The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The -- the invocation today will be given by Pastor Wayne Hoffman, Our Savior -- Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Springfield.
(Prayer by Pastor Wayne Hoffman)
Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney) PRESIDENT JONES: Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Monday, May 28th, 2007.
Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has additions or corrections to offer.
Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There -- there being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 223, offered by Senator Dillard and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Members. It’s a death resolution, Mr. President.
Resolution Consent Calendar. Madam Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 273, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 314, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1235, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1346, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1492, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1496, offered by Senator Emil Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1533, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 1998, offered by Senator Dillard. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
Will all Members within the sound of my voice, kindly come to the Senate Floor? We will be doing 3rd Reading - House Bills 3rd Reading, Senate Bills 3rd Reading. So kindly come to the Floor. This will be final reading. On -- on page 3 of the Calendar is Senate Bill 17. Senator John Sullivan. -- Senator 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Sullivan seek leave to return Senate Bill to the Order -- Senate Bill 17 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objection, so granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 17. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for -- for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President, Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Sullivan.
Senator Sullivan, explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. Actually I would like to table Amendment 3 and adopt Amendment 4.
Senator Sullivan moves to a -- table Amendment No. 3. All in favor signify by saying Aye. No. There are no objections. Amendment is table. Senator Sullivan. Amendment No. -- Madam Secretary, are there any other amendments?
Floor -- Floor Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Sullivan.
Senator Sullivan, to explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. Amendment 4 actually becomes the bill. I’d like to explain it on 3rd Reading.
Senator Sullivan moves for the adoption of Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 17. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Madam Secretary, are -- are there any other amendments?
No further amendments reported.
3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 17. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 17. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Sullivan, explain the bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 17 with the Amendment No. 4, which becomes the bill, is the work of many, many meetings of a taskforce to address the increased assessment value -- valuations of recreation land. Just to give you a little background, farmland has traditionally been taxed based on its fair -- on its productivity, soil productivity. And this was -- been in place for many, many years. Back in the ‘80s the Department of Revenue said that if land was not being used for farming purposes, that it will be taxed based on its recreational value as a non-farm. Would be based on non-farm, so it would be actually be taxed based on its fair market value, thirty-three and a third percent of its fair market value, which is the same way our homes are taxed. This didn’t matter for, really, for many, many years because that land -- didn’t have a lot of value to it. But over the last several years, probably the last ten years, that recreation land has 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 increased in value. And we have now gotten to the point where if this land, which had -- traditionally been taxed as farmland, now -- is being taxed as recreation land, that the taxes, the real estate taxes, on that land would go anywhere from -- had been a fifty cents or a dollar, maybe two dollars an acre, was going to go all the way up to fifty or sixty or seventy dollars an acre. And there was great -- we heard from many of our constituents about those concerns. There was great concerns about this land that should not be -- be farmed - it should be left for conservation purposes - would be cleared and bulldoze the trees off and -- and start farming it so that it would be treated again as farmland for the purposes of saving that -- those tax dollars. With that little background, last year we passed a -- legislation that created a taskforce. There’s four Members of the General Assembly on that taskforce, Senator John O. Jones, myself, and two Members from the House, as well as Department of Revenue, Department of Ag, DNR and some other members. We met many, many times, probably a dozen or fifteen, maybe twenty times, and the recommendations of that taskforce is what we have here in Senate Bill 17. And what it does, is it creates a conservation management program that says that if you enroll this land that we’re talking about into a conservation program overseen by the Department of Natural Resources, that you would get…
Senator, pardon me a minute. The noise is so great; it’s very difficult for us to hear. Would you kindly turn it down? Especially you, Senator Forby and the press. Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President. So we’ve created a conservation 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 management plan that if you enroll your -- this land into that program administered through the Department of Natural Resources, that you would receive a -- an assessment based on the fair market value of five percent. What this would do is it would -- it’s a voluntary program and it would allow the landowner to lower the -- to have the taxes paid on that land be at a more reasonable figure, and I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator John Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. You know, this is, as -- as Senator Sullivan said, this has been a work in progress for -- for quite some time and -- and we have come to a compromise on -- on it. I think the big thing for all the General Assembly Members, those of you that think you’re not affected by this, is the creation of the Conservation Stewardship Law, which actually, if you have land that is woodlands, prairie lands, wetlands or other vacant land that’s undeveloped that is not used for residential or commercial purposes, that -- that may -- that material may -- materially may disturb the land, you can qualify for signing up for the conservation program. So I think it’s a -- it’s a great compromise that we’ve come to. Senator Sullivan and our -- both of our staffs here, especially in the Senate, the Democrat staff and the Republican staff, have -- have worked tirelessly on this effort. So, I think it’s a great compromise. I would encourage everybody to vote Aye on it. We’ve -- we’ve tried to take care of everybody’s issue on this, 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 and I’d be happy to -- to try to answer any questions along with Senator Sullivan.
Any further discussion? Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. I’m not going to quite make the same speech I made in committee, but I’m going to make similar speech. This bill is a good bill and I’m going to vote for it. But I want to clarify something for the Members who voted against the bill that I carried about a year -- two years ago, and it was the wetlands bill that you were opposed to. Some of my colleagues got up and told me that I shouldn’t even been carrying this bill, that I was wrong for carrying the wetlands bill because it affected downstate. Well let me tell you, this is the son of the wetlands bill, what’s coming up here right now. It was compromised. It was worked on. It was negotiated. The same thing the wetlands bill was done. This is serving a similar purpose the wetlands bill was going to do. I talked to my colleagues from downstate who stood up and said, “Why are you exempting Cook County from the wetlands bill?” And were critical of it. Well, you’re exempting Cook County from this bill. The point is you have to look at legislation and not look from who the sponsor is or for what area it’s being presented. This is the State of Illinois, not the north, not the south, not the east, not the west. When we propose legislations like the wetlands bill, we were looking at the effects of what it was going to do to southern Illinois and central Illinois, just as well as what it was going to do in the suburbs. I talk to my colleagues and tell them, look at this piece of legislation. It 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 will have an effect. It will help southern Illinois. It will help the central areas. But when we proposed the wetlands bill, and I feel that it will be coming back again because of types of legislation like this, it’s important to us and it’s important to the rest of the State. So keep your ears, eyes and mind open when this legislation is back, because this is what this is all about. Thank you.
Senator Dahl.
Thank you, Mr. President. Question for the sponsor.
Sponsor indicate he’ll yield.
Senator, the question that I’ve had from back in the district, especially in little Putnam County, is that it’s going to be a twenty-eight percent reduction in taxes for schools. Is -- is there any -- is there going to be any hit on the schools on this?
Senator Sullivan.
The -- we had quite a bit of discussion about that on the taskforce. Obviously, we -- we do not want the -- any taxing bodies to lose any revenue. There could be some counties that see a reduction, a small reduction, especially when you look at the percentage of reduction in some of those counties. But we actually -- the task force asked to do a sampling of some of the counties and what kind of an impact it would have on those -- on 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 those districts -- or on the school districts and other taxing bodies for that -- for that matter. We did a sampling. We did the collar counties. We did some northern counties. We did some central and southern counties. And the overall consensus was is that the impact would be negligible at best, in most counties. The vast majority of the counties that -- we believe will actually see an increase in their assessment valuations.
Senator Dahl.
Thank you. You know, with -- with Putnam County, our -- our largest village in the county is twelve hundred people, so our -- our tax base is based upon agriculture for the most part and -- and -- and farmland. I -- I -- personally, I think this is good legislation and -- and I encourage it, but I also understand where -- where they’re coming from. Hopefully, we won’t have to come back in the future and -- and do something here to -- to correct this. If, indeed, this is a twenty-eight percent hit for my school districts, it’s -- it’s going to be detrimental. Thank you.
