PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The regular Session of the 98th General Assembly will come to order. Will all the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Father Jim Swarthout, Rosecrance Health Network, Rockford, Illinois. Father.
(Prayer by Father Jim Swarthout)
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 Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, November 5th, 2013.
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) Thank you. 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, Journal. Resolutions? Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Senate Resolutions 677 through 681, by -- offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. Senate Resolution 682, offered by Senator Bivins and all Members. Senate Resolution 683, by -- offered by Senator Hunter and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 684, by Senator -- offered by Senator Koehler. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Aaron Frye with WICS requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1600 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Forby, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor and Commerce, reports House Bill 924 Do Pass. Senator Sandoval, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1219 Recommend Do Adopt and House Joint Resolution 4 Be Adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Tony Yuscius with Blueroomstream.com requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Introduction of Bills.
Senate Bill 2617, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2618, offered by Senator Morrison. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2619, offered by Senator Syverson. (Secretary reads title of bill) Senate Bill 2620, offered by Senator Sandoval. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 492. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 492. Passed the House, as amended, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all the Members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 President's Anteroom immediately? The Senate will stand 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 Appropriations II Committee - House Bill 209; refer to Education Committee - Senate Joint Resolution 44, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 578 and Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1845; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 214, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 341, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 497, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2427, Floor Amendment 3 to House Bill 2536, Floor Amendment 3 to House Bill 3271, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 45; Be Approved for Consideration - House Bill 1604. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, for a -- can I have your attention for an announcement here? We have some additional committees that will be meeting this afternoon. This is in addition to the previously posted committees. We have some additional committees. Education will meet in Room 400 this afternoon at 1:30. Exec is Room 212 at 2 o'clock. State Government and Veterans Affairs, Room 409 at 2 o'clock as well. Education, 1:30; Exec at 2; State Government and Veterans Affairs at 2 o'clock as well. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President, for purpose of -- introduction. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your introduction.
I want to introduce to the Senate my Page for the Day. His name is Evan Bowen. He's a junior at Canton High School, where he's president of the Chess Club and a member of the Key Club. He's active in the Wesleyan {sic} (Wesley) United Methodist Church youth group and enjoys reading. He's a member of the honors program at his school and Evan plans to attain -- attend Western Illinois University after he graduates. His stepdad is in the gallery, Mark Rothert. I know his mom, Brenda, very well. I've worked with them in the past. I'd like to have the Senate give Evan a good Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Evan and Mark, welcome to the State Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise today?
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Bill 209 can be heard at -- today at 5 p.m. in the Senate Appropriations II Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Bill 209 can be heard today at 3 p.m. in the Senate Appropriations II Committee. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and all notice and posting requirements have been waived. Ladies and Gentlemen, just to be clear, that was at 5 p.m. - Senate Appropriations II today at 5 p.m., House Bill 209. Senator Jones, for what purpose do you 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Purpose of introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your introduction, Senator Jones.
Today, I'm proudly {sic} to introduce two very special guests with me today. Damani R. Bolden is the student body president of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His election marks the first time in the University's hundred-and-forty-six-year marking {sic} that a African-American has held this position. He also serves as the president of the Illinois Student Senate. He's currently pursuing a degree in agriculture and consumer economics, with a consideration in public policy and law. He has been honored by Tom Hynes Citizenship Award for community service and, in 2009, was invited to the University of Notre Dame seminar for African- American scholars to address issues that face the African- American community. I also have on my left, Ronald Lewis, who's Damani's executive assistant and a freshman at U of I. He's majoring in accounting and finance and hopes to be an investment banker. He is a member of the Business Council and -- and placed number one at the State's University in Public Speaking and seventh in the country. He's currently a member of the Illinois Student Senate as well. Please join me and give me a round of applause for my two distinguished guests today in the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Damante {sic} (Damani) and Ronald, welcome to the State Senate. We're -- great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise? 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
For an introduction. I would like to…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your introduction, Senator Van Pelt.
Thank you. Thank you. I would like to ask the Senate to please give a warm welcome to Mr. Phil Thomas, who is the Director of the eta Theater on the South Side of Chicago. Formerly, he was a senior program officer at Chicago Community Trust and the Woods Fund. And he's here today to join us. Phil Thomas.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Thomas, welcome to the Senate. Great to have you here. Thanks for joining us today. Senator Biss, for what purpose do you rise?
For the purpose of an introduction, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point of interest.
