PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 98th General Assembly will please come to order. Will Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Bill Jensen, Illinois State University, Wittenberg Lutheran Center, Bloomington, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Bill Jensen)
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 Thursday, May 29th, 2014.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, 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. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 1266, offered by Senator Althoff and all 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 1265, offered by Senator Radogno. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 3666, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Committee Reports, Mr. Secretary.
Senator Noland, Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Motions to Concur: House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2801, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2801 and House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3538 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Jones, Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Motion to Concur with House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 504 Recommend Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the Committee on Assignments please report to the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments please report to the President’s Anteroom immediately. (at ease) Senator Hunter in the Chair. (at ease) Jim Carder, Blueroomstream.com, seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 objection, permission granted. 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 Governmental Operations - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 3793, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 6093, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 6095, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 6097, and Senate Resolution 1265. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate Executive Subcommittee on Government {sic} (Governmental) Operations will meet in Room 212 at 11:15 a.m. Senate Executive Subcommittee on Government {sic} Operations will meet in Room 212 at 11:15 a.m. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. Purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Republicans would like to caucus immediately in Leader Radogno's Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) How long, Senator Althoff? Senator Althoff moves the Senate recess for the purpose of a Senate Republican Caucus, lasting sixty minutes. Seeing no objection, motion is granted. After the Republican Caucus, the Senate committees will meet and we will -- and the Senate will then reconvene for Floor action. The Senate 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The Senate will come to order. Kelsey Gibbs, WCIA, requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, all Members within the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor immediately. All Members within the sound of my voice to the Senate Floor. We're going to be going to the Order of 3rd Reading, House Bills 3rd Reading. All Members please come to the Senate Floor immediately. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 8, the bottom of page 8 of the regular Calendar. On the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, we have House Bill 3635. Senator Sandoval. House Bill 3659. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate the House of Representatives has concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 220. 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 220. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 274, with House Amendment 1; Senate Bill 3433, with House Amendment 1; and Senate Bill 3443, with House Amendments 4 and 6. Passed the House, as 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 3667, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, continuing on the regular Calendar, we're now on the -- towards the top of page 9, still on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. Next up, we have House Bill 3672. Senator Hutchinson. You wish to proceed? Indicates she does. Senator Hutchinson seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 3672 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 3672. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Hutchinson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson, to explain Floor Amendment 1.
Floor Amendment 1 becomes the bill, Mr. President. I'd be happy to explain that on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) And, Senator Hutchinson, do you seek to have it adopted?
…do. I seek to have it adopted, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Yes?
Yes.
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, and the amendment is adopted. 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 3672. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 3672. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 3672 requires the RTA and transit service boards - CTA, Metra and Pace - to record their board meetings and broadcast them on the Internet. Floor Amendment 1 clarifies that compliance with the bill does not relieve the services boards of their obligation under the Open Meetings Act. Very simple bill. I would appreciate your support, but happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the question is, shall House Bill 3672 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3672, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, let's go to 3796. House Bill 3796. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 3796. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Bill 3796 amends the Freedom of Information Act by creating a definition of "voluminous request" and allows public bodies more time and greater flexibility in responding to these requests and allows a public body to respond to a FOIA request for information accessible through the public body's website by providing the requester with information on how to access the information online. FOIA requests made by news media, not-for-profits, scientific, or academic organizations for research purposes are exempt from being considered voluminous requesters. I know of no known opponents and I'll answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will -- excuse me, all those -- all those in favor will 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 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 49 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3796, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 12 of your printed Calendar. We're still on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. Mr. Secretary, we're going to do House Bill 6093. Mr. Secretary, hold off on that just one second. Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Ladies and Gentlemen, and Senator Trotter as well, I want to -- I've got a thank you card here from Chloe Sterling, who stayed up last night and made cupcakes for everyone, and they're in the back. She -- she -- she said she -- she didn't mind doing it, even though her mother wasn't -- wasn't there in the house to help. It's amazing she got those out of the kitchen without her mother, isn't it? But made her little sister clean up the kitchen. She says, "Dear House Members and Senators, thank you for passing my bill. I have learned a lot and I'm excited to get back to baking. I hope you like the cupcakes. Sincerely, Chloe Sterling." It says, "We did it - House Bill 5354. Thank you for all your help on this, very much."
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator McCarter. We appreciate that. Tell her 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 we appreciate that kind gesture. Alex Davis with WCIA requests permission to videotape. Ed Cross with WAND requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your announcement, Senator Althoff.
Well, seeing as how we're talking about cupcakes - and in my mind, cupcakes leads to, kind of, birthday celebrations - I'd like to note that today is our Chief of Staff Tim Nuding's birthday. And June 1st is not only Mattie Hunter's birthday, but it will be somewhat the last announcement -- or, the last opportunity I'll have to make this announcement, that June 1st is also Senator Dillard's birthday. So, can we just acknowledge that in the Chamber and wish everyone a very happy June birthday, baby birthday, whatever we do here? So, thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Absolutely. Let's give 'em both a round of applause. Congratulations. Happy birthday. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Inquiry -- inquiry of the Chair, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your inquiry, Senator Righter.
Mr. President, it appears from the bill that's on the board that we are about to go to a debate on the budget, which obviously 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 is always a hot topic here in Springfield. It usually raises the temperature here on the Senate Floor. I know that you are a big believer in bipartisanship and we want to get this debate started right. I think it would be an extraordinary display of bipartisanship were you to sing Happy Birthday to the people whose birthdays that Senator Althoff just announced. Would you be willing to do that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter, I don't want to run everybody out of the Chamber. Andy Shortstall {sic} (Shofstall) with WSIL-TV requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. But thank you for thinking about me, Senator Righter. Ladies and Gentlemen, House Bill 6093. Mr. Secretary tells me there's paperwork changing sponsorship to Senator Kotowski. Senator Kotowski. Just to clarify, there's paperwork that's been filed to allow Senator Kotowski to present the bill. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 6093. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. I want to thank you, again, for your continued leadership in the Chair. And I want to extend my happy birthday wishes to everyone who's going to be celebrating a birthday in the coming weeks. This is the point at where we start to discuss how we got here and the bills that we're going to 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 be passing today in order to let us continue to fund key operations of government in order to make sure that we continue to do what we were elected to do - was to make sure we support these key essential services. I want to take you back to 2011, when we passed a law that required the State of Illinois to live within the means provided by taxpayers and deduct fixed costs that are in the State budget - fixed costs, which put pressures in the State budget, and these fixed costs, which mean that we have less money in the State budget to pay for certain areas. This action that we took, was signed into law by Governor Quinn, compelled us to take action to address these fixed and rising costs. So we've passed the following reforms over the past few years to make sure we addressed these fixed and rising costs. Pension reform - it was a bipartisan measure that was passed, potentially into a savings of a hundred and forty-five billion. Medicaid reform - it's going to reduce liability through benefit reductions in revenue by 2.7 billion in the -- in the fiscal year in which it was introduced, and which helped us to address the fact that there was about twenty-two billion worth of Medicaid bills over the coming years, if we didn't take that action. Group health care cost reform - this basically meant that we were no longer going to be subsidizing health care completely for State employees and -- and -- and elected officials, a savings of nine hundred and five million. And we've also had to take steps, due to the fact that we've had these fixed and increasing costs, to reduce State employees by four thousand. We have an incredibly low number of State employees in the State of Illinois. In addition, we've closed prisons and institutions for people living with mental health and developmental disabilities. And despite these cost-saving measures, despite our efforts to pay 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 down bills by close to four billion -- and we've done that. We've made great progress. The -- the -- the latest bill that is on hand at the Comptroller's Office is about forty-eight days. A few years ago that was a hundred and eleven days. We've made considerable progress. We still, however, don't have the funds available to face our challenges and help the people who are the most vulnerable in our State. In the last years, we've cut human services. We've cut human service spending by eight hundred million. We still have not funded education at an acceptable level that provides our student with the world-class education they deserve. And we still, while we made considerable progress, need to get our bills paid in a timely manner. So which brings us to today. This is a budget that reflects the fact that there is not - I underline "not" - a revenue solution before us to fix our long- term problems to help people who can't help themselves and to provide a world-class education to our children. It is a budget that lives within the means already provided by taxpayers. It keeps funding, education funding, level to last year. It supports monetary awards to college students at the same level as last year. It keeps funding for early childhood education equal to last year. And it maintains spending in large budget areas, like human services and public safety. But make no mistake, while this budget is decisive, it is not complete. It is incomplete. It does not begin to solve the problems we will face in the future. It relies on a one-time infusion of dollars from transfers of about six hundred and fifty million dollars. It does not address seven hundred and sixty-two million in funding pressures that we will have to confront, such as home-based services for seniors, care for those with developmental disabilities, and child care support 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 for working families. And it does not address the fact that we'll lose approximately three million in revenue next year when the income tax is rolled back. So, for those of you keeping track, next year will have us behind by approximately 4.4 billion dollars. It's a sizable, immense hole that needs to be addressed. So we need to have options on the table to fill this hole. And we'll have to make decision - either to fill this hole or wreak havoc on the lives of people who are able to lead a decent quality of life with support from public investment. And without that public investment support, they will suffer. So that's the decision that we have before us in the future. The bill that I'm presenting today, and the first of several, appropriates 9.85 billion all funds in fiscal year '15 to Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. It includes 6.81 billion GRF, 69.3 {sic} million other State funds and 2.9 million federal funds. It represents an overall increase of 79.9 -- 79. -- excuse me -- 8 {sic} (78) million over the fiscal year 2014 all funds appropriation. The GRF appropriation is an increase of 118.3 million. And as I mentioned before, it allows us to keep general State aid level from this year to last, comparatively. It provides support for bilingual education and it helps us support assessments to keep us in line -- or to keep us in sync with the Common Core standards, and also funds ACTs, which is an issue that has been raised. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that are raised.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Before we open it up for discussion, Paul Elders with WICS, Hector Betanount {sic} (Betancourt) with WGN, and Jim Mastri with WLS-TV, all request permission to videotape. Seeing 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 no objection, leave is granted. Ladies and Gentlemen, President Cullerton has asked me to use the timer on our debate, so we will be doing that. Five-minute timer. Our first speaker, Senator Rose. For what purpose do you rise?
Questions of the sponsor, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he'll yield, Senator Rose.
Thank you, Mr. President. If I may, since you took some time to explain the generalities of the budget, I'd like to discuss some of what you discussed as well. And you walked us back to, I think, 2011. I'd like to walk us back a little bit farther than that, to the introduction of Rod Blagojevich and simple majority rule by the Democrats of Illinois. That's where the train went off the tracks with respect to borrowing and interfund transfers to underwrite a budget. Now, you just mentioned this here, Senator Kotowski, that this budget relies on, was it six hundred or six hundred and fifty million dollars in interfund transfers?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Six hundred and fifty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
So, right there, we're taking a monumental step backwards on that front. But let's talk generally about this bill, which is the education bill, if I'm correct, the K-12 bill. I would assume, 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Kotowski, that you'd be much happier standing here today with the original House bill that assumed the tax increase had passed. Is that a fair statement?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- my commitment and our commitment that we've had, this Chamber, is to do our best to fully fund education. And that's something that's been a core principle for us in this Chamber. And I know that's something that you share.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Senator Kotowski, how much money are we spending in this budget as a whole, not just this particular bill, but as a package?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you for your question. In terms of GRF, it's -- comparatively speaking, it's about seven hundred million less this year for General Revenue Fund, because -- and that includes the supplemental, which has not been passed yet. I think total number's a little over… Just wanted to verify. The total is seventy-one billion all funds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
So to the bill. Thank you, Mr. President. The reality here -- and you just said this, that the priority was to fully fund 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 education. The fact is, this budget cuts education. It cuts education by more than ten percent. So you're telling me, out of seventy-one billion dollars' total spending, you're still cutting education. Now let's do one better. Back to the one -- the House bill that assumed the tax increase passed. Guess what? Assuming the tax increase passed, that bill still cut education ten percent. So with or without the tax increase, what does the Majority party do, who just says we're here to fund the kids? We cut the kids ten percent. Out of seventy-one billion all funds, you couldn't find the money to get the kids to a hundred percent. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise? Excuse me, Senator Althoff. One second. Senator Kotowski.
I -- I believe I was clear in my presentation on the budget, that it keeps funding level from last year to this, general State aid. And I believe I was clear in my answer to some of the questions that were raised. This is an issue that is very important. There is an increase in the budget, but it -- it addresses the fact that we wanted to keep education funding level in general State aid from last year to this. If we had had a different situation with more revenues, we could have more fully funded education. We are not in that situation. That's the confines of what we're dealing with right now. And so, just wanted to address that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Althoff.
Senator Kotowski, building on the little bit of what Senator Rose just addressed and trying -- and in -- in this Chamber, we constantly talk about education, and it is, obviously, a number- one priority. There was huge amounts of debate when Senator Manar presented Senate Bill 16, about ensuring that we had equitable funding for every single one of our children in the State of Illinois. So having noted that that is a priority, having noted that your desire is to get to that one hundred percent funding, can you tell me, is there any flexibility in this specific proposal with regard to mandates that the State places upon our school districts? Are we going to provide any relief in this particular piece of legislation? And then, in Appropriations Committee, sir, we had a very difficult time defining targeted initiatives. We did note that they were targeted. We did note that they were initiatives, but we weren't exactly sure what that meant. That was to the tune of about 3.2 million dollars. So, my -- my question to you would be, wouldn't it be better to use that 3.2 million dollars that we're not sure what we're using it for and add it back into the foundation level so that we're not at eighty-nine percent and we can spike that up and try and get closer to a hundred percent? And I do have two more questions, but I'm going to let you answer me.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 All right, I -- I appreciate both the commentary and the inquiry. So I -- I think looking at that area which you had referred to about funding that's in the budget for initiatives, that's for educational program -- programming; it can be used for local school districts; it can be used for longitudinal studies about the performance of schools throughout the State. So there's some flexibility there.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Continuing on the commentary, I would guess, with pretty much accuracy, that most of our school districts in the State of Illinois would rather have that money allocated to our foundation level, as opposed to anything else. But let's -- let's move on and let's talk a little bit about what we've learned about school funding over the past year from several of my colleagues - that despite having just eighteen percent of students statewide, the Chicago Public School receives thirty-seven percent of early childhood funding; that we learned that two hundred and thirty- five million dollars goes to the State Board of Education for special ed block grants off the top; and we also know that the current poverty grant formula drives almost fifty percent of all poverty and grant funding to Chicago Public Schools. Going back to my original premise that what we seek here in this State is parity, is equitable funding for each one of our children regardless of where they live, can you tell me, is there anything in this bill or in this budget that goes to trying to correct the inequity of all of that money being -- funneled specifically to the Chicago Public Schools, as opposed to every single school 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 across the State of Illinois?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Senator Althoff, this is an appropriation bill, which allocates funding for these areas. What you're talking about is a change in policy. But this is a funding bill which is funding areas within education. I -- I'm more than happy to work with you on any sort of policy measure which you would like to see fixing inequities. That's why I was happy to support Senator Manar's bill, which I think begins to address that, that focus that you're talking about, to make sure that we focus on creating access to opportunity for all people trying to seek to obtain the best education possible in Illinois. But thank you for your question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for questions, Senator Murphy.
