PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The regular Session of the 95th General Assembly will please come to order. Will Members please be at their desks? Will our galleries -- will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Dr. Maryam Mostoufi, Islamic Society of Greater Springfield. Dr. Mostoufi.
(Prayer by Dr. Maryam Mostoufi)
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 and we will be moving at a brisk pace. Will all Members please come to the Senate Floor? Would all administrative assistants please send your Senator to the Senate Floor? Madam Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of April 10th, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal just read by the Secretary be approved, unless some Senators has additions or corrections to offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Senator Hunter moves to approve the Journals just read by the Secretary. There being no objection, so ordered. Madam Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 646, offered by Senator Emil Jones and all Members. And Senate Resolution 647, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. They’re both death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
And Senate Resolution 648, offered by Senator Hunter. And Senate Resolution 649, offered by Senator John Jones. They’re both substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Members of the Senate, we’re going to go to page 11. Page 11 is 3rd Reading. Please turn your Senate Calendar to page 11. 3rd Reading. The middle of page 11. We’re going to start with Senate Bill 2486. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We are about to begin voting. We’re going to 3rd Readings. If you want your legislation passed, I recommend that you come to the Senate Floor. We’re going to… Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? I appreciate those of you who are coming to the Senate Floor. We -- we need the rest of the Members on the Senate Floor. We’re going to go to 3rd Readings. Middle of page 11 on your Senate Calendar. And we will be voting immediately. Immediately. Will all Members under the 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 sound of my voice -- will all administrative assistants please send your Member to the Senate Floor? We’re about to take substantial Senate action. Please turn to page 11 on your Calendar. On the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2486. Senator Kotowski. Senator Kotowski, on Senate Bill 2486. Senator Kotowski seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2486 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2486. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Easy for you to say. Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2486, which retains the underlying bill, adds a Section which states that wellness coverage must satisfy the requirements for an exception from the general prohibition against discrimination based on a health factor under the federal HIPAA Act of 1996.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Kotowski moves the adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2486. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2486. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2486. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. This legislation will authorize health plans to provide incentives to enrollees engaged in programs to influence their health behavior. This is an initiative that’s sponsored by the -- and supported by the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce. It’s a bipartisan measure. I would ask for a favorable roll call.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2486 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 46 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting -- 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 2486, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2487. Senator Forby. Senator Forby seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2487 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2487. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Forby.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Thank you, Mr. President. Makes two technical changes to the bill, which amends the School Code concerning consolidation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Forby moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2487. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2487. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2487. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. This is a -- a cleanup bill. In 206 {sic}, the General Assembly present {sic} a number of school districts from receiving certain incentives. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Many school district across the State choose to consolidate where most effective -- unable to accept the funding. This bill would address the solution and the problems. And in July 2007, an elementary school and high school district in Thompsonville, Illinois, choose to consolidate from one -- to one district. Under the current law, the new consolidation Thompsonville district would receive no incentive funding. However, with passing of this bill, the -- latest estimate shows that the district would be eligible for a hundred and twenty thousand dollar incentive for the next three years. This would allow the school to receive money before next year. Without the change of 2427 -- 87, ISBE would not have the authority to pay the new Thompsonville School, which would lose a total of three hundred and sixty dollars {sic}. I know of…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Thank you, Senator.
…no opposition and I…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There’s -- there’s no opposition. Any -- any discussion? Seeing -- Senator -- seeing none -- we’re on the fast track today. Don’t mess with me. Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2487 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 47 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2487, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. The Chair would appreciate succinct descriptions of your legislation today. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Senate Bill 2501. Senator Althoff. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2501. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2501 allows for the quick-take of the last of four parcels for the Village of Lake in the Hills to meet the FAA safety standards to become a reliever airport for O’Hare. They’ve been working on this diligently for over four years and, again, this is the last of four parcels. I’d appreciate an Aye vote and I’d take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2501 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 39 voting Aye, 5 voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2501, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2513. Senator Link. Senate Bill 2514. Senator Link. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2514. (Secretary reads title of bill) 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2514 requires the Department of Public Health to issue permits for construction and modification of geothermal heating systems on a statewide basis. The bill requires DPH -- DPH to create and administer certification for a program to closed loop well construction. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2514 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 49 voting Aye, none Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2514, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2527. Senator Raoul. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2527. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Raoul.
Amendment? Is there an amendment?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 The amendment is already on the bill, Senator. Senator Raoul.
Senate Bill 2527, as amended, amends the Secretary of State Act to establish a system by which a depositor may deposit his will of a testator with the Secretary of State for indexing, storage and other duties. I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2527 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 48 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2527, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2531. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 2538. Senator Garrett. Senator Garrett. Senate Bill 2562. Senator John Jones. John? Senate -- 2562. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2577. Senator Millner. Madam Secretary, read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2577. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Millner.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senate Bill 2577 allows a lessee to be charged with theft of a leased motor vehicle or property 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 exceeding five hundred dollars in value if the lessee willfully fails to return the property within seven days of the expiration of the lease.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Bomke. Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2577 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 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2577, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bomke, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point.