Thank you. Members, I'd like to introduce you to two constituents of mine, who are here today to help bring the perspective of municipalities in some matters of State policy. Paul Detlefs is serving in his ninth year in the -- on the Village Board in the Village of Glenview. And Jim Patterson, who previously served for eight years on the Village Board of Glenview and then went off the Board, has now reentered into public life as the President of the Village of Glenview, notwithstanding that apparently bizarre reversal of an otherwise rational lifestyle decision. We're thrilled to have them here and want to give them 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 a very warm Senate welcome, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Gentlemen, welcome to the State Senate. Thanks for joining us. Great to have you here. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
For the purpose of an introduction, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your introduction, Senator Morrison.
I'm very pleased to have two Pages with me today, both from Deerfield. Lily Zacharias is a junior at Deerfield High School. She's the president of the school's Straight and Gay Alliance, as well as a member of the Model U.N. She plans to go into politics when she is older. She is joined by Alec Lopata, also a junior from Deerfield High School. He plans to go into politics when he grows up. He was one of my interns this past summer and he also enjoys working for the American Cancer Society. Alec raised twenty-five thousand dollars last year. Very proud of him. I'm putting both of my Pages to work right now, though. They're going to be distributing to you greeting cards. We're not all going to see each other probably until after the holidays, but the American Red Cross is asking people in the Capitol today to sign a greeting card. They will mail them for you to veterans and active duty military men and women. My wonderful Pages will be happy to walk around and hand them to you. We'll pick them up at the end and the American Red Cross will be happy to mail them. Please welcome my Pages.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today. You're with a outstanding Senator there. Thanks for joining us. Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you rise?
I have a plethora of introductions today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Well, please make your introductions, Senator Oberweis.
First of all, I have two grandsons here, Nick and Joe Petrocelli. And in addition to that, we have Page for a Day J.T. Frieders, who is here with me. J.T. is in third grade in Williamsburg Elementary in Geneva. He loves sports. Plays baseball and soccer, but would love to someday play football and hockey. His other interests are United States Presidents - his favorite is Abe Lincoln - geography and U.S. History. J.T. and his mom and both love to -- would love to own a sports team someday. He's here with his parents, Mike and Terri, who are up in the visitors' gallery, along with my daughter, Trish. His brothers, Luke and Josh, are also in the gallery. Please give them a warm Springfield welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Please rise and be recognized. Please stand up and be recognized. Great to have you here today. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Althoff.
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Thank you very much, Mr. President. I, too, have a very important guest with me today. Her name if Patricia Kadansky. She's twelve years old. She's in sixth grade at Station Middle School in South Barrington. Her interests include student council, reading and baking. That was my favorite. Her future interests, she really wants to be an excellent student and move on. She's here today in Springfield with her parents, Debra and Richard Kadansky, and her brother, also Richard. May we give her a warm welcome to Springfield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Patricia and your family, welcome to the Senate. Thanks for joining us today. Do we get to sample some of that cooking? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Murphy.
I am joining the parade of introductions and I've got a Page for a Day, Trent Day. His wife, Kathy, is here in the gallery on -- his mother, Kathy, excuse me, is here, on the Republican side of the aisle here in the gallery. Trent is a senior at Buffalo Grove High School. Has participated in the golf, tennis and football teams. He's on the math club. He's volunteered at Clearbrook, a great developmental disability facility in our area, and the People to People Program. He's -- you know, this is just typical of the caliber of kid we raise in the 27th Senate District and we like to have 'em down here to show off a little bit. And if you could all give Trent a warm Senate welcome. He wants to be 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 a dentist when he grows up. And I know Dave Marsh has been around, so we'll make sure we introduce him. Please give Trent a warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Trent, welcome to the Senate. Great to have you here today and also your family. Thanks for joining us. Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Mr. President. Members of the Illinois Senate, today I'd like to welcome a family -- a member of a family that I've gotten to know over the years as the godfather of the Mexican cowboys - in other words, the charros, the Illinois Federation of Charros. Visiting us today from the municipality of Beecher, Illinois, we have Salvador Yamez, who is a rancher in Beecher, family-owned ranch in Beecher. He is visiting us, representing a member of the Illinois Federation of Charros. We'd like to give him a warm welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Salvador, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Great to have you here today. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 3 of your printed Calendar, the middle of the page, on the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. Page 3 of the printed Calendar, House Bills 2nd Reading, we have House Bill 353. Senator Kotowski. Out of the record. Next up on the Calendar, we have House Bill 2327. Senator Hutchinson. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, out of 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 the record. Next up, we have House Bill 2453. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, out of the record. House Bill 2898. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 2898. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. 3rd Reading. Mr. Secretary, with leave of the Body, let's return to House Bill 2327. It's up on the board. Senator Hutchinson, do you wish to move forward? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 2327. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next on the Calendar is House Bill 2453. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 2453. (Secretary reads title of bill) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 685 and 686, offered by Senator Brady. They are both death -- death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Rodney D. Correll with WLS-TV requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 2 of your printed Calendars. Page 2 of the printed Calendar, on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, we have House Bill 1551. Senator Sandoval. Senator Sandoval requests -- seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 1551 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 1551. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Sandoval, to explain Floor Amendment 3.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to describe the Amendment 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 No. -- I'd like to adopt the amendment and then describe it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 1551. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1551. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 1551 is a piece of legislation brought forward by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. It's a bill that provides express authority to issue grants, acquire real estate and do voluntary buyouts for stormwater purposes and it clarifies the District's stormwater authority as relates to design and construction of both local and regional stormwater projects. House Bill 1551 has an immediate effective date. I'd ask for a -- a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Biss, for what 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Biss.