Senator, earlier this year, Governor Quinn, he used the word "savage" in reference to cuts that would be necessary if we passed a budget that didn't have a tax increase. He used the word "savage" so many times, people started to turn it into -- to -- to a drinking game, it was such a farce. Let me give you a couple quotes from the Governor. Governor Quinn said, a budget without a tax extension would result in, quote, "extreme and radical cuts", end 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 quote, to education and other services and, quote "will starve our schools and result in mass teacher layoffs", end quote. The Governor went on to say, quote, "those who are telling you that Illinois can tax less…and still expect to fund education are simply not telling you the truth", end quote. Does this budget that you are putting forth right now require mass teacher layoffs?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
I'm confused. There's no mass teacher layoffs. There's no tax increase. According to Governor Quinn, you must not be telling the truth. Are you telling us the truth right now, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Well, my first response is, sorry to disappoint you, Senator, but there's no layoffs and there's no tax increase. Secondly, this -- in response to your question, yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
Does this bill have in it fifty million dollars for Chicago pension fund, of State taxpayer money?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
No. That would be another bill, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
Will the budget, in its totality, have that this year? And, if so, did it last year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
It did not. It included the certified payment last year, but it -- I don't believe it -- it accounted for that appropriation that you're referring to, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
…bill, and we will come back to some of the other things that were touched on perhaps later on, on some of the budget bills. I find it fascinating that we have what everybody considers a priority down here. You took almost thirty billion dollars in added tax revenue over the last four years. You continue to say education is a priority, and yet the budget you're putting forth today spends six hundred million dollars less on education than we did before you-all raised taxes. You can't have it both ways. You can't go out and tell the people of this State that you consider education to be a priority and then not fund it. This budget that you're putting forth, by your own admissions, by your own admissions, takes us back to the very simple borrow-and-spend policies that created this hole in the first place. You're going 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 back to repeating the things you said created the problem, and you're doing it willingly. Why? Why? You had an opportunity. We said all along you could fund education without a tax increase. We were right. You could fund all of our core services without the tax increase. You could pay down some of our deficit with the surplus from this year. Why did you choose a trumped-up borrow- and-spend budget that creates, by your own admission, a cliff? And we'll get into your cliff a little bit later. But why wouldn't you just do an honest budget for once that isn't intended to create an artificial cliff so you can push a tax increase later? Oh, and by the way, you used the phrase "immense hole" that's going to be created. The irony of that is, you said next year we're going to have an immense hole because of what's going on now, largely 'cause of your own doing with this budget. It's hard to take that very seriously though because you guys were the very people who said three months ago we had an immense…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Excuse me, Senator Murphy. Your time is up. I'll give you -- I'll give you just a -- absolutely. I'll just give you a few seconds to wrap up. Senator Murphy.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll wrap up. But you're the very people who said at the beginning of this Session, we had an immense hole that couldn't be filled without a tax increase now. You were wrong then. Why should the people believe you won't be wrong again? Time to let the people have their money back and take the threat away. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you rise? 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Thank you, Mr. President. Would the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he'll yield for a question, Senator Dillard.
Senator Kotowski, the Illinois credit rating has been downgraded five times since your party raised income taxes by sixty-seven percent. We now have the worst credit rating in America. What does this budget do to improve our State's credit rating? And do you expect any positive comments coming from the rating agencies on Wall Street?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- I -- I pointed out the -- I appreciate your question. I have a great deal of respect for you, sir. I pointed out the challenges that we face in this budget. And we can't hide from them as much as the rhetoric to the contrary. We have fixed budget pressures that exist as it relates to child care and services for seniors, services for people with developmental disabilities. It's not optimum to have this one-time infusion of dollars from special funds to fund our -- our budget. However, if you talk to taxpayers, the decision that we're making is to live within the means that are already provided by them. And they look at these other funds and they wouldn't know most of the time, unfortunately, because I don't think it's been communicated over the decades, the fact that there are different funds that are out there. But we've been able to use these dollars one time in order to address our 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 challenges and address our needs for the present moment. But, you know, sir, I'm not trying to -- nor is anybody in this room trying to hide from the fact that we face significant challenges. I will say, however, that the fact is, we've been able to reduce our liabilities significantly. I pointed that out with Medicaid and the -- the great work that we did on a bipartisan level, the great work that we've done on -- on pension reform, the great work that we've done on group health. I mean, I -- and the fact is, most of the bills that are owed right now are within sixty days at the Comptroller's Office. Now, we do face challenges with group healthcare bills. And that's a challenge that I want to see confronted and addressed. But, you know, sir, I don't work for the rating agencies, but I work for the people of the State of Illinois, and all I can tell you is, this budget based before us, is we're doing our best to live within the means already provided by these same taxpayers that we work for.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard.
Thank you. Well, to the bill: I do worry about the credit rating of the State of Illinois, and The Bond Buyer yesterday says that this budget relies on, what they call, "one shots" to avoid cuts that won't sit well with investors or rating agencies, or market -- participants. In fact, Moody's Investor {sic} (Investors) Service lead Illinois analyst, Ted Hampton, was very troubled with the continuing backlog of bills. He pointed out, like Senator Rose did, that the State's non-recurring revenues, like interfund borrowing, and its delay in paying off annual budget bills will lead to further credit deterioration of the State of 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Illinois, and his quote was, "The new budget version relies on the same old measures over and over again." And a man named Howard Cure, the Director of Municipal Research for Evercure {sic} (Evercore) Wealth Management, said that he believes that this is just a placeholder budget, as he calls it, and fuels, quote, "concerns" when you delay important actions that were expected. And just like we went downstairs today, under Senator Radogno's leadership, and warned of an impending tax increase, which we think is going to come during the lame duck Session, Wall Street thinks that that's your plan as well. And it's very troubling, very troubling, that Wall Street believes that Governor Quinn and his administration, quote, "misled Wall Street investors", that they gave us, according to them, the definite, definite impression, without being explicit, that income tax rates would be in -- extended. That's what Governor Quinn told those rating agencies. So, once again, we got a -- a credit rating credibility problem with Governor Quinn and his administration going out to Washington and saying one story and then having something different help here. And then last, but not least, Mr. President, 'cause I see the timer's on, this budget is going to have a halo effect, according to Wall Street credit investors. And what they mean is that the State's inability to pay off our backlogs, to interfund borrow and continue to kick the can down the road is, quote, "going to have a fiscal impact on other local governments that rely on State funding and may see growing delays in being repaid". So the City of Chicago, Pinckneyville, Peoria, their credit ratings, sir, are also at jeopardy because of the Democrat's budget that's being produced here today. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Barickman.
Thank you, Mr. President. You know, this -- this Chamber has had a series of debates about school funding over the last several months or longer. And, you know, there's been a number of ideas talked about - some of those good, some of them bad. But what's the conclusion to the students whom are out there and the parents that are out there that send their children to school, those school board members and teachers and principals? The message sent to them from Springfield is, no matter how much power we give this Democratic Party - supermajority power, some call it - supermajority power in the Senate, in the House -- so many of you sit on our side of the aisle. You've got the Governor, the Governor who claims himself to be the education Governor. But on the issue of bringing a solution to the education funding crisis that grips our State, this Body gets an F. And -- you know, what does it mean? Senator Rose earlier today, Senator Rose talks about the foundation level. What is the foundation level? It is a law that says that there is a -- that provides for a minimum funding level guarantee to every child, every student in Illinois. Doesn't matter whether they go to school in Chicago, Bloomington, where I'm from, or elsewhere. It is a law and it is a benchmark that is our guide and our duty and our obligation to these children. It's the test we use for ourself to see whether we're doing our job. And let's see what job we're doing. Back in 2000, the State of 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Illinois put 2.6 billion dollars towards the foundation level. Since then, we have seen the Democrats pour an additional 2.4 billion dollars into what they call education. Senator Kotowski, you tell me there's seven billion dollars in education today, yet what have we put towards the foundation level? Since 2000, this budget puts less money towards foundation than we did fifteen years ago - less money today towards foundation that we did in fiscal year 2000 - 2.6 billion then, 2.5 today. By law, our obligation, our duty to our public schoolchildren, is to do our job and to meet this obligation - fund first the foundation level, fund it first, and do our job. This budget, for the schoolchildren of this State and for all of us who care deeply about educating all of our youth, this budget is a total failure, a total shirk of responsibility by our State government, and we deserve an F for it. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, to close.
As -- as always, I appreciate the comments from my colleagues that I respect so much on the other side of the aisle. This is - - I mean, there's -- there's some really key points that were raised here about funding education and about where -- where the revenue's gone. Well, let's be very clear, the revenue that we passed has gone to pay for pensions and to fund pensions. It's also gone to pay for bonds, which have produced more dollars and generated more positive interest for those bonds that we're paying back. And in addition to that, we've been able to fund and take care of bills to a very considerable level in -- in -- from a reduction standpoint. That's where the dollars have gone to. Now 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 I just want to reiterate so we're clear here, the amount of money above the line, like -- just like anybody that does a budget, these pressures we have in the State budget that we have addressed - Medicaid pressures, pension pressures, health care pressures - that has meant that we've had less money available to fund other key programs. And for those of you on the other side of the aisle who have not voted for pension reform - I know there were a lot of you who did - it meant that consequently we're not going to see the savings that we need to see happen in order to fund these key programs that we care so much about. And the other thing - I'm kind of mystified right now - I'm hearing a lot of passionate speeches about education, a lot of people talking about how much they care about our kids getting a world-class education, and I share that concern, but I'm a little mystified that people haven't provided any kind of a -- a solution or a revenue idea, or a piece of legislation in order to fund education at that level. The fact is, we need to take steps to do it. We need to make sure we work together to achieve that level of funding. I agree with you. I agree with you completely. But the fact is, we don't have these funds before us today. So when we have an opportunity to vote for funds at some time in the future, I want to join together with you in doing that, because that's the best way we can ensure our children have a world-class education. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The question is, shall House Bill 6093 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 34 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. House Bill 6093, 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, let's got to -- Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
An apology, Mr. President. Unfortunately, I obviously had a mechanical error. Can the record please reflect I would have been a No on that piece of legislation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so reflect your -- that was your intent. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, let's go to 6094, House Bill 6094. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 6094. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Just before I begin, I just want to note today is the anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. And one of the things that's interesting about that is they took bricks from different parts of the United States, from the southern states and northern states, to show that's what it takes to work together to make sure we live up to the principles of the United States of America. I read that this morning, thinking fully about my friend, Senator Bill Haine, to see if I can capture sort of the -- the elements of history that we need to embrace when we're talking about budgets, which fund education, 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 and work to make sure we provide the best services to the people of the State of Illinois. That was for my friend, Senator Haine. House Bill 6094 makes appropriations to the State higher education agencies for fiscal year 2015. This bill appropriates 2.44 billion all funds to these agencies for fiscal year '15. Of this total, 1.99 billion is appropriated General Revenue Fund, seventy-eight million from other State funds, and three hundred and seventy-nine million federal funds. Higher education is relatively flat. A lot of the grants we have here are flat as well. We have funding for the Monetary Awards Programs {sic} (Award Program), which is consistent from last year to this year. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have about this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Questions of the sponsor, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Rose.
So you -- since you mentioned Abraham Lincoln in your opening, I would note that it was President Lincoln who brought us the University of Illinois, our alma mater, via the Land Grant Act. Right? And as part of that, Abraham Lincoln's dream was that every kid, no matter where they live, gets a chance, gets a shot. And here we are a hundred and fifty years later and we're starting to price kids out of the market. We're starting to tell families in your district, my district, districts all over the State of Illinois that they can no longer afford to realize the dream that Abraham Lincoln lived -- lived and had to give every kid, no matter 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 where they came from, a dream and a chance to succeed and fulfill that dream. In this budget, Senator Kotowski, does Chicago State still get a special set-aside of almost five million dollars?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Are you referring to the -- the funds that -- the funds that they're receiving from the tenth casino license? Yeah, I believe that's accurate, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Is the Grow Your Own back in here today as well?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Yes, it is. It's…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Does this bill fail to fund the Illinois Veteran's Grant for - what? - the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh year in a row?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
You know, that's actually -- we -- we had this discussion -- we had this discussion in committee, and I believe it provides for an increase, but it doesn't -- and one of the things we discussed, and I think we shared that concern, we went from eleven community 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 colleges that were receiving funding to nineteen in this legislation. So I -- I don't believe, to your point, that it addresses it completely across the State, but it provides for an increase. It's something that didn't exist before. I think -- believe we've even gone from eleven community colleges providing support for veterans' grants to nineteen, which is an improvement over last year.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
And I appreciate the answer you just gave, but I was actually referring to the IVG as a whole, the Illinois Veteran's Grant Program as a whole. Because what happened is, after neglecting our men and women who served us and not fully funding it, the veteran's grant, allowing that to become an unfunded mandate on our community colleges and public four-year universities, it was -- last year, it was ten million dollars that went unfunded. This year, the set-aside, which is what you were referring to, the set- aside grows to 1.2 million. And as to specific colleges - this one or that one, one here, one there - not -- but the whole IVG is still down. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Based on the knowledge I have, that is correct. But I -- it's also my understanding with the new GI bill, they're providing a greater level of support from the federal government for veterans within the State of Illinois, which we hope to offset that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Rose.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President, and to the bill: That -- and actually that will offset to some extent, but it does not offset the complete. In fact, that's been around for a while and last year they were ten million in the hole on the Illinois Veteran's Grant. You know, I would go back to the fact that if you just -- half of that is caught up in the set-aside to Chicago State. And that would be a common theme throughout this budget, that you've got gimmicks in terms of the revenue, of borrowing interfund here, supplemental there, but on the other hand, you have these new -- well, not -- this one's not new - you have the continuance of these add-on special perk programs and the new special perk programs that we'll see throughout all these budgets, while we continue to fail to fund the core missions and functions of the State of Illinois. I want to, if I may, since we're on the topic of education in general, I want to disabuse people of the notion that the tax increase was ever for the kids or, in this case, for the students at our four-year and community colleges. The Governor's introduced budget, which assumed the tax increase would pass, recommended budget, still cut K-12. House Democrat budget cut K-12, even with -- assuming the tax increase had passed. Out of seventy-one billion dollars, you still cut GSA ten percent. Out of seventy-one billion dollars, you're cutting our colleges and universities in this State. You're not erasing and making up the -- making up the cuts of several years. You're not funding the IVG. Now, you and I -- and I -- and I think you and I had a very good discussion yesterday - Senator Hastings was a part of that - on a better way to maybe fully fund the -- the IVG over 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 time, and I look forward to engaging you in those conversations, but the fact is, today…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose, your time is up. Please wrap up your remarks. Thank you.
The fact is, in this budget today, you've left a huge gaping hole in the Illinois Veteran's Grant, but you're continuing to set aside special appropriations for this school and that school. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bivins, for what -- excuse me, Senator Bivins. Senator Kotowski.
As -- as I indicated in our conversations in committee, I share your commitment to make sure we honor and serve our veterans the way they have honored and served our country. I look forward to -- to working with you on this. I just want to point out very clearly that the Illinois Veteran's Grant reimbursement increased from, last year, seven hundred and fifty thousand to 1.287. And -- and just be real clear -- real, real clear, veterans are still receiving the grants, while the challenge is the reimbursements to the schools, which is something that I agree with you and something we need to work on. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?