Very quickly, Alexander Chipman, our Page, who had some medical problems, who’s doing great, it’s his nineteenth birthday today. And I would ask that everyone here help me welcome him and congratulate him on his nineteenth birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Happy birthday, young man. And the best of health to you. Leader Watson, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I’d like to -- point of privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 State your point, Senator -- Leader.
Thank you. I’d like to introduce my Page for the Day, Stephanie Boas. She is the granddaughter of my district office assistant, Judy Schroeter, and her husband, Ron, who are in the gallery over here. And I’d like to welcome Stephanie to the Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Give ‘em a welcome everybody. Leader Watson, go right ahead, sir.
All right. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I’d also like to take this opportunity to introduce the President of Kaskaskia College, Community college located in Centralia that represents a good portion of a lot of us here on the Floor - Jim Underwood. And he has some students here with him that are here today to lobby us on community college issues. And glad to have you here. President Jim Underwood and students from Kaskaskia College.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome, Mr. President. Welcome, students. Senate Bill 2594. Senator Millner. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2594. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Millner.
11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Where we at? Senate Bill 2594 provides that in action brought within two years after a judicial determination -- determination of parentage - now it’s within two years of childbirth - the judgment or order shall - now it’s “may” - direct either parent to pay the reasonable expenses incurred by either parent or the Department of Healthcare and Family Services - now it’s either parent - related to the mother’s pregnancy and the delivery of the child. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2594 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2594, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Top of page 12, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, is Senate Bill 2636. Senator Harmon. Senator Harmon. 2636. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2638. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2640. Senate Bill 2643. Senate Bill -- out of the record, 2643. With leave of the Body, we’re going to -- ask leave of the Body to skip from 2653 to 2656. Senate Bill 2656. Senator Delgado. Madam Secretary, read… Senator Delgado moves to return Senate Bill 2656 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of an amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2656. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration? 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The amendment becomes the bill. Senator -- is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Delgado moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2656. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2656. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2656. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2656 deletes all and becomes the bill. Floor Amendment No. 1 clarifies that DHS Division of Mental Health is the State Mental Health Authority and creates a Mental Health Work Group to develop and establish a comprehensive State mental health plan for Illinois. And I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2656, as amended, pass. All 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, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2656, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2657 to 2677. Before we go to 2677, there will be a Rules Committee meeting immediately in the President’s Anteroom. Will all Members of the Rules Committee please come immediately to the President’s Anteroom. We’ll stand at ease till after Rules. Senator Martinez in the Chair. Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Senator Hendon in the Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would you let the record show that Senator Righter is working back in his district office today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The record will so reflect. Senator Martinez in the Chair. (SENATE STANDS AT EASE/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 State your point, Senator.
In the gallery behind you, there’s a group of students from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Like to welcome them to the Capitol.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Will all Members under the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? We’re about to go back to substantial Senate action and maintain a brisk pace. So please be prepared. Senator Trotter, my dear dapper friend, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Point of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) You can do your announcement after you take your gum out of your mouth, sir. Not yet, sir. No Committee Reports yet. No. This a point of personal privilege, sir? Senator Trotter. Madam Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture and Conservation Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2562 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2750; refer to Education Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2091, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2402, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2638, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2683, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2686, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2687 and Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2689; refer to Environment and 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Energy Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 876, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2079, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2083, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2166, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2313, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2567, Floor Amendment No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2640, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2695, Floor Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2783; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment -- Floor Amendment No. 4 to House Bill 824, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2063, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2113, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2256, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2399, Floor Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 2400, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2472, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2702, Floor Amendments 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 2707 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2757; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2513 and Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2786; refer to Higher Education Committee - Floor Amendment No. 5 to House Bill 1334; refer to Housing and Community Affairs Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2721; refer to Human Services Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1938, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2112, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2531, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2552, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2851 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2879; refer to Insurance Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 871, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2002, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2499 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2595; refer to Judiciary-Civil Law Committee - Floor Amendment No. -- No. 3 to Senate Bill 1865, 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2124 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2139; refer to Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2254, Floor Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 2275, Floor Amendments 2 and 4 to Senate Bill 2349, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2354, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2355, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2426, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2476, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2596, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2657, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2718 and Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2855; refer to Labor Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 {sic} to Senate Bill 2397; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 1998, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2285, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2696 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2760; refer to Local Government Committee - Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2033, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2052, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2181, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2297, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2733, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2743, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2745, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2747; refer to Pensions and Investments Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1985; refer to Public Health Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1965, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2155, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2173, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2300 and Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2865; refer to Revenue Committee - Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 801, Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2099, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2584, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2643, 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Floor Amendment No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2820, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2873, Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2874, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2882, and Floor -- Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2912; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2626, Floor Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2636. I have a correction for referral to Labor Committee: It was not Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2397; it was Floor Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2397. Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. I have another Report. Senator Halvorson, Chairman of the Committee on Rules, reports the following Legislative Measures have -- have been assigned: Re-refer to Rules Committee from Education Committee - Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 876; and Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Joint Resolution 90. Senator Debbie Halvorson, Chairman. April 15th, 2008.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
On a point of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement.
