PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session, 98th General Assembly, will please come to order. Will our Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Travis Spencer, The Fields Church, Mattoon, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Travis Spencer)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Jacobs.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Jacobs)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 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 LINK) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. James Carder, Blueroomstream.com, requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senate Resolution 1071, offered by Senator Rose and all Members. And Senate Resolution 1072, offered by Senator Lightford and all Members. They are both death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Committee Reports.
Senator Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports Senate Bills 3316, 3382 and 3397 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 219, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 348, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1740, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2698 and Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3342 Recommend Do Adopt. Committee Report Correction. On April 2nd, 2014, the Senate Committee on Criminal Law omitted Senate Bill 2651 from its report to the Senate. Senate Bill 2651 is reported to the Senate with a recommendation of Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We will be going to 2nd Readings now. All Members who wish to proceed their -- and move their bills to 3rd, please be on the Senate Floor immediately. House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 3251, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3819, offered by Senator Hunter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4093, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 House Bill 4223, offered by Senator Forby. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4381, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4525, offered by Senator Silverstein. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4663, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5288, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5415, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5491, offered by Senator Biss. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5682, offered by Senator Holmes. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5685, offered by Senator Collins. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5688, offered by Senator Muñoz. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5755, offered by Senator Steans. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5828, offered by Senator Rose. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5899, offered by Senator McConnaughay. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5935, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5950, offered by Senator Murphy. 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 5990, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne, for what purpose do you rise?
For a point of personal {sic}.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
In -- on the Republican side in the gallery, I have a young lady who works with me, Jeanne Amann, along with Holy Child… Oh, I guess they're leaving. That they be recognized. I guess they're on a tour. That they be recognized. So… From Mascoutah, Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. On page 2, top of page 2, Senate Bill 1724. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1724. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Judiciary adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Mulroe. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. It actually is a gut and replace, a departmental health issue. I'd be happy to explain it on 3rd. I'd ask that the amendment be adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1740. Senator Trotter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2583. Senator Noland. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2590. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2620. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2674. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2698. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary -- out of the record. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2698. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, to explain your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I ask that you adopt the amendment and I will explain on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question -- the - - all those in favor, vote {sic} Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2731. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2731. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Watercraft Safety adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2758. Senator Biss. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2760. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senate Bill 2764. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2793. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2846. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2870. Senator Silverstein. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2889. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2922. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2929. Senator -- or, Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2995. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Ed Cross of WAND-TV requests permission to video. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Senate Bill 3004. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3007. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3014. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3016. Senator Connelly. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3023. Senator Mulroe. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3038. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3044. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 3044. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3052. Senator Biss. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3099. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3108. Senator Noland. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3109. Senator McGuire. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3112. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3137. Senator Jones. Out of the record. Steve Bourque of WICS-TV requests permission to record video. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Leader Radogno, for what purpose do you rise? 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
For point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Well, thank you. I would like to introduce to the Body today a couple of very special guests that we have here. They are two students from Rochester High School, but they actually have a much longer and intimate association with the Senate than many of us. I'd like to introduce Lucy Nuding, who -- you may recognize the name Nuding. She is the daughter of our Chief of Staff, Tim Nuding. And with her is Michael Harry - another name that should be familiar to many of you. Michael is the grandson of Jim Harry, who served as the Secretary of Senate -- of the Senate when I came in and you came in, Senate President. So could we please welcome these two folks back to the Senate? I'm sure they've been here many times before.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Senate. You both come from good stock. Senate Bill 3139. Senator McCann. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3144. Senator Syverson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3258. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3264. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3267. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3267. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Criminal Law adopted Amendment No. 2. 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3270. Senator McConnaughay. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3276. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3276. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3287. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3304. Senator Rose. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3306. Senator Rose. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3313. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3322. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3322. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance adopted Amendments 1 and 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Are there any further amendment -- Floor amendments approved for consideration?