…you, Mr. President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 To the bill, Senator Bivins.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. Senator Rose already established and -- and Senator Kotowski answered that the Grow Your Own Teachers is indeed in the bill. I tend to be one who is kind of -- kind of looks at the small things, the little details in life, and -- and especially in budgets. And we're only spending 1.5 million dollars on the program this year. And in comparison to the overall budget, I know that's just a drop in the budget, just a fraction that we don't look at very closely, but those little things do add up. Personally, I love the concept of Grow Your Own Teachers. I honestly do. I've said that publicly in my district. I think it's a great concept to take someone locally, train them, get them to commit to stay in a school locally that needs their services. It's a concept I employed when I was sheriff hiring people. You hire someone locally, they have an investment in the community; they'll do a much better job. And so I do like the concept. But the thing with concepts is you have to have results with concepts. And the stated goal of Grow Your Own Teachers was a thousand graduates by 2016. We have seen that they've only graduated ninety-seven, and only seventy-four currently are teaching in Illinois schools. And this is costing about two hundred and twenty-three thousand seven hundred dollars per -- per student -- or graduate of this program. We've spent a total from FY'06 to the current, if we include this in the bill today, of 21.7 million dollars. Now, based on my Common Core math skills, we will have -- it -- it'll -- it's going to take us a hundred years, a hundred years to train a thousand people. Now there were reforms stated. They've -- they've -- they've tightened 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 up the regulations, and so, if we cut that in half, it's going to -- only going to take us fifty years to train a thousand people. You know, at some point in time, you -- you have to -- to let go. And this is something we looked at in -- in law enforcement. We had in our own agency budget cut after budget cut, and you look at programs like the DARE program, another great concept. Studies are showing perhaps it's not as efficient or effective as it -- it once was. And you can't afford to keep that officer in school. So here's -- here's the same concept again, that you have to let go when you can't afford to pay for it. We can't afford to pay for it anymore. And, you know, we're going to be spending somewhere in the vicinity of a hundred and fifty to two -- over two hundred million dollars in the course of time over these number of years in the future to train all these teachers of this stated goal. And it's not happening. And I think it's time to let go of this and really examine those little tiny details, because they do -- they do add up very quickly and we can save a lot of money if we -- we only become more efficient in what we're doing. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I wanted to -- just to respond to the previous point that was made. As you may recall, I was one of the people who helped to - - led the effort to kind of reduce funding for this program, because it wasn't meeting up to its goals, its intended goals. We've reduced it by sixty percent. A few years ago, it was funded at two million. It's funded at about one and a half million. What's key is that we've really asked them, and -- and -- and put 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 a lot of pressure on them, to provide information about the results, and -- and just between -- there's been a two hundred and eighteen percent increase of graduates between 2010 and '14 - you know, from thirty-two to a hundred and two. They project -- a hundred and fifty-two projected graduates between 2014 and beyond. And a couple things, because I really worked to analyze this program. And the cost per -- cost per person receiving this service has dropped precipitously to about thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty-seven per person who's going to graduate. And that's a very positive development and a positive outcome. Plus the fact, I worked very hard with my colleague, Senator Martinez, this year to put even more stringent standards on the applicants, more stringent standards on their GPA, more stringent standards on their capacity to commit to being -- to the performance for teachers and the standards for an educator. So there's been a lot of positive developments. This -- this program has been examined from the top to bottom, and I believe it's headed in the right direction, based on the data that we have before us.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you. Chairman Kotowski, in -- in looking at this budget and what's been said before -- obviously, when we look at the budget and -- and the use of taxpayer dollars and making sure that we do the best job to ensure that our taxpayer money is spent in 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 a wise and a prudent and a fiscally responsible way -- I know Senator Rose had referenced earlier, in House Bill 6094 that we have here, there is a line item in there, five hundred thousand dollars in GRF for Financial Assistance Outreach Center at Chicago State. And in looking at that, I did not see that anywhere in the Governor's proposed budget or, when the university came before your committee, I didn't see that in their budget request also. Can you point to their request, where they put that in their budget request, Chairman Kotowski?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Where the -- the Governor put that in the request, or where the -- Chicago State University?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Where Chicago State put that in their budget request.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Chicago State doesn't benefit from that program. It's a federal program that they administer. So they're not direct beneficiaries of it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: And -- and they came before the committee, and I believe in the past that has been part of their budget request, but it wasn't 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 this year. And -- and so, again, I'm asking if you can point out in their budget request where that was at.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- I believe I -- I understand you're trying to get an answer for the fact that they made this request. But this is a - - a program that's administered by them, but they're not direct beneficiaries. It provides, you know, I believe, financial aid assistance. But the fact is, that's what it is. And so, it's the same answer I'm going to -- that I gave to you before, I'm going to give to you now.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: And I guess the answer "that's what it is" is -- is sufficient for you, but in looking at, you know, the fact that they came before the committee, that was not in their request, it wasn't in the Governor's request, we see it pop up here in House Bill 6094, again, leads to that cynicism on us not doing our job of spending money in a prudent, wise, and fiscally responsible way. Let me move on. The fact that Chicago State gets 1.6 million in gaming revenue every year, and from the standpoint that - and this, I think, came up in committee - that the University has one of the lowest -- lowest-performing retention rates, 4.5 graduation rate. When we look at other State universities, whether it's Western or ISU or SIU or Northern, they're all being asked to tighten their belt, but yet we're continuing to give 1.6 million dollars there of gaming revenue on a university that's -- performing at the 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 lowest. What's the justification for that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Just real quickly, to the previous point that you raised, the -- the -- the money that was allocated for the financial services initiative was in fiscal year '14. So it's not like this is a new program. Secondly, you know, I think we've done a lot of work in -- in having discussions about institutes of -- of higher education and higher learning. The -- the profile for students who attend Chicago State, they're single, twenty-eight-year-old, on average, women, who have children, who are working. And if you look at the analysis and you compare the graduation rates to other schools, it's typically based on a six-year average. And -- and -- and, quite frankly, Chicago State doesn't hold up to that comparison, because their students -- they're not eighteen-year-olds; they're not going to school right out of high school. And the fact is the -- it usually takes more for students to graduate from Chicago State, longer period of time, because the people who are going there are working. They're working full time. They go -- they go back and -- they start school, they stop, and they come back. So the six-year way of evaluating that school, I don't think is -- is a completely informed way of doing it, the six-year rate for graduation rate. When you look at eight- to ten-year, their graduation rate increases significantly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood, you just have a few seconds left. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. To -- to the bill: Again, I would 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 argue - to your point, Chairman Kotowski - every college, State university is under stress and all those things you mentioned, and to reward a State university like this with five hundred thousand dollars that's not in the budget, I think, is -- is not a wise and prudent way to -- to spend our tax dollars. Let -- let me just mention, we've heard a lot of rhetoric here…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood, your -- your time is up. SENATOR LaHOOD: I'll -- I'll…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Just real quickly. Real quickly. Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. I'll close with this, we've heard a lot of rhetoric today. The Peoria Journal Star, their editorial today, "Another State budget, another cowards' way out?" Illinois Democrats continue to spend recklessly without -- apparently with -- with no stomach to make the permanent income tax they passed without a vote to spare in 2011. Neither do they own the appetite to make the spending cuts some say are necessary - especially in education and human services - to balance the budget if the income tax begins to sunset. And it goes on to say…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood, your -- your time is up. Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
Just a question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she -- he will yield. Senator Hastings. 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Senator Kotowski, I was just wondering, how many schools got their Illinois veterans' grants funding last year compared to this year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
The one we just were discussing, eleven last year. They've -- for community colleges, it's eleven, and that number this year is up to nineteen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings.
Senator Kotowski, I was just wondering, how do we determine which community colleges get the funding for that veteran's grant?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- yeah, I believe it's something we discussed in committee. It's determined based on need and then based on the number of people who are eligible to receive the grant in the area and the school that's providing the education for the veteran.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings.
To the bill, Mr. President. So, this -- this budget, it may not be perfect, and I sort of take -- I take offense to the Peoria Journal for calling us cowards for not being able to take the tough steps necessary to pass a -- to pass a budget, but when you talk 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 about raising taxes and doing those things, I don't think your side of the aisle would do that anyways, regardless of what the Peoria Journal would say. So this budget here is a responsible thing to keep funding level or at least relatively the same as last year for colleges and universities across the State. When we watched the national government shut down, you could see the detrimental effects on what happened to our country. And, when you look at the veteran's grant, in -- specifically, I have an issue with that -- and I agree with Senator Rose that we've not adequately funded certain programs inside this budget bill itself. But what Senator Kotowski said was, you know, we're doing it over time. We're actually funding more and more community colleges and we're getting better at funding it. Some veterans are discriminated {sic} by not funding this bill properly. But they're getting paid and I think it's going to continue to get better, and I think that it's imprudent for you to vote against this if you want veterans to get paid, if you want the universities in your area to get paid. I understand it's not the best, but I think you're -- if you vote against it, you're -- you're acting irresponsibly for your university. Although you're not getting the best funding, at least you're getting something right now, and we can discuss and we can work together over the next year to get better at it. And, Senator Rose, in regards to your -- your veteran's grant comments and all the different things that we talked about before, I'm excited to be working with you. I know you're committed to doing that and I know you're going to do the responsible thing today and vote for the funding for University of Illinois. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Further discussion? Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Following along this line of questioning, would the sponsor yield to a -- for -- a veteran's question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he'll yield for questions, Senator Dillard.
Senator Kotowski, for years we prorated these veterans' grants. What makes one veteran in one part of the State more worthy than in other parts?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Nothing. All veterans are worthy. But I wanted to -- just, real quick, if you look at how the money's allocated, it is allocated in a way that's bipartisan in various areas of the State. We have Jacobs, LaHood and Sullivan. We have LaHood and -- we have districts -- I should say, at the risk of getting everybody to start speaking in response, we have Senate Districts 37, 44, 46, 47, 53, 25, 17, 48, 50, 54, 56, 15, 17, 19, 40. You know, I -- I understand probably where your line of questioning is going, that we should be providing more comprehensive -- comprehensive level of support for our veterans. I -- I concur with you, but this is bipartisan to these institutes of higher learning to support veterans, to people from downstate and it's people from upstate, and it's -- it's -- it's bipartisan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Dillard.
Senator Kotowski, is there a specific criteria that you use to pick the winners and losers?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- the -- everything that we've discussed with the -- the agency is it's based on the need and then the number of veterans who would be eligible to receive it. I think it's already been acknowledged, sir, that, you know, this is an area that -- that requires more improvement and more funding in the future. But we have seen an increase - to get back to the previous point - we have seen an increase from last year to this year, an increased number of community colleges are eligible. So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard.
So, Senator Kotowski, with the many, many community colleges that get zero for veterans' grants, does that mean there's literally no one that served in the United States Armed Forces going to school there?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I believe, Senator, you know the answer to that question. I think there is veterans who deserve that support. I've acknowledged that. We have to honor and serve our veterans the way they've honored and served our country. But let's not confuse 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the subject here. Veterans will still get the education they need. They'll still get the support they need. The issue that you're making and is a -- is -- and I think it's a fair one, that we need to reimburse the community colleges and the universities that are providing the support to a greater extent. But veterans are not going to be impacted adversely. They're still going to get the education they need and they deserve.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard.
To the bill, Mr. President. And, Senator Kotowski, I apologize for the questions. I know this budget got shoved on you by the House of Representatives and the -- the Speaker and you're just presenting the Speaker's budget here. To the veterans' grants, you know, I'm leaving -- I'm leaving this Chamber, but I would tell you, so that you don't get this grief next year, Senator Kotowski, you ought to go back to prorating these veterans' grants. A veteran in -- in Rend Lake is just as worthy of -- as one at Harper College or Oakton College, your community college, which gets nothing under this, Senator Kotowski. And as much as I love your seatmate, Senator Emil Jones, and his father, the former Senate President here, I got to tell you, Senator Rose was right on. Some of that money used for Chicago State could be used to give veterans throughout the entire State of Illinois some kind of relief here. And, you know, I don't know why Chicago State is chosen. You know, the Senate President, John -- the man in the Chair, Western Illinois University's John Sullivan, maybe they could use a grant like that, or -- or Senator Silverstein's Northeastern Illinois University. I see Mike Frerichs over there. 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Maybe, Senator Frerichs' U of I could use this. You are fond of using that term "budgeting for results". Well, you know, where are our priorities here? I mean, is it gymnasiums for Chicago State University, or is it taking care of all the veterans who are at our community colleges? And I know, again, this budget got heaped on you, dumped on you, but to save yourself grief next year, I'd be taking a look at some of these things when you put next year's budget together. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise? Senator LaHood, your name was used in debate. Senator LaHood, what purpose do you rise? SENATOR LaHOOD: To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you for mentioning my name, Senator Kotowski. I appreciate that. And I know I was cut off. I'll just finish real briefly here. Again, the title -- regardless of the rhetoric on our side, the Peoria Journal Star, which is -- which is not a -- a conservative paper by any means, again, the -- the title "Another State budget, another cowards' way out?" and I'll just finish the last part here. Yet -- "again and again in Illinois, we see State leaders taking the coward's way out, not confronting the challenges before them, not fully leveling with the" -- "leveling with the citizens they are trying to fool into a vote." I ask for a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise? Excuse me, just one second, Senator Murphy. Senator Kotowski.
I just want to make sure that paper endorsed you last time. So the previous speaker, to Senator - who I'm a huge -- huge fan of - Senator Dillard, I just want you to know I didn't -- I didn't recognize the fact that you were leaving this year. And we're going to miss you here, 'cause you're one of the true statesmen of the Senate, and learned an awful lot from you, and we appreciate all the work that you've done here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Murphy.
You know, I guess, first, just an observation. I -- you know, you've appreciated the -- a lot of the comments and questions of other people out here. I'm a little hurt, 'cause I don't know that you've appreciated any of mine yet. Do you appreciate my questions and comments out here, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Not authentically.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 That's the first honest thing you've said all day. So, Senator, the U of I budget in -- in your bill here is about flat from last year. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski. I'm sorry. Senator Kotowski.
I was nodding my head, and I said yes. Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
Earlier this year, Governor Quinn said, quote, "There is no way the University of Illinois is not going to have major cutbacks if we do not get our budget", end quote. Now setting aside the absolutely awful grammar of that statement, are there -- would you characterize essentially flat as major cutbacks, or was Governor Quinn wrong when he said that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
This is going to get me in trouble back home. But is somebody from Saint Viator actually going to make criticism of grammar? Yeah. Okay. So, just wanted to double-check. So, yeah, I -- I think the -- as I stated before, this budget, for the most part, keeps higher education flat. We've done what we needed to do with the resources that we have available. That's the budget you have before you, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 So -- so Governor Quinn clearly didn't know what he was talking about when he said that, because he said you either had to have horrible cuts to the U of I or the tax increase. And apparently, magically, we've gotten to a point where we have neither. The guy's been Governor five years and he never saw that coming. Another question: Can you explain for me the application of the budgeting for results principles to the money that is specially sent from the gaming money to the Chicago State University? How does that fit into budgeting for results principles when applied, compared to, say, sending that money to needy veterans in -- at Oakton or Harper College, where we represent?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you for your question, sir. I believe I -- I -- I -- I -- I sought to address that earlier. When people come before the committee, the questions we do is like, are you -- what outcome are you working towards? Who are the people you're serving? The number served? What's the impact you've had on the people served? What's your cost per outcome? I think I've enumerated pretty clearly the challenges that Chicago State has faced, because of the population that it has served. And it's different because of, not just economics, but age group that's being served and people who are working while going to school, kind of stopping and starting. I think there's been some positive changes in terms of the university over the past couple years, especially as it relates to providing information and data about the students they're serving. So, I mean, I -- we probably don't have the longitudinal 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 study that you're looking for at this moment, Senator, but I will say that we have more information than we ever have had about the performance of students over time who go to Chicago State. So…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
To -- to the bill, Mr. President. Thank you for the attempt at an explanation. I think when we got budgeting for results we were promised a little bit more metrics and a little less rhetorical fluff, but I will certainly take that answer for the time being, 'cause, frankly, it's about as specific as I've ever gotten on the subject. To the bill: Again, this is a piece of a budget that the people who are putting it forth acknowledge is a bad budget. It is not a balanced budget. You're taking FY'14 money and pushing into next year. You're going to spend more money in FY'15 than you take in. It's a deficit budget. It borrows, again. Fund sweeps - you can call it borrowing if you want, but they're fund sweeps. This is an irresponsible budget seeking to create a crisis, because you've failed at convincing the people this year that there -- there's a sufficient crisis to require a tax increase. So now you're taking another stab at creating a crisis by making this huge cliff - I think "immense" was the word. I appreciate you going with a different word other than "savage". "Immense" is good. But the people are on to this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, your time's up. Please wrap up your remarks.
…vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Jacobs, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To -- to the bill. I just want to thank Governor Pat Quinn and the Democrat Majority in the House and the Senate for keeping your word and letting the temporary tax expire. Promises made, promises kept. Contrary to what the partisans have been screaming for three years now, Illinois' temporary income tax will move from five to 3.75 percent. By the way, this represents the largest single tax decrease in Illinois taxpayer history. For the record, Iowa's tax rate is 6.4, Wisconsin is 7.5, Missouri is 6. So, in the distance, I can hear U-Haul trucks revving their engines and bringing entrepreneurs and job creators back to Illinois as quickly as they can get here. As you may know, President John Kennedy, who was a Democrat, the last time I checked, and LBJ believed in tax cuts, and they believed it would stimulate the economy. So I don't want to make this a Democrat or Republican speech, I guess, but I'm tired. I'm tired of my friends across the aisle pretending that they're not even in the Legislature. Some of you folks have been here for twenty years and you act like you don't have -- you don't have any role here. If that's the truth, I hope your voters take a very hard look and replace you with someone who can make a difference. But, thus far, what you're doing is throwing up your hands and saying it's not my fault. It's all of our faults. In the immortal words of -- in the immortal -- words of LBJ, "Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a real {sic} (good) carpenter to build one."
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Righter.