Thank you. Today, at 2 o’clock, Local Government will meet in Room 409. And tomorrow morning, at 11:30, Human Services will be meeting in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Please pay attention to the announcements. Local Government will be meeting today in Room 409 at 2. Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. For the purpose of an announcement. The Committee on Public Health, today, Tuesday, at 2 p.m., will meet in Room 400. And the Committee on Licensing {sic} Activities, tomorrow, Wednesday, will meet at 1 p.m. in Room 409.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Public Health today in Room 400 at 2. Senator -- Senator Cullerton, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For the purposes of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, sir.
The Judiciary Committee, Civil Law, will meet today at 2 p.m. in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Judiciary, 212, at 2 p.m. That’s Civil Law. Senator Trotter, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. For purposes of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, sir.
Thank you. Assuming that Senator Cullerton will be out of 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 212 by 4 o’clock, we’ll -- Appropriations I will be meeting there at that time. And also tomorrow, Wednesday, at 11:30 a.m., Energy and Environment will be meeting in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Thank you, Senator. Senator Jacobs, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Purpose of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, sir.
Housing and Community Affairs will meet on Tuesday, today, at 3 p.m. in Room 409. Promptly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Room 409. Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I have an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, sir.
The Senate -- the Senate Ag and Conservation Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. in Room 409.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Agriculture, tomorrow morning, 409, 11:30. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you seek recognition, ma’am?
For the purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Make your announcement, Senator.
The Appropriations III Committee will meet on Thursday in Room 212 at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, 212, 8:30.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Approp III, Thursday, 212. Senator Link, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement.
Appropriations II will meet tomorrow at 8 a.m. and at 4 p.m. in 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., 212, Approp II. Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement.
Senate Executive will -- Committee will meet tomorrow at 10 o’clock in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Executive will meet tomorrow morning, 10 a.m., in 212. Senator Forby, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
…of announcement. 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement.
Labor will meet Wednesday at 1 p.m. at -- in Room 400. 1 p.m. in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Labor, 1 p.m., Room 400. Senator Wilhelmi, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, Senator.
Thank you. The Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee will meet today at 3 p.m. in Room 212.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Judicial-Criminal Law, 212, 3 p.m. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
I rise for the purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, sir.
The Committee on Pensions and Investment will meet today at -- in Room 400 at 4 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Pensions and Investments, 4 p.m., 400. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 To announce a committee meeting, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go right ahead, Senator.
The Insurance Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, tomorrow, in Room 400. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Insurance, 9 a.m. tomorrow, Room 400. Senator Maloney, for -- for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For the purposes of announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement, Senator.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Senate Higher Education Committee will meet tomorrow morning at -- in Room 409 at 9 a.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Higher Education, 409, 9 a.m. tomorrow. Senator Collins, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. For the purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Go right ahead, Senator.
Senate Financial Institutions Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9:30, Wednesday, in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Financial Institutions, tomorrow morning in Room 400. 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Senator Demuzio, for what purpose do you seek recognition, ma’am?
Yes. Purpose of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Make your announcement.
Yes. Tomorrow morning, Wednesday, at 10 a.m., State Government and -- and Veterans Affairs will be meeting in Room 409. And tomorrow afternoon, in Room 212, Education will be meeting at 1 p.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For the purposes, Mr. President, of announcing that the Senate Revenue Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. in Room 400.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Link, you seeking recognition again? Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. There was a correction. Senate Appropriations II, the 8 a.m. will be meeting in Room 114. It is a joint meeting with the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Room 114, for Approp II tomorrow morning. Senator Risinger, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. The Senate Republicans will 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 caucus immediately after adjournment of the Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Immediately after Session for thirty minutes. Is that correct, Senator? Senator Risinger.
Yes, that’s correct. For thirty minutes, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Republican Caucus immediately after adjournment for half an hour in Leader Watson’s. Senator Noland, for what purpose you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. It is my distinct honor and privilege to announce to you some -- some folks that are up in the -- in the gallery, just above to my left on our -- our side, on the Democratic side of the aisle here. Students, future leaders from Elgin Community College have come down here to -- to see the Senate and how we do business here. It’s -- it’s my pleasure. They are top-flight students and it’s my honor to introduce ‘em to -- to the Senate here today. Please give ‘em a warm welcome -- warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests in the Senate please rise? Welcome to the Illinois Senate, the great students from the great college in Elgin. Welcome. Senator Lauzen, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
For introductions, Mr. President. And may…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Go right ahead, Senator.
May I say you look especially good in that blue jacket today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) You have to be from the west side of the City of Chicago to wear this color blue, sir. But you could try it every now and then. Thank you.
Today we are very fortunate to have, in the gallery up here, students from the American Foreign Exchange Service from all over the world. They’re visiting students, I believe, in Batavia, Illinois. I’m going to run through the names as quickly and as accurately as I can. And I apologize to my guests for when I -- mispronounce names. First of all, Mariana Arteaga, from Bolivia; Nermine Geretalla, from Egypt; Andrea Ottosson, from Sweden; Daniela Azua, from Chile; Mari Nakashima, from Japan; Tereza Hofmanova, from the Czech Republic; Abihail Joseph, from Malaysia; Narawan Boonyapisomparn, from Thailand; Aadil Fahim, from India; Maria Van Der Merwe, from South Africa; Ann-Cathrin Schareck, from Germany; and Mook Chaichirawiwat, from Thailand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise and be welcomed to the Illinois Senate?