Senator Sieben.
Thank you very much, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I just rise to commend Senator Sullivan and Senator Jones for the time that they -- they put in on this legislation. Complicated issue, complex issue, and -- and certainly a challenge when you try to come to a resolution with the Department of Revenue on what’s in the best interest of 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 landowners and conservationists and people who enjoy the outdoors. This is a major step in a positive direction for anybody that enjoys time in the woods, time on the prairie, time in the wetlands observing wildlife or enjoying various hunting sports in the out-of-doors. It’s fair, I think, to -- to the -- those people that receive property taxes, revenue from this type of land. It’s fair to the landowner. And it’s a major step for anybody that has a strong interest in conservation and -- and stewardship of -- of precious resources. So I would urge an Aye vote. Thank you.
Senator Gary Forby.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to speak to the bill. Today, I’ve heard quite a few people on the Floor. I heard a good friend of mine says upstate/downstate. I do think there is a difference upstate and downstate. We got a lot of forest grounds. We got a lot of hills. We got a lot of hollows. We got a lot of things that you cannot -- ground that cannot be farmed. All it can be do -- is that for our tourism. Our tourism is number one issue in the State where I come from - my thirteen counties. Up north, tourism is not number one. Factories are number one. People to work, we would love to have factories, but we don’t have factories down there. We got to makes -- make our living the best way we can. Tourism, hunting, hiking, camping is what we have. Would I rather have some stuff different? Yes, but tourism is the thing we have and we have to have these woods and these places. If we go clearing all this ground off, ‘cause we got to pay more taxes and try to make farm 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 ground out of it, this is not good. Even a person {sic} I’m going to mention now that I’m not real fond of is the Sierra Club. Sierra Club does not want to do clearing. They do not want to go empty the creeks. They do not want to go into the roads and hurt the trees. We are trying to do what they like. And this is one of the things we do down home. We do horseback riding. We do four-wheeling ridings. We do stuff different down there to bring people for our district. There’s no place else for ‘em to go. So this is a good -- good bill. I hope everybody will vote Yes on this one. Thank you.
Senator Sullivan, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I certainly appreciate the comments and the questions on this -- on this bill and on this issue. Just to clarify a couple things, first of all, farmland - - farmland is not affected by this legislation. We’re not changing anything, and it is a -- the program, the legislation that it creates, this conservation program is a voluntary program and designed to preserve the woods, the wildlife and -- and marginal land that should be left to nature. I would appreciate an Aye vote.
The question is, shall Senate Bill 17 -- 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 voting Aye, no Nays, no one voting Present. This bill, Senate Bill 17, having received the -- constitutional majority, is declared 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 passed. On page 7 of your Calendar Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 783. Senator -- Sandoval seeks leave of this Body to return Senate Bill 783 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objection, so ordered. On the Order of -- on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 783. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Sandoval.
Senator Sandoval, to explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to explain the amendment on 3rd Reading, please.
Senator Sandoval move for the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 783. All those in favor, signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
3rd Reading. On the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 783. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 783. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 783 amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois as it relates to a grant database. Senate Bill 783 requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to establish and maintain a database regarding economic development grants. This database will be available to the public online and will break down the grants by Senate and House district. The -- the -- the evolution of this bill came as a result one morning as I picked up the Sun Times and the Tribune and I saw that a number of my African-American colleagues in the Illinois Senate decided to shed some light on the lack of economic development being invested in socially economically deprived areas of the State. We looked at the -- the investment of - which many of them are very discretionary in nature - the investment of grants from the Department of Economic Development {sic}. And as we, as the Legislators and Senators and State Representatives, look to improve our impoverished areas from downstate to upstate to east to west, it is very difficult to -- to get information from the Department of Economic Development. This is a step forward in shedding light and bringing transparency on the awarding of grants throughout the State of Illinois to our respective districts. This is, in essence, once again - also Senator Collins had a bill in committee which moved in the same direction - which would bring again disclosure of all awards made by this Department. I’d ask a favorable vote.
13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Murphy.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. This -- this -- this bill passed out of Commerce and Economic Opportunity unanimously. I’d like to commend the sponsor on his work on this piece of legislation. This will help shine light on government procedure in Illinois and I have signed on as a cosponsor of this bill. During committee, we had discussed a couple of further revisions with the sponsor, specifically adding a provision that would require DCEO to update the proposed database within forty- eight hours of awarding a grant to a grantee and also adding an additional provision that would not only provide the name, amount of the grant, the purpose of the grant, legislative district on the database, but also require DCEO to list grant applicants that were denied an award for one reason or another. It’s my understanding that IDOT already provides the General Assembly with a break-out of its road projects by Senate district every single year. And I would encourage DCEO and IDOT to get together and participate in some intergovernmental cooperation to help DCEO implement to what my understanding is a very easy and low- cost process. With these additions, this is a great and well- thought-out piece of legislation that will provide easy access for the public on State government process without resorting to the cumbersome FOIA process. I would encourage all Members to climb on as cosponsors of this legislation and I, again, commend the sponsor for his work, but I would be interested in -- in a confirmation about these -- these additional provisions that we discussed.
14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Senator Sandoval, to close.
I -- I agreed to the amendment and work in the House to add the forty-eight-hour provision in regards to keeping the database up to track, as well as -- putting the information of those who were -- applied for the grants along with those who have been awarded the grant. I will work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and the other Chamber to make that happen. Thank you.
The question is, shall Senate Bill 783 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 57 voting Aye, no Nays, no one voting Present. This bill, having received the -- the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On page 12 of the Calendar is Senate Bill 783 -- no, 873. Senator Crotty seeks leave to -- of this Body to return Senate Bill 783 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. I’m sorry, 873. I got that from you, Senator. All those in favor of the motion signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the Bill’s on 2nd Reading. Madam Secretary -- Madam Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Crotty.
Senator Crotty, to explain the amendment. 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Thank you very much. The amendment really made this bill an agreed bill. It changed a line that said, “premium rates charged” and then -- and it put in the “highest rate on the current rate schedule filed with the Division of Insurance”. That’s the amendment.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Crotty moves for the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 873. All in favor, signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The -- the Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Madam Secretary, are there any further amendments?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Crotty.
Senator Crotty, to explain Amendment No. 2.
I -- I would like to say that what I explained as -- as Amendment No. 1 is really Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 1 was the bill, which the Amendment No. 2 corrected. I’m just wanting to see if everybody’s paying attention.
Yeah, we paying attention. So in other words, amendment -- Senator Crotty moves to adopt Amendment No. 2, which is a technical amendment. All those in favor of the amendment signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the Amendment No. 2 is adopted. Madam Secretary, are there any further amendments?
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 873. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 873. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Crotty.
Thank you very much. Now, this bill provides that an issuer of a Medicare supplement policy shall not deny coverage to an individual under sixty-five years of age who meets certain criteria. This bill also requires that all types of Medicare supplemental policies available to persons over sixty-five years of age be made available to persons who become eligible for Medicare by reason of disability. In addition, individuals who become eligible for Medicare by reason of disability and are under the age of sixty-five, shall not be…
Senator -- Senator, could you hold one minute? Let’s tone it down. Proceed, Senator Crotty.