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3324. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3324. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance adopted Amendments No. 1 and 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3338. Senator Connelly. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3364. Senator Brady. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3364. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3374. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3374. (Secretary reads title of bill) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3398. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3402. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3402. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3407. Senator Connelly. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3408. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3409. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3411. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3419. Senator Cunningham. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3421. Senator Morrison. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3422. Senator Sullivan. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3433. Senator Morrison. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3450. Leader Clayborne. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3451. Senator Frerichs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3456. Senator Brady. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senate Bill 3456. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3471. Senator LaHood. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3476. Senator Muñoz. Out of the record. Senate Bill -- excuse me. Senator Tom Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I would hope to have you all welcome down my Pages for a Day, Joey and Emily Pearson. They are from the great town of Addison, Illinois, and from the wonderful church, St. Alexander's. I was also lucky enough to be Joey's coach two years ago for baseball, when we won the World Series. Right? Joey -- so, Joey's in fourth grade, likes baseball, soccer, and he soon wants to be an inventor. And Emily loves baseball and softball, and she wants to be a veterinarian. They spent three days down in Leader Clayborne's area, in St. Louis, having a wonderful time, and now they're here today with their parents, Joe and Christine, up in the audience. And if we could have a great welcome for my Pages for a Day, Joey and Emily. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 3478. Senator 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Muñoz. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3486. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3497. Senator Cunningham. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3503. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3503. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3504. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3504. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3509. Senator Muñoz. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3512. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3514. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3522. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3530. Senator Stadelman. Out of the record. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise? 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
Rise on a point of personal privilege, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I would like to introduce to you two very special constituents I have with me today: First, Mr. Travis Spencer, who is the pastor of The Fields Church in Mattoon and gave the opening prayer here in the Senate today, and his son, Dakota, who is a fifth grader at St. John's Lutheran Church School. So, if you would, please give my constituents a warm Senate welcome. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 3538. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3548. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3557. Senator Trotter. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3557. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 2.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3558. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3563. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3563. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 3566. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3574. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. With leave of the Body, we'll go back to page 2. Senate Bill 1740. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1740. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Revenue adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senator Trotter, to explain your amendment.
With leave of the Body, Mr. President, it is my intent to explain the amendment - the amendment does become the bill - on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion on the amendment? All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. All Members at the sound of my voice, we will be going to 3rd Readings, on final action. All Members at the sound of my voice, we will be going to 3rd Readings, final action, very, very quickly. Tony Bateman of IIS Media seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Senate Bill 16. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 68. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 118. Senator -- President Cullerton. Out of the record. Senate Bill 119. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 119. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, on your bill.
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senate Bill 119, with Floor Amendment 1, is a Secretary of State initiative that extends the time that it takes the Merit Commission to respond to a hearing request from thirty to forty- five days. There's no opponents and I'll answer any questions. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 119 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 44 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 119, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 120. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 121. Senator Hunter. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 215. Senator Collins. Out of the record. Senate Bill 216. President Cullerton. Out of the record. Senate Bill 217. Senator Bush. Out of the record. Senate Bill 218. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 219. Senator Hunter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 220. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings, seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 220 to the Order of… With leave of the Body, we'll go back to Senate Bill 219. Senator Hunter, seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 219 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 219. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Hunter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter, on your amendment. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to adopt the amendment that amends the Illinois Lottery Law and it creates a new scratch-off ticket called "Go For The Gold", which is for the Illinois Special Olympics. Okay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill… Senate Bill 221. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 344. Senator Morrison. Out of the record. Senate Bill 345. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 345. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 345 amends the Property Tax Code and allows taxing districts subject to PTELL to levy the Social Security and Medicare levies without going to referendum, provided that the total that they levy is not increased. There are no opponents to this bill and I'll answer any questions. 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 345 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 345, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 347. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. Senate Bill 348. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 498. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 498. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. As amended, this bill seeks to statutorily unify all the regional development authorities in Illinois by capping their ability to issue bonds, by removing requirements to notify IHDA when the Authority wishes to issue bonds for residential projects, exempting all notes and bonds issued by the Tri-County River Valley (Development) Authority from taxation, and raising the bond authority for the Tri-County River Valley Authority from one hundred million to two hundred and fifty million, and defining "housing project". What this does -- it came to me by our local Tri-County River Valley Authority. They just want to be in parity with the other regional 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 authorities. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 498 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 498, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 499. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 500. Senator Hastings. Out of the record. Senate Bill 798. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary -- Senator Steans seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 798 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 798. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Steans, on your amendment.
Yeah, this amendment makes it an agreed bill and I'll discuss it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 799. Senator -- or, Senate Bill 822. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 822. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 822, with Amendment No. 2, amends the process in which the net proceeds are calculated from the real estate sale of a closed State mental health or developmental disability facility. From the proceeds, DHS will determine how much money will be made available to care for the lives and safety of people with developmental disabilities or mental illness at remaining State-operating facilities. The next step is for outstanding bonds to be paid off. And the remaining proceeds will be split among the State and the area in which the closed mental health facility once served. There are no opponents and I'd answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield. SENATOR McCARTER: 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senator, this - I apologize - the first time I've heard of this bill. So -- and -- and it -- I -- I -- obviously I've got a facility in my district, Murray Center, which is in the process of closing, against, you know -- there's a lot of people that oppose that in the area because of the devastating effect it will have on the economy and those residents having to move throughout the State. So what -- what was the policy before and how does this change that policy? If you would explain it to me, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. Because -- because I want to vote for it if it's going to help the people in my district.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings.