I simply want to thank the sponsor. This is a bill that's a really important measure for a small number of constituents of mine who purchased homes in floodplains that are living in really impossible situations and this will enable the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to help those constituents out. It makes a big difference and I want to say thank you very much and encourage all my colleagues to vote Yes, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is final action. The question is, shall House Bill 1551 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 1551, having received the required constitutional authority {sic}, is declared passed. Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Barickman.
Mr. President, my colleagues, I'd like to introduce to you my 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Page for the Day. Emily Schroeder is a junior at Normal Community West High School. Her parents are Jeff and Jeanette Schroeder. And Emily plans to go to law school and/or pursue a career in government and politics. So please join me in giving a warm welcome to Emily Schroeder.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Emily, welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're still on page 2 of the printed Calendar. In the middle of the page, on the on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, we have House Bill 1584. Leader Radogno. You wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1584. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill simply clears up a statutory inconsistency in definitions between the health care -- the Alternative Health Care Delivery Act and the Health Facilities Planning Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall House Bill 1584 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, please take the 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 1584, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, if you'll return to -- go to the top of the order with regard to House Bills 3rd Reading, again, on page 2, we have House Bill 1516. We'll let it come up on the board. Senator Trotter, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, Senator Trotter seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 1516 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have House Bill 1516. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2 actually amends and deletes everything from the -- and becomes the bill. With leave of the Body, I'd like to explain it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 1516. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1516. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
…much, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 1516, as amended, makes changes to the Medical Assistance Article of the Public Aid Code. The bill eliminates language limiting dental services provided under Medicaid to emergencies. This restores dental service coverage to levels available prior to the passage of the SMART Act. The bill also provides statutory authority to HFS to enact emergency rules to implement the provision in an expeditious and timely manner. HFS claims to have the resources necessary to fund this obligation through only its statutory transfer authority of FY 2014. There are other deals and I'm open for questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will. Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator Trotter, I have heard a buzz about a bill 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 somewhere in the General Assembly that would provide yet another rollback of the Medicaid Reform Act that was passed two years ago and specifically one that would reinstate adult dental services. Is -- is this that bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
I'm going to make the assumption it is. I've heard of several initiatives that had been talked about. The one specifically that you're referring to, I believe this is it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Most, if not all, Members of the General Assembly, a couple years ago, Senator Trotter, at least in their press releases, agreed with and most of them voted for a Medicaid reform package out of recognition that our Medicaid system was out of control, both in terms of management and in terms of expense - hence the eye-shockingly large backlog of bills that this State still owes in that program. And I don’t know if you were a supporter of those, but in -- in that context, why do you believe that we need to step forward and repeal some of those reforms, as you're doing in House Bill 1516?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much. Sir, you're absolutely correct. Two years ago, as we were looking at our -- our position and -- and how devastated our State was becoming because of our liabilities 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 and because of some of the programs that we had in place were just too far-reaching, but as with anything, we looked and we made some changes. But in this particular instance, it is believed that we overreacted, and as the -- as the power of this legislative Body, when we make those egregious mistakes that impacted so negatively on so many of our constituents, it's -- think it's incumbent upon us to correct them, not just stick with the -- the first thought that this is the only way to skin that cat to become solvent again. But, also, let's do it in a humane way. Which, with the deletion of this, the elimination of the adult dental programs, certainly was -- was more than just skinning the cat; it was beheading the cat. And this is rectifying those efforts that we made at that time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I think, Senator Trotter, at least in part, what I heard you say was that there is no such thing as a perfect bill that's ever passed the General Assembly and become law. That's hard to disagree with. Now -- but the Department itself says that reinstating this service - in other words, retreating from this part of the Medicaid Reform Act that we passed - will cost taxpayers another thirty-five million dollars. Do you believe that this State can afford at this point in time, when we're debating a backlog of bills and budget deficits and a tax increase that may or may not sunset and all those issues, do you think this State can afford to lay out an extra thirty-five million dollars to reinstate the benefit that most of us said we can take that away in the reform? 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