And, Senator Kotowski, this next line of questioning, you can thank your seatmate for this. Illinois' challenges - and I -- and I've -- I've -- I've listened to you use the word "challenges" several times during this debate and in Appropriations committees and elsewheres, and you've used it in the context of almost like -- that the -- that the problems that we have in this State with regards to having, I don't know, let's say, the third-highest unemployment rate in the country or the second-highest out- migration rate in the entire United States, that somehow these were like a spontaneous rockslide, that we just couldn't see it coming and then, boom, it was on top of us. But I think you know better, I know better, the previous speaker surely knows better, and that is, is that this has been perpetrated over a period of time. Now I've been sitting, listening to this debate for a while and I still have in my ears this echo of the claims - loud, robust, adamant claims - that were being made just a few weeks ago by you, by the other Chair of -- of the Appropriations Committee, by the Governor, about the fact that this State would literally fall to its knees, fiscally, but for an extension of the tax increase. Now we've talked about, today already, in another setting, allowing the tax increase to sunset. So my question for you, Senator, as a sponsor of this budget, is -- is, do you believe -- do you believe that there will be no need for a lame duck Session tax increase to support the spending that you are sponsoring today? Or do you believe that tax increase is going to have to happen? 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Well, I think that's -- there's going to be a lot of discussion among voters over the next several months about what's the best course to take. But I believe I laid it out pretty clearly in my opening remarks, and -- in the statement that we have challenges that we face to the word that I have said often, because it's true, as it relates to pressures in the State budget that are currently not being addressed, because we don't have the revenue and, also, the fact that we are doing a one-time infusion of dollars from special funds, plus the fact that we're going to have three billion less in the future. So, I think it was really clear that we need a revenue solution. As to whether or not it's the solution that you're offering, I think that's to be determined over the next several months and then when we return.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Well, I appreciate that, Senator Kotowski, but I remember, and I think others do, almost like it was yesterday, when we were here on this Senate Floor four years ago and when you and other Members of your party said, "We have to have this temporary tax increase in order to fill the holes, pay the backlog of bills, stabilize our budget." That's what you said. So the question I have now is, after four years and almost thirty billion dollars more of hardworking Illinoisans' money, have you been able to take care of the bills, stabilize the budget, stabilize education funding, like you promised, so that we will absolutely not have to 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 extend the tax increase? Can you tell me that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- I believe that I addressed some of your concerns, but I -- I think we need to be very clear, as I stated in -- in my opening remarks, about where the revenue was passed and where it's gone. We've reduced the number of bills significantly, as I stated before. There's about 2.7 billion of bills on hand over at the - - over at the Comptroller's Office right now. That doesn't include group health, which is a -- a big pressure that needs to be addressed. But that -- that -- bills have dropped by about four billion dollars. And the bills that were on hand reduced -- I should say, the length of time that they were owed dropped from a hundred and eleven days to about forty-eight days and that's -- that's very significant progress. The money has gone towards making our pension payments. And you would, I think, agree that spoke to the reason why we needed to pass pension reform, which is -- which, bipartisan, is going to lead to a hundred and forty-five million worth of savings. Why we also moved to pass Medicaid reform, which your leadership involved in that was appreciated. Why we passed reforms on group health. But, you know, I've stated out -- we still have -- these are costs that increase. And there's a difference between costs that increase, that naturally grow, and -- and decisions that we make with spending. But make no mistake, they're linked. We have less money to spend on our programs because costs -- despite our reform measures, our reform measures that have passed in a bipartisan manner, we have less money to spend on programs that are important for the people of the State 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter, your time's up. I'm going to give you a minute to close. Senator Righter.
I won't need a minute, but thank you, Mr. President. Senator Kotowski, I want to congratulate you, first, on your ability to run out the clock. Fortunately, there are more appropriations bills yet to come, so you and I will have an opportunity to pick up this conversation a little bit later. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, to close.
I look forward to that colloquy. That's two for you today, Senator. And I just want to -- I appreciate the question and the commentary, but I -- I quite simply -- I think we've -- there -- there's -- there's no place to really -- there's no place to really pretend in this budget. It is what it is. It's very straightforward. It's very clear. It's clear that -- where the pressures exist. It's clear the actions that we're taking to live within the means already provided by taxpayers. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The question is, shall House Bill 6094 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 36 voting Aye, 20 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. House Bill 6094, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 passed. Let's go to House Bill 6095. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 6095. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 6095 makes appropriations to general service agencies for fiscal year 2015. In total, this bill appropriates 7.8 billion all funds to these agencies for fiscal year '15, which represents a decrease of 99.2 million below the fiscal year '14 appropriation. Of this total, 1.1 billion is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, five billion from other State funds, and 1.7 billion from federal funds. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Rose.
Senator Kotowski, is there five million dollars in here for a summer jobs program?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski. 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
No. I -- I don't believe so. The -- I don't know what item you're referring to, Senator, but areas that -- we had discussed this in Appropriations. We talked about this funding in the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for -- for support for businesses.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Senator Kotowski, I appreciate the fact that this is coming quickly from the Speaker's Office to the Senate Floor, but what - - what -- is there not five million dollars for summer youth employment?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Just double-checking. You want to be -- I believe that was zeroed out.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Our staff says it's still in there for the Youth Recreation Corps.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Right. That -- I believe the program you're referring to is the Youth Recreation Corps within DNR. Yeah. Yes, it is.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Rose.
…much? For how much?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Hold on one second, please, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Sorry for the delay. I apologize, Senator. I believe it's five million.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
To -- to the bill: So there is a five-million-dollar continuance of a program called the Youth Recreation Corps. In committee and on their initial budget, Director Miller, to his credit, said that this program two years ago had about a thirteen/fourteen percent - fraud may be the wrong word - money that maybe was misspent. That might be the right word. Misappropriated. Maybe not taken their obligation seriously to these locals. So I asked him, I said, "Well, what happens?" And Director Miller, to his credit, he says, "You know what? We repatriated. We recollected those funds for the taxpayers. But, lo and behold, there were several that refused to repay us." I said, "Well, what did you do with that, Director Miller?" He said, "I turned 'em over to the Attorney General's Office." "Well, can you provide me with a list of who has failed to repay?" Lo and 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 behold, there are nine entities, I have here, that refused to repay the taxpayers what they're due. Oddly enough, two of 'em pop up on the NRI list as well - Woodlawn, Thornton Township. I believe Woodlawn was part of the CNN investigation, was it not? Yet, here they are refusing to repay the taxpayers what was owed two years ago, yet the program continues here today. Now, let's be clear. There probably are -- and -- and to Director Miller's credit, he said that he took great pains to try to improve that rate going forward. But this program continues today in this budget at a tune of five million dollars. Now, Senator Kotowski, I'm going to ask you, how do we know that these same actors, nine of 'em here, that owe us money aren't going to get funds out of this budget?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I think you raise some excellent points there, Senator. I think we'll know, as a -- as a byproduct of the law that is going to the Governor's desk - believe it's passed -- going to be passed out of the House today - people who've had issues like this, which -- basically, where they've had difficulties and they haven't produced, will be on a suspended list in the State of Illinois. So we'll have that information. The fact that we have that information available to us right now, as you've indicated publicly, and the Attorney General's aware of it, I think, provides us with the kind of information that we need to take decisive action in the future. But that was the reason why we passed the fundamental reform as it related to grants that we're providing for people. But I -- I just wanted to point out, this program -- I know you -- I know you -- you say that there's been difficulties, 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 but this is a -- a youth program that -- that funds -- that funds locations all throughout the State of Illinois, I believe in your district and -- and districts throughout the State. And it's -- it's been a -- an historic program. It's been very beneficial to the youth involved. And the fact is, if there are problems, and it sounds like there are, that were pointed out, we need to make sure that those folks don't receive funding in the future. And I'll -- and I'll do my best to work with you to ensure that that -- that -- that doesn't happen, or that happens that they don't receive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose, due to a slow response to getting you some information, even though your time's up, I'm going to give you a minute to close here, if you'd like. Senator Rose.
Thank you, Mr. President, much obliged. I'm not going to relitigate the debate from yesterday. Many felt that there was some movement forward in terms of transparency. Many felt that it was still inadequate. And, in fact, there was a big discussion yesterday about some potential failings of that bill that passed. Nonetheless, I would simply point out, in this budget bill in front of us, that these NRI-like appropriations are continuing. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Althoff. 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Senator Kotowski, I'm not going to sound like a broken record as -- as well. We had extensive conversation in Appropriations Committee with regard to the Historic Preservation Agency and some concerns that, when we brought them up to testify, they indicated, with the eight-hundred-and-eighty-seven-thousand-dollar reduction, they were going to be forced to let between twenty -- twenty and twenty-five employees go, which was then going to result in closures of some of their smaller historic sites. You probably are unaware, but I did file an amendment after the discussion that we had in a very bipartisan-like fashion and suggested that we take moneys from the Lewis and Clark Historic Site that was brand- new money, in addition - it was about a hundred and twenty-six percent more money than we had allocated in last year's budget - as well as some moneys from the planned bicentennial birthday party, which isn't until 2018. So I suggested we take some of those moneys, put it back in the line item, so that we could keep those historical sites open and look forward to the future and figure out how to fund those other projects, but not take it away from the personnel line and operating expenses of the agency. So I -- I would ask you, is there any movement or is there any plan on your side of the aisle, after having talked with a few of your Members on that side, about trying to keep these sites open? If you'll recall, under a former administration, when our historic and our State parks closed, there was a huge outcry from our constituencies. So, again, I would just ask if you might elaborate if there's a future plan to fund that agency at a hundred percent of what it was funded at last year.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Kotowski.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
I have lots of time left, can you elaborate on that yes answer, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Yes. We are going to have to pass a supplemental at some point to address this problem that exists in the budget. And as you know, the Governor has some discretionary authority to move dollars around. Hopefully, that's another way of addressing that. But we are going to have to pass a supplemental, in our opinion, to fully -- to fully address that problem.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
And then I'll just finish with a question that the agency was unable to answer, specifically what the additional moneys for that Lewis and Clark Historic Site would be used for. Do you have any idea specifically what that was intended to be used for in this fiscal year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Just wanted to get clarification. I believe it's for 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 operations.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator… Further discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Murphy.
Senator, Governor Quinn had a budget address that you so graciously extended beyond the primary election to give him a little more time to work on it, and his recommended budget looks a lot different than this one. What role did Governor Quinn play in the budget that you're carrying in this Chamber today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
As you know, we always have dialogue between both sides of the Chamber and also with the Chief Executive. So there's input from a variety of different people who have been -- who will be impacted by the budget, whether it be the constitutional officers or the sixty-three State agencies or the four hundred and sixty- three programs within State government. So there was impact and feedback from all parties who are -- who are -- will be receiving funds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
Lot of feedback from a lot of people. Only one, of course, 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 is the Chief Executive of the State of Illinois. So, did Governor Quinn have more or less impact on this budget than, say, representatives of the Mosquito Abatement District?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
This is a -- the budget that we have before us, Senator. I -- I -- I didn't -- I just -- here, I didn't talk to any members of that Abatement District. There wasn't robust conversation and a dialogue with them. It's not like I -- I have this opposition to protecting people from mosquitos and, you know, being bitten over the summer; they just weren't as engaged. So I -- I don't think you're providing the best example, the comparison, unfortunately, while you usually do. The reality is, we work to get as much feedback as we possibly can to pass a budget. And so here's the budget we have before us. We had feedback from our Members, feedback from all the different agencies, as well as the Chief Executive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
In your feedback from the Governor, did he indicate that he is going to -- in your feedback with the Governor, your communications with the Governor about the budget, did he indicate an intent to sign this budget into law, or did he suggest he wanted to make some changes? Can you enlighten the Body as to the Governor's position on this budget that you say he had input on?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski. 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I -- this is -- as you know, we appropriate the funds. We send it to his desk. I can't speak for what the Governor's going to do. He may have a particular interest in Palatine. But other than that, I can't speak to what's going to happen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
Did he indicate he had a particular interest in Palatine in any of your meetings?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
No. Despite my attempts, no. No, there was no interest. I just -- it was a…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy.
I -- so -- I mean, as we sit out here now, we have a little fun from time to time, but, I mean, is the Governor okay with this budget? He made a very big show all spring about his recommended budget and how, if we didn't have an extension of the tax, we would be in dire circumstances with savage cuts. And so it strikes me as a little odd that a Governor, who's been governor for five years, shares the same party as the people who run the General Assembly -- so either he had a role in this and he's okay with it and he signed off on it, or he's so out of the loop on this and not really relevant to the process, despite having been Governor for five years. I mean, which is it? We'd like to know his role 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 in this process. Mr. President, if you want to weigh in, I'd be very interested in your thoughts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I believe I've already answered that question, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, you have about one minute. Senator Murphy.
To the bill: Well, I -- you know, unfortunately, we're not going to get an answer out of what level of interest and what level of participation the Governor of the State of Illinois had in the budget that spends all the taxpayers' money or, for those of you with a summer schedule, what his intention is for this budget. Is he going to amendatorily veto it? Is he going to line item things? What's he going to do? We don't know. It's -- it's -- it's unfathomable to me, though, that people who work together like this -- you've got a good relationship with the Governor. I know you walk in parades with him. You guys are tight. I can't imagine how, you doing the budget work here, you guys are not on the same page. Is he involved or is he an absentee Governor? I guess you're -- by your omission, I guess you're saying he's an absentee Governor. Maybe, fortunately for him, he doesn't want his fingerprints on this budget, because it's a bad budget. So maybe you're doing him a favor. I still encourage a No -- a No vote. And I thank you for my time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter, for what -- before you do that, Senator Righter, Senator Muñoz in the Chair. 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, I'd like to pick up our conversation from where it left off. But in the time since we've spoken, I've been sitting here and really feeling pretty good, because, as you recall, right before we started our last conversation, your colleague, Senator Jacobs, over there, promoted his belief that the temporary tax increase is going to sunset and it's going to be a new day in Illinois again, I mean, almost to the point where you could almost hear the song "Happy Days Are Here Again" in the background somewhere. And, in fact, he's got such confidence about that that he put it in past tense terms - since we're on kind of a grammatical theme here today. He said it has sunsetted and we are going to do well again here in Illinois. So, given that overwhelming state of confidence that Senator Jacobs has, which I take as a total pledge that he will not vote for any extension of the tax increase or a tax increase in the lame duck Session, I want to know, since you are the sponsor of this budget, do you share that confidence?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, sir, again, for your -- your questioning and your -- your persistence. I believe I've answered the question. In 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 fact, I answered it in my opening remarks - that we need to look at options for revenue to address our challenges. And that could be any number of options, but we need to look at them because we do have a, you know, a significant hole that needs to be filled in the budget next year. And I believe that this Chamber will consider other options to discuss, to make sure that we do what's responsible.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
So, Senator Kotowski, you do not believe that the passage of this budget will require an extension of the tax increase or a new tax increase during the lame duck Session coming at the end of this year. Is that what you're saying?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Again, I -- I -- I think I've -- I've been pretty clear from the beginning through the course of -- of my answers, Senator Righter. I mean, the -- you know, we have a budget here right now. We've laid out the challenges. We've laid out what we're keeping level to fund, and we've also discussed, and I've discussed, what are the pressures on the budget, discussed what we're going to face next year, and discussed the fact that -- you know, I guess we'd say we have a couple options, where we consider revenue or we make a decision to, at the very minimum, make a reduction of about 4.4 billion dollars in the budget. So, there's a couple options that we need to consider and -- and those are the ones that we have potentially before us. 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
Senator Kotowski, I want to follow up a little bit on Senator Althoff's questioning about the budget for the Historic Preservation Agency and this odd provision that you have in here that adds five hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the Lewis and Clark Historic Site in Madison County - actually, increase of three hundred and seven million {sic} - which the Agency tells us will force the closure of other sites and the layoff of personnel. Senator Althoff had, in the Senate -- Senate Executive Committee subcommittee, an amendment to try -- since the -- since the Agency couldn't tell us what the money was for and neither could your two Democrat colleagues on the subcommittee - they didn't have any idea what the money was for - I wonder if you can tell me what's going on down there in Madison County at that site that they need three hundred and seven thousand dollars more for, that's going to force the closure of other sites.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Again, I -- I believe I answered that question before. I discussed the fact that it was for operations, but I also acknowledged, Senator, that we're going to have to address this problem in the future, these reductions to the Historic Preservation Agency, to make sure that we avoid those layoffs that are going to occur. We're going to have other areas in the State budget we're going to have to do a similar -- take similar action. So I -- I concur with your concern. We're going to have to do 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 something in a supplemental, or, as I pointed out, hopefully the Governor's going to deal something with -- look at his discretionary authority to try and deal with this as well. But it is not an optimal situation. I do agree with you on that front.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter, to the bill. You've got about ten seconds. I'll give you a little more time.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the sponsor doesn't know what's going on at the site down there, just like the sponsor didn't know what the 3.2 million dollars in targeted initiatives in the education budget were about, like the sponsor and most of you don't know. And you know what? I guess I want to make that point a little bit. Are you really comfortable voting for money when you have no idea how it's going to be spent? You have some measure of experience in this, don't you? Four years ago, you did this. And now there are subpoenas flying around in the Capitol complex. What is this going -- money going to be spent for? Come on. Let's learn our lesson here and let's turn away from this charade. I urge a No vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski, to close.