In addition, individuals who become eligible for Medicare by the reason of disability and are under age sixty-five, shall not be charged premium rates that exceed the issuer’s premium rates charged for the same plan to individuals who are sixty-five years or older. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. And I would like to thank Senator Crotty for the work done in this legislation. This is an important piece of legislation. All year long we’ve been talking about providing health coverage for individuals in Illinois that do not have health coverage. Well, here’s a solution that’s -- under her leadership, that we’ve been able to pass now that will provide thousands of people in Illinois health coverage that they did not have available before this, and it’s been done totally through the private sector without government involvement. And so I want to thank you for the leadership in getting this passed and, again, because of this, thousands of people in Illinois are going to have access to -- those under age sixty-five are going to have access to health coverage that they were not able to before. So, thank you very much.
ABC Channel 7 seeks leave to tape the proceedings. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. The question -- is -- Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. I…
Proceed.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I also would join in the praise for the sponsor of this legislation and her statecraft in -- in putting together a bill 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 that’s a significant milestone in the provision of health care for thousands of disabled citizens. Without Senator Crotty’s work, it would not have been done. I also want to add a word of thanks to the Director of Insurance for the State, Mr. McRaith, who appeared several times, and whose words of wisdom were well- received by the committee and we owe him also a debt of gratitude, not only for his work generally, but specifically on this bill. Thank you.
Any further discussion? Any further discussion? The question is, shall Senate Bill 873 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 57 voting Aye, no Nays, no one voting Present. This bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We’re moving to page 30 on your -- on your Calendar. Page 30 on your Calendar is -- is House Bill 3rd Reading. House Bill 4. Senator Brady. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Take it out. Out of the record. House Bill 18. Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford. House Bill 18. Out of the record. House Bill 25. Out of the record. House Bill 29. Senator Demuzio. Out of the record. House Bill 38. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. House Bill 50. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. House Bill 118. Senator Sullivan. Out of the record. House Bill 133. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 133. (Secretary reads title of bill) 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 133 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code regarding Rotary Club license plates. And this bill creates the Rotary Club Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. According to the Secretary of State, the cost of implementing a new plate category is approximately fifty thousand and programming charges are about thirty-seven five. I ask for a favorable vote.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Mr. President, it wouldn’t be appropriate, especially with Senator Demuzio having highlighted that we brought on another addition to that, that if I didn’t stand to respectfully oppose. And -- and also at the same time, the Secretary of State’s Office - have you seen this - has put out a four-color brochure putting on all of the specialty license plates in the State of Illinois. So that when law enforcement is about to pull somebody over - they may have a bad guy in the car - and they can’t tell if it’s a little buffalo, a little hands or whatever, that they pull out this color brochure to see what kind of specialty license plate it is to be able to radio it in. In which then a dispatcher has to go through a list of over eighty different identity codes - ‘cause I’ve been to the dispatch center to see this happen. They have to go through eighty codes to determine one, and then put in 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 the number of the specialty plate. And if they make a mistake on that code, it could happen to what happened in the State of Florida four years ago where they pulled someone over with an Illinois license plate, put in the wrong code and approached that vehicle with weapons drawn because they thought they had a bad guy. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, and I -- and I respect Senator Demuzio that I’m sure you’re going to do this for the Kiwanians later, as well as you’re doing it for the Rotarians at the moment. But we really need to get a handle on this. We’re going to have -- we’re going to have pushing ninety specialty license plates in the State and the Secretary of State will have to make this color brochure even larger. I stand respectfully in opposition to your legislation and encourage the present Secretary of State to put the rules in place for the bill that will celebrate its ten-year anniversary, being law, July 1st of this year, which establishes the Universal Charitable plates. If the rules were in place, we would not have to go through this legislative process for the Junior Golf League, for the Rotarians, for the Torch, for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. They would all be able to have their respective specialty plate, identifying logos and a secure way for law enforcement to be able to utilize observing license plates here in the State of Illinois. Thank you.
Any -- any further discussion? Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. I think this is a wonderful bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill. The Special Olympics of Illinois will definitely 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 benefit from this -- from this bill. And it’s an opportunity for us -- for -- to raise dollars for children and young adults, eight years and older, with mental retardation and other closely related developmental disabilities. And this just is a great -- this is a great bill. So let’s all vote in support of the kids.
Any further discussion? Senator Risinger.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
She indicates she will.
Does the State Police support this bill?
Senator Demuzio.
Thank you, Senator. The State Police are -- are neutral on this bill.
Senator Risinger.
Oh, so the State Police, that according to Senator Rutherford, would have a hard time recognizing the license plates, does not have a problem with it, because they’re neutral? Thank you.
Senator -- Senator Rutherford for the second time.
Well, only because my name was used in the discussion here. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Yes, State Police has filed a neutral slip today, because they basically acquiesced to the fact that the flood gates are open, that this thing is popping and running down the road. The Chiefs of Police Association probably has filed neutral, but if you go and you talk to any law enforcement official in the State of Illinois, whether they be a municipal, State or county official, they are adamantly opposed to creating brand new more specialty plates out there. I mean, I understand why the State Police filed a neutral slip to this thing is because they haven’t got - I want to be careful - they haven’t got the nerve to stand up and say, enough is enough. You go out and you ask ‘em. You talk to the law enforcement officials on the road. They know that this is bad. There’s another way to do it and it’s not by passing multiple laws creating new specialty license plates.
Any further discussion? Senator Demuzio, to close.
Ask for a favorable vote. Thank you.
The question is, shall House Bill 133 pass. All those in favor will signify by voting 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 51 voting Aye, 2 Nays, 2 voting Present. This bill, having received the required constitutional -- majority, is declared passed. Returning to page 30 to pick up Senate -- House Bill 18. Senator Kim Lightford. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 18. 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Committee. House Bill 18 is a proposal to address student behavior problems that cross societal and economic boundaries, upper and middle class communities and most contend with the realities of events that has been happening across the State. At the same time, school districts in high poverty areas must serve the needs of a disproportionate number of at-risk youth, including foster children, those with learning disabilities, young people growing up in single-family homes and youngsters whose homes have barriers to family literacy. I -- I’d hope that we will consider supporting bullying-prevention legislation. It actually enacts the Code to make sure that the State Board of Education implements this policy within a hundred and eighty days and that it’s updated every two years. I’d be happy to answer questions.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 18 pass. All those in favor, signify by voting 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 48 voting Aye, 6 Nays, none voting Present. This bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Photographer Jose More, photographer for the Chicago Tribune, 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 wishes to take still photographs of the Chamber. He seek leave. Leave is granted. On page 31 of the Calendar. Return to page 31. House Bill 250. Senator Althoff. House Bill 254. Senator Hultgren. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Senator Hultgren seek leave to return House Bill 254 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Is leave granted? Leave is so granted. On the Order -- the bill is now on 2nd Reading. House Bill 254. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Hultgren.
Senator Hultgren, explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment is clarifying language. It’s very short, but we just wanted to make it very specific. What this is doing is in regards to elder abuse -- taskforce, when there’s domestic or alleged domestic abuse that had happened. So, that’s all the amendment does. I’d ask for the support of the Body.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Hultgren seek -- move to -- the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 254. All those in favor of the amendment signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Madam Secretary, are there any further amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 3rd Reading. 3rd Reading. On the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 254. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 254. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Hultgren.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is -- has come together with a lot of hard work by some folks from Kane County working with the Department of Aging. And what it does is it establishes a regional interagency elder abuse fatality review team to investigate -- suspicious deaths of persons age sixty or older when they have been receiving care at home. And, again, there has been a great cooperation. No one is opposed to this. I’d ask for the Body’s support.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Hultgren -- the question is, shall Senate Bill -- or House Bill 254 pass. All 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 voting Aye, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 254, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 260. Senator Harmon. House Bill 263. Senator Link. House Bill 334. Senator Althoff. House Bill 358. Senator Munoz. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 House Bill 358. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Munoz.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 358 simply permits vanity, personalized options for various military license plates. The bill eliminates the extra fee for acquiring vanity, personalized military plates in regard to the Purple Heart license plates for surviving spouses. This bill deletes the requirement that a veteran be killed in a foreign war, requiring only that he or she received a Purple Heart for the surviving spouse to be issued special registration. The bill is supported by the Secretary of State, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. I’d be answer -- be happy to answer any questions, and I know of no opposition.