Sir, no, I don’t believe that we can just afford thirty-five million dollars to -- to rectify that problem, but there is also -- it begs for the question, can we actually afford not to do this? Because what happens by not restoring these benefits to the program, we are devastating and -- and decimating, one, the -- the viability of the people that we are sent down here to help. And primarily the conversations I've had with the Department, with the -- the Director yesterday, as a matter of fact, after committee, after we passed it out of committee, was, in fact, that that thirty-five million dollars, 35.4 million dollars that you're referencing is a gross amount. So, basically, it is only about seventeen million dollars, seventeen and a half million dollars, and the other half from there. So it is not thirty-five million dollars that they have to come up with. And she also assured me, by passing this legislation, we'll be giving her to -- authority to use those dollars that are already been appropriated within her budget right now. So they're not new dollars that we're coming up with since July 1st. It's dollars that's already in their budget.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Righter. Thank you.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this General Assembly has 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 stood up each of the last three years and said to medical providers, to taxpayers, and, indeed, to the people who depend upon Medicaid for their health insurance and said we recognize this program is out of control; we recognize it's been mismanaged horribly by the last two administrations; we recognize that we owe bills and the growth in this program is unsustainable. And in that recognition, we stepped up and said we're going to change the program and, yes, that means, to some extent, we had to take some benefits away. And I know that that's a difficult thing for some people to say in this Chamber and the Chamber across the hall and it's a difficult thing for some taxpayers or some people on Medicaid to listen to, but it's the reality. We had to spend less money. That means you have to give fewer things away. You had to reduce the size of the program and reduce the services that were being afforded. Now, we come back and we say, well, except for this and except for this and except for this. The moratorium was passed three years ago on Medicaid expansions. Since then, we've poked two truck-sized holes in that moratorium by adding several hundred thousand people more to the Medicaid program that we already can’t afford and now this is another step in saying we didn’t really mean it. So, to your hospitals and your nursing homes back home, when we said we made the tough decisions to make sure that you start getting paid on time, you didn't really mean it. When you told the Medicaid recipients that, you know, I understand that just having a Medicaid card really doesn't help that much anymore because you can’t find a doctor, because the doctors don’t want to be paid an insulting low reimbursement fee and then wait six months for it, when you told them, but we're going to make the system better so having that card in your hand 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 or in your pocket is more meaningful, we didn’t really mean that either. I mean, the test of leadership isn't what you can pass on the front end; it's whether or not you can resist peeling away and eating out -- eating out from underneath it later. And this bill is another test and another demonstration of the failure of that kind of leadership. We're either going to control the Medicaid program or we're not going to control the Medicaid program. We're either going to resist the calls of the people around the rail and the advocates to say, please, please, do this out of recognition that the taxpayers' dollars are limited. Please vote No. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
To -- to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Haine.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, there are many of us who voted for the Medicaid reforms two years ago in spite of the fact that, in our opinion, they improvidently in that bill removed these services. I have a dental school in my district. There's another one in the Chicago area, University of Illinois. These schools run extensive clinics and the Medicaid changes of two years ago has inhibited them from performing these services and being reimbursed. Many oral surgeons were knocked out of performing these services and being reimbursed. And we knew this was coming. It was part of what the previous speaker referred to as an 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 imperfect bill. We voted for the bill hoping that at some point these things would be rectified. This is not a truck-sized loophole. It is a targeted response to real needs of dental problems. These are -- this is gum disease, rotting teeth on children and adults. It is a -- a -- a situation where a human being is in terrible pain. They leave it to the point where they go to the emergency room. And the hospitals can’t deal with it, so it drives up the cost by bringing an -- an oral surgeon in. So this is actually a -- a very good reform of a broken system that we enacted two and a half years ago. And we have been waiting for this. It meets a need. It is not anything to say to the hospitals, who are behind the previous reforms, that we are going back on anything that we've said. This thing shouldn’t have been done in prior years and I would ask for an Aye vote. I would remember that dental problems are -- if left untreated, are terrible things for people to undergo and to have, and at some point, we're going to have to treat 'em. The schools are ready and willing to -- to do this in an efficient way and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Couple questions of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for questions. Senator Syverson.
