PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be -- be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Paul Black, Jerome United Methodist Church, Springfield, Illinois. Pastor Black.
(Prayer by Pastor Paul Black)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Maloney.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Maloney)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We’re about to go to substantial Senate action. Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of March 13th, 19th and 26th, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter. Welcome home, by the way.
Thank you, Mr. President. So good to see you. I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Resolution 593, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. Senate Resolutions 594 through 596, offered by Senator Link and all Members. Senate Resolution 597, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. Senate Resolution 598, offered by Senator Silverstein and all Members. Senate Resolutions 599 and 600, offered by Senator Forby and all Members. Senate Resolutions 601 through 603, offered by Senator Harmon and all Members. Senate Resolution 604, offered by Senator Pankau and all Members. Senate Resolutions 605 and 606, offered by Senator Koehler and all Members. Senate Resolution 607, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. Senate Resolution 608, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. Senate Resolution 609, offered by Senator Lauzen and all Members. And Senate Resolution 610, offered by Senator Cullerton and all Members. They’re all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 And Senate Resolution 611, offered by Senator Haine. Senate Resolution 612, offered by Senator Schoenberg. Senate Resolution 613, offered by Senator Demuzio and Bomke. And Senate Joint Resolution 88, offered by Senator John Jones. And they’re substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Madam Secretary, Messages.
I have a Message from the House by Mr. Mahoney, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 84. Offered by Senator Jacobs, and adopted by the House, February 27th, 2008. Mark Mahoney, Clerk of the House. And it is substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For a -- a -- a announcement. Senator Hultgren will not be here today because he’s out of the -- out of State, and Senators Dahl and Cronin are back in their district on official business. Let the record show that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Thank you for your announcements. The record will so reflect. House Bills 1st Reading, Madam Secretary.
House Bill 4199, offered by Senator Schoenberg. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4450, offered by Senator Hultgren. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4457, offered by Senator Cronin. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4574, offered by Senator Pankau. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4702, offered by Senator Peterson. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4730, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) And House Bill 4838, offered by Senator Pankau. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Pankau, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
For a question of the Chair, Mr. Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your question, Senator.
Before we left here, I had raised to the Chair, who was Mr. President at that time in the Chair, that I had filed Motions in Writing on Senate Bill 2464 and 2468, and the President assured me that they would be put on the Calendar. Now, I fully realize 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 that -- that doesn’t mean we’ll ever get there, but he did say that they would be printed. And as I review the Calendar today, they still have not been put on the Calendar. Could that happen, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) …will be placing those on the Calendar, Senator Pankau. I give you my word. Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you seek recognition, my friend?
Thank you, Mr. President. Hope your spring break was great. I just want to point out, in -- in backing up Senator Pankau, that any Member has a right to file a written motion. And I’m glad to hear that you’ve committed, Senator Hendon/Mr. President, that it’ll be printed on the Calendar. But it is the procedure of this Body to let a Member file a written motion and get it printed on the Calendar. If you don’t want to call it, you don’t have to. But when they file that motion, it ought to be printed on the Calendar. So I’m happy to hear what you ruled. But I just want to make it clear that it ought to be printed on the Calendar. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I appreciate that, Senator. I am directing the Secretary to place it on the Calendar. You know, in government sometimes the wheels of the bus go round and round sometimes rather slowly. By the way, you looked rather dapper on Channel 11 last night. Or was it night before last? One of those two. Talking about Sam Zell and -- and purchasing the Tribune or the -- Wrigley Field or something. But you looked rather spiffy. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Floor? We’re going to go to Senate action. We will be taking votes. We are about to be taking votes and moving your legislation. If you’d like your legislation moved, you need to be on the Senate Floor. The AP requests permission to take photos. Request is granted - as long as they get my good side. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn to page 11 of your Senate Calendar. Page 11 of your Senate Calendar. On 2nd Reading. Page 11 of your Senate Calendar on 2nd Reading. If you want your legislation moved, I recommend that you are on the Senate Floor and so indicate. We’re going to start with Senate Bill 2596. 2596. Senator Delgado. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2603. Senator Hunter. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2603. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2626. Senator Cronin. 2626. Senate Bill 2632. Senator Dahl. Senate Bill 2653. President Jones. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2653. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2654. President Jones. Madam 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Secretary, read the bill. 2654.
Senate Bill 2654. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2655. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2655. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2656. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2656. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2657. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2657. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2658. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2658. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2659. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2659. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2620. Madam Secretary, please read the bill. I mean, 2660. Top of page 12. 2660.
Senate Bill 2660. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2661. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2661. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2662. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2662. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2663. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2663. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2664. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2664. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2665. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2665. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2666. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2666. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2667. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2667. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2668. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2668. (Secretary reads title of bill) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2669. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2669. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2670. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2670. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2671. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2671. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2672. Madam Secretary, please read the bill. 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2672. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2673. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2673. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2674. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2674. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2675. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2675. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2676. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2676. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2677. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2677. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2678. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 2678. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2679. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2679. 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Top of page 13. 2680. Senate Bill 2680. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2680. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2681. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2681. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2682. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2682. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2683. Madam Secretary, read the 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 bill.
Senate Bill 2683. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2684. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2684. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2685. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2685. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2686. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2686. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2687. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2687. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2688. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2688. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2689. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2689. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2690. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2690. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2691. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2691. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2692. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2692. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2693. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2693. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2694. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2694. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2695. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2695. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2696. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2696. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2697. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2697. (Secretary reads title of bill) 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2698. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2698. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. We are on page 14. Senate Bill 2699. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2699. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2700. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2700. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2701. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2701. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2702. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2702. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2703. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2703. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2704. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2704. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2705. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2705. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2706. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2706. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2707. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2707. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2708. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2708. 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2709. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2709. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2710. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2710. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2711. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2711. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2712. Madam Secretary, read the 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 bill.
Senate Bill 2712. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2713. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2713. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2714. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2714. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2715. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2715. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2716. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2716. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2717. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2717. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2718. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2718. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2719. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2719. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2720. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2720. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2721. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2721. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2722. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2722. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 3rd Reading. Top of page 15. Senate Bill 2723. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2723. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2724. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2724. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2725. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2725. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2726. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2726. (Secretary reads title of bill) 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2727. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2727. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2728. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2728. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2729. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2729. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2730. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2730. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2733. Senator Cronin. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2734. Lightford. Senate Bill 2736. Senator Halvorson. 2736. Senator Halvorson. 2736. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2743. Senator Noland. Senate Bill 2744. Senator Noland. Senate Bill 2745. Senator Noland. Senate Bill 2747. Senate Bill 2748. Senate Bill 2750. Senate Bill 2760. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2786. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2786. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2799. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2799. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill -- 2820 had -- a fiscal note has 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 been filed on 2820. We’ll go to 2821. Senate Bill 2821. Senator Raoul. Raoul. 2821, sir? Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2821. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2824. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2825. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2825. (Secretary reads title of bill) The Committee on Executive adopted Committee Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2827. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2827. (Secretary reads title of bill) The Committee on Judiciary-Civil Law adopted Committee Amendments No. 1 and 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2828. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2828. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2834. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2838. Senator Steans. Steans. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2838. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2855. Senator Holmes. Senator Holmes. Senator Holmes, 2855? Out of the record. Senate Bill 2858. Senator Trotter. Senate Bill 2864. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2865. Senate Bill 2873. Senator Noland. Senator Noland, 2873? Senate Bill 2874. Senate Bill 2875. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2875. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2879. Senator Raoul. 2879. Senate Bill -- out of -- out of the record. Senate Bill 2882. Senator Schoenberg. Senator Schoenberg. Senate Bill 2892. Senator Clayborne. Clayborne. 2892, sir. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2892. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2912. Senator Noland. 2912. Madam Secretary, please read my friend’s bill.
Senate Bill 2912. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. We’ll stand at -- stand at ease for just a half second. We’re going to go to top of page 2 on your Senate Calendar. We’re still on 2nd Reading. Senate Bill 1865. Senator Noland. 1865. Senate Bill 1869. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 1878. Senator Martinez. 1878. 1878. Madam… Out 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 of the record. The Chair would appreciate a succinct yes or no. Senate Bill 1879. Senator Collins. 1879. Senator Collins. Out of the record. The Chair would appreciate if you pay attention. I’m going to move past your bills. I promise you. Senate Bill 1890. Senator Noland -- Senator Haine. 1890. Senate Bill 1893. Senator Koehler. 1893. Senator Koehler. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1900. Senator DeLeo. Senate Bill 1908. Senate -- Senator… Oh! Senator DeLeo, I’m sorry. We’ll go back to 1900, Madam Secretary. Good to see you, my friend. You got a tan. I thought you were a brother over there. 1900. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1900. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Public Health adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1908. Senator Maloney. Senate Bill 1925. Senator Schoenberg. Senator Schoenberg. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1926. Senator Schoenberg. Jeff? Out of the record. Senate Bill 1929. Senator Haine. 1929, sir. Senate Bill 1933. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 1941. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 1956. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 1959. Senator Clayborne. 1959. Clayborne. Out of the 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 record. Senate Bill 1960. Senator Clayborne. Out -- Senate Bill 1960. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1960. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1965. Senator Haine. Senate Bill… Out of the record. Yes. Senate Bill 1972. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 1987. Senator Trotter. Senate Bill… Senate Bill 1987. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter. Madam Secretary, please read the Senator’s bill.
