PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The regular Session of the 97th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Shaun Lewis, Capitol Commission, Springfield, Illinois. Pastor Lewis.
(Prayer by Pastor Shaun Lewis)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Jacobs, to lead us in the Pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journals.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 Senate Resolution 622, offered by Senator Duffy and all Members. Senate Resolution 623, offered by Senator Wilhelmi and all Members. They are death resolutions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary.
Senate Resolution 624, offered by Senator Steans. Senate Joint Resolution 57, offered by Senator Althoff. Senate Joint Resolution 58, offered by Senator Crotty. They are substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Wilhelmi, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary, reports Senate Bills 2536 and 3210 Do Pass. Senator Koehler, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bills 2946, 3167, 3253, 3406, 3437 and 3438 Do Pass; House Bill 3129 Do Pass. Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 2869, 2944, 3258, 3349, 3423 and 3489 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives which -- has passed bills of the 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 3802. We have received like Messages on House Bills 3819, 3935 and 4076. Passed the House, February 22nd, 2012. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Mr. Secretary. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments will please come to the President's Anteroom immediately. Committee on Assignments, those members, please come to the Anteroom immediately. The Senate stands at ease. (at ease) Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Criminal Law Committee - Senate Bills 3359, 3636, 3637 and 3638; refer to Education Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3239; refer to Executive Committee - Senate Bill 3262 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3146; refer to Human Services Committee - Senate Bill 3544; refer to Judiciary Committee - Senate Bills 3592, 3593 and 3594; refer to Licensed Activities Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3315, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3385; refer to Pensions and Investments Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3357, Committee Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 3474; refer to Public Health Committee - Senate Bill 2961, Senate Bill -- 3527, Committee Amendment No. 1 to 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 Senate Bill 2945 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3261; refer to Revenue Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2514 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2522; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3245; refer to Transportation Committee - Committee -- Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2493, Floor Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2527, Committee Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2579, Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3214 and Committee Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3358; re-refer from Revenue Committee to Public Health Committee - Senate Bill 3348; re-refer from Local Government Committee to Assignments Committee - House Bill 2557; and Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bills 350, 408 and 546. James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, I have an announcement, if we can your attention here just a minute. The following committee will be meeting to take up Floor amendments: The Transportation Committee will meet tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. - that's on Friday, February the 24th - in Room 400. Transportation, tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m., Room 400, to take up Floor amendments. Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention. We have a special guest with us here this -- this -- this afternoon. And Senator Maggie Crotty has a special guest. If you give her attention, please. Senator Crotty.
Well, good afternoon. I am so proud to have Ashley Hooks here with me today. I -- I have the privilege to serve her and 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 her family as a Senator, and I know her dad quite well. But Ashley is - and I'm going to give her age - is twenty-five. Because when you hear of all the accomplishments that Ashley has been able to do, you're going to wonder how she did it all in twenty-five years. Ashley is -- has the proud parents of William and Debbie Hooks. She also has a sister, Mariah, who lives in New York. And she has two nephews. Ashley attended Longwood Elementary in Glenwood and Infant Jesus of Prague School in Flossmoor, where she first started developing her diversified talents, including learning to play both the saxophone and the piano, as well as developing her love of sports, including softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track, ice skating and dance. She continued to excel academically and athletically when she attended Homewood- Flossmoor High School, where she was also a reporter for the school's radio station, WHFH. She went on to win a presidential scholarship to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in Urban Planning. Ashley continued her community service efforts through her college career - in East St. Louis working to reconstruct and redevelop historic parks and her involvement in charity fashion shows for women and children affected by domestic violence and the AIDS epidemic in Africa. She continued her education by attending the Midwest Academy community organizing internship program in Chicago and advocated for such causes as pedestrian safety and a universal school breakfast program for the Chicago Public Schools. After completing her education, Ashley went to work with the Citizens {sic} (Citizen) Action of New York, in Albany, where she learned to be a community organizer, focusing on social service issues. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 In addition, she worked on many campaigns in the Albany County district attorneys as well as mayors and city council races. Back in this, I think, last November, she now is Miss Illinois, and she not only represents our State in that capacity, but she's also employed by CMS. So let's welcome Ashley Hooks and congratulate her on becoming Miss Illinois. And she is also in competition for the Miss America contest coming up -- Miss USA. Thank you very much. Ashley, would you have a few minutes to speak to us? MISS ILLINOIS USA 2012 ASHLEY HOOKS: (Remarks by Miss Illinois USA 2012 Ashley Hooks)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your announcement.
Senator Millner is home again today and will be for the remainder of the week, due to a family illness. Just have the record reflect that and deem his absence excused. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, and the record will so reflect. Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I just wanted to introduce my very best friend in the entire world. My sister is visiting here from Los Angeles, California. Her name is Brianna Ramsey. And I have with me my nephew, who is a big seventeen months old today -- or, not today, but big seventeen months old, as he stands here in his wonderful Senate jacket and tie to visit the Chambers. And he's available for fist bumps and high fives, anybody that wants to come by and say hello. So, welcome to the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome Rianna {sic} and David to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 3828, offered by Senator Radogno. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 3829, offered by Senator Lightford. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of House Bills.
House Bill 3802, offered by Senator Koehler. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3935, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the House bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, just for the purpose of an 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 97th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 84th Legislative Day 2/23/2012 announcement here. I'd like to run through the committees that are this afternoon, the round of committees that are this afternoon. At 12:30, Labor meets in Room 212. At 12:30, Pensions and Investments, in Room 400. Executive -- Executive at 2 o'clock -- Executive Committee at 2 o'clock in Room 212. Licensed Activities at 2 o'clock in Room 409. Revenue at 2 o'clock in Room 400. Insurance at 4 o'clock in Room 400. State and Veteran -- State Government and Veteran {sic} (Veterans) Affairs at 4 o'clock in Room 409. Those -- that's the list of committees this afternoon. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 11 a.m. on the 24th day of February, 2012. The Senate stands adjourned. 8