Senator, I -- we talked about this in committee and the concern, obviously, raised by many is the fact that -- of the price tag at a time when we can't pay our current -- our current bills. 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Many of these services we're talking about restoring are all going to help people, but is there a way to -- that we can bring this in line where it can work within that budgetary constraints that we have? And so, with that in mind, I guess, my question to you is, thirty-five million is something that would restore all the services completely to where it was before. Part of reforms are trying to deliver services more cost-effectively or limit it to those services that we can really afford to do. Are you open to working with the administration and working with both sides to say is there a way that through the rule process that when we look at what benefits are going to be covered under this expanded program, that we can find a way to back that in so it can work within the budgetary constraints and not be as -- as broad as what we're looking at with this price tag?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
Yes, Leader Syverson. The answer to your question is, yes. I'm -- I'm totally amenable to looking at tightening the program up and how we can make this work even better. And -- and if I could just address another little part that was said. You know, we did make that concerted effort to -- to reel in all of our costs. We did it with eligibility in Medicaid and then we've done a yeoman's job with getting rid of those individuals that should not be eligible for the overall Medicaid program. I mean, out of that, two years ago, we've cut out almost 1.6 billion dollars out of a program. So I'm not saying that thirty-five million dollars or seventeen million dollars isn't a lot of money, but when you compare it to the savings that we have made and -- and those 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 reforms that we have made and we're going to keep, this -- this isn’t a lot for us to go back and -- and revisit and do the right thing. And -- and we are going to be continually making those kinds of changes as we go forward. So, yes, I look forward to working with anyone, with the Department especially, in tightening up the program as is and making it better throughout years to come.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Senator. We could only wish that we cut 1.6 billion, but of course we didn’t cut anywhere close to that, but… So, on this program here, clearly there are issues. Especially, long term care was a significant problem with the dental that they were facing - that needs to be there, as well as -- as -- as well as some of the -- the different expanded adult services. So, but what you're saying is that you're open to working with the administration on -- from the rule process, of what adult services may be covered or not covered so it can back into a -- a budgetary number that can be worked in with the upcoming budget year, working with both the House and the Senate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
Yes, Leader Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: A question of the sponsor, please. 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for a question. Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, help me understand. Currently, are there any dental benefits for those on Medicaid currently? And if so, what are they and how will that differ from -- once we pass this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
Senator McCarter, yes. I'm certainly glad you asked that question. Yes, there are emergency benefits now for Medicaid individuals. What we eliminated out of our dental program was, one, first oral exam prevention test; X-rays; fillings; crowns; sedative fillings; root canals for front teeth; dentures, upper and lower; denture relines; and still -- extractions; IV sedation; took out nitrous oxide; conscious sedation; therapeutic drug injection. There's a whole list of things that we eliminated that we believe were -- were cost-savers, because it doesn’t just deal with emergency, which means going to the emergency room and then having to do much more extensive work at a later date.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: And, additionally, Senator, so we're -- from what I can tell, we're adding back everything that was in there before. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 That's correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: …bill -- to the bill, please. You know, this is a tough -- it's a tough vote. It's a tough vote because we stand here and - - and fight hard for reforms in the systems to help bring more accountability to save some money when we can and to live within our means, but, you know, the fact that we just put -- put back everything the way it was without actually addressing even one reform, even one -- even one limitation of an area that could have been abused, that concerns me. I mean, if we had said, well, you know what, we're going to put back seventeen million of the thirty- five because we feel that this is fair and we feel this is just, I probably would have, you know, felt like this was a good bill to vote for. But the fact that we just reversed it right back to where we had it and when we make the assumption that everything's okay and there's no abuse in the system, we all know we're -- we all know that's not true. So if we had've done a little better job of coming back and -- and breaking that down as to what really should have been reinstated, because that was just, I would have been more obliged to vote for the bill. But until now -- as of now, I'm not in favor. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 To the bill, Senator Koehler.
You know, I think this is the responsible thing to do. Many of us did vote for the reforms a couple years ago and this is one part of it that I did not support, but the whole package -- it was obvious that we needed to do something. When I went back home, I got a lot of heat for this particular item, because they said, what are you thinking about, that you're going to eliminate adult dental care? There's a lot of problems that -- that especially the poor community have in terms of dental. I said, well, I guess if somebody has an emergency, they -- they go to the emergency room. Well, how much money does that save? Well, not a -- not a whole lot. I think that this is the responsible thing to do, because certainly I've heard from my constituents, from the organizations that -- that work with -- with people that are covered under Medicaid and they said we need to have this back. I -- I just heard the sponsor say that, yes, we'll work with the Department and to see how we can make some adjustments along the way. But for us to pass something and never come back and readdress it, would be irresponsible. So I think the responsible thing to do is to make these changes, because, let's face it, these issues exist in our communities. We can’t pass a law that says we're going to eliminate dental problems in our communities. That just doesn’t happen. I commend the sponsor and I intend to vote for this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Mulroe.