Just real quickly. I appreciate the questions and the concerns. I believe I've been very clear about this budget, but also been very clear about the fact that there are areas of the budget that never before in the history of our State will we see and will we make sure -- have the greater -- a greater level of 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 accountability and transparency and monitoring of performance in what these organizations who are receiving taxpayers' money are providing in the way of service, delivery, and the impact of people that they serve. So, we're moving forward in a -- in a very positive direction. And I would, quite simply, ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 6095 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 voting Aye, 23 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 6095, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 6096. Senator Steans. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 6096. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This part of the budget is appropriating the above-the-line items, as well as, then, human services agency appropriations. In -- it's providing pension system funding - fully funding the pension systems - group health, insurance, debt service, and totaling appropriations of 43.6 billion in these funds, representing a 1.1 billion over the -- fiscal year '14 appropriations. Twenty 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 billion's from the General Revenue Fund. 21.1 billion from other State funds. And 2.6 billion from federal funds. And, as I say, it is funding the Department of {sic} (on) Aging, Human Services, DCFS, Public Health, Veterans Affairs, Human Rights Commission, and a number of other smaller human services agencies. I look forward to answering your questions that you may have on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) We have -- Seth Perlman with the Associated Press requests permission to take photos. There being no objection, leave is granted. Do we have any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield. Senator Murphy.
Senator, with regard to the revenue projections, this Chamber originally passed HJR 80, which had a 34.495 revenue estimate. What is the revenue number for the budget that we will use -- that we're passing out today?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yes, thank you. We are using the updated COGFA estimate that they came out with, I believe it was in May -- oh, excuse me, in -- yes, I think it was in May that they came out with it, but COGFA estimate, revenue estimate of thirty four billion six hundred and sixty-two million.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Murphy.
And there are -- there's interfund borrowing. We would probably call 'em fund sweeps. There's -- there's interfund borrowing. We would call it fund sweeps. But that's in the amount of six hundred and fifty million. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
That's correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
And then another forty million from a hospital assessment. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Right. 'Cause the initial estimates for revenue had assumed that the hospital assessment program sunsetted, but with the bills we passed on Medicaid, we have extended the hospital assessment program, much to the pleasure of the hospitals, and so this forty million will be added because we've extended that sunset.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
So, if I add those three things up, the hundred and sixty- seven from COGFA, the six fifty from the borrowing, and the forty million, that's eight hundred and fifty-seven million more of 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 revenue than the original revenue estimate. And is that what is being spent by this budget?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
That is being spent by the budget. I think that -- I'm not sure if that's also including the education and human services funds that were -- are created in the bill that was passed when we did the temporary income tax. There's four hundred million from those funds as well that are being spent. I'm not sure where you're incorporating that, but I -- just to be clear that that's also included in what we're spending on this budget.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
…I appreciate that clarification. That -- that was not in the original thirty-four four nine five. It is in now. The only thing that I can see that wasn't known all along was the hundred- and-sixty-seven-million-dollar revenue estimate increase by COGFA. Is that a fair assessment of the -- of the four things at least, that's really the only thing that's new?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Well, in terms of being new on the COGFA estimate, yes. I mean, I would say that interfund borrowing's always a decision you make at some point. So you could say that was a new thought that we should do that, or include that, but certainly it's been done in the past. 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
Senator, my -- my -- my point with this is this, we went through an appropriations process, where people were consistently told, "Tell us what would happen to you if you got cut by twenty percent." And I distinctly recall an exchange when IARF was in committee, and it was made very plain by Mr. Evans how real they had to take threats like that. The revenue that this budget is being based on today, the only part of it that was not knowable by all parties at the time the invitation was extended to tell people to come in and say what would happen if you got cut by twenty percent was a hundred and sixty-seven million revenue estimate upgrade by COGFA. I have the utmost respect for you, Senator. I think you are a very sincere person and I really do think your heart is in the right place in this building. But the appropriations process this year that was predicated on what could be nothing short of a lie was well beneath the dignity of this Chamber and certainly not worthy of you. We had people come in who were genuinely scared, because they were told they were going to get cut by twenty percent, when, as I said then and I reiterate now, and obviously you agree that I was right all along, because you're passing a budget that doesn't have twenty percent cuts and doesn't have a tax increase. Do you -- are you prepared at this point - because you knew this all along - are you prepared at this 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 point to apologize to the people…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Time is up, Senator.
I'll just wrap up. …prepared at this point, Senator, on behalf of the entire caucus, to apologize to the people that you ran through the ringer?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Thank you. Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Excuse me, Senator. Senator Steans wants to respond.
I would like to follow up, because I think the chair over there, the Minority Spokesperson on the budget, provides some very good commentary and points. And what I would suggest is that I think we did, in fact, on this side of the Chamber, actually listen to a lot of what you guys had to suggest in the Appropriations Committee hearings. You did, in fact, suggest that we could use the two hundred million in the Education Services Fund and the two hundred million in the Human Services Fund to help fund the budget. We're doing that. You did suggest, in fact, that we could use other funds from the Treasurer's Office to help pay pensions, and thus reduce the load on GRF. We're also doing that in the budget. You did suggest that we could, in fact, use -- probably try to keep agencies flat, rather than reducing them, and maybe then be able to sort of put off some of the big cuts that they would 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 otherwise experience. We're doing that as well. And -- and, lastly, I would say that, you know, the -- I think the -- idea that you were going along with on that is that we wouldn't actually, in fact, have to do -- keep the revenues in place, the -- extend the tax increase to fund the budget for the year. That's what this is doing. So I would expect to get a little bit more Republican participation and support on this budget, which we're not doing, since it's very much in line with what it was you were hoping and, I think, expecting to see in that. So I would encourage some Republican participation on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Dillard, for what purpose that you seek recognition?
To -- to see if the nice lady will answer a -- a question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield. Senator Dillard.
Thank you. Senator Steans, I think you're pretty familiar with this, but in fiscal year '13, the Department on Aging was given a community care supplemental to catch up on the previous year's backlog. And in the negotiations, one of the concessions was to remove the, quote, "including prior year's costs", end quote, from the Community Care Program appropriation. And that was language which was historically allowing the Department to push off bills into future years and to build up a backlog. This budget specifically adds that language back into the appropriation. Why is it necessary to add that language, "including prior year's costs" back into the Community Care Program? And wasn't there an agreement we weren't going to do 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
There -- there was an agreement we were going to do that. It was for a period of time certain. I don't remember what that period was, quite honestly. I apologize for that. I -- you know, and the reason for this is, I think, very clear. You know, this budget, while, you know, it -- we know that we are going to increase unfunded liability in some of our program areas. The -- the -- the CCP program, the Community Care Program, is one of those areas that that may occur. I'd also suggest that child services area is a place that that might happen, as well as developmental disability programming is another area that it might happen. Those would be -- be probably three of the most significant areas which we may, in fact, incur liabilities that are greater than what we will -- we have appropriated for them in this budget.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Dillard.
So, Senator Steans, in a nutshell, this is being done so bills can get pushed off?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I -- I would suggest that we are going to have decisions to make - absolutely. And I think there's going to be some stark choices people are going to make. And I think it's indicative that elections really matter and that I hope the people back at 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 home are paying a lot of attention to the choices they're going to be making and the kind of ramifications that come from that. And there are going to be choices that we need to make.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Mr. President and Senator Steans. Just very quickly to the bill. You know, we didn't even live up to this agreement, or you didn't, for an entire fiscal year. So we're already changing things here. This is clearly shoving at least forty million dollars of appropriations off into the future. When I got up and talked about what The Bond Buyer wrote yesterday, one of the things that drives them nuts is pushing liabilities forward that are due. And, again, you know, that has implications and decisions like this have implications on the State's creditworthiness. And, again, we all marched down here -- or, downstairs on this side of the aisle, under Senator Radogno's leadership, this morning, to say we suspect in the lame duck Session, you're going to increase that income tax again on the people of Illinois by sixty-seven percent. And this is very indicative of why our instincts that you're going to increase taxes in a lame duck Session is going to come to fruition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
You know, I -- I also agree that I think the bond markets may, in fact, not be delighted with this budget. I think I had been certainly hoping that we were going to be in a different situation. I think we have, over the course of the last five 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 years, taken an enormous number of very challenging steps to really restore fiscal stability to the State of Illinois, things that we really have appreciated and enjoyed a lot of bipartisan support on, as you know, with pension reforms, addressing group health, bringing -- Medicaid was significant. We've reduced our overall agency spending, when you take out pensions and group health, by a billion dollars. We've reduced head count, four thousand employees. We've done a number of very difficult steps. The last indication that we really have to do now is dealing with revenue and having stability in revenue down the -- the road. The Bond Buyer that you have been quoting, too says that the General Assembly's failure to address the expiring tax hike introduces the element of uncertainty. This is the issue that they're really getting at fundamentally and that they would be suggesting we should be dealing with.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson. For what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Thank you. Senator, I just want to ask a little bit about the -- under the group health insurance side. The -- the current unpaid bills are at 1.5 -- I think 1.5 billion. Is that anticipated to stay the same under this proposed budget as well?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Yeah, I'm told it's about 1.6 billion that it's at. But, yes, it's anticipated it'll stay about the same.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
Does that -- and that backlog of unpaid bills, does that include then the -- the prompt payment interest for -- for these payments, or does that show up under a different line item?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I believe that's a different line item.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
Would I be right to say that the -- the penalties for late payments would be in the neighborhood of one hundred million dollars on this?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yes. That's in the right ballpark.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
And where would that interest then show up? What -- what line item would that hundred million dollars show up at then?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans. 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
My understanding, it's a -- like a -- generally a continuing appropriation; that the Comptroller makes those payments. I don't -- it's not in a -- a budget item here that you're going to see, because it's a continuing appropriation that the Comptroller addresses.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
The current payment for -- the current backlog on payments, my understanding now, is going to be, with this budget and is currently now, exceeding over four hundred days for some employees, which, obviously, we're all hearing from and creating significant problems. In this budget, there is -- we're not addressing that and so that -- those that are currently out that -- that four hundred days, that's going to continue under this budget as well?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yes. That's for the out-of-network indemnity providers. For the HMO, in network, I think it's about two hundred days' payment cycle. And that is going to continue and I'm glad you're raising that point. These are the challenges we have with our budget that I think some folks like to sort of dismiss - that we have real budgets and real costs that we owe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
Thank you. To the bill, Mr. President. 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
I guess -- well, part of my frustration is, the purpose of the tax increase, we were told over and over again, was that the tax increase was going to be used to pay bills. Our unpaid medical bills when the tax increase went into place was at 1.2 billion. Now we're at 1.4 billion. So where did that nearly thirty billion dollars go, that our debt is going to increase by two hundred million? I guess I'll let her answer that question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I welcome the opportunity to answer that. Yes, our estimates are that from the tax increase since -- since we passed it, we have received 31.6 billion dollars in total from that tax increase, and it's been sent -- 3.6 billion in paying down unpaid bills, another twenty-one billion for -- increased pension payments, and eight billion to pay off debt service from the pension obligation bonds that were also due to pensions. That totals 32.6 billion, which is over the thirty-one billion that we got from the tax increase. This is where our dollars have gone.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
Again, I guess my -- my frustration is that -- that employees have to wait now over a year to get credit for claims that are out there; our backlog has increased; and the fact that we're paying, I think, nine percent interest on this money. We would have been 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 better off paying off this bill than paying off -- making the pension payment, 'cause our pensions I don't think are earning nine percent. We would be better off paying those bills, so we don't have to pay the hundred million dollars of interest on this plan. So, I guess it's the frustration that people thought that the tax increase was going to be paying all these bills and at this point, it looks like, at least on the health insurance side, our -- our unpaid bills have grown by a couple hundred million dollars since that went into place. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans. Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield. Senator Righter.
Thank you. Thank you. Senator, I do not want to talk about the SMART Act. I do not want to talk about Medicaid. I want to talk about taxes. There are, it appears, twenty of us in this Chamber now who have a -- the highest possible degree of confidence that there will not be a lame duck Session tax increase or extension of the current tax increase, or have at least committed that if that is put forward by someone in this building, that we will oppose it. I'd like to know if you are in that camp. I would like to know if the budget that you are sponsoring gives you confidence that you will not support a tax increase or an extension of the current tax increase in the lame duck Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Steans.
What I would say is that this budget is a full-year budget that can be executed for a full year without requiring any sort of a revenue vote. No tax increase is required for this budget. What I would further suggest, however, is that going into the next year, I think it's very indicative that we are going to have a huge issue that we cannot contend with without either mass cuts or revenue and that there's going to be some stark options that people have when they go to elections this November. I think we need to be keeping that in mind. 'Cause there really are real decision- making points than time here and we're going to have to take a look at what the options are that we want to do. And it really is a reflection of our values, I would say.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Steans, can you give me just a couple - and I know you've been talking a lot about this - couple examples of the challenges that you -- the specific challenges you're referring to that will -- you think will need to drive this Body to seriously consider extending the tax increase or raising taxes again?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yeah, this is little off the topic of this budget. I'm -- am happy to respond to that if you'd like, though. I mean, I think what we've heard is there's about, you know, over seven hundred 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 million in pressures in this budget that are built in that are not probably totally funded. That's going to be -- and this is for a half year of revenue that's gone. We know that in the following fiscal year, we're going to have a full year of the tax increase revenue that is gone. And I think that's going to indicate that we either need to make very significant cuts to health care, education, human services, or do something to look at our overall revenue picture.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter. Please try to keep it to the bill, please.