Senate Bill 1987. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1988. Senator Harmon. 1988. Don? Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1988. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Housing and Community -- Community Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration? 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1989. Senator Harmon. 1989, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1989. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1993. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 1995. Senator Bond. Senator Bond. 1995. Senate Bill 1998. Senator Collins. Senate Bill 1999. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2004. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2006. Senator Sullivan. 2006, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2006. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration? 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) …Reading. Senate Bill -- 2009. Senator Bomke. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2009. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2013. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett. 2013. Madam. Senate Bill 2025. Senator Martinez. I’m about to pick up the pace, too, Ladies and Gentlemen. 2025. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2028. Senator Link. 2028. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2028. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Licensed Activities adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2042. Senator Bond. 2042, sir. Senate Bill 2051. Senator Link. 2051. Senate Bill 2063. Senator Halvorson. Leader Halvorson. 2063. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2071. Senator Koehler. 2071, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2071. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2072. Senator Pankau. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2072. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2074. Senator Frerichs. 2074, sir. Madam… Out of the record. Senate Bill 2079. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2080. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2083. Senator Collins. Senate Bill 2085. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill. He changed -- that’s okay. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2090. Senator 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Garrett. Senator Garrett. 2090. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2090. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Pensions and investments adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2091. Senator Haine. 2091. Senate Bill 2092. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2099. Senate Bill 2100. Senator Wilhelmi. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2100. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2111. Senator Wilhelmi. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2111. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2113. Senator Radogno. Senate - - 2113. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2113. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Committee Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2120. Senator Pankau. Senate Bill 2124. Senate Bill 2128. Senate Bill 2138. Senator Syverson. 2138, sir. Senate Bill 2139. Senator Syverson. Senate Bill 2142. Senator Murphy. Senate Bill 2148. Leader Watson. Senate Bill 2155. Senator Trotter. Trotter. 2155, sir. Senate Bill 2161. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2163. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 2166. Senator Millner. Senate Bill 2170. Senator Murphy. 2170. Senate Bill 2173. Senator Delgado. 2173, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2178. Senator Frerichs. Senator Frerichs. 2178, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2179. Senator Clayborne. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2179. (Secretary reads title of bill) 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2181. Senator Clayborne. 2181. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 2182. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2188. Senator Jacobs. 2188, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2193. Senator Link. 2193, sir. Senate Bill 2199. Senator Delgado. 2199, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2199. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2201. Senator Haine. 2201. Senate Bill 2207. Senator Hultgren. Senator Hultgren. Senate Bill 2110 -- I mean, 2210. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2210. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2211. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, 2211, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2211. 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2214. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2216. Senator Jacobs. 2216. Senate Bill 2222. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2227. Senator Frerichs. 2227, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2227. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Revenue adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2231. Senator Harmon. 2231. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2231. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2232. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2254. Senator Haine. 2254, sir. Madam Secretary, 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 read the bill.
Senate Bill 2254. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary-Criminal Law adopted Committee Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2256. Senate Bill 2275. Senate Bill 2282. Senator Luechtefeld. 2282. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2285. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2287. Senator Raoul. 2287, sir. Senate Bill 2288. Senator Meeks. 2288, sir? Out of the record. Senate Bill 2290. Senator Delgado. 2290. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2290. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. If you know you have a bill on 2nd Reading and you know your bill number is coming up, you should be prepared. 2293. Senator Maloney. Madam Secretary, read the bill, please.
41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2293. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2295. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2296. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 2297. Senator Clayborne. 2297. Senate Bill 2300. Senator Sullivan. 2300, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2302. Senator Bomke. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2302. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2303. Senator Raoul. 2303, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2305. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2313. Senator Garrett. Senate Bill 2321. Senator Trotter. Trotter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2322. Senate Bill 2326. Senate Bill 2328. Senate Bill 2329. Senator Brady. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2329. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2340. Senator Wilhelmi. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2342. Senator Wilhelmi. Senate Bill 2344. Senator Wilhelmi. 2344. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2344. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd -- have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. We’re on page 8. Senate Bill 2348. Senator Clayborne. 2348. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2348. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Public Health adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration? 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2349. Senator Wilhelmi. 2349. Senate Bill 2354. Senator Raoul. Senate Bill 2355. Senator Wilhelmi. Senate Bill 2356. Senator Hultgren. Hultgren. Senate Bill 2358. Senator Haine. 2358. Senate Bill 2362. Senator Cronin. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2366. Senator Righter. Righter, 2366? Senate Bill 2369. Senator Garrett. 2369. Senator Garrett. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2369. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2374. Senator Risinger. Senate Bill 2375. Senator Forby. Senator Forby. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2379. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2379. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2380. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2380. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2391. Senator Risinger. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2391. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2394. Senator Holmes. Senate Bill 2397. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill - top of page 9 - 2400. Senator Link. 2400, sir. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2400. 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Committee Amendments No. 1 and 3.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2422. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Just a minute. Just a moment, please. We’re on top of page 9. 2402. Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez. 2402. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2403. Senate Bill… Out of the record. 2403, out of the record. Senate Bill 2412. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2412. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2413. Senator Demuzio. Madam Secretary, read the bill. 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2413. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2415. Senator Millner. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2415. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2422. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2422. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2424. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2424. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2425. Senator Wilhelmi. Senate Bill 2426. Senator Silverstein. Senate Bill 2428. Senator Silverstein. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2428. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2431. Senator Demuzio. 2431. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2431. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2434. Senator Koehler. 2434. Senator Koehler. Senate Bill 2435. Senator Cullerton. 2435. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, please read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2435. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2444. Senator Holmes. Senator 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Holmes. 2444. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2452. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2452. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary-Criminal Law adopted Committee Amendments No. 1 and 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton. Please…
Mr. President, I wanted to table Amendment No. 2 that’s been adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton would like to table Amendment No. 2 on Senate Bill 2452. Senator Cullerton moves to table Amendment No. 2. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is tabled. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senator Maloney, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Take your time and state your point.
Thank you. I would like to introduce everybody in the 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate to a group of students here from my district, from Oak Lawn, Illinois. Their teacher, Marie Chavosky, is here with them - a former student of mine at Oak Lawn High School. I would like the Senate to please welcome the students from Simmons Junior High.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise and be welcomed to the Senate? Rise and be welcomed. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Going to move right along. Senator Steans, on 2472. Out of the record. I get her name right then she want it out of the record. Senate Bill 2476. Senator Hunter. Senate Bill… Out of the record. Moving on to the next bill. Senate Bill 2479. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton. Senate Bill 2481. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2482. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2489. Senator Kotowski. 2489, out -- Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2489. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2499. Senator Crotty. 2499? Out of the record. Senate Bill 2501. We’re on page 10. Senator Althoff. 2501. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2501. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2502. Senate Bill -- I mean, 2502, out of the record. Senate Bill 2505. Senator Kotowski. Senate Bill 2506. Senator Kotowski. Senate Bill 2512. Senator Link. 2512, sir. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2512. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No -- no further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2514. Senator Link. 2514, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2527. Senator Raoul. 2527, sir. Senate Bill 2532. Senate -- Senate Bill 2538. Senator Garrett. 2538. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Out -- Madam Secretary, out of the record. Senate Bill 2546. Senator Clayborne. 2546. Senator Clayborne. Out -- Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2546. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2552. Senator Murphy. 2552, sir? Out of the record. Senate Bill 2562. John Jones. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2562. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2566. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, read the lady’s bill.
Senate Bill 2566. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Housing and Community Affairs adopted Committee Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2567. Senator Frerichs. 2567, sir? Out of the record. Senate Bill… Senate Bill 2570. Senator Frerichs. 2570, sir? Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2570. (Secretary reads title of bill) 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2575. Senator Syverson. 2575. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2577. Senator Millner. Millner. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2580. Senator Cronin. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2584. Senator Althoff. 2584. Senate Bill 2594. Senator Millner. Senate Bill 2595. Senator Trotter. Trotter. 2595. Out of the record. We’re done for 2nd Readings. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we’re going to go to 3rd Readings. If you want your bills called on 3rd, you should be a little more attentive than you were on 2nd. We’re going to 3rd Readings. Okay. We’re going to go to 3rd Readings. All Members please come to the Senate Floor. We are on 3rd Readings. We are now on 3rd Readings. Scott. Going to go to page 17. Top of page 17, Mr. Secretary. On 3rd Reading is Senate Bill -- 786. Senator Silverstein. 786. Silverstein. Senate Bill 1106. Senator Trotter. 1106. Senator Trotter. Senate Bill 1850. Senator Demuzio. 1850. Senator Demuzio. Mr. Secretary, read the lady’s bill.