They’re here today with us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate, international students. 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we’re going to go back to 3rd Readings. The bottom of page 13. Senate Bill 2677. Madam Crotty. Senator Crotty. 2677. Would you like to proceed? Madam Secretary -- Senator Crotty seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2677 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2677. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Crotty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty.
The amendment will be the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Crotty moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2677. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill -- now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2677. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2677. (Secretary reads title of bill) 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty.
Thank you very much. Floor Amendment No. 1 amends the Illinois Municipal Code regarding annexation by providing that when an unincorporated territory containing sixty acres or less is annexed by any adjacent municipality that the public shall be informed of the annexation through an announcement of the move in a newspaper at least ten days ahead of time. It also requires that persons who reside to be notified of the annexation. This can be done by one of two methods, either in person or by certified mail. It also requires that when the area that is to be annexed lies partially within a township other than that of the annexing municipality, written notice be served to the township supervisor at least ten days before the passage of the annexation ordinance. And when such notice is executed, no other municipality may annex that property for at least sixty days. And the sixty days is counted from the date that the notice is mailed or delivered to the taxpayer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2677 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 50 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2677, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2678. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Senate Bill 2679. Senator Crotty. Senator Crotty seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2679 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2679. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Crotty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty.
The amendment also becomes the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty -- is there any discussion? Senator Crotty moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2679. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2679. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2679. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
Under the current law, no employee of the Chicago Transit Authority may hold any other office or employment under federal, State, county, or municipal government except an office with compensation not exceeding five thousand dollars annually. Positions in the National Guard or the United States military reserves are exempt from that prohibition. This amendment would allow that amount to go from five thousand to fifteen thousand. It’s been twenty-three years since the statute has been looked at and there is no opposition to this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski.
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) She indicates she will. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. Senator, just one question very quickly. Is there anyone currently serving on the board that this will benefit or is this just something, you think, because it’s not been changed in twenty-three years?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Crotty.
There -- there is an individual in my district that has been asked to fill a vacancy on a municipal board and he would fall under this. So, he had asked me to work with the CTA, and CTA has no problem whatsoever. 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2679 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 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2679, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2680 to 2685. 2685. Senator Delgado. Madam -- Senator Delgado seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2685 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2685. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2685 deletes the underlying shell bill. Requires teacher institutes or an in-service training workshop to include instruction on prevalent student chronic health conditions, beginning with the 209-2010 {sic} school year. This legislation is very important as to the overall work on public health. I’d ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Burzynski. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) He indicates he will. Senator Burzynski.
Thank you. Senator, we had a lot of discussion about this in committee, but I just have one question. Is this limited to Cook County only?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Burzynski, did you -- a follow-up, sir? The answer was no. Senator Burzynski.
Okay. Thank you. There -- there just seemed to be some discrepancy that we had here. So, I appreciate it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Delgado moves adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2685. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Bill 2685. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2685. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. -- Mr. President. I would just ask for an Aye vote on this particular legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2685 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. All 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 2685, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from Senate Bill 2686 to 2688. Senator Kotowski. Out of the record. Senate Bill… With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip -- with leave of the Body, we’re going to skip down to Senate Bill 2707. 2707. Page 14 of your Senate Calendar. Senator Link, on 2707. Senator Link. Out -- out of the record. With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2708 to 2713. 2713. Senator Sullivan. Madam Secretary -- with leave of the Body -- Senator Sullivan seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2713 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Bill 2713. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Sullivan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you. The amendment is -- actually becomes the bill. I’ll be happy to talk about it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Sullivan moves adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2713. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2713. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2713. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2713 arises out of a situation where a constituent received a ticket and there 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 appears to be some ambiguity within two different statutes of the law. So what we’re trying to do is clarify that ambiguity, to take that away. And so it provides that the Secretary of State may suspend or revoke the driver’s license of a person who fails to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle and who causes injury to person or property by their failure to yield the -- the right-of-way. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2713 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2713, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2714 to 2722. Senator Silverstein. Senator Silverstein seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2722 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2722. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration? The amendment is filed under President Jones’ name, but Senator Silverstein is now going to handle the amendment.
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Emil Jones.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Silverstein for Senator -- President Jones. 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. This sets forth procedures to obtain personal jurisdiction over foreign defamation judgments. I’ll -- I’ll explain anything if you have any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Silverstein moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2722. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2722. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2722. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Silverstein.
Again, this is a procedural bill that sets forth court rights when personal jurisdiction can be taken over foreign judgment -- defamation judgments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2722 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 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 50 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2722, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2723 to 2725. Senator Haine. Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2725 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2725. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Emil Jones.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine for President Jones.
It’s -- it’s my great honor, Mr. President, to speak on his behalf. But this is an amendment. It’s an initiative of the Bankers Association, brought forward also by Senator Kirk Dillard, which allows, in Illinois, a domestic asset protection trust, merely to protect assets.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Haine moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2725. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed will say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator… 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) I’m sorry. Madam Secretary. Senator Haine, you seek my -- recognition? Senator Haine.