Thank you. To the bill, if I might there, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you very much. Thank you, Senator, for your responses, as always. This budget, while certainly an improvement over the original House budget and while more real, if not real, more real than the draconian, disastrous, not recommended budget that was kind of rolled out in a cartoonish fashion a few weeks ago, still has serious, serious problems. I -- I feel good, though, Mr. President, about Senator Steans' degree of confidence that she will not need to support a lame duck Session tax increase, because that's the message we want to send back to the folks at home. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Question, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
This may seem for the moment to be somewhat -- actually I'll start with a different question. Community care, remember that one from two years ago? Now, are we pushing out payments on that one like forty million dollars? We pushing the payments back again? 'Cause I thought -- I thought we had a pretty good conversation in a bipartisan way a few years ago to try to catch up those payments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
We did have a good bipartisan conversation on that. In fact, I think the bill on reforming this passed unanimously in this Chamber and really appreciated working with you on it. And, yes, I think this budget may have appropriation -- it may have -- we may incur costs that are above what's appropriated here and there may be some payment delays in the program.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
So, we had an agreement to catch up the payments, but now we're pushing 'em back on a -- unilaterally pushing 'em back. Do we know how much will be pushed back?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 I don't have an answer on what the amount is. I apologize. I can get that to you, or what our estimations might be. But I - - but I don't have that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Forty million -- would forty million be fair?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
That -- that's certainly in the ballpark.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
So I'm going to move on here, but I -- but let's note for the record that, once again, we are going back on agreements that were formed in a bipartisan fashion to help take -- get this State turned around. And in this budget, rather than continuing to advance and make -- to advance the ball in terms of fiscal integrity and responsibility, we're now going backwards, yet again, to the tune of forty million dollars. Now I have one other question and it may sound non-germane at first, but I promise you I'll get it back to the four corners of this bill. There was a bill yesterday to the cleaning up granting, and there was a conversation a minute ago among one of the previous bill sponsor's that said that that was going to take care of all the problems. Are you aware of anything in that bill that cleaned up the way we make grants that says that if you are owed money -- or, I'm sorry, that if -- if the -- if you owe money to the State of Illinois 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 that you cannot get a new grant?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
You know, I heard Senator Kotowski reference that. But I'm not the author of that bill and I just don't know the details, so I wouldn't want to misspeak. I -- I don't know the answer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Thank you. And to the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
I appreciate the fact that you were not the author of that bill. So I just conferred with Senator Althoff, who was intimately involved in those negotiations, and she tells me that, in fact, nothing in that bill would prevent someone from receiving money from the State of Illinois who owes us money. Now, why is that relevant to House Bill 6095 -- 6096? Here's why. The Court of Claims is owed a hundred thousand dollars from the Chicago Area Project, but -- this bill gives them a hundred thousand dollars through the Court of Claims, but they owe us two hundred thousand dollars. So let's get that straight. This budget, the Chicago Area Project owes us two hundred thousand dollars, but now in -- we're going to expend a hundred thousand dollars of the taxpayers' budget through the Court of Claims to repay them. They owe us. They owe us, the taxpayers. Once again, whether it's going back on the deal that was created over a year ago and expanding forty 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 million dollars' worth of payments and pushing that out, or here we are with another nonsensical, frankly, asinine concept that we're going to expend a hundred thousand dollars of the taxpayers' money to an agency that owes us two hundred thousand dollars, this is crazy. If I owed you five dollars, I wouldn't -- sure as heck wouldn't pay you ten if you owed me -- you know, if you owed me five bucks, I'm sure as heck not going to pay you ten. But here's what we're doing with a hundred-thousand-dollar expenditure, when they owe us two hundred thousand dollars, the Chicago Area Project. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs, for what…
Yeah, I just want to quickly respond to that. The money you're referring to in the Court of Claims going to Chicago Area Project isn't actually in this bill. It's in a bill coming up, House Bill 6060. But it is there and we're ordered to do that by a court - it's the Court of Claims. When vendors are not getting paid - as you know, we've been working out our old backlog of bills - when we don't have -- when we run out of time to make those claims, they go to court. The court orders us to make those payments. I think if a court ordered you to make me -- pay the five dollars that -- even if I owed you something else, I'd like to believe you'd actually make a payment if the court is ordering you do so. We're simply doing what the court's ordering us to do on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, were -- were any Republicans involved in developing this budget? Did you talk to any Republicans during the last three months as you worked out the budget details?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
They were in Appropriation hearings with us and they made some suggestions. I think I've gone through a number of those that we actually incorporated into this. But we have not gotten any proposed budget -- budget plans from the Republicans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
So I understand, the tax that was raised is going to expire. Correct? And there's nothing anyone in this Chamber can do between now and that date when it expires. Am I correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
The -- the tax inspires {sic}. The only way that would {sic} happen is if we pass some piece of legislation to prevent that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
By chance, has the top of the Republican ticket contacted you 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 to share his budget information with you on where he's going to take -- where he would like to take the State of Illinois should he be elected? Did he -- did he share that information with you?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Let's keep it to the bill, Senator. Senator…
Has anyone shared any secret plans with you how they would solve the budget problem that my friends are pointing out could turn into a problem for us if we short this year's budget?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
No. I -- I have enjoyed some of the quotes we've heard used by some previous speakers around things that Governor Quinn has said about the budget. I do think it's unfortunate we can't quote candidate -- any other gubernatorial candidates, because we have no plans or quotes around any potential plans other than they may be forthcoming at some point in time. So, no, we haven't gotten any other suggestions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
Final question, are you aware of the plan being pushed by some across the aisle who would like to see this go to an eight percent income tax?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I don't think I -- I'm -- I'm not sure I am, or -- or… 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
I wanted to make sure -- I wanted to make sure that all the rumors are aired out, because it doesn't make sense just to air out one side of the rumors. The Democrats are giving people the largest tax decrease in Illinois history. You'd think you folks would be happy. But you got nothing to say, except the sky is falling, the sky is falling. Chicken Little, it ain't working.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, I -- I'm looking at the analysis. There's two areas that I -- I just want some explanation on. One is Aging. The other is DH -- Human Services. Both to the tune of about ninety- seven million dollars. Can you explain why those are less than the previous year?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Are you talking about specific line items? I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Aging, the previous year, was one million -- I'm sorry, one billion thirty million six hundred and fifty-four thousand three hundred dollars. It goes -- it is -- is reduced by ninety-seven million seven hundred and sixty-one thousand four hundred dollars. Why is that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
You know, every agency's basically been held flat. I -- you know, in this budget -- I mean, I'm going to go -- look down at some of the line items I have here. We've had some reductions in the Community Care Program. We have an increase in -- for community transition and system's rebalancing, because we've been doing a lot of deinstitutionalization of folks. And we have some increase from the Balancing Incentive Program. These are areas that we thought we had to do, otherwise we'd risk having to pay back federal dollars we got to institute the Balancing Incentive Program to help towards those -- to deinstitutionalization. But those -- sort of all net out to some changes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: The -- the question I just asked and the numbers I -- gave you, I -- I think pertain to GRF. Am I correct that in GRF that Aging and Human Services are reduced by ninety-seven million -- approximately ninety-seven million dollars?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 That's probably missing the fact, though, that there's two hundred million from the Human Services Fund that's also being used to support these programs, so you may be not seeing that. There is less in GRF, because there's -- we count those as other State funds, even though it's from the income tax revenues.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill. SENATOR McCARTER: I -- I -- you know, this is one of the first times I've ever gotten an answer. And you answered correctly. It came from a new fund. It came from the fund set up in the tax increase, Senate Bill 2505 - the Fund for Advancement of Education, for one - I apologize for not addressing it on the previous bill - and the Commitment to Human Services Fund. That is one thirtieth of the receipts, which is about two hundred million. Now here's the problem. Let's think back on the Lottery. Let's think back to our discussion yesterday on this millionaire tax, where the money's going to go. Is it going to be in addition to? Here's what the bill said: "Moneys appropriated from the Fund shall supplement and not supplant the current level of education funding", shall "not supplant the current level of human services funding". That's exactly what you've done. You've done exactly what you said you wouldn't do. You didn't supplement it; you supplanted it. You reduced it and then you added it back from the fund that you set aside. So when you passed the tax -- tax increase, you said, oh, 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 we're going to set some money aside for -- for -- you know, for things that are really important, education and human services. You did that to sell it. And you wrote into the -- into the law exactly what you did not do. I mean -- and you -- and you wonder why not -- we're not wholeheartedly participating in your shenanigans here. There's no surprise. Perhaps we just can't do math like you. Vote No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans, to close.
Thank you. Yes, I would also just suggest that that had been actually a suggestion made by Republican colleagues that we should, in fact, use those money {sic} to help with this budget and thus not be able to have to put the tax revenue in place. So others may not agree entirely, on your side of the aisle, on -- on your perception on that. So this budget, I -- I would just urge an Aye vote. I think we've been through enough of why we are taking this approach and would just encourage Yes buttons. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 6096 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 40 voting Aye, 17 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 6096, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 6097. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 6097. (Secretary reads title of bill) 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. So this is the fifth and last of the generally discretionary budgets. We -- we have a couple of other follow-ups here with supplementals and, you know, capital reappropriations. But this is the last of the general operating budget. It appropriates to the public service agencies for fiscal year 2015. It totals 5.8 billion all funds to the agencies, an increase of 60.2 million, so a very small percentage over fiscal year '14. 1.7 billion is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund, 3.8 billion from other State funds, and 268.9 million from federal funds. Welcome any questions you may have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, Governor Quinn's Corrections director said this year in an Appropriations hearing, quote, "eleven correctional centers would have to close and more than fifteen thousand inmates would have to be released", end quote. Now, it was a borderline laughable assertion at the time. Does this budget require -- and, of course, the context was if the tax wasn't extended. Senator 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Jacobs has made it crystal clear that you guys will forever keep your promise on that tax. Since that was the case and you're not going to have the tax, does that mean that fifteen thousand inmates are going free with the bill you're passing here?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
First, you know, I just want to acknowledge that I'm glad we can quote the Governor on the budget, and we can't quote anybody else who might be considering taking on the responsibility of heading up the budget that this is going to actually be for halfway through the year, since they have no budget plans at all. So we can't, unfortunately, quote other particular candidates. This budget is not going to have -- this is going to be a very hard budget for them to manage. They're expecting that they are going to have about ten million in bills rolled over from fiscal year '14 too, that's going to exacerbate this. They think that they're going to run out of funding in May on this. So we may need to. But, in fact, you know how difficult it is to close a prison. I don't think they intend to try to do that right now. I think we may need to look and see. We did this year, have revenues come in above expectations. Hopefully, that's going to happen again next year. This is an area that I think we're going to have to look towards a supplemental to ensure they have full funding to prevent that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
Fifteen thousand prisoners being released. I didn't hear you 99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 say that's got to happen. Does that not have to happen?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Sorry, I thought I just answered the question that that's not the plan right now. How they're planning on managing this budget is not to close a facility. But they will run out of dollars likely in May and, hopefully, we can be managing a supplemental to prevent that from happening.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
To the bill: Well, maybe this year Corrections can actually not run a sixty-million-dollar overtime tab, which they've said they would fix for about the last four years and never have. So maybe if they did that, they won't run out of money by the end of May. You know, the reference to other candidates and their secret plans is fascinating. We actually only have one Governor right now and that's Governor Quinn. There aren't two. There may be an election coming, but there's only one Governor. And the budget we're talking about right now is while Pat Quinn is Governor. So you can ask all you want about this, that, or the other thing with regard to anybody else, but Pat Quinn's the Governor and leaders lead and the buck stops with him. And in this instance, it apparently appears to go right around him, since according to my good friend from Park Ridge, he really had nothing to do with this budget, even though he's the leader of the State and has been Governor for five years. Again, I want to reiterate, the people putting this budget forth admit it is a bad budget. They're doing 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 it anyway. You can talk about a failure of leadership on our side. You have had total control of State government - the Governorship, supermajorities in both Chambers - for twelve years. Couple years we were out of the super-minority. You guys have owned this place for twelve years and you insist on pushing off responsibility that is squarely yours. This is your record. You promised you'd fix all these problems with the tax increase. Now you say that they aren't.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Time's up, Senator.
I…(microphone cutoff)…discussion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Dillard, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you. To the bill and to the budget as a whole, since…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
…since this is the tail end of the regular operations. You know, having served two Governors and actually been out to Wall Street to visit the State's credit rating agencies in the past, I believe that if the Senate approves this budget today, the State's very well going to have its credit rating downgraded once again. But if the Legislature were to reject this budget and let the tax -- tax hike expire as promised, doomsday is not going to be there, as Murphy has pointed out. And if you actually reduce the spending and match our real revenues, that the State would actually see an upgrade - an upgrade - in its credit rating. And rating agencies, 101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 as I said on the first bill, they define a truly balanced budget by one that does not have any one-time revenues, like the six hundred and fifty million of interfund borrowing in here, and doesn't push a backlog, like the Department on Aging, into another budget year. Since I spoke earlier on the budget, I've been -- and it's been brought to my attention that Fitch Ratings says that it could cut the State's credit rating if the budget isn't balanced or if it believes that, as we do on this side, you're all waiting for some type of lame duck tax increase in the fall. Recent comments, constantly, by different rating agencies clearly points to a downgrade over the last twenty-four or forty-eight hours. Just last, but not least, since you increased the Illinois income tax by sixty-seven percent, we've been downgraded by Wall Street five times. All that new revenue you said was going to help, has not helped one iota. And, finally, Mr. President, this budget has a Wall Street halo effect. I saw Cook County Board President Preckwinkle walking around here a few minutes ago. The Cook County budget and credit rating will be impacted by this budget today, so will the one in DuPage County, so will the one in the City of Chicago, and so will the one in Carbondale. There is a real taxpayer cost to having our credit rating downgraded. It's not some esoteric thing. It leads to higher real estate taxes. It leads, if you have children in the public schools, to much bigger classroom sizes. And then worse, but not -- not at all, is the State of Illinois will continue to plunge downward with respect to its credit rating, which already is the lowest in the United States of America. This is not a responsible budget, and like the previous bills, I'd urge a No vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator McConnaughay, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: To the bill, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Specifically to the transportation bill. Unfortunately, I see, once again this year, that this budget contains Road Fund diversions and some questionable budget items. You know, in a -- in a State that is struggling to maintain a strong infrastructure system that is the transportation hub of this entire country and in a time when our revenues are shrinking and it is harder and harder to find the available dollars in our Road Fund and for transportation in order to provide that infrastructure, I am dismayed to see that we have seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the Illinois Latino Family Commission. May be a very, very important effort, but why is it in the transportation budget? Why are we using hard to come by dollars to fund things of that nature or a 1.5-million-dollar last minute add, over in the House, for a metropolitan airport authority? How is that important to the long-term, five-year strategic plan for the Transportation Department? And last, but not least, and this continues year after year after year, a forty -- forty-two-million-dollar subsidy for Amtrak, a 3.9 million subsidy for Pace, and a eighteen-million- dollar RTA reduced-fare subsidy. These are the kinds of Road Fund diversions that we cannot continue to have. When people go to -- go to the gas pump, they want to know that the money -- that the taxes that they are paying is going to pay for roads. And in this 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 budget, we continue the same bad public policy of diverting our much needed Road Fund for other purposes. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, as you know, there is litigation pending based on allegations that a -- a number of people who have been hired by the Department of Transportation were hired in violation of the law. Specifically, they were hired on a political basis by the Quinn administration, when, in fact, the law required those positions to be considered and filled without consideration of politics…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator, do me a favor. Keep that to the bill, please.
I'm sorry? I was going to ask her a question.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) All right. Well, but talking about the litigation and that.
That was -- I was just letting her know what I'm talking about.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Okay.
Thank you. The -- I mean, obviously, this budget will fund 104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the salaries for those maintainers. I'm curious, Senator, do you have a handle on how many maintainers or IDOT employees are the subject of that litigation and how much money would be affected with regards to their salaries?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Irrelevant to the bill, Senator. Please proceed.
Inquiry of the Chair, if I might, Mr. President, please. I'm asking about the appropriation that's in House Bill 6097 for a number of highway maintainers. How could that possibly be irrelevant to an appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) You're mixing it with litigation. This is a bill that she has for -- for budget. This is not about litigation. Senator Righter.