Senate Bill 1850. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Demuzio.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Assembly. This bill, as amended with the provisions of the Committee 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Amendment 1, creates the U.S. Navy license plate and also the Army Veteran’s license plate. The bill holds that, in addition to the appropriate registration fee, an applicant for the special plate shall be charged a fee of fifteen dollars at the original issuance, and for each renewal, a fee of two dollars. So, I would ask that we have a favorable vote in support of our U.S. Navy license plate and also our Army Veteran’s license plate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1850 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1850, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1857. Senator Raoul. 1857. Senate Bill 1864. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1867. Senator Halvorson. 1867. Senate Bill 1872. Senator Harmon. Senator Harmon. Senate Bill 1881. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 1881. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 the Senate. This bill is the result of an incident at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, which is in my district, in which case a student allegedly threatened mass murder, a terrorist act. Did not carry it into fruition; it was an attempt. The State’s attorney’s office and the court attempted to deny bail, and there was no provision in the statute to deny bail, to slow the process down, of having a -- a psychiatrist look at the young -- young man. He posted bail. His family came up with the money. The bottom line on this bill is that we would like to be in the law that a judge, after looking at all the evidence and upon due consideration, can deny bail in these extraordinary acts where there’s an attempt to commit an act -- a terrorist act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1881 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 59 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate -- 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1881, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1887. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 1887. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator Haine.
Yes, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is initiative of the Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Currently in Illinois law, there is no statute of limitations for sex crimes. The General Assembly did this a few years ago. If there’s DNA as an objective basis for the -- for the crime, the victim reports the crime within two years, and DNA is collected in ten years, and thirdly, currently the law, is if the offender is a stranger. Senate Bill 1887 amends this unlimited statute by removing the requirement that the offender be a stranger. Secondly, and in a minor way, it extends the reporting period from two to three years to be consistent with other portions of the law. I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1887 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1887, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1920. Senator Garrett. 1920. Senator Garrett. Senate Bill 1923. Senator Schoenberg. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 1923. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Schoenberg.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1923 creates the Public Interest Attorney Assistance Act, a bill that would -- when it becomes law, would make it possible for us to do more to recruit and retain experienced and qualified public interest attorneys. What we’ve seen throughout the -- in -- throughout Illinois and the rest of the country is that dedicated lawyers who serve the public interest are increasingly being squeezed out of the profession because of the cost of debt. In fact, there -- throughout many jurisdictions, it’s actually -- there -- you have judges who are making less than first-year associates at major law firms. This would set up an advisory committee for a program administered by the Student Assistance Committee -- Commission. And I’d be happy to answer any questions about the particulars of this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1923 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. All opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1923, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1930. Senator Schoenberg. Senate Bill 1938. Senator Hunter. 1938. Senate Bill 1939. Senator Maloney. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill. 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 1939. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1939 came out of -- we have seen recent abuses of public funds as it relates to schools and the need for chief school business officials. The problem is, in the Illinois School Code, there is a contradictory situation that requires two years of administrative experience in school district business management to earn this designation, when it’s unlikely a school district will hire somebody to gain the necessary experience without the endorsement. So, the remedy of this is to simply amend the School Code by inserting the phrase “university-approved practical experience” as one of the criteria to gain this chief school business official endorsement. I would be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1939 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1939, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1945. Senator Sullivan. Senate Bill 1946. 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator Hultgren. Senate Bill 1955. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1957. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 1957. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Clayborne.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Basically what this bill does, there are eight trustees on the IMF -- IMRF -- IMRF’s board and seven are able to vote, and the one that’s not able to vote is the annuitant representative, and this just gives the annuitant representative the -- the opportunity to vote on all decisions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. I stand in support of the gentleman’s bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1957 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 1957, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 1958. Senator Clayborne. Senate Bill 1975. Senator Wilhelmi. Out of the record. We’ll -- we’ll come back to 1979 in a few minutes. Skip 1979. Senate Bill 1981. Senator Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1981. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Clayborne.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1981 offers a tax credit to employers that match employee’s contributions to College Illinois!, the Bright Start College Savings Program, or the Bright Directions College Savings Program, all of which are qualified 529 college savings programs in the State of Illinois. The employer’s contribution may be an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the employee’s contributions to the savings plan, but shall not exceed five hundred dollars per year, to take advantage of a tax credit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1981 pass. All those in -- there is -- I’m sorry. Senator Lauzen, welcome. Good to see you, sir. Senator Lauzen.
Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. It’s very nice to see you too. Like to congratulate the sponsor on his hard work and the Treasurer on the initiative. This received 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 unanimous support in the Revenue Committee. I recommend an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) It’s a regular lovefest in here. Further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1981 pass. All those in favor will say Aye -- will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 50 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1981, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Halvorson in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) With leave of the Body, we will be returning to Senate Bill 1979. Senator Hendon. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1979. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hendon.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill is a attempt to help people who are facing foreclosure. I’d be happy to answer any questions if there are any at this time. It came out of committee unanimously.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Thank you. Senator, I’m trying -- I’m -- I’m just trying to recall. It seems as if there was a concern or two expressed in committee and -- and you’d indicated you were going to try and work out some of the details with one of the groups that were involved, and I was just wondering if -- if you’d had a chance to do that, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Hendon.
That -- that’s an excellent question. Their concerns were minor and they never came to see me, Senator. So, I believe if an advocate group want -- is very serious about an issue, they’ll come and see the Senator. And they never came to see me, so I’m moving the bill over to the House. And if they have concerns over there, we’ll address it at that time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
Thank -- thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Senator, for the response. I -- I do believe that a lot of it -- a lot of the concerns, as -- as we recall, dealt primarily with the language of the bill, maybe the context some of the words were in. So, I would just suggest that whoever picks this up in the House, perhaps, has a chance to look at that and corrects some 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 of that -- those concerns. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Hendon, to close.
I -- I just appreciate an Aye vote. And I thank you, Senator, and I’ll -- certainly will address that with the advocates. I appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1979 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 44 Yeas, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 1979, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Frerichs, on 1982. Senator Frerichs, on 1984. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1984. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Frerichs.
Madam President, thank you very much. Senate Bill 1984 aligns the Illinois Soybean Association assessment levied for all soybean sales in the State with the federal Soybean Promotion, Research, and Consumer Information Act. Under current State law, this assessment for the fifth and all 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 subsequent years of operation is two cents per bushel. Under the federal law, the assessment of the fifth and all subsequent years of operation is one-half of one percent of net market price of the soybeans produced and sold by that producer for all subsequent years. Illinois soybean farmers are currently being assessed at the federal level. This bill will protect the current level of funding for -- the Illinois Soybean Association receives from this assessment in the event of a change in the national soybean checkoff. I ask for your support and I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1984 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 50 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 1984, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Raoul, on 1985. Senator… Senator Althoff, on 1992. Senator DeLeo, on 1997. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1997. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Assembly. Senate Bill 1997 stems from a 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 dispute that happened with the Illinois High School Association and the news media. The IHSA denied access -- sideline access to photographers from several newspapers last year during the State football championship. This is a very important issue, that I believe is, because it’s got to get a message out about what is a public event. And I think that passing this bill will define to associations like ISHA {sic} that public high school championships, football, after-school sports, are public events and such events should be open to media coverage. And I think Senate Bill 1997 addresses that issue. So, I’d ask for a favorable roll call…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there -- is there any discussion? Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Madam President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Senator, as you know, in committee we talked about a possibility of some sort of compromise between the High School Association and the press. Has that moved at all? Or have -- have you -- are you -- are you aware of any -- any movement in some sort of compromise?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Yes. Thank you very much, Senator. From the last e-mails that I received, it seems like the negotiations are not negotiating -- seems like there’s no negotiations. 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Luechtefeld.
You know, as -- as you know from committee, you know, this is an issue that I really do hate to see us get involved in. You know, freedom of the press and all that sort of thing is fine, but I think it’s an issue that, if both sides felt that they had something to lose here, there could be some compromise and -- and -- and we wouldn’t need this bill. I -- I don’t know whether that happens now that this bill -- if this bill goes through. Certainly, the press -- the press will have the upper hand in whether there’ll be a compromise or not. As you know, this will cost the High School Association a lot more money to do the things that they’ve been doing at the present time free of charge for -- for the different high schools. You know, I’m going to vote for the bill, but I -- I -- I had hope that we could come up with something - that this wasn’t necessary. And hopefully that still happens.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Madam President. It’s my understanding, Senator, that this was also going to court. Has this -- and I was anticipating this court decision prior to the vote here. Have -- are you aware of a court decision relative?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: I -- I -- I believe the litigation is still pending. 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Maloney.
Just -- just one more question. In the event that the IHSA prevails in court, what happens to this -- this particular bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Well, to -- to -- to address your question and Senator Luechtefeld’s question, Senator -- Representative Joe Lyons has an identical bill and we’re sending one to each Chamber. So, if -- if the court case does come down, we’ll still have time to work on either one of the pieces that are going to go to -- eventually go to the Governor’s desk.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Maloney.
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield - even though he says he won’t.