That's a great question, and -- and that you have Murray Health Center in your district, I'd be concerned as well. When they closed Tinley Park Mental Health Center, they -- the -- the patients that were there were dispersed into the community and the organizations that provided services to them weren't financially compensated to help with those patients that were put out into the community. So, initially, what this -- without this bill, all the money from the proceeds of a sale of a State-based mental health facility would go to DHS so they can spend at their discretion. This bill ensures that -- this bill ensures that the -- some of the money stays in the district and then DHS will get another portion of those proceeds to distribute as they see. So in the case of Murray Health Center, in accordance with this bill, you would have money from the net proceeds of the sale of that property stay within your district so they can serve the population if those were -- if they were dispersed. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: To -- to the bill. Thank you, Senator, for that explanation. I understand it now. As much as that -- that sounds really good. My hopes are that we don't have that situation at Murray Center. I hope that we win that fight and protect those residents, to keep the residents there, and protect that economy there in Centralia. But if for any reason it happens, I do appreciate that we can retain some of those funds in the community. For that reason, I'll be voting in favor of your bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you rise?
Just to comment on the legislation, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your comment.
Want to thank Senator Hastings for his work on this legislation. This was a lot of -- of -- of negotiating with the State and with both Body's to deal with issues, especially in -- in two communities that have significant -- are being significantly affected by the closure of the mental health facilities. And I think this is a fair alternative that is -- will help address the fallout that's occurred in those two communities as a result of that. So I appreciate the Senator's work on this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, to close.
23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Just some legislative intent for this bill: Mental Health facility is defined…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Excuse me, Senator Hastings. Can we keep it down in the Chamber, please? Senator Hastings.
Just for legislative intent purposes: "Mental health facility" is defined in the Section 1-114 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code to refer to a hospital or section thereof. This definition applies to this amendment and will ensure the proceeds go to community services whether the whole hospital is closed and sold or only a part of it. Tinley Park Mental Health center was closed. A lot of people with developmental disabilities and mental disabilities were dispersed in our community and those providers were uncompensated. I'm proud to sponsor this bill. I was proud to work with the Representatives of Rockford, with DHS, and I just want to say thanks to everybody. It was a yearlong negotiation and I'm happy that we can get it done. And I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 822 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 822, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of announcement. 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Republicans would like to have a caucus immediately, for about thirty minutes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Althoff moves that the Senate recess for the purpose of a Senate Republican Caucus lasting thirty minutes. Seeing no objection, motion is granted. The Senate stands in recess to the call of the Chair. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate will please come to order. Will our Members please be in their seats? All Members at the sound of my voice, please come back to the Senate Chamber. We will be continuing 3rd Readings. All Members, please come to the Senate Floor immediately. 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 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 86. Offered by Senator Rose, and adopted by the House, April 3rd, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. It is substantive, Mr. President. 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 4090. We have received like Messages on House Bills 4286, 4734, 5592 and 5853. Passed the House, April 3rd, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all Members please come to the Senate Floor immediately? We're going to 3rd Reading, final action. Senate Bill 902. Senator Clayborne. Senator Clayborne seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 902 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 902. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Clayborne, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. It's just simple technical changes that have been agreed to, and I can explain it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion on the amendment? All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration? 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 977. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1047. Senator Steans. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1996. Senator McConnaughay. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2363. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2586. Senator Steans. Senator Steans seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2586 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2609. Senator Noland. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2628. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2647. Senator Althoff. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2650. Senator Silverstein. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2659. Senator Silverstein. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2664. Senator Hastings. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2682. Senator Hastings. Out of the record. We'll skip over 2696. Senate Bill 2717. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2722. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2722. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hastings, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 2722, as amended, permits the use of driver's license or State identification photos for lobbyist ID cards. There's no opponents to this bill and I'll 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2722 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 49 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2722, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2727. Senator Steans. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2763. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2763. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. -- Mr. President. Senate Bill 2763 amends the State Employees Health {sic} Insurance Act of 1971, and it directs the Department of Public Health to create a State Employee Health Clinic pilot program to provide on-site health care services to persons under the Act. There's no opposition and I ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Inquiry of the Chair, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 State your inquiry.
Has Committee Amendment 1 been added to the bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Yes, it has, Senator Righter.