Mr. President, I beg your indulgence. I wish to table Amendment 1 and proceed with Amendment 2. We are proceeding with Amendment 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Just one moment. Senator Haine moves that Amendment No. 1 be tabled. That motion is always in order. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and Amendment No. 1 is tabled. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine, to explain Amendment No. 2.
Amendment No. 2, Mr. President, is the -- is the very part of the bill which establishes a domestic asset protection trust, an -- an initiative in many other states, which allows people to establish protection for their assets and their family, if they have to provide for a young person or even a middle-aged person, a disabled, or for whatever reason, after their -- their death. This is supported by the Illinois Bankers Association. It -- it requires an Illinois fiduciary or cotrustee be an Illinois bank or citizen. There’s no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Haine moves 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2725. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any -- are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2725. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2725. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I ask for an Aye vote. It’s a good bill. It seems to provide another remedy for people. The bankers are for it. The lawyers are for it. A lot of people are for it, who are going to benefit by these asset trusts. It has protections for creditors and it’s a all-around good old American bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2725 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 52 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2725, having 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we’re going to skip from 2726 to 2745. Senator Noland. Out of the record. 2748. Senator Noland. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2748. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2748 simply amends the Fire Protection District Act. Provides that any elected or appointed trustee of a fire protection district is entitled to be absent from his or her employment during meetings of the board of trustees of the district. Also provides that the employer is not required to compensate the trustee for time that the trustee is absent. I know of no opposition to the bill. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) There any discussion? Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would just like to note that this did pass out of Local Government unanimously.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2748 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? 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2748, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2749. Senator Peterson. Senate Bill 2754. Senator Harmon. Madam Secretary, please read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2754. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 2754 is an initiative of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois. As you know, in -- in our three- tier system, brewers are subjected to certain requirements. As a practical matter, foreign importers and non-resident dealers are considered brewers. This would make a clarifying amendment to the Fair Dealing Act to ensure that foreign importers and non-resident dealers are treated the same as brewers. I’m not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2754 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2754, having 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2755. Senator Harmon. Senator Harmon seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2755 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, let is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2755. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) …Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The underlying bill is also an initiative of the Associated Beer Distributors. This would -- the amendment would clarify that a continuous compliance taxpayer who merges with a -- another distributor does not need to start the clock ticking again on its status as a continuing compliance taxpayer. I’m not aware of any opposition. I’d like to adopt the amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Harmon moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2755. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Bill 2755. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2755. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. In addition to the amendment I just described, the underlying bill would clarify that foreign importers and non- resident dealers are subject to the same restriction as brewers or manufacturers with respect to giving retailers things of value. I’m not aware of any opposition. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2755 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 51 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2755, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On top of page 16 is Senate Bill 2757. Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2757 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2757. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration? 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This amendment is really technical in nature. It just takes the same language that was in the original bill and adds it to the definitional Section of “place of employment”. Move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any objection -- I mean, any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Cullerton moves adoption of Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2757. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say -- vote -- say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2757. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2757. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is an initiative of Southern Illinois University and Northwestern University. It’s supported by the Lung Association and the Heart Association. It’s an exemption to the Smoke Free Illinois Act to allow smoking in enclosed laboratories, not open to the public, in an accredited university or government facility where the activity of the smoking is exclusively conducted for medical or scientific health-related research. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2757 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 49 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2757, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2783. Senator Harmon. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2784. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2786. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2788. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2799. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2825. Senator Collins. Out of the record. Senate Bill -- top of page 16. Page 16. 2827. Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2827 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2827. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senators Martinez and Dillard.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill {sic} retains the bill as amended. Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code to mandate the acknowledgement voluntary language advising alleged fathers of DNA testing to be presented in a boldface and capital lettering. And -- and this also amends the Criminal Code of 1961 by creating an underlying offense of “unlawful visitation or parenting time interference” and making this offense consistent through the Code. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Senator Martinez moves adoption of Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 2827. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2827. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2827. (Secretary reads title of bill) 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, this bill is -- we’ve discussed this bill in committee. I -- I took the recommendation of Senator Dillard and I think we have been able to compromise, and I think it is a good bill and -- for the -- for the children of the State of Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2827 pass. All those in favor, vote 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 52 voting Aye, none Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2827, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2828. Senator Martinez. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2828. (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 2828 requires a title insurance company, title insurance agent, independent escrowee to file with the Secretary of Finance {sic} (Financial) and Professional Regulation, within 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 seven days of closing, a form listing the names and license or registration number of parties involved in any mortgage loan transaction. Named parties include the financial institution, residential mortgage licensee, loan originator, real estate appraiser, real estate license {sic} (licensee) and closing agent. A title insurance company, agent or escrowee that makes a reasonable effort to comply shall not be subject to any -- to disciplinary action or liability as to the completeness of the - - or accuracy of the information provided. The bill applies to all mortgage transactions that close in Cook County on or after January 1st, 2009, and all mortgage transactions closed in Illinois on or after July 1st of 2009. And I’ll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2828 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, 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 43 voting Aye, 7 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 2828, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2851. Senator Harmon. 2851, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2854. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2859. Senator Kotowski. Kotowski. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2864. Senator Cullerton. Madam Secretary, please read the gentleman’s bill.