The sponsor never yields. Mr. President and Senator DeLeo, give us a practical application of what happens to a father or a soccer mom who goes to a football game or a soccer game and they 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 hope to see their son or daughter in the sports page the following day. Is that inhibited by what the Illinois High School Association is doing with declaring a proprietary right on a public athletic event, the photographing of that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator -- Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. That’s exactly the situation we have here. And I think one of the most important things that we have for a parent and for young sports is the accessibility of press at these events. And I think if we start at this level blocking the championship or the playoff games it moves on to -- I don’t think we’ll ever see a child’s picture in the back page of the Norridge or -- or Rosemont or Peoria Journal of them catching that famous pass. And I think that if everything was put on dollars and cents and -- and we got off on the wrong -- in the Executive Committee, we got off on the wrong -- it was about dollars and cents and how much the High School Association’s going to lose in their contract to this company for seventy-five thousand dollars, and I think that -- that’s not the issue. The issue is, what is a public place? And, is a school board meeting a public place? Should we ban the media from going to a school board meeting? Is a high school -- public high school sporting field -- athletic field, football field, is that a public place? Well, it’s been deemed a public place. And the IS -- IHSA is not the Illinois Toll Highway Authority; it’s not McPier Authority. It’s an organization. And I think an organization’s going to dictate that -- that media cannot come into a public event, is wrong. And that’s 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 what -- why we have this bill coming through the General Assembly, to define -- to define. Not about money. It’s about getting that child’s picture in a neighborhood newspaper.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you… To the bill: I agree with the eloquent words of the distinguished Senator from Chicago. This is an issue involving parents and the public athletic events that their children are a part of. And they are -- want to be part of the community record. And they want the community to vicariously be -- be a part of them. This is -- this is an attempt by the High School Association to grab hold, for a -- a narrow profit interest, the -- the public endeavors of its citizens and its students. And I would encourage an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.
Question of the esteemed sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Senator, so I understand, the dispute is between the schools who want to be able to sell the rights to shoot the pictures and then the news media who wants to sell the pictures. Is that -- am I accurately describing that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 No. You’re almost right. It’s like Certs is a breath mint; Certs is a candy mint. It’s not the schools; it’s the IHSA that wants to have the right to sell or use these -- these pictures. So, it’s not the -- the actual school. It’s the organization.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.
So, the question I have then is, where are the students? Are the students part of this payment? I mean, we’re using the sweat off the backs of these kids who are playing basketball and both groups want to sell the photos. It just seems to me that maybe we ought to find a way to make sure the schools or the kids who are actually helping produce these photos are compensated.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Madam President. To the bill: I really wasn’t going to speak on this. I was the only No vote in committee. But the sponsor made a comment or two and Senator Haine made a comment or two. This is about money. There is nothing currently -- under current statute, under current law, under current rule of the Illinois High School Association that prohibits a newspaper or any other news entity from taking a photo at a high school basketball game or football game, playoff game, championship game, or anything else, and from using it in their paper. Not one thing. And I think we were led to believe just now that there was something that precluded that from being 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 a part of the normal record in the local newspaper. That is not the issue. The issue is, who has the rights to sell those photos then for a profit. And that’s what the newspapers want. They want the right to sell those photos for a profit while the IHSA, which is the high schools by the way, all of the high schools pay or are a part of the Illinois High School Authority -- Association. That’s who sponsors football. That’s who sponsors the baseball playoffs. Track. You name it. Music. Anything you want to. Drama. IHSA - that -- that is the high schools. So, what I’m trying to suggest to you here is that it is profit-oriented, profit-driven. It is not an issue of accessibility. It is not an issue of a newspaper being able to go and take photos of a sporting event or any other event to run in their publication. That is not the issue. And I believe that they still can sell those photos to recover their costs. They simply can’t make a profit on them. That’s what the issue is. Folks, all of our high schools are going to end up paying for this regardless. If this bill does become a law, then the high schools are going to have to charge entry fees for all of their schools in order to make up for that and then to be able to run these tournaments. So, I just want to clarify it is profit-driven.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.
Thank you very much, Madam President. I stand up in support of this bill, and while we’re talking about who is able to sell the photos, who makes the money, I think what we’re really talking about is the notion that if this bill doesn’t 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 pass, the ISHA {sic} will be able to monopolize the entire photography business when it comes to schools. They should not have the right to own that monopoly and actually say to newspapers and others that this is not for you to participate in. This is something that should be open to anybody, whether it be newspapers or other organizations. So, I -- I say think a little bit more before we vote on -- on this, the -- those that are opposed to it, because what we’re establishing, if we don’t vote Yes, is that we are allowing the ISHA {sic} to have a monopoly on these types of things, and I -- I personally think that’s a very bad idea.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Madam President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Thank you. I’m hearing two separate -- two separate issues here and I guess I’m trying to get an understanding. First, which was said about -- the last speaker and -- and Senator Haine had talked about, that without this legislation, parents are not allowed to take photos and newspapers will -- are not allowed to take photos at playoffs. Is that what the current law is?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: No. The Illinois High School Association entered into an 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 agreement with this company from out-of-State to -- to photograph the championship games, barring the local media from having access to these events and saying that they have to…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
I mean, that’s -- I guess that’s where I’m confused. The local papers are barred from taking photos at the event? You just said that they are barred from taking photos. Is that -- are they barred from taking photos, or are they barred from selling photos for a profit?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Let me explain this to you one more time. Last fall, the IHSA banned -- banned photographers from five Illinois newspapers from the sidelines of the State football championship game because those papers maintain online galleries of their photos and they refused to sign waivers.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
Was that -- was that because they refused to sign the waivers because they were going to sell those at a profit, or -- ‘cause -- how come the other newspapers weren’t banned from coming and taking photos? I guess I’m still confused. Can’t anyone take photos? Is the issue just about who can sell ‘em for profits?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: They put them on -- their photographers put them on their website after they’re used and people can purchase them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
Is that what they -- but they can currently do that now, correct? So what is this legislation then doing? If they can do it now, they just can’t make a profit. Anyone can take the photos. You can buy them. You just can’t make a profit. I guess I’m -- I’m confused. How does this preclude families or newspapers from covering games and taking pictures?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: I don’t -- maybe I wasn’t clear enough. They were banned from the sidelines. They did not get media credentials to go on courtside, on the sidelines of these games to take these photographs. Now, they could buy a bleacher pass and go sit up in the bleachers and take these shots, but they were banned from sidelines - media access to a public event, which all -- at a presidential campaign, at a sports -- you have -- media have credentials that allows them access to certain areas. They would not let them have access to these areas.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
Is -- then, is this any different? You said at a sporting 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 event or a professional event. Is this any different than in the NCAA or in professional sports? If a reporter is on the sidelines and they take pictures at the NCCA {sic} or the -- or the professional tournaments, or they’re taking pictures of players, are they allowed to sell those, then, as a profit, or do they also have to get a waiver that says that they won’t sell those at a profit? Or are they not -- or are they not allowed to sell those at all at the NCAA tournaments?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: It’s -- it’s very different. I am told by legal staff that the NCAA has interstate agreements and contracts and it’s totally different than a -- than a local high school event.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
The argument was being in a public place for the press. If -- these are public universities, and so I guess I’m confused as why -- I guess the issue is, what it sounds like you’re saying on one hand, we don’t want -- it’s going to be a problem for parents or newspapers to take pictures, but it turns out it’s really just anyone can take pictures, they just can’t sell ‘em at a profit, which is the same that happens in the professionals or at the college level, that they’re not allowed to do it. We’re just -- aren’t they just really doing what -- the same thing that the colleges are doing and that the professional level is doing? Anyone can take photos, you just can’t make a profit off of the students, and that’s why the IHA {sic} says if 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 you’re going to make a profit, let the high schools make the profit to help reduce the cost to the children. No one’s keeping them from taking the pictures. So, I guess that’s where I was confused when you started talking from what seems to have come out. So, I appreciate the -- the debate on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Hendon.
Thank -- thank you, Madam President. I’ll be very brief. I hope -- and I’m certainly not a shield for the media, because they don’t treat me that nicely, but if -- I hope the media takes a -- really look at this, at who’s voting to say the media -- should not have access. I mean, we are -- we’re -- we’re -- we’re saying the media should have access, period. I mean -- and -- and the difference between professional ball and high school, some of those professionals, they’re going to get in the paper anyway. Some of these young people, if they’re not in the local paper, Senator, they’re not going to be in the paper. So, to ban local papers from being on the sidelines, getting good shots -- what good is it taking a shot from the balcony where you can’t even see the young person’s face or -- or the play they made to give them an opportunity to go to the next level? Everybody should be an Aye on this. Senator DeLeo is right on point, and it’s amazing to me the length of this discussion. So, if you’re against access to the media, vote No. If you’re for open access to the media, vote Yes. And I hope the media takes into consideration who’s for open access to the media.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Further discussion? Senator Luechtefeld. 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
I -- I apologize for speaking twice, but I think some things were just said that are not necessarily true. Before -- you can go on the floor and you can take pictures, and you can go to the finals and take pictures. It’s not that they’re not going give you access without this law. You can -- you can still go on the floor. It’s not a freedom of the press thing; it’s about who’s going to make the money. And -- and -- and that’s -- that’s what it’s all about. And -- and my -- my question to you is, why wouldn’t we want to let this be settled in the court? I would think this is a -- this -- you know, there -- there is a case right now in the court at who’s right and who’s wrong as far as the First Amendment is concerned. And I -- and I guess I had hoped that this could be dealt with there and we wouldn’t have to deal with it, because I really don’t believe it’s our place to deal with it. And -- and -- and again, you know, I know that people mean well and they’re trying to do the right thing here, but this is probably not something we really should deal with.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Since Senator Luechtefeld spoke for a second time, I’ll allow Senator Maloney to speak for a second time, and then we’ll have Senator DeLeo to close.