Is there any discussion? Any -- any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Munoz shall -- shall House Bill 358 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 voting Aye, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 358, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Returning to the Order of -- page -- to page 31 is House Bill 50. Senator Dillard. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Senator Dillard seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 50 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, have there been any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Dillard.
Senator Dillard, to explain the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amendment was a suggestion of Senator Cullerton. It’s essentially technical, and I’ll explain the full bill on 3rd Reading. Thank you.
Senator Dillard moves for the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 50. All in the favor of the amendment, signify by saying Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Madam Secretary, are there any further amendments?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 50. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 50. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is aimed at a growing 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 use by sexual predators of the Internet, especially social networking websites like myspace.com. And it provides that if you’re a sex offender, as part of your supervision or probation or mandatory supervised release, that you cannot get on the Internet and communicate with somebody that is under the age of eighteen. That’s what it does. It basically says that a sex offender cannot go on the Internet and communicate with somebody under eighteen, with an exception for relatives. Thank you.
Is there -- is there any discussion? Any -- any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 50 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. 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 56 voting Aye, no Nays, none voting Present. This bill, House Bill 50, having received the required constitutional -- majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez, what purpose you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I tried hitting my button on the last bill, and somehow my button would not work, so I would like to be recorded as an Aye vote on the last bill.
The record shall -- shall so reflect. Senator Murphy, what purpose you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
State your point. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Thank you. I’d like to ask the Senate to welcome my -- my Page today, a young man, Mr. Kirk Hanselmann, from Sleepy Hollow, Illinois and his parents, Bill and Joanna Hanselmann, up in the President’s gallery.
Will our guests please rise and be welcome by the Illinois Senate? I want -- return to page 32 on the Calendar. House Bill -- oh, I’m sorry, Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
State your point.
In the gallery behind me, is Deb Spencer from Peoria. She’s here visiting. She works for the Tri-County Planning Commission. Would the Senate please give her a warm welcome?
Will our guests in the gallery please rise and be welcomed by the Senate? House Bill 374. Senator Link. Out of the record. House Bill 405. Senator Jacobs. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 405. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Jacobs.
30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 House Bill 405 amends the Forest Preserve Zoological Park Act to require that Rock Island County Forest Preserve hold a referendum before it would raise any current taxes. Also Senator Syverson has a portion -- an amendment on here that allows his museum to increase their tax.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 405 pass. All those in favor will signify by voting 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 48 voting Aye, 6 Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 405, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 411. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 411. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 411 amends the -- the Organ Donor Leave Act to extend the time State workers are given to donate blood from one hour to an hour or more. This was done, as you recall, last Session for the private sector because an hour just was too -- restrictive. These changes, by the way, this bill came as a result of a formal request from JCAR members, who felt they should be consistent - public and private sector. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 411 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 voting Aye, none -- no one voting Present -- none voting 0 -- none voting No, none voting Present. This bill, House Bill 411, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 415. Senator Demuzio. House Bill 427. Senator Delgado. House Bill 497. Senator Link. House Bill 576. Senator Althoff. House Bill 617. Senator Clayborne. House Bill 624. Senator Munoz. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 624. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Munoz.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 624 is basically a cleanup bill. Secretary of State, after a recent court decision, it became necessary to clarify various offenses in order to correctly identify the specific part of law and properly load the correct conviction to the individual’s driving record. The Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act was passed in order to create a separate range of offenses and subsequent penalties for possession and use of methamphetamines. Several Sections of the Illinois Vehicle 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Code were amended to include the provision from this Act; however, some areas were overlooked and this proposal corrects the oversight. I know of no opposition, and I will attempt to answer any questions.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? The question is, shall House Bill 624 pass. All 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 -- who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, no Nays, none voting Present. House Bill 624, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Yeah, I don’t recognize that new -- Senator Munoz, is that a new Member for the Democrats sitting there next to you? On top of page 33 is House Bill 699. Take it out of the record. House Bill 703. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. House Bill 734. Senator Forby. Out of the record. House Bill 743. Senator Link. Out of the record. House Bill 804. Senator Wilhelmi. Madam -- Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 804. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 804 levels the pension playing field for members who serve their country in the armed forces. Currently, 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 an individual who served in the military for four years before entering employment with an -- IMRF and SERS employer will not be able to retire at the same time as his peer who skipped military service and went straight to work. The bill allows those individuals to purchase pension credits for four years of military service. It also allows members of the Shiloh Police Department to apply to -- to -- to apply to participate in the pension fund if they miss the first deadline to employ -- to apply. Employee and employer contributions plus interest are required in each circumstance. Any fiscal impact that might result is expected to be extremely minimal. There is an extensive list of proponents and no known opposition. IMRF and SERS are neutral. Our -- our veterans deserve this opportunity, and I’d be happy to answer any questions. I ask for an Aye vote.
Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senator Wilhelmi, of course all of us want to support the efforts of people who serve in the armed forces and then come back into other employment in local and State government, but this is -- the first question is this is very similar to legislation that you passed out maybe a week or so ago. Is this similar legislation to what we’ve seen just recently in the Senate?
The sponsor indicate he will yield to the question that -- asked.
The amendment -- I think you’re referring to the amendment 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 that I spoke to last week.
Senator Lauzen.
At that time when you were addressing that and then again today, you mentioned that the impact is extremely minimal. And if that were the case, I think everyone would most likely want to get onboard. What are your current estimates? I understand that last week when you presented the amendment, the information was not available, but now it has become available. What is your understanding of the cost of this, both to IMRF and to SERS?
Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator, as I said earlier, IMRF and SERS, they have been -- they’re neutral on the bill. They have been involved in the -- in the discussion, Senator, from the very beginning of this bill. It is my understanding that the impact is minimal. I do not have exact dollar figures for you this afternoon. I do know that SERS and IMRF have been engaged and involved in these discussions and these negotiations, and have told me that the impact will be minimal in a multibillion-dollar retirement fund.
Senator Lauzen.
The estimates that I have been given -- Senator Wilhelmi…
Senator…
35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 …the estimates I have are that IMRF estimates the cost to local governments that average 3.6 million dollars per year or across a ten-year period of time, thirty-six million dollars. And then SERS estimates increased State liability of 3.8 million every year, and across ten years, that’s thirty-eight million dollars. You and I are both aware that Illinois has absolutely the worst record of unfunded liabilities in the country. And at least where I come from, and I believe where you come from, a total combined impact of seventy million dollars is a -- is a huge number. It’s not extremely minimal impact. It is a huge number in a situation that already is a terrible crisis. Wouldn’t you agree with that?
Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator, are you aware that IMRF’s current fund balance is twenty billion dollars and that this increase would be approximately .18 percent? Maybe I should ask you the question, because that seems to be minimal to me, sir.
Senator Lauzen, bring his questions to a close.
Well, let -- let me -- let me answer your question even though you didn’t answer my question, and it’s a fair question to ask. Isn’t seventy million dollars, when we have the worst crisis of any State in the United States, isn’t that a -- isn’t seventy million dollars a big chunk of money? But let me answer your question. I am aware of the amount of assets in SERS. And you and I are also aware of the amount of liabilities, unfunded 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 liabilities, I believe is approaching somewhere near ten billion. At least in my background of taking care of people’s books and taxes and trying to help people pay for bills that are going to come due at some point, you can’t keep making it worse. You can’t keep giving additional benefits, as good as they are. Because you and I would agree that -- that the thrust -- or the intention that you have on this legislation is good. The problem is, who’s going to stand up and say, no, we can’t afford it? I am aware of how much the assets are, but I’m more painfully aware of what the liabilities are. And seventy million dollars where both of us come from is a -- is a boatload of money. So I -- I - - I recommend a No vote.