So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
…to understand -- to be clear what's before the Senate now on 3rd Reading, it is what we oftentimes refer to as a shell bill, or not?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Out of the record. Senate Bill 2775. Senator Lightford. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2808. Senator Biss. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2826. Senator Biss. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2826. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. This is a bill that we're passing in our efforts to comply with the Department of Justice request regarding the ability of Illinois municipalities and fire protection districts to hire minority 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 firefighters. It makes a modest but important change in the hiring process, moving a cut score from a arbitrary median to a properly set minimum standard that will be in keeping with what's necessary to hire -- to hire qualified firefighters.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Biss, as I read the bill, it changes the threshold score that an applicant for one of these positions must achieve from a median score to a minimum score. Can you, in practical terms, lay out for the Members of the Senate what that -- what that means?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss.
Yes. Thanks for the question. So, by way of background, we passed a few years ago - I forget if it was the spring of 2011 or '12 - a pretty big, in fact, somewhat controversial and fairly complicated bill laying out a series of steps for hiring firefighters. There were tests and evaluations and preference points, and so forth. And at one point in that process, there was a cut at the median, which meant that everyone was ranked based on the score they had attained up to that stage in the process and the top half were retained, the bottom half were eliminated from 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 consideration. The…(microphone cutoff)…the view under federal law and under federal -- federal judicial outcomes is that a process like that that's arbitrary - in other words, the median was just picked and put in the bill; it's not based on some definition of merit - is unacceptable if it has a disparate impact on certain affected groups. And so the Department of Justice is concerned that this is leaving us in violation of EEOC -- EEOC needs. What -- what's going to happen now instead is that a board will figure out, instead of an arbitrary median, what's the actual numerical score that's required to be a -- a qualified person who can perform the job. That is then based in actual need and -- and policy, and therefore is acceptable to the federal government.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Who is left with the duty of establishing what that minimum score may be? And the reason I ask that, Senator, is because if the Department of Justice can label as arbitrary the median, could they not just as -- could they not just as easily label as arbitrary some minimum score that a municipality chooses to set forth?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss.
Well, to the -- to the last part, the -- the -- my understanding is, this language has been worked out between the Illinois Attorney General and the Justice Department. But the -- the -- the body that sets the median is a body called the JLMC, or -- I've forgotten exactly what it stands for, but it's a -- it's a joint body of -- with representation from, I believe, both labor 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 and management that -- whose function is essentially to set standards for firefighters. Obviously, it'll be a controversial process and people can argue with the outcome. But it's, as I understand it, the appropriate body to set this kind of standard.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
One last question, if I might, Mr. President. Thank you. Senator Biss, in what form did this edict from the federal government come? I mean, was it a -- is it a federal statute, federal regulation? Is it an Attorney General's opinion? Is it a federal court decision? Can you lay out the -- the details for me on that? Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss, to close.
And I'll -- I'll answer the question, Senator. So I'll -- I'll give two different answers. One is that it's -- it's federal court -- interpretations of Title VII have -- have made this differentiation between arbitrary and non-arbitrary standards. The specific situation here is that, you know, as I said, the law went into effect a few years ago, but it took some time to actually be implemented because, you know, the -- there's a process that was already in place, and as municipalities began implementing the law, some concerns were raised, and I think there was an investigation of the City of Aurora by the Department of Justice that led to conversations between the Department of Justice and the Attorney General's Office, because the federal government's view was that since the City of Aurora was following State law, an 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 appropriated defendant of the suit might be the State of Illinois, perhaps in addition to or perhaps instead of the City itself.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Biss, to close.
Thanks for the questions, and I ask for -- ask for Aye votes on this bill, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2826 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 52 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2826, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Mr. President, thank you very much, and Members of the Senate. I have a group of seventh grade students from Garvey School that -- that are in the 10th District. They're here touring the Capitol today. I wish that everyone could just give 'em a warm Senate welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senate Bill 2932. Senator Sullivan. Senator Sullivan seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2932 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing -- leave is granted. 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 2932. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Sullivan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sullivan, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The amendment clarifies that a prohibition from removing a commercial motor vehicle under its own power only applies to a vehicle that requires a CDL license to operate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 2952. Senator Jacobs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2955. Senator Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2955. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Silverstein, on your bill.