Senate Bill 2864. (Secretary reads title of bill) 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Cullerton.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is an initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. The language eliminates the use of eleven- to fifteen-passenger vans. These are vans that we’re not -- no longer allowed to purchase or lease and there’s an alternative van that can be used. And we can still use the vans that they still might own, but they cannot be used for school-sponsored, noncurriculum- related activities. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2864 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 46 voting Aye, 6 voting Nay -- I mean, 44 voting Aye, 6 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 2864, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2879. Senator Raoul. 2879, sir. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2883. Senator Schoenberg. Schoenberg. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2887. Senator Schoenberg. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2906. Senator Forby. Senator Forby seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2906 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2906. Madam Secretary, read the bill. I mean… Are there any amendments approved for 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Forby.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
The amendment is just adding fishing to the -- to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby moves adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2906. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 2906. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 2906. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Forby.
What -- well, thank you. What this bill does is, people in the armed service can come home when they’re off duty, they can fish and hunt without buying a license. IDNR is for this. And 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 I’d appreciate a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2906 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 52 voting Aye, none voting Nay, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2906, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2912. Senator Noland. Out of the record. Senator Link, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point.
In the gallery up behind the Republican side, I’d like to introduce a middle school from my district, the Jack Benny Elementary School that one of my daughters graduated from many years ago. Jack Benny Elementary -- or, Junior High in Waukegan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Will our guests please rise from the great City of Waukegan? Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Welcome. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. With leave of the Body, we’re going to go to page 8 of your Senate Calendar. Senate Bill… Going to go to Senate Bill 1900. Page 8 of your Senate Calendar. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, get to that page. Senator DeLeo. Senator DeLeo seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1900 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 to the Order of 2nd Reading for the purpose of amendment. Hearing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1900. Madam Secretary, are there any amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator DeLeo.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill -- Floor Amendment No. -- Floor Amendment No. 2 is a result of conversations that we had in the committee. And the insurers -- and what this was, the request that treatments -- clinical progress notes. And it also clarifies who can actually diagnose. In this -- for this bill it would be a medical doctor or clinical psychologist. This is from the conversation and concerns that came out of the committee. So, I’d ask its adoption, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Any discussion? Senator Radogno, on the amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to the sponsor for putting this amendment on. It is true, we discussed this in committee and these were some of the concerns that were raised in committee. However, there were some other concerns as well and it was my understanding that the proponents were going to sit down with the business community to talk about some of the other concerns that they have. Did that happen?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Senator Radogno, I -- I don’t know if it’s happened to date. But we did make a commitment in the -- in the committee room that day. As this progresses on to the House, because this is a deadline week, we are going to continue working. Some of the concerns about small business was brought up and we are going to continue working and -- as it progresses over in the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Radogno.
I appreciate that, because this is a very difficult issue. Obviously, we want to help kids with autism, but we also don’t want people ending up losing not only insurance for autism, but insurance across the board. And the concern expressed was that because of the cost, particularly for small businesses, and we’re talking about under fifty, that they would then just drop coverage all together and we would be in a worse situation. As an alternative, what we did when we passed mental health parity, of which I was the sponsor, we made it a mandated offer for companies that had under fifty. That’s worked very, very well and I would hope, as this moves forward, that you would commit to sit down with the business community again and explore those kinds of alternatives.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Pankau.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I commend the 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 sponsor. He did listen and addressed all of the concerns that were initially brought up before the committee. We thank you, Senator, for doing that. The concerns that Senator Radogno just mentioned, I believe you had said that potentially there was not enough time to do that before this passed over to the House, but it will be one of the number one concerns when it does hit the House. And I just wanted to verify that and urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator DeLeo moves adoption of Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1900. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1900. Madam Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1900. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator DeLeo. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very, very much, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. What does Senate Bill 1900 do? Well, this bill will require insurers to -- to provide diagnostics and medically necessary service for autism spectrum disorders. There’s a cap on here. It’s up to thirty-six thousand dollars 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 for children up to the age of twenty-one years of age. And insurers have the right to request treatment plans and clinical progress notes. Ladies and Gentlemen, that’s the technicality. That’s what the bill -- bill does, but let me just say something. This is a very, very important issue to the State and I think everybody cares. But some things that we talked about earlier today, we talked about in the committee room, we talked about at the press conference - these are things that cannot be ignored: One, one in a hundred fifty children are diagnosed with autism; one in ninety-four boys are on the autism spectrum; sixty-seven -- Ladies and Gentlemen, sixty-seven children are diagnosed per day; a new case is diagnosed almost twenty -- every twenty minutes; last year more children -- more children were diagnosed with autism than with AIDS, diabetics {sic} and cancer combined. You know, we’ve ignored this long enough. I said at the press conference this morning - Senator {sic} Beth Coulson and I said - twelve years ago -- twelve years ago, when we had Autism Day here and we had the press conference, there were seven people in the press room. Today you couldn’t move. It says something. It says something about what’s happening. These special children -- these special children that are here today in this audience, they need to be addressed. We need to help working families. It costs people up to -- working moms and dads up to fifty thousand dollars a year to provide these services. They need help. They’re losing their homes. They’re struggling. We heard from somebody at the press conference today, a husband and wife, they’re both professional people, they’re both attorneys, and they talked about the drain it is. We need to step up. In the State, when 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 we -- when we grant money to these associations and all these great support groups that help children with autism, you know where we rank in Illinois? Do you know where we rank? Fifty- one. Fifty-one. That’s embarrassing. As a Member of this Body, that’s embarrassing. Sixty-three thousand children in the State of Illinois diagnosed with autism, twelve thousand schoolchildren, and we’re fifty-one in support for autism. It’s an embarrassment. We need to work on this. I ask every Member of this Body to be a Yes vote on this so this bill gets to the House. We can work on that problem. And one of the people -- and Senator Radogno brought up about small business. The gentleman that brought this legislation and brought this to my attention, a small business owner in DuPage, came to my office and we were talking about different subjects and he told me about his autism child. And I said, “What are we doing? What are we doing in the State of Illinois?” We’re doing nothing. This is the biggest step that we can do to show that we really, really mean to do something for children. These special, wonderful children need our help. They’re asking us today and I ask everybody to vote Yes on this very -- important piece of legislation. Senate Bill 1900 will show the children, the people with autism spectrum that we care, that we really care. This is the biggest vote of the day. Please give me a Yes vote on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Is there any discussion? Senator Dahl. We appreciate and understand your concern, but, please, the decorum of the Senate must be maintained. Senator Dahl.