Thank you, Madam President. It occurred to me that this, if I could use the analogy -- you remember several years ago, the Chicago Cubs, in the adjacent neighborhood, many people put up these rooftop stands and -- charging people admission to come up to their roof, a private building, and watch the Cub game. 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 And the Cubs -- they went to court. The Cubs went to court and the court’s conclusion was, yes, you were stealing the product. So, now these people, who are these rooftop vendors, have to pay the Cubs for this. And this is the same situation. The IHSA wants the publicity to generate the excitement about IHSA sports. But the fact of the matter is, they’re simply saying, that the photos that are being used should not be used for profit and that that -- that -- that particular privilege belongs to them. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator DeLeo, to close. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Madam President. I told the Tribune recently these organizations -- the news organizations have a legitimate and constitutional right to cover and photograph these games. I said, how are these tournaments ever going to get attention if… I think the IHSA is really wrong on this issue. To cut a deal with an out-of-state photograph company, I don’t think they should be able to do this. This is a sweet deal for a company that holds a monopoly, who gets free use of the competition photos, free photos in their contract to the members -- staff members. I think this is what Senator Jacobs referred to: This is a disservice to the athletes, to the parents, who are your fans of New Trier, Glenbard -- Glenbard South, Marshall, every other school in this State. If they want a photo of a championship game, there’s only one place to go - to a company in Wisconsin? There’s no historic record of -- in their local newspaper. They have to go to a Wisconsin company and pay a fee. This is a right. This is a constitutional 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 right. This is a open meeting. This is an open sporting event. This is an open -- just like I mentioned, at a school board meeting. So, I’d ask a Aye vote on this very important…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1997 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 47 Yeas, 5 Nays, 0 voting Present. And Senate Bill 1997, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2002. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2002. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act to allow units of local government, school district employees, child advocacy centers, rehabilitation facilities, to have an option to buy their insurance as part of the State group health insurance coverage. This is to meet the rising cost of insurance premiums to these local units, many of -- of which have contracts with the State. CMS does not oppose this. There is a number of labor organizations, represent these employees, who are in favor of this. And I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Is there any discussion? Senator Syverson.
Thank you. Senator, we had -- there was a few discussions during committee on that and I guess I -- I want to make sure we’re -- we have a clarification on this. The -- one of the concerns was raised, the issue about cherry-picking, where the current rule is that eighty-five percent of the -- of that group has to go into the State’s pool. And so, by eliminating that eighty-five percent, then what would preclude a small agency that just had one or two people that had significant health problems from those one or two people just joining into the State’s plan, thereby creating significantly higher costs to all those who currently have State coverage? - which is one of the reasons why we had that at eighty-five percent before, so we would not have the cherry-picking issue.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Senator, that’s a -- that was a good question. We -- they can join the pool now. The rule now is eighty-five percent. So, they -- they can do that now and that hasn’t occurred. CMS has looked at this. I waited for their response. They don’t have a problem with this. Because of the -- the workings of the -- the marketplace, there will be enough people joining because of the cost or not joining because of the cost. If they get a better deal locally, it’ll moot out. So, there doesn’t seem to be a concern that’ll happen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson. 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
The reason why carriers, whether it’s auto or home or health carriers, require a larger pool is to -- is to keep them -- employers from just saying “I’m going to take all my sick people and put with this group and I’m going to put all my healthy people with this group.” And that’s why they said, okay, let’s make sure eighty-five percent of your people have to be on there. So that means, basically, your whole group has to go in there. So, either as a group you decide to go into the State’s plan, both the healthy ones and the unhealthy ones - you all go in together so we share the risk - or nobody goes in it. What we’re doing now is, you’re saying, potentially -- for organizations, let’s put all of our sick people into the State’s plan because we don’t have to meet eighty-five percent anymore - let’s put our sick people into the State’s plan; let’s put our healthy people with a private plan that’s much less. And then the State ends up getting significantly adverse health conditions that they wouldn’t get if they were required to take eighty-five percent, because that means the healthy ones and the unhealthy ones would both be going into the group. So, I guess that’s where my concern is, if we eliminate the eighty-five percent, employers then will -- will cherry-pick the sick ones and keep the healthy ones for their own private carriers.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Senator, thank you for that very good question. I understand completely what you’re saying. And again, I waited for CMS to come up with a figure or to express opposition. 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 There have been several similar bills broader in scope in which they did oppose for that very reason in the past and they didn’t go anywhere in committee, but they didn’t seem to think this would be a problem. I mean, if you -- if you wish me to, I could pull it from the record and get a more formal statement out of them. I -- I don’t mind doing that if that’s what you feel. But they were not exercised about this…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
Yeah. CMS may have a couple other options that they may have regarding how they do their rating. So, if you wouldn’t mind doing that, we’d be happy to sit down with them, and if there’s a better clarification, see if we can make sure we work that out. So, I’ll be happy to work with you on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
I -- I will pull this from the record and -- and bring it back at a later time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Out of the record.
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senate Bill 2002, out of the record. Senator Link, on 2005. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2005. 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill just amends the County Codes {sic} (Counties Code) to change the definition of “inoperable motor vehicles” that do not have a current license plate or tag on it. And it will only affect non-home rule counties of two hundred and fifty thousand and above. And excludes Cook County. So, it will only affect Kane, Will, Lake and DuPage counties. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any questions? Senator Althoff.
Madam President, will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Senator Link, can you explain to me specifically how we’ve changed that definition?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
In -- in the population -- and I misread that, it was five hundred thousand and above. So, it’s that. But to change that to where it would have -- it would have to have a current license plate on it or a tag to be declared inoperable. A lot 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 of your local municipalities have that already in their ordinances, but counties don’t have it. And this is what they want to do so if a vehicle is along a county road, inoperable, they can tag it and have it towed away. That’s what we’re changing.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.
And it’s my understanding, this is permissive. The counties would have to enact an ordinance to follow this statute and -- and change the definition?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.
I would just like to take a moment and thank you for working with us on this bill and limiting it to those particular counties and making it permissive. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Link, to close.
I would just -- I would just ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2005 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2005, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Delgado, on 2012. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2012. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2012 establishes an eighteen-member Task Force on Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to examine and make recommendations concerning the structure of the chronic disease prevention and health promotion system in Illinois to the Governor and the General Assembly. Department of Public Health has jurisdiction over that Task Force. And I’ll be more than willing to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Madam President. This came before the Public Health Committee. It’s a good bill. It came out unanimously. I urge your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator 85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Delgado, do you wish to close?
Thank you, Madam President. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) So, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2012 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2012, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Turn your page to page 19. Top of the page. Senate Bill 2014. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2014. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.
Thank you. Senate Bill 2014 just requires that any municipality or county that makes a decision regarding zoning or other ordinances regarding variances or special use must be subject to de novo judicial review.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Madam President. Just a note to the bill. I’d like to thank the sponsor for working very closely with IML, 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Metropolitan Caucus of Mayors. This came out of Local Government unanimously and it’s a great bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Senator Rutherford.
Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Over here. What is de novo judicial review?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Garrett.
The way I understand it - I’m not an attorney - is that it’s really a -- a hearing. It’s a hearing process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Did she pass the test, Senator Rutherford? Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2014 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2014, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Clayborne, on 2015. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2015. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Clayborne.
Thank you -- thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. This is called the Illinois New Market Tax Credit Development Program. Basically, what this bill does is, this program provides that taxpayers that make a qualified equity investment earn a vested right to certain tax credits against income, franchise and insurance premium taxes. The tax credits are not transferable and total credits cannot exceed forty million dollars in one physical {sic} (fiscal) year. Investments must be made solely in Illinois or the purchase price shall be reduced by the same ratio. DCEO will recapture the tax from -- from the taxpayer that claimed the credit on the return if necessary, subject to specific conditions. And DCEO may promulgate the rules. I ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Madam President. I just would like to share with the Senate that this received unanimous support in the Revenue Committee, and congratulate the sponsor for a good initiative and innovative plan. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Clayborne, do you wish to close?
I just -- I just ask for your favorable vote. Thank you, Senator Lauzen. 88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2015 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2015, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2017. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2017. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an initiative of EPA and it allows a five- hundred-dollar annual fee for an NPDES on-site construction discharge permit. It’s a one-time permit initial fee of seven hundred and fifty dollars, rather than the annual fee of five hundred dollars, which can add up depending upon the construction over a one-, two-, three-year period. So, it saves the Department bookkeeping and recordkeeping and monitoring. It saves the construction -- the -- the owner and the manager of the construction company an expense too. So, it seems to be win-win. There’s no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Rutherford. 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Thank you, Madam President. Sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Senator Haine, in light of various fee increases that have taken place and the administration sweeping them and the like - and I was in the committee hearing when this took place - the -- ultimately this, though -- is this is going to be a cost savings or better from a financial standpoint for the enterprise that’s applying for this one-time fee as opposed to an ongoing. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Yes. Yes, Senator, that is correct. That’s what’s -- that’s what I’m getting out of the business groups and the EPA. They tell me that the average construction period - they being EPA and the others who deal with this - is about eighteen months. Some can go on to -- to three years - in which case, they would save a considerable amount of money by just paying the seven hundred and fifty dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Rutherford.
Thank you, Madam President. So -- so, in conclusion, though, this is a fee increase, but ultimately, because the way you’re configuring it, it’s going to be a one-time as opposed to a multiple. In a sense, it’ll be a fee savings for the 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 enterprise. And that…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
And that being the case, I stand in support of Senator Haine’s movement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine, to close.
Senator Rutherford just closed for me. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2017 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 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2017, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Frerichs, on 2021. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2021. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Frerichs.