I, too, rise in support of the bill. Obviously, everybody in the Chamber -- we're -- we want change and Medicaid reform is necessary. We -- we passed it. But if that leads to higher costs, we need to do something about it. In my opinion, this bill will save money. In the -- under the current situation, a person who needs dental services can’t get their cavity filled. That -- by not having their cavity filled, it leads to emergency rooms or extractions, which are a lot higher in costs than the simple filling of a cavity. So in my opinion, this bill will actually save money and I'd ask that everybody support it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I rise in support of this legislation, in strong support of the legislation. And many of the things have been said. I would just like to put a -- another perspective on the argument. I hear from the other side their concerns about abuse or -- or the lack of reform, but if I were to speak to reform, I feel that this is a -- a likely way to go to ensure that vulnerable people have the access to care that they truly need. It's been said, if you go to the emergency room, the cost to the State is much more than the thirty-four million. We know that if you go to the emergency room for medical care, it's over eight hundred and sixty-seven 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 million dollars for the care, because you do not have the preventive care. But if we're going to talk about reform, I like -- I would like to see reform in how we're able to give out tax credits to various corporations that want to hold the State hostage and say that they're going to leave the State unless we give them tax credits. We have ADM. We have Motorola. We have Sears. We have CME. So do we ever question their request that is on the back of taxpayers? And we know that many of them, like Motorola and Sears, did not honor the tax break that they got. So let's use a perspective here. I think we're attacking the poor. There seems to be a tendency to have a war on poverty and those people who are vulnerable and need government to step in to give them the assistance that they need. I ask for a very strong support of this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in support of the bill. That's a tough act to follow. I'd just like to say that I'm in support of the bill. I think that there are times where you pass legislation and you have to go back and look and realize that you've made a mistake. And I think we made a mistake. I think we went too far. I think that when, you know, you're not able to take care of a cavity, obviously it becomes a much bigger issue. I've gotten letters from my county, from Lake County, from the health department there, asking me to support this bill. That's what I plan to do. I think it's the right thing to do and I would urge the rest of the membership to vote Yes. Thank you so much. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Last person seeking recognition, Senator Steans. For what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Steans.
So I certainly was involved in the SMART Act negotiations and wish that this had never been included in the bill. It clearly was a mistake and I just have heartfelt appreciation for Leader Trotter in bringing this before us and correcting the mistake that was in the bill. I also want to remind the Chamber, when Governor Edgar was in place, we also cut dental benefits out of the Medicaid program, and two years after we made that cut under Governor Edgar, we restored dental Medicaid benefits, because it's the wrong thing to do. It may be a cut in the short term to our budget; long term, it clearly rises costs. ER treatment for dental problems averages six thousand five hundred dollars compared to a trip to the dentist's office of six hundred and sixty dollars. Huge differences. This is clearly the right thing to do. It not only provides better care for folks, making sure that when they're in the doctor's -- they're actually getting care also for their oral health. It also will reduce costs for the State in the long run. Thank you, Leader Trotter, and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Leader Trotter, to close.