34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Thank you, Mr. President. This amends the Probate Code {sic} (Act) in two ways to protect the elderly and disabled from financial -- exploitation. First, it prohibits individuals who have been found civilly liable of financial exploitation from receiving inheritance from the person that they are found guilty -- found civilly liable for exploiting. Secondly, it allows for a civil cause of action to be filed after the death of the elderly person or during the life of the disabled victim. This is an initiative of the Chicago Bar Association. I'll take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2955 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2955, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 2979. Senator Muñoz. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2984. Senator Dillard. Out of the record. Senate Bill 2991. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 2991. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 2991 amends the Park District Code by allowing a board to borrow money from a bank or other financial institutes. The money needs to be repaid in two years from the general fund or any source lawfully available, such as user fees, grants, and program fees. It does not allow a park district to exceed its debt limit. This bill will help park districts save both time and money. I'll -- happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) She indicates she will yield. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) One -- one second, Senator. Can we keep the conversations to a minimum? Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, can you -- can you help us understand? What borrowing power do park districts have now and what process do they go through to borrow money now?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
To go step by step, it's -- it's much like money -- the municipalities, counties. They -- they go to a bank. They -- you know, they -- they have tax warrants. They can go to referendums. There's many -- I mean, there's -- are you looking for -- I know 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 you're trying to get -- narrow it to a specific question here. Is there -- are you concerned about the financial institution? Are you -- is it the borrowing of the money? How long? How…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: You brought up tax warrants. Now, explain how they obtain funds from tax warrants, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Yeah. In all honesty, I don't know how they -- they go about getting their tax warrants. This is -- is a promissory note so the park district can go to a bank and get a short-term loan, two years, and in turn, they pay back the money through general funds or through other -- user fees, grant fees, or -- user fee, program fees or actually grant dollars that they receive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: So the -- the -- the money that they -- they use to pay this back with, could it possibly have been from moneys obtained from tax warrants?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
The bottom line is, they -- they can't -- they can't exceed their debt limit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: One more question. What -- what is the cost to the park districts when they -- when they borrow money using tax warrants and what will the cost be when they go through this new process?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
I apologize. I can't answer those specific questions. I can tell you an example from our district, where the bank had encouraged them to do a short-term loan. They could not do it because it was not lawful. They had to buy land. They -- while they waited for the grant to come in, if they were able to do a short-term loan, they said they would have saved about fifteen thousand dollars. Again, this is just a bill to help them save time and money.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: I could ask another question, but I said last question, so I'll go to the bill. Ladies and Gentlemen, the -- the grant process does allow funds to be advanced on grants for this very reason. This -- I know that this does not allow them to exceed the -- their current debt limit. But, it's not clear as to whether this can be paid back from funds obtained by tax warrants. That's not made clear here. That's not specified that it's not possible. And this does put the taxpayers in park districts that -- that levy to them in a position to -- to incur more debt, even though it may be under the limit, and obligate the taxpayers for more tax 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 burden. So, for that reason, I will be voting No. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you rise? Senator Bertino-Tarrant, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I urge an Aye vote. Just a reminder that we did pass out a nearly identical bill out of this Chamber last year. Again, it's just trying to allow different municipalities to save money. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 2991 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 42 Ayes, 9 Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 2991, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Sandoval, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Illinois Senate. This morning I'd like to greet a special group of young men and women who are here to compete at the annual Career/Technical Education competitions, where they compete in areas of industry, business, technology, health, and family consumer protection. They are with SkillsUSA. And I'd like them to get a warm welcome to the State Capitol this morning. They are in the President's 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Gallery today -- this morning. So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 3033. Senator Frerichs. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3040. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3040. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Raoul, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 3040 allows common interest community associations and condominium associations the ability to adopt rules authorizing the use of electronic voting on association matters.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 3040 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 55 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 3040, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3049. Senator Holmes. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3055. Senator Biss. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3076. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3076. 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, on your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3076 is an initiative of the Illinois State Medical Society, the Illinois Hospital Association, and the Illinois Society for Advanced Practiced Nursing. The bill does two things. First, it clarifies the title of the current Illinois Department of Public Health Uniform Do-Not-Resuscitate, or DNR, Advance Directive form by renaming it to be called Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, form. It also expands the type of health care professionals who may sign the POLST form to include advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and some medical residents. I'd be happy to answer questions. I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Mulroe, I've had conversations with a couple of individuals on this legislation and they were, and so I was, under the impression that there were still some meetings going on with regards to the language in this bill, both with regards to the Director of the Department of Public Health's direct input into the expansion that's in the bill and 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 some of the language. Have -- can you clarify for me, as the sponsor of the bill, whether or not there were kind of ongoing conversations about this legislation, and if so, what the status of those has been?