56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I think all of us in this Senate Chamber realize what autism is and what it does. One year ago today, during the Easter Seals Telethon in LaSalle County, my wife and I committed to donate twenty thousand dollars of our own money to the Easter Seals -- to the Easter Seals Autism Research Center in LaSalle County for LaSalle and Bureau Counties. This was a project to start an Autism Resource Center in LaSalle. And it did start. And it was started based upon the funding that was supposed to come from the State. I got an e-mail this morning from LaSalle County Easter Seals Director and she says, “With respect to the autism funding that we are awaiting, our contract was signed in November with DHS through the autism program as the -- as the fiduciary agent. The original amount approved for the budget was ten million. That was cut to five million and the funding level still represents an increase of two million over -- over before. With Easter Seals affiliates, we were to receive the lion’s share. We are the direct providers of -- of the services and we were awarded the partnership through the RAF {sic} (RFA) last year. No money has been released as of today. In the meantime, Easter Seals affiliates have been using valuable resources of our own to make good on the commitments we made after the contract was signed in November with DHS. We are now ten months into the fiscal year ’08 budget and no contractual payments have been made to us.” And we talk about being fifty-first in the country? That’s not because of insurance. That’s because of the State, being on the hook, putting these people out there. They’ve been in this for eight months and they’re probably going to have shut this down if they don’t get this State funding 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 pretty soon. We’re talking about a insurance plan here. I’m -- I’m -- I stand here with pain in my heart because I have to do this. We’re talking about a insurance program here that is going to force many, many, many small businesses in the State of Illinois to decide “do we do this or don’t we?” It’s a mandate. It’s a thirty-six-thousand-dollar a year mandate. It’s not a appendicitis operation that happens once. This is year after year after year. We’re going to be into this thing in ten years for three hundred and sixty thousand dollars. That’s going to come off the bottom line. There’s got to be another way of doing this. I’m totally in favor of doing this, but I’m not in favor of doing it this way. There’s got to be another way of doing this. I urge my side to vote Present on this until we can sit down and work this out. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Cronin.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. With -- with enormous amount of respect for my colleague, Gary Dahl, and with the understanding that this bill is going to the House and that there are some issues that will continue to be discussed, I rise in -- in strong support of this bill. And -- and -- and let me tell you why. The -- the sacrifice that families make is -- is -- is -- is so enormous. And Senator DeLeo touched on that moments ago. My experience with -- with the autism issue has been one where we, our office, working with the prior administration, really forged a good partnership with families and parents of children with autism with the State, and we were able to open up a number of group 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 homes. The demand for group homes with kids that have more severe cases of autism is -- is so large and the waiting lists are so long that it is shameful that the State has not responded to this demand. There was a task force that was formed and appointed and given a charge a couple years ago and they came up with a very, very comprehensive list of recommendations. Some of the most simple recommendations - seeking a waiver from the federal government for Medicaid - were -- were monumental tasks for this administration and it defied any logic or understanding. I -- I rise in strong support because I think this is a way to provide some relief to people that are in dire need. Yet I understand and we need to acknowledge that what Senator Dahl has pointed out is really true. As a separate matter, this administration has done a very, very, very poor job of responding to these people. So, the question becomes, do we go down the path of private sector, small businesses, to shoulder the responsibility, to fulfill a -- an obligation that really government and -- and -- and policymakers and -- a priority a budget item should be. I mean, really and truly, if there was ever an appropriate need for government, an appropriate role for government, it is helping people, through no fault of their own, have been born with a disability. And I -- it’s beyond my comprehension why, year after year after year, we fight battles down here, whether it’s the COLA or it’s appropriate funding. It’s just shameful. It’s beyond my understanding. I don’t get it. This is a way to provide some relief to people that are innocent victims in this process. I - - I -- I will support improvements in the bill in the House, but we have to prioritize our business here today. It’s -- it’s -- 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 it’s -- it’s reprehensible and regrettable that the administration has not responded. But this is a -- a very good solution. May need some revisions in the House, but I stand enthusiastically supportive of this, because I know the need and I know the people that work hard, working with government, making sacrifices to help children with this disorder. So, please vote Yes and embrace the process, and thank you, Senator DeLeo. And thank you to Pete DiCianni, who’s sitting up there in the gallery. Pete DiCianni, from the City of Elmhurst, the mecca of the Midwest, the nerve network of the nation. He’s a wonderful man. Thank you to Terry Herbstritt, who’s down here with his autistic son, Matty. Thanks for all the good things that you do as an advocate for autism. God bless all those advocates in the autism community, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Holmes.