Thank you very much, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 I want to thank all of the -- the speakers' comments on -- on both sides, the -- the positive and negative. What it brings to light is that we still have a lot of work to do to get our house in order, but as we do so, we need to be very conscientious of -- of the harm that we do by acting too fast, by acting and by -- and not thinking out the ramifications of the problem. As pointed -- out by Leader Steans, one of the costs of going to the dentist {sic} was of six thousand dollars versus six hundred dollars of going to your dental -- your dentist's office. From '08 to 2011, Illinois hospitals, especially in the Chicago metropolitan area, had nearly seventy-seven thousand emergencies or other types of visits for non-injury, for dental-related ailments in our emergency rooms. There's a cost to that. At the same -- they're not just the financial costs, but also the physical and mental costs to the individuals that have to go through this as a consequence of us not being proactive in some cases, but certainly not correcting those things that we did reactive. I'll ask for an Aye vote from everyone in this Chamber.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, this is final action. As the bill requires an effective date prior to January 1, it will require a three-fifths vote. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall House Bill 1516 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 42 voting Aye, 16 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 1516, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Silverstein in the Chair. 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SILVERSTEIN) Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Dear Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1448. Together with the following amendment which is attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1448. And we have received like Messages, Mr. President, on Senate Bill 2169 {sic} (2196), along with House Amendment 2. Passed the House, as amended, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SILVERSTEIN) Senator Sullivan, what -- what purpose do you rise for?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SILVERSTEIN) Please -- please state your point.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I have some guests here with me today, actually quite a few of 'em, but I'm going to introduce the two good-looking guys over my shoulders here. I have Dan Fristrom on my left. He is a student at WIU, Western Illinois University, majoring in political science. He's a senior. He's from Glendale Heights. And on my right is Dan Fristrom -- 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 or, excuse me, Marek Korzinski. He's also a political science major, a senior, and he is from Lake County, Senator Link. And so these two folks are just spending the day here in Springfield with me and I would like to -- like the General Assembly to recognize them, and then I have another announcement. So if you'd welcome these two folks first.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SILVERSTEIN) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Let's give them a round of applause. Thank you. Another personal announcement? Go ahead, Senator Sullivan.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Also, up in the gallery on the Democrat side, Robin Johnson is a -- teaches Political Science at Monmouth College and every -- well, at least once or twice a year, he brings a group of students down to -- to the Capitol here to watch us and see what goes on here, and he has a large class with him today and I'm going to read their names. And as I read your name, if you would, stand up, and I'll try not to butcher your names too bad: Samantha Barranco, Lauren Becker, Brittany Zenge, Allie Caruso, Shannon Sullivan, Cameron Line, Justin Frye, Benjamin Eaton, Ryan Suttles, Britt Bothast, Dan Carlson, Emily Cagan, Hassan Masood, Garrett Daniel, Bryanth Perez, Emily Holt, Steve Oaks, Yaritza Navarette, Emily Ordaz, Anthony Howe, Elijah French -- Elisha French, and Jazmin Perez. All of you please stand up, and Robin as well. Please welcome our guests to the Illinois Senate. Great to have you here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SILVERSTEIN) Please welcome the guests. Thank you very much, Senator Sullivan. And welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senator Sullivan 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 back in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. We will not be in next Tuesday, but I just wanted to make everyone aware that Senator Van Pelt -- where is she? Did she leave the Floor? Oh! Senator Van Pelt has a -- has a birthday next Tuesday. We will not be here, so I'd like for us to wish her a very happy birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Van Pelt, happy birthday next Tuesday. Senator McCann, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCANN: A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: I have here with me as a guest today, my Page, Andrew Arenz from Auburn, Illinois, just down the road from us. He's a senior at Auburn High School. He is in the Spanish Club, Math Club, Science Club and he runs cross country, where he's an All-Stater in the eight hundred. This young man, at the ripe young age of seventeen, has started a nonprofit organization, called Operation GODSEND, where he and others assist the elderly, the handicapped, and widows in the community. They've taken this upon themselves 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 to -- to get active at that level. And his future plans, he would like to either attend one of the military academies or pursue a career in business. So I hope you'll join me in welcoming Andrew Arenz.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Andrew, welcome to the State Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Senator Manar, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Manar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to welcome this young man to my right, Anthony Johnson, who is a fourth grader at Owen Marsh Elementary School, here in Springfield. I met Anthony at a town hall meeting a few months ago and invited him back to be with us at the Senate today. Just want to extend a welcome to him.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please welcome our guest to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today and you're with a great Senator. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 4 of the printed Calendar, towards the top of the page, we have Secretary's Desk, Concurrence, Senate Bills. We're going to go to Senate Bill 1496. Senator Martinez. You wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please be -- read the concurrence.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1496. 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Signed by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Martinez, on your motion to concur.
Thank you, Mr. President. I motion to concur, this Body, to the changes that were made on the -- on House Bill -- I mean, Senate Bill 1496. The amendment -- one of the amendments, it amends {sic} (extends) the repeal of the Medical Practice Act and makes, among other changes, alterations and {sic} disciplinary language and reporting practices in the Act. It also removes the reference to Registered Surgical Assistant and -- and Registered Surgical Technologist Act. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is final action. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1496. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1496, and the bill is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 687, offered by Senator Brady and all Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President. 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're just waiting on a little paperwork. Just going to take a pause here for a minute. (at ease) Mr. Secretary, Messages.
Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1787. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1787. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 2071, with House Amendments 1 and 2, and Senate Bill 2352, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amended, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senate will come to order. Will the Committee on Assignments -- all members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom. All members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom. The Senate will stand at ease. (at ease) The 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 - Motion to Concur on House 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2352; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to House Bill 2427, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2977, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2196; refer to Revenue Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2071; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendments 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 492; and Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Recede from Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 1604. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention for some announcements, some committee announcements, both additional committees as well as a correction. Executive will meet in Room 212 at 2:55 this afternoon. This is a correction. State Government and Veterans Affairs will meet in Room 409 at 2:55 this afternoon. Revenue will meet in Room 409 at 4 p.m. And Local Government will -- will meet in Room 212 -- no, excuse me, that's Criminal Law. Criminal Law will meet in Room 409 at 5:30 p.m. I'll go through 'em again. Executive, Room 212 at 2:55. State Government and Veterans Affairs, Room 409 at 2:55. Revenue, Room 409 at 4 o'clock. And Criminal Law, Room 409 at 5:30 this afternoon. Those are all this afternoon. Ladies and Gentlemen, in just a second, I'll give you a complete list of the committees that are meeting and the times this afternoon. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, I'll run through the list of committees that are going to be this afternoon. First of all, Education will meet immediately after we adjourn. They will then -- after they've concluded that business, they will meet again immediately 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 following that. Executive will meet at 2 p.m. and then again for additional business at 2:55. State Government will meet at 2:55. Revenue will meet at 4 o'clock. Appropriations II will meet at 5 o'clock. And Criminal Law will meet at 5:30. Education immediately after we adjourn. Executive at 2 o'clock and then again at 2:55. State Government at 2:55. Revenue at 4 o'clock. Appropriations II at 5 p.m. and Criminal Law at 5 p.m. -- 5:30, excuse me, 5:30. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will stand at ease -- will -- excuse me, will stand in recess to the call of the Chair. We will -- after committee meetings, the Senate will reconvene, but we will not be taking any further Floor action - any further final Floor action. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Lightford, (Vice) Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports Motions to Concur: House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 578, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 578, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1595, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1845 Recommend Do Adopt; and House Bill 1002 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Landek, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports Motions to Concur: House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 492 and House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 492 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 reports Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 341, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 497 Recommend Do Adopt; Senate Amendments 1 and 2 to House Bill 2427, Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 2536, Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 2977, Senate Amendment 3 to House Bill 3271 Recommend Do Adopt; Motions to Concur: House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 45 and House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 45 Recommend Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolutions, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Resolution 688, offered by Senator Stadelman and all Members. It's a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Messages from the House, Mr. Secretary.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 1523. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 2, 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 1523. We have received a like Message on Senate Bill 2365, with House Amendment 1 {sic} (2). Passed the House, as amended, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) House Bills 1st… Messages from the House, Mr. Secretary.
Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 3656. Passed the House, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of 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 has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Joint Resolution 35. Offered by Senator Koehler, and adopted by the House, November 6th, 2013. We have received like Messages on House Joint Resolution 44, offered by Senator Luechtefeld, and adopted by the House, November 6th, 2013; House Joint Resolution 47, offered by Senator Barickman, and adopted by the House, November 6, 2013; House Joint Resolution 55, offered by Senator Harmon, and adopted by the House, November 6, 2013; House Joint Resolutions 57 and 58, offered by Senator Manar, and adopted by the House, November 6, 2013. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. They are substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Committee Reports, Mr. Secretary. 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
A correction to the earlier Executive Committee report: Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2196 Recommend Do Adopt Motion to Concur, in addition to the earlier items read previously.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) House Bills 1st Reading, Mr. Secretary.
House Bill 3656, An Act -- offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate will now stand in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Kotowski, Chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations II, reports House Bill 209 Do -- Do Pass. Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Motions {sic} to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2352 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Executive Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2, 3 and 4 to Senate Bill 1523, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 1787, and Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2365; re-refer from Revenue Committee to Executive Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2071. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolutions, Mr. Secretary.
Senate Resolution 689, offered by Senator Frerichs and all Members. Senate Resolution 690, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. They are both death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 2621, offered by Senator Sullivan. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Supplemental Calendar No. 1 has been printed and distributed. House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 209. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 209. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported. 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 73rd Legislative Day 11/6/2013
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there any -- been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. House Bill 102 -- 1002, excuse me. Senator Kotowski, as chief co-sponsor, do you wish to succeed -- continue? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1002. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) There been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Announcement for everybody: Executive Committee will be meeting in Room 212 at 9:01 tomorrow morning, November 7th. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 10 a.m., the 7th day of November, 2013. The Senate stands adjourned. 46