Mr. President, I wasn't asking about the litigation. I was telling her about the litigation. I was asking about the cost in the appropriations bill. I think Senator Steans has probably got a pretty good handle on it. She looked ready to answer the question. I mean, but if you want to block on that one, then…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I was going to say I don't know the specific amount that's in here for highway maintainers. I can get you that information. I don't have that breakout with me, and I'm not privy to any of the litigation information. 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
As part of negotiating this appropriations bill, was there any discussion of that issue?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
No. I was not privy to litigation information and that was not a part of my budget negotiations on this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
Thank you. Thank you, Senator, for the -- the answers to your questions. The -- the simple fact is that this bill does contain appropriations for Department of Transportation employees that are the subject of litigation with regards to the basis on which they were hired. I think that should be a concern of everyone in this Chamber, particularly if we discover later, lo and behold, that the administration did something wrong with regards to the way these maintainers were hired. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill. 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator. SENATOR McCARTER: For a number of years, I -- I've been going to the Department of Corrections asking them about this overtime issue. And anyone that hires people understands, when you have such a large amount of overtime, the solution is quite simple, and that is you hire more people, unless you've got some fluctuating business that you have to hire temporaries to fill those gaps. And, you know, I -- I've had -- I've had the director in my office. I've asked for the reports. I said, "Give me a monthly report." "Oh, we've got 'em weekly. We've got 'em daily." "Oh", I said, "okay, give 'em to me. I -- you know, I -- I love spreadsheets. Give 'em to me. I'll take a look at 'em." I've gotten nothing. Now, here's -- here's what's happened. And you say, well, what -- what -- you haven't put forth anything on your side. Three years ago, we did. We put forth a budget and in it -- included in it was this right here. Projected in '10, 34.6 million. Our actual was fifty-five million - only off by about ten and a half. In '11, 36.2 - off again 43.8. In '12, thirty million - off again by sixteen. It was actually forty-six - was our overtime. In '13, it was -- we said thirty-two and, instead, it was almost double, sixty-three. In '14, thirty-one. It was actually fifty. And this year we're saying thirty-five. So, if we follow that down, you're probably looking at, at least, another ten million over. Nothing has been done about this. And, you know, in budgets, it's not all about cutting. It's not all about new revenue. Sometimes it's about operating differently, operating smarter, and when you have this much overtime, you need to hire more employees. Said, "Well, we 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 don't have the money." You don't have the money to pay for the overtime as well. Just one example of help that we provided you and you've -- you -- you've -- you've said you don't want to take our advice.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
You know, in the -- in the past weeks, certainly the past few days, I have made some very pointed and direct comments about the State's grant-making process and some of the recipients of taxpayer dollars through these grants, especially in regards to the troubled Neighborhood Recovery Initiative, NRI, that is subject to a scathing, scathing audit by the Auditor General, constitutional officer, who says that illegal acts were conducted in that program, in the movement of money to fund that program. And I know that in making these comments, I have not necessarily made a lot of new friends on the other side of the aisle. But I have made some, who tell me privately that they agree and that some of these programs need tougher scrutiny and that some of them simply need to go. And, you know, yesterday in committee, we talked at some length about the grants that are within this budget bill - twenty million dollars to the Department of Labor. And what'd we find out yesterday? New grants, new agency, no idea where it's going to go, no idea how it's going to be spent, where it's going to be spent. And I got to tell you, it is frustrating to be on this 108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 side of the aisle and to see some of the same programs continue and hear some in this Chamber, some on the other side of the aisle, not all, defend these programs, saying, "Don't worry, it's a new name." "Don't worry, it's a new agency." It's frustrating to hear claims that -- now that we will have a new oversight mechanism within our grants, that the system's reformed and you don't need to worry about the problems of the past, because they'll go away today. But I want to make sure that everyone's clear why this matters. And, you know, ample discussion has been -- been made about the -- the taxpayers here, but it's important to remember that there's more to this than money. When we have these programs designed to meet certain objectives, such as to combat violence or employ youth, and they only benefit one part of the State over the other, it ignores the fact that some of these programs are needed throughout the areas of our State. Just last night, I went home last night, needed a new set of clothes, and I picked up the Champaign News-Gazette. I was a few days behind on my newspaper reading. And The News-Gazette talks about the fifteen shootings that occurred in Champaign over the last few days. These are real events of violence that occur in communities that all of us represent all over the State. And I'm glad, Senator Steans, a friend, who you and others have told me that the money in this budget will be hopefully used in a way that helps all those communities in the State that may need them. And that's, I agree, something that -- that is important. But it's more important than -- you know, that we get beyond the needs here and beyond the Chicago/downstate thing here. And it's important to know that I raise a lot of my concerns on these programs…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator, close it down.
Will do. Bring it to a close, Mr. President. But I bring these concerns, because I think it's important that we need to root out the bad programs. And we need to get rid of the wasteful ones. We need to get rid of the corrupt ones, because in doing so -- if we don't, we jeopardize the integrity of our system for all those good programs that exist today. So I don't support the budget. I certainly don't support the line item of the twenty million dollars to the Department of Labor. But I hope and I urge that those of you on the other side of the aisle, who tell me we need to work on this, will cooperate with those of us who wish to work with you to root out the bad and preserve the integrity of the good that can come from some of these programs. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you seek… …Senator.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill: I tend to try to be a positive person and look for the good in -- in people and conversations. And I did hear an idea that I do want to uplift. And I think it was a very good suggestion and one that we should take to the Governor's Office, and that a couple of speakers have mentioned, about the overtime that -- budget that is in the Department of Corrections. And I would agree as well that we do need to seriously push the issue of more hiring, because I know that the prison in my area is really unsafe because of the lack of personnel. So, thank you for that suggestion on the other side of the aisle. I think it's one that we can work on together. 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
I would love to respond to just a couple of the points that have been made. I -- I -- I do agree about that. I know others have talked about the overcrowding in their prisons as well. Fact of the matter is, you know, when they don't have the personal services covered as much, it's hard to do that. But, obviously, there's a tradeoff in cost, as -- I think it was Senator -- I'm not sure which previous speaker it was that spoke to it, that there is a tradeoff. You're paying for overtime. You could also do it on hiring. So I think that certainly merits exploration. And I just want to also speak to the Department of Labor, the program that's there. You know, NRI, we have heard a lot about it. And that program no longer exists. I think we all on this side of the aisle also share concerns about the way that program was managed. Clearly there were problems. And I do look forward to trying to make sure, going forward, that these programs are run well. But what I don't -- what I do hear concern about is -- I wish there was a similar amount of outrage on that side of the aisle for the actual problems of youth employment and violence, and making sure we're actually pressing forward on problems and ways to try to solve that problem in an effective way. I have talked to the head of the Department of Labor, as well as the budget director, about these programs. We do expect they will be done statewide with clear criteria, with RFP processes in place, and do very much look forward to making sure they are run effectively and really do hope that we can see some concern around solving these problems, not just sort of trying to use these as Benghazi moments here and 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 focusing on problems in the past. I appreciate that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Thank you. Senator, do you know, is there a lump sum appropriation that -- about six weeks or so ago, the Governor talked about reopening Joliet and Murphysboro facilities, making them adult centers. Is there money in this -- this budget for that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yeah. No, there -- there is no -- because there's not a -- we don't have additional revenue at this budget level that -- they're not being opened. That's not projected. I don't think they can afford to do that. We had reduced some line items and created a small lump sum, but that's really just to give operational flexibility to the Department on - since they -- we know they're going to be having to manage under very tight resources - where they most need those budget dollar lines. They can use them to support personal services or, you know, overtime or contractual or whatever it is they may need. That's why we did the lump sum.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bivins. 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I'm pretty sure I heard you say, no, there isn't. But just to be clear that -- there is -- there is no appropriation. There is no money there and that's not -- that's not going to happen.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
There was nothing set aside to open -- reopen those facilities. Correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Just briefly to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
And -- and more so to the conversation around staffing levels and overtime and the characterization of -- of -- of this discussion as just running a business - if -- if you -- if you have overtime, you just hire more people. No, it's not simple as that. What I've encouraged, ever since I got -- I've gotten here, is that we're a lot more careful about how we introduce bills with penalty enhancements and -- and how we manage our population and how we look at -- how long people are -- are -- are in prisons. Other states have done so. Other more conservative states have done so. Because these actions that we take down here have a real fiscal impact, and we're complaining about it today, but we don't complain about it when we introduce reactionary legislation seeking to enhance penalties without looking at the fiscal impact 113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of -- of it. We need to look at that. We need to look at the people who are incarcerated for offenses that they ought not be incarcerated for, for -- for minor technical -- technical violations. If we're really going to be fiscally responsible, let's do so comprehensively, and let's not just do it on May 30th and -- and say, "Oh, just hire more people."
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans, to close.
Thank you. And I think that's an excellent point. I would also point out that over the last few years, we have closed four prisons; we've closed four adult transition centers; we've closed two juvenile detention facilities. There have been many, many steps that -- taken to bring costs down at -- whenever possible, and, you know, we're going to continue to have to do that clearly in this budget. And I think Senator Raoul makes an excellent point that the policy bills we pass here also have consequences on this. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 6097 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 35 voting Aye, 21 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. House Bill 6097, 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 will stand at ease. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 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 concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 852. 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 1 to Senate Bill 852. Passed the House, as amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of 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 3224. 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 1 to Senate Bill 3224. Passed the House, as amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of 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 346. 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 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 1 to Senate Bill 346. We have received a like Message on Senate Bill 2694, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of 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 refused to concur with the Senate in the adoption of their amendment to a bill of the following title, to wit: House Bill 5333. Which amendment is as follows: Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 5333. Non-concurred in by the House, May 30th 2014. 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 102. Offered by President Cullerton. We have received like Message on House Joint Resolution 103, offered by President Cullerton. Adopted by the House, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. They are substantive, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 1267 and 1268, offered by Senator Link and all Members. Senate Resolutions 1270 through 1280, offered by Senator Link and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 1269, offered by Senator Sullivan. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) (at ease) Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Harmon, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 4283, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 5017, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 220, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 274; refer to Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 452, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 641, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1778, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 2187; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 121, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1681, 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2612, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2694, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2730 {sic}, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2793, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 3113, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3259, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3433, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 4 and 6 to Senate Bill 3443; refer to Transportation Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3224; re-refer from Executive Committee to Transportation Committee - Senate Bill -- I'm sorry, House Bill 3794; Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 3 to House Bill 2453, Senate Resolution 1269, House Joint Resolutions 97, 100, 102, 103, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 229, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 852, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2730, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3125, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3275. Signed, Senator Don Harmon, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Okay, Senators, we have committees. First committee, at 4:55 in Room 400, Transportation. Executive in Room 212 at 5 p.m. Licensed Activities and Pensions in Room 400, 5 p.m. State Government and Veterans Affairs in Room 409, 5 p.m. Senator Manar, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Bill 3794 can be heard today in the Senate Transportation Committee. 118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Manar moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that House Bill 3794 can be heard today in the Senate Transportation Committee. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and all notice and posting requirements have been waived. House Bill 6060. Senator Steans indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 6060. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Bill 6060 is doing two things. It's a fiscal year '14 supplemental appropriations, and for fiscal year '15, it appropriates for Medicaid-related expenses that were associated with Senate Bill 741 that we passed yesterday. The fiscal year '14 supplemental includes nine hundred and seventy-nine million all funds, 924.1 of that is GRF and 53.4 million other State funds and 1.5 million federal funds. The fiscal year '15 appropriations are 836.5 million all funds, including two hundred and twenty-one million GRF, six hundred and fifteen million other State funds. Welcome any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, does this bill have any of the AFSCME back pay money in it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
No. That's in the bill we're going to be doing next.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
Thank you. I'll -- I'll close on the next bill. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans, to close.
I would urge an Aye vote. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 6060 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 38 voting Aye, 17 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 6060, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 3793. Senator Kotowski, on House Bill 3793. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 3793. 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Mr. President. It's great to see you in the Chair. House Bill 3793 includes reappropriations for the current capital plan, appropriations for non-bonded capital projects, as well as supplemental appropriations for back wages at agencies. This bill includes 1.7 billion for costs associated with the multi-year program administered by IDOT. Additionally, 335.1 million is included for non-bonded capital projects at DNR and Department of Ag. Supplemental appropriations for back wages at State agencies -- agencies total fifty million GRF. This funding is associated with State employees back pay related to the previous bargaining unit contract. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
You know, we're -- we're getting up to the -- to the totality of your -- your budget here and I think it -- it warrants somewhat of a summation. This is a great public trust we have here in this building. And unfortunately, trust in the government of the last twelve years is in short supply in this State right now. There's a lack of trust when you invite the most vulnerable people in the 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 State into a budget process through gross fear mongering and tell them they're going to be cut by twenty percent, when you knew all along, and today essentially admitted, was never going to happen. It's hard to trust. Four years ago, when you passed the budget, the tax increase, you did it in the middle of the night on the last day during a lame duck. We've given bill after bill to try and restore trust to prevent that again. We had a resolution again today that I hope you will consider to give people the trust that you're not going to do this in the middle of the night when people who are no longer accountable to voters still have a vote. It's a matter of trust when you pass a budget like you pass here and you admit yourselves that it takes us backward. It's fascinating. It's been twelve years. You've got the largest majority in modern Illinois history and yet you put forth a budget that you know is a bad budget. Why? How will you ask people to trust you when you say we're creating a huge cliff with this? The reference was made before to the fact that we -- there's a lot of our ideas in this budget. Yeah, that's true. That's true. It's nice to -- to see that. But there's a lot of things that aren't our ideas, like the deficit spending in this budget; stealing from FY'14, when you should be paying down the deficit and putting it into 2015; fund sweeping from dedicated funds to -- to support spending that can't be afforded. You're using smoke-and-mirrors gimmicks and, in the process, forfeiting the public's trust. And, finally, on the issue of taxes, I am thrilled Senator Jacobs thinks that you have kept, past tense, your promise on taxes. Sadly, based on the record to date, I don't share his confidence, because I know Governor Quinn hasn't given up the ghost on taxes. The President, the Speaker haven't given up the ghost on the taxes. I haven't heard either 122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of the sponsors of the budget say we will not support extending this tax and making it permanent. Before the last election, the Governor said, I'll veto any -- any tax that's only {sic} thirty- three percent. He was barely in office for {sic} re-election a day when he signed one twice that big. There's a matter of trust. This budget breaks trust. It's consistent with a failed record. We have no faith going forward in statements like that of Senator Jacobs that the fight is over. We are so pleased to have won the battle this year and staved off this tax increase. We're thrilled to have had the backing of the people of the State with our small super-minority and stick up and fight so they can keep their money, get their one week's pay back. We're excited, but we know you're not done trying to reach into their pockets and we know that that promise is not yet kept, and we're going to stay vigilant. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCann, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCANN: For purpose of a question, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield. SENATOR McCANN: Senator, it seems like so much of what we talk about down here involves, I think, very similar or even the same destinations. It's the vision or the routes that we seem to differ on. And I want to talk about the back pay portion of this bill. And so much of the visions that we have as individuals, some of it -- it seems like it's shaped by partisan politics, some of it seems to be shaped by -- regionally, where we're from, or even just our 123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 personal experiences. And some of what we talk about are -- is very subjective and some is very objective and some of it sits somewhere in between. And the part that I want to focus on is a very objective part of it. To me, there's no more objective line in the budget than this one. And it has to do with the one hundred and twelve million dollars that we owe the State employees in back wages for work they performed well over two years ago and an arbitrator and a court of law has now said that we owe. So how much of -- of the one hundred and twelve million dollars that the State employees, who have worked, performed the work, and are owed the money, how much of that one hundred and twelve million dollars is appropriated in this piece of legislation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Fifty million.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: So, fifty million out of the one hundred and twelve. How -- how exactly will that be divvied up? How will we go about deciding who gets paid and who doesn't? Will everybody that's owed some money get a -- get forty-five percent? Because that's what we're paying 'em. We're paying 'em forty-five percent of what they're owed. So, does everybody who's owed back pay get forty-five percent, or do certain people get a hundred percent? Could you give me some insight, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski. 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Appreciate the -- the inquiry. 9.4 million GRF for -- for - - supplemental funding will go to Department of Human Services. About seven hundred and eighty-one thousand will go to Department of Public Health for unpaid back wages. 36.9 million will go to Department of Corrections. 2.5 million will go to Department of Juvenile Justice. And four hundred and forty-five thousand will go to personal services/State contributions to Social Security at DNR. And I believe the -- the next follow-up to that question is I -- the -- the administration needs to sit down with labor to determine, you know, how the money is going to be -- and to whom it's going to be dispensed to.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you for that -- that answer, Senator. I appreciate the answer. And I -- also, I want to say on behalf of the State employees who work all over the State - I believe that I represent more than any -- any other Member of the General Assembly, to the best of my knowledge - and so -- my constituents and constituents all over the State are happy to be getting this fifty million, but they really would be much happier to be getting the full one hundred and twelve million that they're owed. And unlike many other bills that the State owes, let's just say, for example, if we ordered some stationery and maybe the phone number wasn't correct on that stationery, we might actually argue about whether we really owed that bill or how much we owed. But this has to do - and I'm not an attorney - but this has to do with a -- a portion of the law having to do with an employer/employee relationship, 125 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 which brings a whole other facet into it above and beyond the arbitration that the State has lost, that the employees won, and the court case that the employees have won. How is it that a bill that is the oldest bill that the Comptroller has in her hopper -- this is -- this is a bill that is due and payable. I doubt, out of one hundred and seventy-seven Members of the Legislature, there's one that would argue that this bill is due and payable, and it's the oldest bill in the hopper, and yet we've chosen to take fifty million dollars…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Time is up, Senator. You want to close? SENATOR McCANN: I would -- I would ask humbly, on behalf of the State employees who have worked and rendered services to the State of Illinois, that we pay them one hundred percent in full. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Frerichs, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm not sure an awful lot remains to be said after Senator McCann, but I just wanted to remind the Body as well that this is a down payment on bills the State owes. Some of the oldest bills -- the oldest bills the State owes are owed to our State employees. And this -- this is going out to twenty-four thousand State employees, represents about forty-five 126 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 percent of what's owed to them. I'm glad to see this is an important first step, but I am committed to making sure we pay off all of our bills going forward this next year. But thank you for this very important first step.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill -- or, I'm sorry…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Question. I'm sorry. Question, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Question? Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Thank you. Senator Kotowski, is this the bill that picks up the Chicago schools pension payment?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Yes. It -- there is approximately about -- I believe, about - let me just double-check - about fifty million for that appropriations for Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund. Give you a little history on this. We provided funding for Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund -- fiscal year '09 and '10 and '11, and then we went through several years where we weren't providing this appropriation. This provides a -- a percentage that has -- has been offered in the past. And just to give you a little comparison, you know, we currently provide for TRS about 3.4 billion and this 127 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 fifty million goes to -- to Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Thank you, Senator Kotowski. And, of course, you also have to remember that the original deal was that they got Chicago Public Schools' block grant money and not a pension payment. So now we're giving them a block grant plus the pension payment. So never mind that. But here's my next question about this bill. In this bill, is there school construction fund money and is forty-seven percent of it going to the Chicago Public School System, despite the fact they only have eighteen percent of the students? In other words, are you sending thirty-five million to the Chicago Public School System?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Yes. We're providing thirty-five million to the Chicago Public Schools for school construction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
And is that for one project or multiple projects? And if it's one project, do you know whose project it might be?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
It'd be up to the determination of the Chicago Public Schools.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 128 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Rose.