Any further discussion? Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Wilhelmi, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just to respond to Senator Lauzen. Senator, three million dollars a year, you used the words -- the figure, seventy million dollars - it’s three million dollars per year to each of these funds who have approximate worth of twenty billion dollars each. I understand that when we’re talking about numbers sometimes it’s difficult to get our arms around what they are, but the -- the percentage is .18 percent. I ask for an Aye vote.
The question is, shall House Bill 804 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 51 voting 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Aye, 2 voting Nay, 3 voting Present. House Bill 804, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator DeLeo, on House Bill 811. Madam Secretary, please call the bill. Senator DeLeo leaves -- seeks leave of the Body to return Senate -- I’m sorry, House Bill 811 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an -- of an amendment. Hearing no objections, leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 811. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator DeLeo.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator DeLeo, to explain your amendment. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 811 retains the underlying bill. It makes two changes. It retains the current law that allows vehicles over sixteen thousand pounds to claim the rolling-stock exemption and it adds limousines to the exception. That’s what Floor Amendment No. 1 does. I ask for its adoption, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator DeLeo moves the adoption of Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 811. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration? 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, House Bill 811. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 811. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you, again, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. As I just explained in the amendment, this would give an exemption to limousines for the rolling stock. Surrounding states provide this tax exemption for their limousines. The way it’s amended now it would return the -- exemption the way it was prior to the year 2004. So I ask for a favorable roll call on House Bill 811, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? Senator Righter.
Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The sponsor indicate he will.
Thank you. Senator DeLeo, a little bit earlier in the Session, I believe it was a Member of your side of the aisle who sponsored a tax credit for private air craft, and now we’re going 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 to provide a tax exemption for the limousine business. I guess I’m first wondering whether or not we’re trying to make the corporate fat cats in Illinois feel a little bit better about themselves before we gauge them with the Governor’s Gross Receipts Tax.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: I think someplace, in there, there was a question. So let me -- when we say -- let me -- let me clarify for the record what we say when we use limousines. This is to transport people that uses more than twelve trips a day. We’re not talking about black stretch jobs with tinted windows that roll rock stars back and forth to O’Hara to the United Center. This is about people, small business people, and when I say limousines, it could be one of those blue and white vans that says to and from O’Hara to the hotels downtown flight attendants, business people. So that’s -- I just wanted to clarify what I meant by limousines.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) To the bill.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of the bill. I believe that we should be affording any people in this State who have been willing to invest their personal money into a business venture every opportunity we can give them to be a 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 success. I’m particularly pleased to note that Senator DeLeo made a point in his comments of referencing the fact that surrounding states have this tax exemption and we should recognize that we need to pay a little more attention to what states like Missouri and Indiana and Iowa and Wisconsin and Kentucky are all doing when we’re fashioning our economic policies. As such, I would urge a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator DeLeo, to close. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. House Bill 811 will put our companies at a fair advantage with the other states. I ask for a favorable roll call. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The question is, shall House Bill 811 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 54 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 811, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Harmon, on House Bill 822. Out of the record. On -- Senator Harmon, on House Bill 824. Out of the record. Senator Frerichs, on House Bill 828. Out of the record. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 830. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 830. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. The -- the -- the status of this bill, House Bill 830, there was an amendment was adopted in committee and that’s the amendment that I wish to speak to right now. The committee considered other amendments and actually approved a couple of others, but I -- I don’t wish to attach those to the bill. When this amendment was adopted in committee, at the time -- it deals with banks and the Banking Association was neutral. They’ve subsequently, since then, indicated their opposition to this bill, with the exception of the Northern Trust Bank and the Bank of America, which were in support. The bill deals with the Illinois Credit Agreements Act, which was passed in 1989. I actually was here when we passed it. And when we did that, it was clear that it was never intended to protect banks engaged in unscrupulous conduct with customers who were seeking loans, even if all the terms of those discussions were not in writing and signed by all the parties. But there’s been some concern expressed that the language was -- is vague and may allow bankers to argue that the Legislature intended that they be protected even if they commit intentional bad-faith conduct towards their customers and gain a financial benefit. So the purpose of this bill was to ensure that those arguments could not be made. And we’ve had discussions with a -- a number of Senators in the committee and the Bankers Association and the Community Bankers, who have all concurred that this Act was not intended to provide a defense to allow bankers to -- to do that, bad-faith conduct where they make money. So, many of the people who have been insistent that the Act on its face plainly does not 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 permit bankers to argue for such defenses, and so with this clarification of the intent in the Act and the fact that the Act on its face does not provide a defense to intentional bad-faith conduct, I don’t need I’ll need to call this bill at this time. If in the future the courts rule otherwise, which I don’t think they will, then we’ll be back in the General Assembly. So I would ask that we take it out of the record at this time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you, Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. On top of page 34, we’re going to House Bill 841. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 841. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill makes it mandatory, now that it’s permissive, for the circuit clerk to notify the Secretary of State when residents fail to pay any charges, fine or cost imposed upon -- abandoned vehicles or a similar local ordinance. I -- I know of no opposition. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 841 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 question, there is 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 841, having received the required -- constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on Senate Bill -- I’m sorry, House Bill 1050. Out of the record. Senator Noland, what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Just to verify that on House Bill 830 I was recorded as an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The -- the record will reflect your intentions. Senator Halvorson. Senator Halvorson seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 1074 back to 2nd Reading for the purpose of discussion. Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Madam President. What I want to do is through much discussion, the amendment that we put on this bill in committee, we need to take it off. So what I would like to do is to take off Senate Amendment 1 and then just move it to 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Halvorson seeks to table Amendment 1 to House Bill 1074. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter.
Inquiry of the Chair, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your inquiry.
We have a question on our side of the aisle whether or not the Floor can table an amendment that was attached in committee. I mean, clearly that can happen on an amendment that is out on 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 the Floor and not yet attached to the bill, but we’re a little fuzzy on whether or not an amendment that was attached to a bill in committee can then be tabled by the Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) That is permitted under our rules. Senator Righter.
Just so this question doesn’t come up again, Madam President, could you cite -- give us a rule citation, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) I’ll be right with you. Rule 7-10(d). Senator Halvorson moves to table Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 1074. All in favor, say Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment has been tabled. Senator Halvorson, you wish to move it to 3rd Reading? 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have House Bill 1074. Out of the record. Senator Munoz, on House Bill 1100. Senator Noland, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Again, I apologize for this confusion. My Aye vote was to be directed towards House Bill 841 and not 830, for the record.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The -- the record will reflect your intention.
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Ronen, on House Bill 1284. Senator Noland. Senator Clayborne, on House Bill 1292. Out of the… Senator Watson, on House Bill 1540 -- 14. Out of the record. Senator Halvorson, on 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 House Bill 1542. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1542. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Currently, fire fighters have the right to collectively bargain over wages, hours and working conditions; however, in non-home rule communities, they do not have the ability to collectively bargain over dismissal or disciplinary processes. So this would give them the ability to do that, unless both parties agree otherwise.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? Senator Hultgren.
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) To the bill.