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Senator Righter. It's actually not so much with respect to the bill, but developing or the -- the -- creating the changes on how it affects the POLST form. It's -- and that's done by the Department. So I've encouraged the people who are interested in how the -- the -- the changes from the bill are going to be reflected on the form to continue those conversations. So that's still in the works. So, really won't change the terms of the -- of the bill - although, I believe there is going to be a technical amendment in the House. So I've encouraged them to -- to continue the conversations. There may be technical amendments, from what I've been told, but the way the bill -- or, the form is drafted. Since we're going to be changing and add -- adding, actually, and set up physician practitioners, this would be a good time to address the concerns that people have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. And, Senator, I'm going to give the next question I have kind of in a two-part form, because I know it's getaway day and everyone's anxious to get home. The first question, Senator, is -- is with -- so I understand it, there's two pieces to this process: One is the actual form that's 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 developed by the Department of Public Health; the other is who is authorized to execute it or administer it. I'm not sure which -- the correct term, if either, is the right term. And second, my question is, what is the technical amendment that you just referenced you expect to be added in the House?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
Senator Righter, I don't know the answer to that question. Erin O'Brien mentioned a technical amendment, so it's not substantive. She did not identify or tell me what exactly what the technical amendment was. But, obviously, it's going to have to come back here for our concurrence. I'm sorry, what…(microphone cutoff)…part? Oh, they -- they actually sign the form. So this expands it not only to doctors, but physician's assistants, advanced practiced nurses, and licensed residents for at least -- I think they have to be it for at least a year.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
…you -- thank you, Mr. President. Now, Senator, let's talk about what you said there at the end, which is that right now, under State law, only a physician, it's my understanding, is authorized to sign the form - in other words, to make the judgment that the individual understands fully all the language on the form and -- and -- and the other things that go into processing this. You are suggesting that we expand that to a number of other health care practitioners. I'm asking for your reasoning. Obviously, the physician has at least some higher level of training than the 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 other medical practitioners that you're adding to who -- who is authorized by statute to sign the form. What's your thinking about why it is okay for us to go to that next level of practitioners, and do they have the training and expertise necessary to make sure that the person understands what's on the form?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
The background or the reason to add those other medical professionals is because they have a more direct relationship with the patient than the doctor may have. So we found -- the Medical Society has found in certain instances the advanced practice nurse, the resident, or the physician's assistant understand the patient better than a doctor, who may not be monitoring their activity as much. So -- and to answer your question, these are medical professionals that have a relationship with a patient and may be -- best be able to discuss their -- their concerns on their death bed. Similar to a Power of Attorney for Health Care - I can designate my wife, in the event I couldn't make those decisions, even though she's not a medical professional. As long as I discuss them with her, she knows what my wishes are, and in the event that situation occurs, she'll act accordingly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Last question, Senator, is -- you've referenced some ongoing conversations or discussions that are going to happen, assuming this bill passes the Senate. I'm asking you, are you going to be involved in those conversations 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 and meetings? And I would sure love for you to say, yes, because I know you, like other Members of the Senate know you, and I -- I want you to continue to have your personal and direct input on the language as it goes over to the Senate {sic} to make sure that all the groups are heard about their concerns about not just what's on the form, but who's signing the form. Thank you. Thank you…(microphone cutoff)…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, if I may?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield.
Senator, in listening to your answers to Senator Righter's questions, I have a few questions of my own. So currently -- if I understand this correctly, currently only a physician can sign the form. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
That is correct. And -- but, currently, you should understand, the national practice is to allow these other medical professionals. So we're trying to come into compliance with what other states do as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose.
Okay. So the -- we're going to add some new professionals. 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Exactly what professionals are we adding to the people -- the category of people who can sign the form?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
There's advanced practice nurses, physician's assistants, and -- and licensed residents after completion of a one -- one-year program.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose.
So here's the question. You said in your comments a minute ago that these are people who have a relationship with a patient on their death bed. I would take a little bit of exception to that, because oftentimes when you go into a hospital via the emergency room, you have met people now for the first time that you've never met before. So aside from the fact that you have a relationship that started the minute you entered the ER, you don't know that hospitalist from the hole in the wall, you don't know that APN from the hole in the wall, you don't know that PA from a hole in the wall. And my point is this, this -- this is it. I mean, you can't take this one back. Why would we not want to err on the side of caution and to have the most educated person in the room answer the patient's questions before they make their decision?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
All right, first of all, this is voluntary. The patient 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 doesn't have to sign it. They can take it back, terminate it, at any time, if they want to reverse what they signed. And I should add that the -- the other medical professionals that I mentioned that can sign the form now, in the bill, it says they must be selected by or assigned to the patient. So this is not just some -- in my opinion, the intent of it is not some cordial one-second conversation. This is actually designed to reserve that. 'Cause that could happen many times with a doctor that is assigned to a number of patients. These are people that have more contact, a greater relationship with the patient than maybe a doctor who has just seen 'em briefly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Rose.