Senate Bill 2021 amends the Bingo License and Tax Act to allow senior citizens organizations that conduct bingo games to 91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 charge up to fifty cents for a single bingo card and to offer prizes with an aggregate retail value of up to five dollars. This was brought to me by some constituents of mine in Georgetown, Illinois. They currently comply with State law even though they know that other senior centers are not complying. Basically it’s been very difficult for them to find prizes worth anything under a dollar to give out at these events. They’re looking to raise it to five dollars. This is not something that’s going to expand gambling or turn seniors out of their homes through -- through gambling. But it’s something that I think is -- the amounts have not been changed for a while and I ask people’s support in order to continue to allow these senior citizens to have an outlet for something in their districts in their spare time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
A question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Do I understand the bill analysis that I have correctly, that the cost that they can charge is going up by a factor of ten, the award that can be won is going up by a factor of five, or half that amount? You’ve probably been asked this question before. But is -- do I have a proper understanding, and if I do, is that fair that the cost goes up by ten, but the prize goes up only by five?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator Frerichs.
Yes. The -- you are correct. The seniors of that center asked for these amounts. It allows them to charge up to that amount. That does not require that they have to do that in those amounts. And all of the money that comes in from those cards is invested in prizes, so it just means -- can give out more games.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2021 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 46 Yeas, 2 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. And Senate Bill 2021, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2023. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2023. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is another general revisory bill, which is part of the statutory duties of the Legislative Reference Bureau. In the process of updating and revising Illinois statutes, these revisory bills are prepared by LRB in accordance with the Act governing them 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 and are exempt from the single-subject rule. There is -- this is a one-thousand-page bill, I believe, and I went through it very carefully to make sure there wasn’t any substantive changes in the law - except on page five hundred and eighty-two, there is a increase in the legislative pay. And I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2023 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2023, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine. It is Senator Haine day. Senator Haine, on 2031. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2031. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President. This -- this is a request from several units of local government and it adds several county -- several counties to the -- to the authority that can have a member of the county board serve on the local Emergency Telephone System Board to provide someone on the Board that is accountable to the citizens -- in a direct way. That’s all it 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 does.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
We had some discussion about this legislation in committee and it was some individual’s opinion that this actually can already happen. Is there a reason or a comfort level that requires us to pass this type of legislation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
I don’t know. I don’t have in my file -- my guess is someone ruled that they were -- that the county board members did not have the legal authority to serve on these boards. There is a provision in the statute, I’m aware of, that prohibits county board members from serving in other offices, and this may be construed broadly by a -- the Attorney General or local State’s attorney to say that they can’t do it. So, my guess is, to clean that up, they just want a uniform specific authority. County boards are given authority by delegation unless they’re a home rule unit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.
95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 …looking for. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any other discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2031 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2031, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Koehler, on Senate Bill 2033. Senator Koehler, on 2034. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2034. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 2034 specifies that local governments may, under the Act, require homeowners to {sic} (who) maintain a private sewage disposal system to verify with their local government, once every three years, that they have a valid contract with a licensed private sewage disposal system installation contractor. It also states that no additional fee can be charged for such a verification. All this is trying to do is to make, in a very user-friendly way, counties can have the ability to verify that the sewage systems private septic tanks are working, and I would appreciate an Aye vote on this. 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2034 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 48 Yeas, 4 Nays, 0 voting Present. And Senate Bill 2034, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Dillard, on 2044. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2044. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill stems out of a Third District Appellate case where the court ruled that a parent who is making educational support payments pending or -- or past a divorce couldn’t find out where their child was going to college. And this clarifies the law, that the judge can tell the supporting parent what college or higher education institution their child is attending and it provides safeguards in case there are reasons for -- domestic violence or other reasons that they shouldn’t know. But it says if you’re making educational payments, you ought to have the right to know where your child is going to school. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2044 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2044, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Murphy, on 2047. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2047. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Murphy.
Thank you, Madam President. This is a bill -- essentially it’s an agreed bill. I’m aware of no opposition to the bill. Essentially -- hey, this isn’t my first bill, Burzynski. The intention of this bill is to allow governmental agencies to share information on paternity to help the Department of Healthcare and Family Services do child care support enforcement. Again, I’m aware of no -- no opposition. It’s an agreed bill and I’d urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2047 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2047, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Althoff, on 2049. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2049. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much. Senate Bill 2049 amends the Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse Code. It raises the penalty for a second or subsequent conviction from a Class 2 felony to a Class 1 felony. This actually arose out of a case in McHenry County, where we discovered that an offender, a subsequent offender, could only be incarcerated for up to eleven years, and they thought that was just a little bit too lenient. Happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2049 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2049, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2052. Senator Koehler, on 2053. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senate Bill 2053. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill -- for the criminal history and the arrest record sealing and expungement, Senate Bill 2053 allows the circuit clerk may charge a fee equivalent to the cost of sealing or expunging the records. Senate Bill 2053 retains ten dollars from the filing fee for the petition to seal or expunge to offset the cost of service of the petition by the clerk. It also directs the clerk to collect a filing fee equal to the State Police cost of sealing or expunging records and forward those monies to the State Police. I’d appreciate an Aye vote on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2053 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2053, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Jacobs, on 2070. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2070. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Jacobs.
Thank you, Madam President. This is agreed language between the Associated Fire Fighters, Illinois Fire Chiefs. It’s a transparency bill. It allows them to set up procedures to select impartial qualified professionals for promotion on creating a list. We’d appreciate your support. I know of now -- no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2070 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2070, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Koehler, on 2077. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2077. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 2077 amends the Counties Code in the Section of the special county retailers’ occupation tax for public safety or transportation to allow for the funding of public facilities, including museums and nursing 101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 homes. The bill allows the county board of any county to impose a special -- county retailers’ occupational tax for public facility purposes. This is a front-door referendum. The reason this came up is that, in Peoria County, we have a museum project down on the riverfront which Caterpillar has indicated they will put fifty million dollars towards and the public needs to put the rest of the money up for the museum that is going to be - the Lakeview Museum - relocated. This would be a referendum that’d be placed on the ballot. So, it is a referendum - not a backdoor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion?
Appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Madam President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield.
Thank you. Senator, I understand what you’re saying. Let me ask you this, what taxing districts would be required to vote for this referendum? Would it be the entire Peoria County, or would it be just a portion of the City of Peoria? And who would be paying the -- the additional tax?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler. 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
…thank you for your question. My understanding is, it’d be the entire county. This would be a referendum that’d be placed on the ballot by the county board.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. So, in this -- in this situation, you’re talking about a museum, downtown Peoria; it’s not just those living in the City of Peoria -- Peoria, excuse me, but it would be the county -- a countywide. It would be every individual who would have access to that facility. Is that…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.
Yes, Senator, that’s my understanding.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2077 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 47 Yeas, 4 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. And Senate Bill 2077, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2078. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2078. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a corrective bill. It affects about seven or eight individuals in my district. They are -- and I believe one in Senator Watson’s. They are deputy sheriffs and probation officers. What happened was, some years ago -- three or four years ago, the legislature allowed a -- we allowed a -- a buyback. Someone could use their local municipal police time to buy into more time for retirement from their probation office, or vice versa, but they limited it to a percentage. And I’m not sure what it was - maybe seventy percent of the time. Then if - - this individual and a number of others in my county who contacted me made the decision. Subsequently, in -- in 2005, we then changed the law to allow a hundred percent of the time, but barring, in effect, those that already made the decision. So, we’re -- we’re opening the window again, as a matter of equity, just for those people - and it’s about three hundred. IMRF indicated to me, it affects about three hundred and sixty people statewide. But it’s a matter of equity. It does not give anything they would not have obtained if the law would have been a hundred percent in 2003.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Madam President. Question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Sponsor indicates he’ll yield. 104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Is this entirely included in IMRF? No State pensions?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine.
Yes, Senator Lauzen. Thank you for that question. Yes. It’s -- it’s IMRF and the local police force. None of it involves any State pension money.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Lauzen.
Okay. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2078 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 Yeas, 0 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 2078, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Please turn to page 20. Top of the page. Senator Wilhelmi, on 2097. Senator Wilhelmi, on 2098. Senator Brady, on 2102. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2102. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Brady. 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Thank you, Madam President. This bill simply allows the Department of Employment Security to give employment records to local law enforcement regarding a child sex offender -- or, a registered sex offender.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2102 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 52 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2102, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Clayborne, on 2105. Senator Wilhelmi, on 2110. Senator Koehler, 2112. Senator Raoul, on 2118. Senator Wilhelmi, on 2129. Senator Millner, on 2135. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2135. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Millner.
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Senate Bill 2135 provides the offense of escape applies to a person charged with or adjudicated delinquent for an act which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a felony or a misdemeanor. It amends the Unified Code of Corrections. And this bill is from the Kane County State’s Attorney, that suggested the change to address 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 the ruling of the Illinois Supreme Court. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2135 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2135, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Millner, on 2137. Senator Millner. 2137. Senator Syverson, on 2149. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2149. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Madam President. This is just a -- simple legislation that clarifies a technicality in the law. Currently, when we have large cranes that are unlicensed in Illinois, they are not allowed to tow a vehicle, where licensed cranes are. This legislation just allows unlicensed vehicles to tow licensed vehicles. Know of no opposition. This is -- there was a disagreement between the Secretary of State and the State Police. This clarifies this and would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 shall Senate Bill 2149 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2149, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Risinger, on 2157. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2157. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Risinger.