Quickly, just want to let my colleagues know, this legislation did come through the Labor Committee. There was quite a bit of discussion on this. There still are, I think, several opponents to this legislation. The real concern, I think, that some of us had that voted against it in Committee is really the requirement of collective bargaining for every municipality. Right now that is for home rule communities. But, 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 I do want to encourage my colleagues to take a close look at this. There were some No votes and Present votes in Committee. I think there might be some municipalities that are still opposed and the Fire Chiefs Association, Police Chiefs, Will County Board, Municipal League. So take a close look at it. I think it is a significant piece of legislation. With all due respect to the sponsor, I know there is a good intent here, but there is some concern on requirements for our municipalities. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Senator Halvorson, to close.
Just ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The question is, shall House Bill 1542 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there is 39 voting Aye, 12 voting Nay, 3 voting Present. House Bill 1542, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cronin, on House Bill 1647. Senator Link, on House Bill 1685. Out of the record. Senator Link, on House Bill 1752. Out of the record. Senator Link, on 1753. Out of the record. Senator Cullerton, on House Bill 1756. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1756. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. This bill came unanimously out of the Transportation Committee. It’s an initiative of the Secretary of State. It’s very simple. It just says that the Secretary of State shall be the one to issue special plates, which is -- which have been authorized by the General Assembly. Happy to answer any questions. Please ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Senator Jacobs.
Yes. I just rise to help Senator Rutherford because I know he’ll -- he wants to rise, but he doesn’t have to rise because I think this is a bad idea, too.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Just a question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The sponsor indicates he will yield.
Does this create a new specialty plate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton.
No, not at all. It -- it actually would have the effect of limiting the possibility of someone on their own, outside of the 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Secretary of State’s authority to create even more specialty plates. So, it’s in response to a recent federal court ruling that may have held that outcome and that’s why the Secretary of State came in and asked for us to do this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Rutherford.
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill. I did understand that to be the case and, Senator Cullerton, I stand in strong support of your legislation -- respective of what Senator Jacobs may think of it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? The question is, shall House Bill 1756 pass. Those in favor, vote Aye. Those opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 1756, having received the required -- constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Dillard, on House Bill 1855. Out of the record. Senator Link, on House Bill 1876. Out of the record. Senator Clayborne, on House Bill 1888. Out of the record. Senator Link, on House Bill 1917. Out of the record. Senator Haine, on House Bill 1926. Out of the record. Senator Millner, on House Bill 1979. Out of the record. Senator Crotty, on House Bill 2035. Out of the record. Senator Demuzio, on House Bill 2106. Out of the record. Senator Demuzio, on House Bill 2179. Out of the record. Senator Sullivan, on House Bill 3667. Out of the record. Senator Althoff, on House Bill 3728. Out of the record. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 the Order of Concurrences. Starting on page 40, middle of the page down to the Motions to Concur. Senator Cullerton, on Senate Bill 148. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 214. Mr. Secretary, read the bill, please -- read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 214. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Haine, to explain your motion.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. If the Senate recalls, -- Senate Bill 214 was passed and -- and added additional training requirements in the law for anyone working with a dentist who administers sedation in his or her office. And these are pursuant to the -- the licensing authority of the Department which had -- was not changed. It’s always been there requiring the dentist to be in charge of the -- the administration of the sedation. What the House did is add even more requirements for training in -- including basic life resuscitation training and we thought it was -- it just completed the matrix of the bill for the benefit of everyone, and I would ask for an Aye vote. There’s no opposition. The Dental Society is strongly in favor of it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? Senator John Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 To the bill.
The -- I would just rise in -- in strong support of this bill. Senator Haine has -- has worked very hard on getting this -- the issues all corrected that -- that the opposition had. It is an agreed bill now, and I would encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in Senate Bill 214 -- in the House Amendment 2 -- 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 214. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in -- in House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 214. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Going to the top of the page 41. Senator Millner, on Senate Bill 249. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill -- the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 249. Filed by Senator Millner.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Millner, to explain your motion.
Thank you, Madam President. House Amendment 1 makes Senate Bill 249 identical to House Bill 840 that passed both Chambers unanimously earlier this spring. House Amendment 1 provides that 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 a county water commission may not tax residents for water within -- within municipalities that construct and operate their own water system in DuPage County. This will keep residents of the municipality from paying both the county and the municipal taxes for water when they only receive water from one source. And I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The sponsor indicate he will.
If this amendment makes this identical to the House bill, why do we need this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Millner.
Thank you. This completes the process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 249. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 249. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Koehler, on 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Senate Bill 263. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 263. Signed by Senator Koehler.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Koehler, to explain the motion.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. House -- Senate Bill 263, if you’ll remember, it dissolved the Greater Peoria Airport Authority and created a new Greater Metropolitan Authority and it expanded the boundaries to Peoria County. The amendment creates the Crawford County Airport Authority, which shall replace the existing airport authority in that county. The Board shall be comprised of seven members and have its taxing district boundaries shall be the county’s corporate limits. I had no problem with that. I ask for your Aye -- Aye support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. To the bill. Again, this is one that we had earlier this year as it relates to Peoria. But my understanding, and the Senator can correct me if I’m wrong, is that this does expand the taxing ability of the district. It includes other people into the district without referendum. And so I just want to make sure that our Members are clear of that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Lauzen.
53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 A question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The sponsor indicate he will yield.
Earlier, some of us had voted No because of the concern about, you know, the taxation without representation, at least in a referendum. You know, I heard the Naperville from yesterday, but that’s a case where seventy-five percent of the people need to sign their approval. What’s your response and thought about the concern about taxation without at least referendum -- representation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Koehler.
What’s happened, in the -- and I’ll speak to the Peoria County issue - is that for years and years the only district that was taxed to support the whole Metropolitan Airport was a small district within Peoria County. It basically hit the -- the people that least use the airport and are the least capable of paying that tax. This extended -- extends it to all of the county, which rightly should be. I mean, I -- I intend to come back in -- in future years to talk about the other counties that also use this airport. This is a vital part of our economic development. We need to make sure that everybody is paying their fair share. It’s a fairness issue.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 263. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are forty-eight voting Aye, 9 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 263. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Cullerton, on Senate Bill 300. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 300. Signed by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton, explain the motions.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. This is a very significant bill, which has been worked on extensively over in the House as well as in the Senate, so that we now have a full agreement and no opposition. This is an initiative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and it has the complete support of the Secretary of State’s Office as well as the Chiefs of Police, the Fraternal Order of Police, the State’s Attorneys’ Association, the State Police and the Bar Associations. It is a major change because we have not really been made -- made the progress in fighting drunk driving. It seems to have stalled, and we are finding that we need to take advantage of new technology. What this bill will do will be to allow for a first offender for drunk driving after a thirty-day hard license suspension, which we currently have now, get a monitoring device driver’s permit. This would allow for the 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 people to drive, but only drive without having any alcohol. Actually it would replace what we now have as a judicial driving permit. This has the full support of the, not only the defense bar, but also the judges and the prosecutors, ‘cause the judicial driving permit has proven only to be available to about twenty percent of the people and not actually be -- some people are not even eligible. In order to try to come under the eligibility standards, it’s -- people have had to kind of stretch the truth. So, what we’re doing now is saying at your cost, the cost of the person who’s been charged, they will install a, what’s called a BAIID device, which will prohibit the vehicle from operating if the person has been driving drunk. This -- if -- if someone -- it is optional. They could take a hard suspension, but if they do violate the -- the law, they will have a very strict penalty, a Class 4 felony with a with a mandatory prison term, but there’d be no need to do that. They can just simply get this device. There’s even an indigent fund, ‘cause the installers of the interlocks are required to pay five percent of their revenue into that fund. And if a court orders someone to install one and they’re indigent, that -- that would -- they would tap into that fund. The Secretary of State has asked that we delay the effective date, which we’ve been very happy to do since they’re the one that has to administrate it. The people that install these devices would send the reports to the Secretary of State. We actually double the amount of time that our summary suspension exists from six months and -- from three months to six months and from six months to a year based on whether or not they took the breathalyzer test when they were stopped. So it’s a very strong bill. It’s going to reduce drunk drivers and deaths in Illinois. 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 It’s got the support of all the parties I mentioned. And I urge an Aye vote. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Millner.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise in support of this bill, and it came out of our committee unanimously, but I would like to ask the sponsor about the possibility of adding a trailer bill to follow up because of a -- a portion of this bill was inaccurately drafted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton.