Well, a minute ago, you mentioned that this is kind of like a healthcare power of attorney that you can execute with your wife and let her make your decisions for you. I know you. You know me. We're both attorneys. Also on that healthcare power of attorney form, there is this slot where you pick what you want. There's three choices. There's the keep me alive at all costs. There's the let me go, pull the plug. And then there's the middle. Right? So it's not quite like that, because, in fact, with your wife and the healthcare power of attorney analogy, you're making a selection as well. Look, I'm going to go back. Two weeks ago my mom went in the emergency room with pneumonia. She's out now; she's fine. She saw a heckuva lot of very nice people who took very good care of her over the course of four days. During that time, she saw a doctor for about thirty seconds each day. We had very specific questions we wanted to ask that doctor about cardiac 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 issues. Quite frankly, the staff that was there at the time was not able to answer those questions for that twenty-three hours, fifty-nine minutes and thirty seconds until that guy came in. I -- I, personally -- and I understand we're going to, you know, do what all the other states seem to be doing, but at the end of the day, you can't take this one back. And I don't know why we would {sic} want to give that patient every opportunity to have their question -- I mean, what happens if the APN in cardiac says, "Yeah, you're fine, don't worry about it", and they were wrong. Whereas the cardiologist would have said, "Uh-uh. Right here on this chart, here's a little beat right there." That's what you got to worry about. And that patient who signs that form, they can't take it back. And for me and me only, I think as a policy decision of the citizens of Illinois, we should provide people with every piece of information by the highest-educated level we can before they make that kind of decision, 'cause it's not one you can take back. And I respect you. I very much respect you, Senator. I respect your legal acumen. But just for me and me only, I -- I - - I don't think I can do this under any circumstances. Because, you know, I just sat through this with my mom two weeks ago. We sat there for twelve hours, asking when's the cardiologist going to come in to answer the one question we wanted answered, and notwithstanding we had some very wonderful people - very, very, wonderful people - who had great care at the level of which they were experienced and educated to deliver that care. But if they got it wrong, you can't take it back. So I'm going to be voting No. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mark Suszko of Illinois Information Service requests 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 permission to tape proceedings. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Senator LaHood, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield. SENATOR LaHOOD: Senator Mulroe, I know in committee when we talked about this bill, there was some discussion after we voted that you were going to have discussions with the other side. And my understanding, from meeting with a member of the opposition group earlier today, that there were ongoing negotiations and there was communication going on. And if I understand that correctly, you were working with them, and I appreciate that, and -- and being amenable, but there was some thought that the Department of -- of Public Health maybe was resistant to this. Can you expound on that a little bit, those negotiations, and where -- why we ended up with the bill here today and not next week?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe.
All right, if you remember in committee, that discussion came up about the form. I said I don't want to be part of the discussion, because ninety percent of what we do down here, I'm not an expert at. So I turned it over to the experts and the people that were most concerned with creating the form. Just recently, the Department has expressed some concerns in how they're going to create and change the form. They're going to have to change the form as a result of the bill. Ralph Rivera has -- his 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 -- expressed his concerns. He was involved in the -- the communications and conversations, along with the Department of Public Health. So they just recently came up with discussions in how to create or change the form - not the bill, so much. So they're going to still have to work. This is up to the Department to create the form, in accordance with -- or consistent with the -- the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you for -- for explaining that a little further. I guess my point is, having some agreement on that, or something definitive that lays that out, I think would help clarify and -- and bring more votes on our side on that. And -- and I -- and I think the ongoing nature of -- of those discussions is helpful, and my understanding, those were going to continue between the Department and some of the other groups. I guess I would ask that those continue, and if you had some definity {sic} on that, bring the bill back and we would vote on it then.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Mulroe, to close.