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I just want to address all the Members of the Senate, because anybody who goes out walking and talking to the people of their district, you know someone whose life has been touched by autism. Anybody who goes out talking to their constituents knows somebody. The number of parents I spoke with while I was out walking who turned to me and said, “Please, Senator, tell me what I’m going to do when I’m unable to care for my child anymore.” “What happens if I die?” “Who’s going to be there?” This is a very, very real question and it is an enormous concern. The number of families that are touched by this disease is overwhelming. We need to stand up and make sure we do something about it, because 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 autism is growing at such an alarming rate. And there is no one in this room who does not know somebody whose life has been touched. I urge an Aye vote on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Further discussion? Senator Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. I do appreciate the sponsor bringing this bill forward. I mean, we all know that autism is a devastatingly and increasingly common disease and one of the benefits of treating it early is that hopefully these individuals will function better in the long run and require less services. So, it is important that we step up to the plate, but it’s also important that we step up to the plate responsibly and that’s where the only issue is - are we achieving the proper balance between the insurance mandate and the consequences that -- that may occur there versus the good that can come from this. I accept at your word that - and the advocates - that you’ll continue to work on this in the House, particularly the impact on small business. Just for the Body’s information though, I mentioned this. I asked you the question whether or not the advocates and the business community had met. You said you were not -- not aware of that. The information I’ve received is that there hasn’t been a really good conversation. So, you know, I think everyone here is expressing support for the concept. But we really do need to hold everyone’s feet to the fire to make sure that those two groups get together. I think it is possible to find common ground. We found it when we passed mental health parity. We can do it again, but it’s not going to happen unless those conversations 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 are held. So, I appreciate your assurance that will occur. And with that, I will be voting Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator DeLeo, to close. SENATOR DeLEO: Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I appreciate those comments and I appreciate the comments of support. And I appreciate the comments of things that we need to work on. There is -- this is a very serious first approach at something that’s a very serious matter. Senator Dahl mentioned this mandate creating excessive premiums for small business owners. Well, I’ve been told by people in the insurance industry, due to the low cap, any -- cost increase anticipated would be low. They even talked about -- some of the insurance people that I talked to told me it’d be about five cents a day. Twelve dollars -- five dollars a month. Thirty dollars a year. So, the cost that’s -- the feedback that’s coming back from the insurance industry is not a huge burden. I appreciate -- I’m a small businessman. I appreciate that we -- we worry about small business. So, that is -- we will, and I -- I make this commitment. I made the commitment in committee. I make the commitment to you on the Senate Floor, we will work together as the bill progresses over in the other Chamber. In closing, Mr. President, last year -- last year in the United States, autism cost this nation ninety billion dollars - a figure that’s supposed to double in the next decade. Autism is the fastest growing disability -- development disability in the United States. So, as I said a few moments ago, this is a giant step, because -- and somebody mentioned - and I think Senator 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008 Cronin mentioned - that’s what our job is here. Our job is to help people that need help. This is a people business. Just like if a church burns down and somebody gives money to it to help ‘em rebuild or there’s a problem, that’s what our job is as legislators, to help those people that don’t have voices. And this community needs a voice and that’s what we’re doing here today. Mr. President, I ask for a favorable roll call on Senate Bill 1900, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1900 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 50 voting Aye, none voting Nay, 4 voting Present. Senate Bill 1900, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. President… President Emil Jones, Jr.
Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege. We have two schools here from my district: St. -- Ethelreda, along with its principal Denise Spells; St. John De La Salle, along with -- along with its principal, Charles Carroll, and along with -- accompanying them is Dr. George Smith, President of the Diversified Behavioral Comprehensive Care. Let’s give ‘em a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Welcome. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you seek recognition, sir?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege. 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 95th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 146th Legislative Day 4/15/2008
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) State your point, sir.
We just voted on a very important bill on autism and I want to introduce the person that preceded me in office here, because he came down to Springfield today because in -- in Peoria the Easter Seals has a place called the George and Lorraine Shadid Autism Center and this is an issue that’s very important to him. My predecessor, Senator George Shadid.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HENDON) Senator Shadid, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Welcome home. The Republican leadership has requested a Republican Caucus in Leader Watson’s Office to begin immediately. All committees will be pushed back fifteen minutes because of that. So, committees will -- the 2 o’clock committees will start at 2:15 and the others will follow fifteen minutes after their scheduled time. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned to the hour of Wednesday, April 16th, 2008, at 2 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned. 64