Yes. You’re absolutely correct, Senator. And as I said in committee, there was a -- because of the use of a double negative in the construction of the language restricting who may receive this license, there’s a need for a trailer bill. And it’s my understanding that has already passed the -- it’s been adopted in committee in the House and it’s on 3rd Reading and we will certainly adopt that over here and as I said, the effective date of this bill is not until January 1st of ’09, so we have plenty of time to do that. I’m sure we’ll do it in the next few days. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The sponsor indicate he will. 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Senator, I understand what you’re trying to do here. If -- if the person would drive another car that -- would have this device installed in their automobile, but ended up driving another vehicle, they obviously would be violating the law in doing that, but does the -- the second person -- the second vehicle, does the -- owner of that vehicle have any responsibility in that if that happens?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton.
I don’t believe that that would be addressed in this bill. It’s an interesting issue, if they knowingly provided a vehicle to someone who they know is not eligible to drive that vehicle, because you will not be able to drive any vehicle unless it contains these devices. So if someone knowingly provides a vehicle, I don’t think we’ve addressed it in here, but that’s a very good point. And again, ‘cause of the effective date of this bill being so far in the future, I -- I think we should address that. But I don’t believe it’s -- it’s in here now.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Senator Cullerton, to close.
Yes. I really think that -- I want to thank Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Secretary of State’s Office, as well as the law enforcement and the Bar Associations because this is a -- a tough area to get total agreement on, but it’s one that where we’re taking advantage of the technology, we’re going to result in saving lives. And I’m -- urge an Aye vote. Thank you. 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 300. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 300. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On the bottom of page 41. Senator Link, Senate Bill 305. On the top of page 42. Senator Harmon, on Senate Bill 377. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 377. Filed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Harmon, please read the motion -- to explain your motion.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 377 left the Senate as a cleanup bill for CMS to ensure that certain folks didn’t lose their pension position by virtue of changes of names of bureaus within the Department. It was amended in the House to permit a -- an alternative retirement payout for Cook County and Cook County Forest Preserve District employees. I’m not aware of any opposition, and I would ask you to join me in concurring with the House’s amendment. 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? Senator Brady.
Thank you, Madam President. I stand in support of the gentleman’s motion. Part of this legislation came though committee without opposition. And to our knowledge, there’s no opposition to the added language.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Harmon. This is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 377. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendments No. 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 377. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we will return to page 40, middle of the page, Senate Bill 148. Senator Cullerton, do you wish to proceed? Senator, indicates he does. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 148. Filed by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Cullerton, to explain the motion.
Yes. Thank you. I’m moving to concur with the House amendment. It has to do with -- it’s at the request of the 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Supreme Court, which is about to begin a restoration project of the State Supreme Court Building. The -- it -- so therefore this bill creates the Supreme Court Historic Preservation Act, and retains the underlying bill that we passed. This commission would assist and advise the Supreme Court concerning the acquisition and preservation of historic buildings, objects and documents related to the judiciary. It sets forth the appointment and operation of the commission and it creates a fund, which a special fund in the State treasury which is exempted from administrative charge-backs in this House amendment. It provides that moneys in the fund may be used subject to appropriation, of course, by the commission for historic preservation. I know there was a concern raised in committee about the appointment process. The appointment process is that the committee consists of nine commissioners: The Administrative Director of the Illinois Courts is ex officio member; two commissioners are appointed by the court, one of whom shall be designated as the chairperson; two commissioners appointed by the Governor; two appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom may not belong to the same political party as the President; and two commissioners appointed by the Speaker, one of whom may not be -- belong to the same political party as the Speaker. This caused some concern in committee and I’d indicated that since it’s a concurrence motion, I can’t amend this, but that I don’t think there would be a problem having the -- the Minority Leaders appoint the Republican Members of this commission. And so I think we should do -- can do that, assuming this passes, in another bill. With that, I’d be happy to answer any questions. And ask for an Aye vote. 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Peterson.
Thank you, Madam President. Senator Cullerton, thank you for your consideration and hopefully we can get that taken care of in a trailer bill someplace. But I also would like the Body to recognize that if you want to create a fund or have money for something and you don’t want it swept, get the Supreme Court involved, and your -- your particular project will be safe. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 148. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 50 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 148. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege. On Senate Bill 148, I would like the record to reflect my intention to vote No on Senate Bill 148.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) The record will so reflect. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we are going to return to concurrences. On page 41, bottom of the page. Senator Link, on Senate Bill 305. 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 305. Filed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Link, to explain your motion.
Thank you, Madam President. This just changes that if a county treasurer determines by reviewing documents filed with the county clerk under Section 3 of the Act that the public officer has failed to comply with -- basically it’s just a technical change, and I want to concur with it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 305. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate concurs in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 305. And the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to go now to the Secretary’s Desk, Resolution -- on page 39. We are going to start with Senator Harmon, on Senate Resolution 166. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution No. 166. 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 There are no committee or Floor amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Early in the Session, it came to my attention that some Illinois homeowners were being denied homeowner’s insurance because they owned certain breeds of dogs. I introduced Senate Bill 1279 in an attempt to deal with that. It became apparent quickly that it was a more complicated issue. As a consequence, I’ve introduced Senate Resolution 166, which would create the Dog Owners and Homeowner’s Insurance Advisory Committee to meet over the summer, work on the issue and determine whether a solution is possible. I’d ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Is there any discussion? -- Senator Harmon, to close. Senator Harmon moves the adoption of Resolution -- Senate Resolution 166. It is the opinion of the Chair that this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, and therefore a roll call must be taken. Those in favor will vote -- of the resolution will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The -- resolution is adopted. Senator Garrett, on Senate Resolution 168. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 168. 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 168 names the month of April 2007 as Autism Awareness Month in the State of Illinois, and recommends -- and commends parents who are working with children who are autistic.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Senator Garrett moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 168. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Garrett, on Senate Resolution 169. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 169. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Thank you, again, Madam President. Senate Resolution 169 proclaims May 16th, 2007 as -- Developmental Disability and Autism Family Day at the Illinois State Capitol.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Garrett moves the adoption of resolution -- Senate Resolution 169. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Hunter, on Senate Resolution 170. Senator Demuzio, on Senate Resolution 178. Mr. Secretary, please 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 178. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Demuzio.
Madam President, Senate Resolution 178 adds a member to the Senate Task Force on the Illinois Procurement Code. The Executive Director of the Capital Development Board or his or her designee from the staff of the Capital Development Board would then be a member of the Senate Task Force on the Illinois Procurement Code, which was created by Senate Resolution 52 of this 95th Assembly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Senator Demuzio moves the adoption of Senate Resolution 178. It is the opinion of the Chair that this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds and therefore a roll call must be taken. Those in favor of the resolution will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is now open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On the question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The resolution is adopted. With - - the leave of the Body, we will return to Senate Resolution 170. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 170. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 170 congratulates the Chicago Area Project and the Illinois Council of Area Projects for sponsoring Youth Democracy Day on May 10th, 2007, and encourages youth in all of our -- youth -- the youth of our State to learn about and participate in the democratic process. And I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hunter moves the adoption of Resolution -- Senate Resolution 170. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senator Garrett, on Senate Joint Resolution 27. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution 27. There are no committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Senate Joint Resolution 27 calls for the State of Illinois to meet various Environmental Protection Agency targets and employ cost-effective, energy- efficient, green building practices. The resolution also calls for Illinois’ new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2030 and it also determines that the Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council will develop plans to fully implement these targets as part of the procurement and inspection process. 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Garrett moves… Senator Rutherford.
