know what a .50 caliber was - a .50 caliber. I got him out there on a shooting range and he shot. I said, “John, you know what that gun is?” “No.” I said, “That’s a .50-caliber gun.” He says, “I didn’t realize that.” And that’s the same way we feel about our animals down home. There’s a lot of difference when you don’t live with ‘em. You don’t have ‘em. I’m sure in the city you don’t have a lot of horses and stuff running around there. But where I come from, down south, we have a lot of ‘em. We think a lot of ‘em, as John says, growing up on a farm. This is not wrong, people. I urge a No vote on this bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Cullerton, to close.

Thank you, Madam President. I think we do have -- all of us have an interest in this. I -- I just want to point out on the economic side one significant fact that makes sense to me. I believe that these horses that are being -- being slaughtered are being slaughtered before they get to the end of their life and that we’re really taking out of the Illinois economy horses that would otherwise be involved in the economy and add to the economy, maintaining the local and State tax revenues that we -- that we get from having horses in the economy. So I think there is a -- an economic factor and I think the fact is that that economic factor benefits us by -- by -- by closing this plant. I believe that this plant will -- can reopen, as they did in Texas, in -- in two months -- in -- in two weeks and -- and all those 209  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 jobs would -- would not be lost. I think that there is a -- a -- an issue here that deals with how we treat these animals. I -- I make a distinction; I think it’s clear that companion animals are different than livestock. They’re more like cats and dogs than they are like cows and cattle. So, we -- we passed this bill in the past. I -- I would urge us to please do so again and close this facility as soon as possible. Thank you.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall House Bill 1711 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 39 Yeas, 16 Nays, 2 voting Present. And House Bill 1711, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Crotty, on 1717. Madam {sic} Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Crotty.

Thank you very much. House Bill 1717 amends the Criminal Code. It provides that a person who knowingly commits an assault on a severely or profoundly mentally retarded person is guilty of aggravated assault. Provides that the penalty is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that a person who, in committing a battery, knows the individual harmed to be a person who is severely or profoundly mentally retarded is guilty of aggravated 210  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 battery. It also provides that the penalty is a Class 3 felony.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Dillard.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1717 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1717, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Harmon, on 1719. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Harmon.

Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 1719 is identical to Senate Bill 1290, which 211  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 passed the Senate unanimously earlier in the Session. It provides that the -- the review process for disciplinary measure for county sheriffs’ personnel should be subject to collective bargaining. I’m not aware of any opposition and I’d ask for your Aye votes.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) There any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1719 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1719, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Maloney, on 1729. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Maloney.

Thank you, Madam President. Before I proceed on the bill, may I please be recorded as a Yes vote on that previous bill? I hit the button. It didn’t…

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The record shall -- will show your intention.

Thank you, Madam President. Members of the Senate, House Bill -- 1729 ensures the protection of older residents by merging 212  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 the regulation of the board and care homes under the Assisted Living Act. These board and care homes are required to meet some -- the same standards as shared housing facilities but it does not provide for the same level of oversight and enforcement. This would simply put these under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, will ensure these -- more oversight and that proper safety standards are adhered to. This bill is an initiative of AARP and is supported by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator John Jones.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1729 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And House Bill 1729, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez, on 1743. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 213  STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 40th Legislative Day 5/16/2007 Senator Martinez.

Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 1743, it is a civil rights violation for any employer participating in the EEV Basic Pilot Program to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms without following the procedure of the Basic Pilot Program. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Radogno.

PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 1743 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 40 voting Yea, 9 -- 5 Nays, 8 Presents. And House Bill 1743, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., tomorrow, May 17th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 215