Thank you, Madam President. What this bill does, it allows a county or a city facility that does cremation of domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, so forth, to also cremate road kill without being considered a waste management facility. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2157 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2157, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Risinger, on 2158. Senator Bomke, 2159. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2159. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Bomke.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2159 amends the aggravated battery of a child to create a Class 3 felony for a person eighteen or older who is -- knowingly causes bodily harm, disability, or disfigurement to a child under thirteen or a severely mentally retarded person. This would make the law on aggravated battery to a child consistent with that of a -- of an elderly person or elder abuse. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2159 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2159, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2160. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2160. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator Haine.
I beg your pardon. Thank you, Madam President. This is an initiative of the Recorders’ Association, and it’s simply because of an unfortunate lapse of judgment, I guess, somewhere in Illinois. A recorder was brought to trial for a ministerial mistake by a member of her staff, tried in a court for official misconduct and acquitted by a jury. The recorders came forward with this bill to make it clear that for a recorder to be held to such a high standard of misconduct, there would have to be a willful act, rather than a strict liability, which is leftover from statutes of years ago. So, I would ask for -- just puts the word “willfully” in there.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2160 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2160, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on 2162. Senator Haine. 2162. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2162. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Haine. 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Thank you, Madam President. I would ask the support of this Body for this bill. It involves my hometown. It opens a little window to annex noncontiguous property, a parcel of land separated by another parcel. It’s tied up in a -- a very chaotic estate. It -- it allows the City of Alton to supply services to allow development which will increase the tax base. It’s in the Alton Community Unit School District. Therefore, the bill would increase their taxes. It’s not in a TIF. And it allows one year to do so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2162 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2162, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Demuzio, on 2165. Top of page 21. Senator Koehler, on 2187. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2187. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill 2187 provides that vehicle protection products and service contract providers are 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 subject to rehabilitation, liquidation, conservation, or dissolution by the Director of Insurance. Senate Bill 2187 also provides that if a service contract provider violates the Service Contract Act and the Director of Insurance believes that those actions threaten to render the service contract provider insolvent or cause irreparable loss or injury to the property or business of any person or company in this State, the Director then -- then may report this case to the Attorney General. I’d appreciate your Aye vote on this. This is an issue which helps to protect the consumers in these cases.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall 2187 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 2187, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, on 2190. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2190. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Madam President. What this -- underlying bill does is, changes the three-thousand-dollar threshold of contributions and expenditures to make sure a person who is an 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 entry {sic} (entity) on a part of a local or State political committee and -- meets the requirements of filing. I’ll be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2190 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 53 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2190, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Link, on 2191. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
…Bill -- Senate Bill 2191. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Link.
What -- what this bill does is it changes it to make sure that on your financial reporting that you -- continuing political committee that you make an expenditure or -- exceeds an -- aggregate amount of five hundred dollars is required to file a report on a campaign contribution. And you can do this. So, I’d be more than happy to answer any questions on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall -- Senate Bill 2191 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? 113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Yeas, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. And Senate Bill 2191, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Delgado, on 2198. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2198. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2198, as amended, expands the forfeiture provisions of the Cannabis Control Act to include any interest in real property used or intended to be used to facilitate the manufacture, distribution, sale, receipt, or concealment of cannabis in any form which is related to a felony violation of the Act. And I’m available for any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HALVORSON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2198 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 Yeas, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2198, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hendon in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Thank you, Leader Halvorson. Senator -- 2239. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2239. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amends the Water Reclamation District Act so that interest earning on any of their funds may be transferred to the Water Reclamation Retirement Fund. Such a transfer must be authorized by two- thirds of the trustees of district. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2239 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2239, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill -- Senator Jacobs, for what purpose do you seek recognition, my friend? No. Senate Bill 2240. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2240. (Secretary reads title of bill) 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Last year, the General Assembly passed House Bill 1509, which created a right to sue in State court for victims of employment discrimination. At the time, it was promised to the Human Rights Commission that we would entertain a trailer bill. This is that trailer bill, Senate Bill 2240. It conforms certain practices to be the same in the administrative process or in the -- the courts. I’m not aware of any opposition, and I’d ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2240 pass. All those in favor will say Aye -- will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2240, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2250. Senator DeLeo. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2250. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Out of the record. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2252. 116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Senator Haine. 2252. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2252. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill merely extends the sunset on the Burn (Injury) Reporting Act, which we passed two years ago and it’s been a great success throughout Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Mr. President. This has been a very successful program. It came through Public Health Committee. I urge your Aye vote to keep this going.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2252 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2252, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2292. Senator Maloney. 2292. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Senate Bill 2292. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Maloney.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill amends the Water Reclamation District Act to change the provisions regarding continuance of suspensions of employees. Currently, district statute allows for any officer of the district to suspend a subordinate for cause without pay for a reasonable period not to exceed thirty days. What this does is provides that those charges will be promptly investigated within thirty days in the civil service board. Provides that the employee’s suspension can be extended until the civil service board enters a finding and until the board approves the agreement to terminate the suspension or to rectify the situation. What has happened, in recent years, due to discovery and other good-cause delays, cases are generally continued by the -- beyond the thirty-day suspension period, and this legislation simply would codify that practice. I’d be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2292 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2292, having 118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2294. Senator Wilhelmi. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2294. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2294 provides that a defendant seeking to raise insanity as a defense to criminal prosecution must provide the State’s attorney with notice of their intent to use the insanity defense or of their intent to present expert evidence on the issue of insanity. 2294 requires the notice to be given as part of the normal pretrial process, but also provides the court with discretion to authorize notice to be given late for good cause shown. The bottom line is, we don’t want the defense to use the insanity defense as a delay tactic and that’s what the underlying issue is here. It’s also an initiative of the Cook County State’s Attorney. I know of no opposition and be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2294 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none 119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2294, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2298. Senator Jacobs. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2298. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Jacobs.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a -- a TIF extension bill that the Senate passed last year for the Village of Milan, as well as the City of West Frankfort. The Senate passed it. The House passed it. It ended up on the Governor’s desk. The Governor was unable to sign it due to, I don’t know, could have been the Purple Hotel. I don’t know what’s going on. But there is something going on that he didn’t get it signed. So, this year we’re back to pass this bill again and hopefully have it move. I ask for your favorable consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. This -- this bill received unanimous support in the Revenue Committee. I -- I recommend an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2298 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2298, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill -- 2301. Senator Halvorson. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2301. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Halvorson.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2301 amends the Illinois Income Tax Act regarding a tax credit for employers who pay costs for a qualified wellness program. As I have traveled around, I have found out that people are trying to figure out a way how to keep their workforces healthy and -- and have found out, if they offer these health programs, they’ve been able to reduce their costs every year. And they would have to -- to qualify for the tax credit, they would have to offer at least three out of four components of a wellness program. You know, when you have somebody just fill out what they think their numbers are, obviously it’s going to be a lot lower than what it is. So, this would include having tests and having some sort of program in place to give incentives to take care of yourself. And I ask for an Aye vote. And I’ll answer any questions. 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, this bill received unanimous support from those voting in the Revenue Committee. There were opponents, just for the Members of the Senate, the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, Illinois Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Federation of Illinois and AFCSME. It’s possible that between the time of the committee vote and now some of that opposition has been moved out. Maybe the sponsor could tell us. But it did receive unanimous 7-0 support in Revenue Committee. I recommend an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2301 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2301, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2304. Senator Peterson. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2304. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Peterson.
122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2304 is an initiative of Lake County. And the county would like to change the definition of the tax that they currently levy for senior services to broaden that definition to human services. And that would allow the county to not only use the tax revenues for senior citizens, but also human services, which would provide services to those who are disabled or on -- or are in need. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2304 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2304, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2311. Senator Garrett. 2311. Senate Bill… Senator Garrett? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2311.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I’m sorry, Mr. Secretary. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2314. Senator Garrett. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2314. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Garrett. 123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2314 adds to the list of people eligible for a personally delivered ballot, people who have been admitted to a hospital, nursing home or rehabilitation facility within fourteen days of an election and who have also been released from the facility before or on the day of the election but are homebound and unable to travel to their polling places.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2314 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2314, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2327. Senator Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2327. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a simple bill which we ask for the Department of CMS to do a study of the State’s current use of and reliance upon something known as High-Volume Transaction Processing Systems. These are 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 basically computers that we use at the State for the transactions that require tens of millions per hour, like for tax returns and Medicare transactions and the like. And it’s simply a request that they do a study to see if they can save money. A similar study was done by the Department of Revenue about four years ago and the result was a savings and greater efficiency in the collection of taxes. So, that’s what it’s about. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2327 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2327, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2332. Senator Schoenberg. Senator Schoenberg. 2332. Senate Bill 2336. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2336. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. What this bill allows is DCFS to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with any county 125 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 probation and court service department to provide services with federal Title IX-E {sic} (IV-E) Foster Care Reimbursement Assistance Program. I know of no opposition. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2336 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2336, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2338. Senator Link. 2338, sir. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2338. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link. Senator Link.
Excuse me one…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) We’re on bottom of page 21 and Senate Bill 2338. You want us to return to it, Senator?
Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link. 126 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
This -- 2338 requires the president of every State bank and any other officers designated by the bank’s board of directors to keep a full and correct list of names and -- and residencies {sic} (residences) of all shareholders in the bank and the number of shares held by each bank. I know of no opposition. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2338 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2338, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Top of page 22. Senate Bill 2352. Senator Wilhelmi. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2352. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2352 provides that when calculating reimbursement for transportation costs, the State Board of Education may not deduct the number of pupils enrolled in early education programs from the number of pupils eligible for 127 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 reimbursement if the pupils enrolled in the early education programs are transported at the same time as other eligible pupils. I -- I want to make sure it’s clear here. We have made a decision, as a Body and as a General Assembly with the Governor’s signature, to invest in early education -- early childhood education. What we forgot to do was to also have an investment for the transportation costs. The fact of the matter is, right now a bus can be going down a street in a neighborhood, pick up a second grader, the school district is reimbursed for that second grader’s transportation. If they go to the next house and pick up a four-year-old and take that four-year-old to an early childhood program, the school district is not reimbursed for that four-year-old. It doesn’t make sense. This is an investment that the State would make of 4.2 million dollars a year. I think it’s important. I think we should support this and let’s see Preschool for All really work so that we make an investment in our young children and save the cost on the back end. And this is a good bill. I ask for your vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Just a question for the sponsor. And it might just -- just might be a different perspective. We’re saying that there’s a demand for our children at four years old to get on a bus to go to a school and that there are parents who are allowing their four -- four-year-olds to - or younger - to get onto a bus, and isn’t there a safety concern and -- frankly how can parents let their four-year-olds go… 128 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator Lauzen, the fact of the matter is that many of our parents simply cannot afford to drive their kids to these programs, so they rely on public transportation. And obviously, at four years of age, these kids are able to sit on -- on the bus seat along with their six-year-old brother and sister or eight-year-old brother and sister. The fact is, these kids need to get to these programs, parents can’t always drive them, especially in -- in situations where you have both parents working, maybe only one vehicle or no vehicle for the family. This is unfortunate, but an important and necessary expense for the State of Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there further discussion? Senator Lauzen.
Just a final question. You know, we put in place laws where when people are with the parents, who love them and would sacrifice their lives for their children, they have to have a car seat. Are there car seats in this provision in this bill for these buses?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator, you may know that, in the Education Committee, we had a very lively debate about whether or not our buses, our school buses, should be equipped with seat belts. And in fact, there are many folks that argue that seat belts on a bus 129 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 actually could be more dangerous to the students, especially if there’s a fire or, God forbid, the -- the bus goes into a body of water. Those kids may be trapped. So, I think that’s a debate for another day. But I -- I do believe that as our eight-year-olds and our ten-year-olds are on these buses without safety belts, our four- and five-year-olds can be on those same buses and be perfectly safe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Lauzen.
I’m sorry. The question that I was asking wasn’t so much about the seat belts, and I’ve heard, over the years, the controversy on both sides of that. My question was about the car seat that’s required in regular vehicles. Not -- not the seat belt, but the car seat - because the weight of the child and the danger and the wiggling around that our younger children do.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Senator, there is no provision for -- you may be referring to booster seats. We have one in both of our vehicles for our - - our younger child. There are no provisions in this bill for booster seats or car seats. And again, a first grader might very well need to be in a booster seat. And as we have it right now, there are no such booster seats on our buses for our first graders.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any further discussion? Senator Kotowski. 130 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will yield.
Senator Wilhelmi, just a question about the bill. It -- it more has to do with the funding for the transportation. Currently, according to the law that we have in the State of Illinois, young people age four are able to be transported in buses in the State of Illinois, yes? This is just a funding issue?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Wilhelmi.
Yes, exactly. That’s right, Senator Kotowski. Right now, these four- and five-year-olds are transported on these vehicles, but there’s no reimbursement back to the school district. So, yes, this bill is about giving reimbursement for those four- and five-year-olds, just as we give reimbursements to the school district on the six, seven, eight, et cetera, all the way up to twelve -- grade twelve. So, thank you for that clarification.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate… Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2352 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 131 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 50 voting Aye, 3 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2352, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, Senator.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today, I’m joined and I’d like the Illinois Senate to welcome some of the -- two of the City of Berwyn’s finest. We have the Commissioner of the Berwyn Park District, Frank Amaro, and we have the Executive Director, also of the Berwyn Park District. Before I welcome them, I also want to make note that I am joined by my colleague, statesman Honorable Louis Viverito, who represents the City of Berwyn, and along with Senator Kimberly Lightford. Frank Amaro also is not only Park District Commissioner, but he’s also a leading voice for veterans in Illinois. And I am honored to have them visit us in Springfield. Let’s give ‘em a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to Springfield, the fine gentlemen from Berwyn, and that young Senator Viverito that’s standing there with you. Welcome. Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will you let the record show that Senator Righter is back in the district doing legislative business? 132 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The record will so reflect. We’ll move on with Senate business. Senate Bill 2353. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2353. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Frerichs.
Thank you very much. Senate Bill 2353 repeals a Section of the Property Tax Code. This is a bill supported by the Illinois Association of County Clerks. They say the Section in the statute is little used and the potential for abuse is significant enough to warrant its deletion. I would ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2353 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. All opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2353, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2365. Senator Brady. 2365, sir. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2365. 133 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Brady. Senator Brady, on 2365. Senator Brady.
We’re simply raising the penalty on aggravated -- on a -- battery on a correctional officer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2365 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2365, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2382. Senator Millner. John? Senate Bill -- Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2382. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd -- 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Millner.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amends the Criminal Code to create the offense of grooming for using the Internet to seduce or entice a child to commit a sex offense. It also creates the offense of traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in a sex offense with the child. I ask for an Aye vote. 134 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2382 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. All those opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2382, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2387. Senator Collins. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2387. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2387 adds homeownership education as a required part of the financial literacy component of the consumer education. Last Session I passed a requirement for financial literacy to be taught to students in consumer education classes and it passed out of the Chamber 50 to 0. This just adds the homeownership education provisions to the financial literacy education. I would ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I -- 135 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 you know, I don’t think what the Senator is trying to do is necessarily bad. I -- I -- I always have a concern about the fact that we mandate here - and we talked about this in committee - we’re always mandating that the schools do something more and more and more, and they only have so many hours in the day. And I think it’s -- it -- you know, this, again, is one. I think last year you did a -- there was another one that was mandated that has not been funded. Is that right, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Yes. The funding has not been included in the mandate. However, it has not prevented the schools from going forward with the financial literacy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Do you have any reason to believe that this will be funded?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
Whether it’s funded or not, the School Management Alliance said that most consumer education classes already cover this subject and that implementation should not be burdensome to the schools.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Am -- am I right that the School Management Alliance did 136 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 oppose this? Is that right, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins.
No. They’re neutral.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Luechtefeld.
Well, again, I -- you know, and -- and I -- I’m sure this is probably going to pass. I -- I just -- I just question, and I think we should all question, what do -- you know, how many more new things do we want to mandate schools must do in a day that is already crowded? And they’re not -- in fact, the things they’re doing already, a lot of places, are -- they’re not doing well. So, that would be my concern and that’s why I voted No in committee. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Collins, to close.
Thank you. And thank you, Senator. You did express your - - your concerns with the legislation. However, I think given the situation of the mortgage meltdown mess that we’re all encountering today and with the latest data from The Chicago Reporter’s study that found the Chicago metropolitan area had the highest rate of foreclosures in 2006 of any metro area in the country, given those dire statistics, I believe this is a way of being proactive to deal with the issue, instead of on the back end trying to find funding to help modify the loans -- bad loans that people have been engaged or involved in. So, I just 137 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 feel that this a way that we can sort of be ahead of the problem and -- and try to prevent any such statistics remaining in the metropolitan area and then in the State in itself. So, I would just ask for the Assembly’s support on the legislation. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2387 pass. Those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 42 voting Aye, 8 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2387, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2396. And if we could keep your attention, we’ll be done in a few minutes here. 2396. Senator Cullerton. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2399. Senator Link. Senator Link. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2401. Senator Holmes. Madam Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2401. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Holmes.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2401 would allow for the termination of parental rights of parents of minors who are convicted of knowingly participating in the manufacturing of methamphetamines. This bill aims to tighten the penalties for meth manufacturers and users. Meth can be toxic to innocent 138 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 bystanders like children who reside in a house where meth is manufactured and the toxins permeate the walls and the ceilings. There’s also a great risk of fire due to explosions or fires from the meth labs in these homes. Worked on this bill with the Department of Children and Family Services, as well as the ACLU, and I would ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2401 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2401, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2404. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2404. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2404 extends the repeal date of the Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disability {sic} (Disabilities) Act from September 6, 2008, to June 30th, 2010. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 139 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2404 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And -- and the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill -- 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2404, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2407. Senator -- out of the record. Senate Bill 2429. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2461. Senator Jacobs. Out -- out of the record. Senate Bill - - 2473. Senator Hunter. Madam Secretary, read the bill. Just a moment.
Senate Bill 2473. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2473 requires the registry of -- of public health professionals to be assessed {sic} (accessed) for the planning of the possibility of an act of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. I have been working with the Department of Public Health on this matter and I ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, 140 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 140th Legislative Day 4/1/2008 shall Senate Bill 2473 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed will vote Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2473, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008. The Senate stands adjourned. 141