Would the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) She indicates she will.
What is carbon neutral?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
That’s a -- that’s a good question. Emitting no carbon from any type of a exhaust system. How’s that for an answer?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Rutherford.
So your resolution calls for Illinois to have -- to have the goal of Illinois buildings being carbon neutral. All right. Let me -- let me phrase it differently. In your opening statement, you said something with regards to carbon neutral. Could you repeat what that was? And then once again tell us what carbon neutral means.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
I was on the next resolution. Hold on. Let me go through this again. It -- do you want -- so, the State of Illinois will work to increase the fossil-fuel emitting reduction standard for 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 all new buildings to carbon neutral by 2030 in the following increments: Sixty percent in 2010, seventy percent in 2015, eighty percent in 2020, and ninety percent in 2025. So it will use no fossil-fuel emitting energy in which to operate. So I was pretty close.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Rutherford.
You were pretty close. Just to -- just so -- then this is a resolution that is setting as a set -- a set of public policy opinions or desires to have Illinois be carbon neutral by certain dates and certain percentages. So it doesn’t have the force of law. It is a statement of desire. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Yes. That’s correct. It’s a directive. A directive, not a license -- a new license plate, but this is a directive to the EPA.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Senator Haine.
Yes. A question for the sponsor. What -- what is the problem that we are addressing with our buildings? For example, this structure -- how much -- how much of the ice cap are we melting by being here today, I guess is my question. Right. How much hot air do we emit? I mean, what is the problem with carbon? We mine it down in southern Illinois. So what’s -- what’s the problem with it? 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …Garrett.
Senator Haine, I think the point of this is that we aren’t using fossil fuels to the great degree that we are now, and we’re going to slowly but surely reduce those types of emissions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Haine.
My -- but my question is, why? What -- what is the -- what is the -- I mean, how much do -- how much do State buildings produce and how much is produced naturally in the environment by trees, dogs, cows, horses? I mean, I -- I’m just at a loss to understand why we are asking the State to have a carbon -- I don’t even understand what a carbon neutral building is, but, again, why are we doing -- doing this? I mean, we have -- we have a -- we have refineries. We have coal plants. I’m still not getting it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Senator Haine, I realize that you don’t get it, and while this takes a further and lengthier discussion, if you don’t agree with it, I would just suggest you vote No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Haine.
Right. To the -- to -- to the resolution. So we have here a resolution that asks us to be carbon neutral. And so, 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 therefore, if I’m carbon neutral, I would punch Present. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Indicates she will.
How does this affect the electricity we use in this building if it comes from a coal-fired generator, and so forth? Is that included in this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett.
Well, first of all, what we’re striving for is to give the EPA a directive. And how that happens obviously is not going to be decided right here on this Senate Floor. And the first reduction will not be until 2010. So these are goals that we’re asking them to look at. We’re asking them to report back to us. So will this have a negative impact on -- on the energy industry in Illinois? I would say no, because that’s where -- where your worry is coming from.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Garrett moves the adoption of Senate Resolution -- Senate Joint Resolution 27. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have -- the Ayes have it -- the Ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted. Leader Watson, what purpose do you rise? 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Thank you very much. Doesn’t this -- has to be an expenditure of funds. I mean, we’re actually telling the State that they’re going to have to change their manner of doing business in order to become carbon neutral. So I think we ought to have a roll call on that carbon neutral approach to State government.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Leader, is that an inquiry of the Chair?
Yes, ma’am.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Leader Watson, the resolution doesn’t mandate any conduct. It encourages it. There will be a Rules Committee meeting immediately in the President’s Antechamber. Rules committee immediately. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please indicate your privilege.
I rise to announce the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus coming together this afternoon at the end of Session, whenever that will be, for a gathering at the Illinois Black Caucus house on 614 South College where there’ll be soul food, Mexican food, ribs, enchiladas and everything else.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) …Secretary, Committee Reports. 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to the Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to House Bill 822; refer to the Education Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 397 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 505; refer to the Environment and Energy Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1257; refer to the Executive Committee - Floor Amendment No. 5 to Senate Bill 890 and Floor Amendment No. 3 to House Bill 617; refer to the Human Services Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendments {sic} Senate Bill 108, a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 and 4 to Senate Bill 244 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 284 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 765; refer to the Judiciary-Civil Law Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 355 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 404; refer to the Judiciary Committee -- Criminal Law Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 30; refer to Labor Committee - Floor Amendment No. 4 to House Bill 1855; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1226; refer to the Local Government Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to House Bill 4; refer to the Public Health Committee Floor Amendment No. 6 to Senate Bill 5, a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 19 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 264; refer to the Revenue Committee - Floor Amendment No. 5 to Senate 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 Bill 1429 and refer to the Committee on Transportation - a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 56 and a motion to concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 169. Filed by Senator Halvorson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Committee Announcements. Senator Cullerton. Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President. I rise for purposes of two announcements.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state the announcements.
First, the Senate Judiciary-Civil Law Committee will meet today at 2:45 in Room 212, and the Senate Revenue Committee will meet today at 3:45 p.m. in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Garrett, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes. Thank you, Madam President. Public Health will meet today at 2:45 in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you rise?
For two announcements.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) State the announcements, please.
Today at 2:45, Local Government will meet in Room 409, and 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 at 3:15 Human Services will be meeting at 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Wilhelmi, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
The Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee will be meeting today at 3 o’clock in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Munoz, what purpose do you rise?
For the purpose of announcement, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
Transportation Committee will meet at 3 p.m. today in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Clayborne, for what purpose do you rise? Senator Trotter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much. To -- on behalf of Senator Clayborne, to announce that Environment and Energy will be meeting at 3:15 in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 For an announcement, Madam President. The Ag and Conservation Committee will meet at 3:15 in Room 409. 3:15 in Room 409.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Leader Halvorson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I’d like the record to reflect that Senator Frerichs is not here due to personal business.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Do you have an announcement, Senator Halvorson, on the Executive Committee? Oh, Senator -- Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
Executive will meet at 3:45 in -- Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
The Senate Education Committee will convene today at 4:15 in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Ronen, for what purpose do you rise? 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007
For a purpose of announcement, Madam -- Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
The -- the Licensed Activities Committee will meet today at 4:15.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Please state your announcement.
Labor will meet in Room 400 at 4:15, 4:15 today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. Senator Burzynski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. Just an inquiry of the Chair. Seeing as how we were supposed to start our Session at 10 this morning and it was closer to 11, would there be the ability of the Chair to better interpret what the times that we just heard from all the Committee Chairmen really mean as far as when committees will start?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Senator Burzynski, we are -- our intention is to start on time. Senator Hendon, for what purpose do you rise?
Madam President, just to respond to the Leader on the other 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 48th Legislative Day 5/29/2007 side. They were in the Majority at one time and they know that there is a process and these things have to take time including paperwork. So, it would be nice if they were a little nicer to us, since we’re being so nice to them. They know this thing takes time, and they’ll get their opportunity at 11:59 and fifty- nine seconds on May 31st.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MARTINEZ) Thank you. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 o’clock, tomorrow, May 30th, 2007. The Senate stands adjourned. 78