Senator LaHood, just to answer, Ralph Rivera came into my office this morning. He will be against this bill, no matter what the changes are. I told him that, in that event, I'm going to call it. I recommend that you continue the conversations, make whatever changes the House -- or, these technical amendments and -- whatever they are, continue the negotiations or, you know, the conversations. It's going to come back here. We'll see it again. 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 But I saw no reason to hold it up, because the opposition will always be there. And I do want to mention one thing. Senator Rose, this is a choice the patient makes. It's voluntary. If they have any doubt, don't sign it. You know, but be -- you know, regarding your medical condition. I talked to Mr. Rivera. He's -- he's talking about, you know, if you're -- I'm a healthy guy, at least I -- relatively healthy. I would not sign a DNR form right now. There's no reason for me to sign that, because it's not -- I'm not at that life-ending stage. I lost my mother and father, both of which signed DNR forms. There's appropriate times, in my opinion. Other people, maybe there's not an appropriate time. Maybe you're totally against it. Don't sign this. This is totally voluntary. It's your choice. I'd ask for an Aye vote. And thank you very much for the questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Senate Bill 3076 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 34 Ayes, 18 Nays, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 3076, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 3092. Senator Delgado. Out of the record. Senate Bill 3103. Senator Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 3103. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Trotter. 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3103 expands the definition of "beer" in the Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act to include malt-based beverages, thus giving distributors of these malt-based beverages the same protection as they enjoy with other bills {sic}. This is an initiative of the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Wine and Spirit {sic} (Spirits) Distributors of Illinois as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 3103 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Bill 3103, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 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 come to the President’s Anteroom immediately. The Senate stands at ease. (at ease) The Senate will come back to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Executive Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 39; Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bills 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 351, 352, 452, 507, 589, 590, 646, 647, 648, 728, 1011, 1012, 1050, 1051, 1052, and Senate Resolution 1012. 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please turn to page 17 for Senate Desk -- Secretary's Desk, Resolution. Senate Resolution 201. Senator Sandoval. Out of the record. Senate Resolution 837. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 837, offered by Senator Koehler.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This came to me from a constituent who is -- runs the veterans' programs for the local UAW. What this does is urges employers to allow employed veterans the opportunity to participate in Veterans Day ceremonies or to take time off as gratitude for their service. Many of us attend all of our veterans' celebrations and services locally and it'd certainly be nice to -- to see more participation. Ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution -- Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Indicates he will yield.
Senator, can I -- just to understand this, does this mean 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 that employees can, at their own choosing, take time off and be paid for it for these purposes?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Koehler.
No. The resolution says we urge employers to do this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The question is, shall Resolution 837 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, say Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Resolution 903. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 903, offered by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Resolution 903 commissions the Illinois Board of Higher Education and the Illinois College -- Community College Board to work along with the Illinois Latino Family Commission to conduct {sic} a self- study guide that will look at identifying the reasons for the difficulties in college and career success for Latinos in Illinois. The IBHE and the ICCB will create an action plan, with the Illinois Family Commission, for improving support and increasing degree completion for Latino students.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, as this resolution requires expenditure of the State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. There are 52 Ayes, no Nays, none voting Present. Senate Resolution 903, receiving the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Resolution 969. Senator Martinez.
Thank -- thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Resolution 969 expresses solidarity with North Korean refugees …
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez, excuse me. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 969, offered by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Martinez, on your resolution. My…
Thank you, again, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Resolution 969 expresses solidarity with North Korean refugees in their flight from persecution; encourage development of Human Rights and Democracy program; calls upon the United States government to help resettle North Korean refugees; and requests that President Obama, Secretary of State Kerry, and members of the Illinois congressional delegation, and the Illinois Rights -- Human Rights Commission, receive copies of this resolution. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 969 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Today, on the Floor, we have a person from southern Illinois. He's the President of SIU College, Glenn Poshard. Let's give Glenn a great big hand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome back home, Dr. Poshard. Senate Resolution 1003. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1003, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Kotowski, on the resolution.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 1003 designates the week of April 6th through 12th as Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Week in the State of Illinois. It is estimated that one of every nine hundred adults, aged sixteen to forty-four, is a survivor of pediatric cancer. And almost seventy percent of children that are diagnosed with brain cancer survive treatment today. However, pediatric cancer survivors also have to face long-term medical, financial, psychosocial, and neurocognitive problems due to chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. The major expenses of pediatric cancer diagnosis and treatment programs are associated with the direct costs of medical care, including charges for hospitalizations, 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 clinic visits, medications, tests and procedures, home health services, services of doctors and other professionals, and other treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantation. This is very important. We're going to have a lot of survivors coming down to Springfield and to communicate and speak with their legislators and make sure we raise some much-needed attention for survivors to make sure they continue to get support they need and to make sure that other people don't go through what they've had to suffer through.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall -- shall Senate Resolution 1003 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 1073, offered by Senator Biss. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 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 passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 3937. We have received like Messages on House Bills 4382, 4561, 4948, 5322, 5485 and 5572. Passed the House, April 3rd, 2014. 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 105th Legislative Day 4/3/2014 Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We will now proceed to the Order of Resolution Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed on any of the resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 7th day of April, 2014. The Senate stands adjourned. 58