So many, including you, Senator, and Senator Manar and Senator McCann, have fought very hard to get the AFSCME to a fully funded position. And I -- your caucus, our caucus has worked very hard on that. It's pretty clear the House Democrats were the hang up all along. Question for you is this, why don't we can the sixty million Chicago pension pickup and add it to the fifty million you already have in here and get the Chicago thirty-five million for the school construction back to the eighteen percent of students they actually have and fully fund the AFSCME bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
It's not the bill that we have before us, the bill that we have before us right now. I share -- is -- is this -- I share your commitment to making sure we address the back pay issue. We have -- we're taking a positive step forward addressing a percentage of that aft dollars that are owed to AFSCME. I'm a chief sponsor of that bill to make sure we have full payment. But I think there's other ways and -- that we can work towards in the future to make sure we -- we fully fund the back pay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Thank you, Mr. President. And to the bill: Once again, this is a matter of priorities. Certainly it is a step forward to do forty-five percent to these folks, who've been waiting - as Senator McCann says, the oldest bill in the State treasury - but we could 129 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 do so much better. In fact, we did file that amendment and it failed. So, when we say this is the bill before us today, let's just remember that some of us tried to make this bill better. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Kotowski, in the bill that you're sponsoring here, which contains forty-five percent of the moneys that are owed to the State employees and has been owed for some time now, the -- there is one hundred, I think -- oh, I'm sorry, a million one hundred dollars allocated to the Department of Natural Resources. Now, it's my understanding, dig a -- going a little deeper into the weeds here, if you will, that the Department of Conservation Police are -- are owed one hundred thousand out of that. My question to you is whether or not the conservation police will be paid in their entirety, the one hundred thousand dollars, out of this one million one hundred dollars that you have in this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Appreciate the question. I was just trying to get some clarification. That would be for the administration to determine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 130 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Please…(microphone cutoff)…
That would be for the administration to determine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
So as we stand here today, someone -- the Director of the Department of Natural Resources or someone else is going to decide whether the conservation police are paid the entirety of the one hundred thousand dollars that they are owed. Correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator Kotowski, do you think it would be better -- and I understand you made a comment about this bill isn't before us, but you've sponsored and negotiated all of this -- all of this, and you've sponsored -- been the primary sponsor of a number of these appropriations bills. Doesn't it make more sense in terms of priorities and -- and obligations - words that you have used - that we pay the entirety of the one hundred and twelve million dollars that is owed to the workers who did the work, who were told they'd receive this -- the entirety of it, not the forty-five percent, and look elsewhere in this budget, such as the fifty- million-dollar pension payment to the City of Chicago schools that is not -- we're not legally obligated to do, or the thirty-five 131 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 million dollars that's in this budget for capital spending for the Chicago Public Schools that the -- the two Members on your side of the aisle who were are on the Executive subcommittee didn't know what it was for - and maybe you do - wouldn't it be better if we took a portion of that and fully fulfilled our obligation to the people who did this work?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
You know, appreciate the -- the line of inquiry. I would agree with you that there is obligations in the State budget that I would like to see addressed and I'd like to see paid. This is one of them. As you know, in past years, this wasn't funded and we hadn't addressed it and taken the steps. I feel like this is a positive step forward in getting a percentage of the back pay paid, but there's more work that we need to do in order to fulfill that goal.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Senator Kotowski, I appreciate the words about progress and moving forward, but the simple fact is that there is money, more than enough money in more than enough places in this bill and the other bills that have passed already today, to pay this obligation. I mean, there are items in this budget that have nothing to do 132 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 with obligation. They have very little to do with priorities, at least for the overwhelming majority of Members of this Chamber and the overwhelming majority of taxpayers. They're someone else's priorities. Perhaps they're the Speaker's priorities. Or the -- perhaps they're priorities of some other who served in this Chamber, but they're not the priorities that most of us would assign to. But I would think that given that and all the political differences, Mr. President, that the one thing that we could all get on board with is that when an arbitrator and a court says you have to pay this money, that we'd actually step up and do what we're told and do what's right. This bill does not do that. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Oberweis, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator -- Kotowski, I -- I just -- you know, I want to make sure I understand what's going on here. We're facing draconian cuts without a tax increase. We're not paying our State employees what they're owed. We're not fully funding our schools at the foundation level. And yet you're proposing a budget where we're going to allocate fifty million dollars to bail out Karen Lewis and the CPS because Chicago has not made the necessary pension contributions that they should have made in recent years, kind of like the State of Illinois did with our pension funds, but we're going to bail them out. Is that -- is that what we're saying? 133 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
No. I -- I -- that's -- I would disagree with your contention there, sir. I mean, the fact is, there is -- in statute, it indicates that when there are funds available to assist with the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund, we would make a contribution. And this is one of the challenges that we face with all of our other pension funds. We weren't, in decades past, making that contribution, and we basically had made a decision, collectively as a Body, to not fund the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund at the level that they should be funded. As I indicated before in my opening testimony, I talked about the fact that we were -- we -- we -- at one time, we were funding pensions -- there's a -- for the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund at a higher level. We went several years where we weren't funding it. This year funds it, and this year we're moving forward to make sure that we live up to that commitment that we have in statute that funds it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Oberweis.
I'm getting more confused now, because, Senator, you just said that we have funds available. But -- but we don't have funds available to fund our -- our K through eight schools; we don't have funds available to pay our due bills; we don't have funds available for our State employees - but, yes, we've got an extra fifty million dollars. And the State statute says that we're supposed to pay for Chicago pensions? I thought that was an obligation of Chicago, not of the State. I thought that's why 134 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Chicago schools were getting more money through the fundamental allocation instead of the rest of the schools of the State, was because they were paying their own pensions. But now you're saying, no, by statute, we're obligated to pay those pensions?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski.
As -- as -- as -- as someone, I'm sure, who shares the principles of being a fiscally conservative person, who believes in the importance of paying bills and obligations, I would -- imagine you would embrace the opportunity, not shirk, our responsibility here - one of the challenges that's been created over time, as these obligations have grown, because we haven't made that commitment and made these types of contributions. This is an opportunity to do that. As I pointed out initially, we provide a -- a significant contribution to the Teachers' Retirement System. The -- the City of Chicago -- or the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund is entitled to similar sort of treatment. I admit it's -- it's -- it's a -- it's a huge dichotomy, it's a -- in terms of our providing a fair level of support for the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund. I mean, a couple points that you're -- you're getting at, sir, and I understand that, you know, this -- you know, pensions, you know, incite a -- a level of passion. Or -- or discussions about the budget incites a level of passion and concern, but everything that you're talking about, everything that you're talking about, can be improved if we have a discussion about revenue on the table. I mean, you can't make GSA a hundred percent level without an increase in revenue. You can't do that. It's not possible. I mean, it just -- I mean, all these other areas in 135 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the budget, I'd like to say we can magically address the problems we face by just cutting our way out of this. Well, we've reduced the number of State employees over time from -- used to be eighty- one thousand to about forty-six thousand. We've cut human services by eight hundred million dollars. I mean, we have bills that we've had in place that -- that -- that accumulated over decades. I know this is difficult to hear, but it's the reality. It's the truth. That's the facts. We don't have that in place. And we've laid this out very clearly, very transparently, very definitively. And the fact is, this is not a perfect budget. It's incomplete, but it's decisive. And this is our opportunity to clarify.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Your time is up now. Senator Oberweis. You want to close. Go ahead.
Thank you, Senator. But, quite frankly, that's a load of crap. Either we have an obligation or we don't have an obligation. Either we have an extra fifty million dollars or we don't have an extra fifty million dollars. It can't be both ways.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
The reality is that we have, in fact, received new revenue in the past three years - twenty-six billion dollars in new revenue. Over the past year or so, we have had a discussion, as we've spoken 136 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 about many, many times here on the Floor, regarding the inequity in education funding. It started with the discussion that the downstate -- downstate TRS was being paid, so we were getting a free lunch. As a result, a report came out showing about seven hundred -- over seven hundred million dollars more was going to - - to Chicago, as opposed to downstate. I commend my friend, our friend across the aisle, for chairing the EFAC committee. We worked very hard for, I would say, eight months, bringing in experts on what to do, what best practices were for other states. We looked at funding in the foundation funding formula, which has been prorated at eighty-nine cent -- percent and continues to be. We looked at funding for ELL, the special ed grants, poverty grants, PTELL, so on and so forth. What I find interesting is -- and we worked very hard and, as you know, we had a very robust debate regarding Senate Bill 16 and changing the funding formula for education, and that bill did pass. What I do find interesting is that after all of that discussion, after all of that work and research regarding education funding, and Senate Bill 16 specifically, that the only portion of the education reform bill that was passed that actually made it into the budget was the funding for the teachers' pensions of Chicago. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Yeah, to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
So I just want to -- I -- I - and we're winding down; this is 137 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the last budget bill - first, I just want to do -- you know, the only thing we've ever really gotten in terms of a Republican plan here is the Reality Checks that we got in March 2011. I -- I just want to point out, you know, a number of items that were in here and what we've been doing over these years that really have been in bipartisan fashion. Workers' compensation - we've made reforms on that. Pensions - done dramatic reforms on that, included in this plan. Dealing with employee group health - well, in fact, we've had -- we've done nearly nine hundred million in savings in employee group health; one of the things that was suggested. They suggested we should reduce spending immediately. We've -- we've dropped agency appropriations one billion dollars, four percent, employee head count down four thousand, or eight percent, since then. Check. Paying old bills - well, we're not done there -- with that yet, but we've made good progress, down from 9.2 billion to about five and a half billion projected at the end of this fiscal year. Suggested Medicaid. Suggested we should target 1.3 billion in cuts. Well, we actually got 1.6 billion in cuts in Medicaid. Suggested we do work in the CCP program, which we've done. Suggested we should be deinstitutionalizing folks. We've closed two State psych hospitals, two State developmental centers for developmentally disabled. Check. And, in education, they suggested we cut seven hundred and twenty-five million dollars. Well, there we may not have entirely agreed on -- on -- that we should be doing that, although, sadly, we are now at a proration level of eighty-nine percent. I think we've been taking a lot of these hard steps. I just wanted to note that for the record. And given this is the last budget bill, I think on both sides of the aisle what we can agree on is, this time of the year, our budget 138 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 staff do an amazing job - Scott Hurrelbrink and his team on the Republican side; Kristin Richards, Becky Locker, the entire budget staff. We know the endless hours they put in. I want to give them all, really, a very big thank you, warm round of applause. They're fabulous. They are. Yeah, and just last, I want to thank my co-Appropriation Chair, Dan Kotowski, who was a dream affirmer. He'll understand.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Kotowski, to close.
Thank you very much. And I appreciate the -- the comments from the other side, while I found the previous comment from the gentleman from North Aurora absolutely disrespectful and unwarranted. So, that being said, I respect a lot of people on the other side of the aisle. Many people over there are statesmen and I appreciate your comments and your commitment to a hearty debate on the issue. So I want to speak to legislative intent on this issue. For the purpose of legislative intent: Language included in this bill that contained operational expenses specific to back wages owed to bargaining unit employees are generated in a lump sum that will be used to pay for personal services and State contributions. A couple points that just -- we need to clarify that were raised: I think this budget that you see before you today is very transparent. And with transparency comes trust. And also, the fact is, we've acknowledged, very clearly, the challenges that we face before us and the steps that we took today that were necessary to live within the means already provided by taxpayers to make sure we fund key priorities in education, in early childhood education and MAP grants, but also maintain level 139 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 spending. We will face difficulties in the future. That has been clearly stated. And we will have an opportunity to provide other options on the table. And getting back to the initial point that I raised in our opening, in the opening today in discussing the budget, again, this is the dedication today of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. And this is very clear. And then, when people came together, they took all of the bricks, they took bricks from different places in the country to help build that memorial. And they had -- the columns there that were fashioned in front were -- were based on the Parthenon, the birthplace of democracy. We have an opportunity here. I know there's challenges. I know we have disagreements and philosophical differences of opinion, but we have an opportunity to work together in the future to truly solve the problems that face us. I look forward to working with Members on both sides of the aisle to make sure that that happens. And I look forward to working with you and my colleague, Senator Steans, who has done an absolutely wonderful job on this budget, to do more work in the future. I couldn't be prouder to work with the Members of our caucus. Thank you very much, and please vote for this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 3793 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 40 voting Aye, 14 voting Nay, 4 voting Present. House Bill 3793, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. President Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 2453 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order 140 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill -- House Bill 2453. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton, on the amendment.
Yes, Amendment No. 2 becomes the bill. I'd like to debate that on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? 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?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton, on the Amendment 3.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This amendment was discussed in the Executive Committee, was not adopted. It is a page-and-line amendment. It adds two more members to the 9-1-1 Service Advisory Board. These added members include a representative of the Chiefs of Police and a representative of the Sheriffs' Association. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? 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? 141 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, House Bill 2453. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 2453. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill, as amended, extends the sunset on the wireless 9-1-1 fee for one year. The fee outside of Chicago remains at seventy- three cents, but the distribution of the money is changed. It also allows Chicago to increase their 9-1-1 fee for wireline, wireless, and prepaid cell phones. The -- that would be done through ordinance in the City of Chicago. And there is a cap, which is the same rate that is the -- the rate paid in Putnam County, actually. It's three dollars and ninety cents. The bill also requires the 9-1-1 systems to submit financial reports to the ICC. That applies to -- statewide. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of -- question of the sponsor, Mr. President. 142 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Thank you. Mr. President, on this bill, does the fee increase -- any fee increase go to -- does it all stay with the 9-1-1, is what I'm asking? Does it all -- all the increase, any increase, stay with the 9-1-1?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton.
Well, first of all, for downstate, there's no increase. It's a reallocation. And in Chicago, the money is used for the operations of Emergency Management control center, which is the 9- 1-1 center. And so the money is used to fund that system exclusively.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bivins.
And does -- now this is not an automatic increase to -- to the maximum level. This -- this gives the ability of the City of Chicago, the aldermen, to vote whether or not they want that. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) President Cullerton.
That's correct. They would not have any increase unless the aldermen vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bivins. 143 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
To -- to the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you. As we all know, 9-1-1 is -- is an important aspect of our lives. It's -- it's something that probably many in this room have used. The next generation that's coming up is going to cost a lot of money to implement. There -- there are aspects of this. We can look at this as a fee increase or -- or a service users fee. And it is up to the City of Chicago whether or not they want to raise the -- the level or not. So that's something they'll have to do. But it is very beneficial to downstate. Having been a former chairman of the Emergency Telephone System Board in my county and implementing the 9-1-1 in our county, I can tell you the value of this is -- is -- it's worth every penny that we pay. So I rise in support of the bill. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Sullivan, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to speak to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Leader.
Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, I rise in strong support of the legislation in front of us. As you may recall, Senator Harmon and I have been working on this issue for -- and others, Senator Barickman as well, on the 9-1-1 situation. And I'm really pleased 144 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 to see that we've come up with a -- a bipartisan, I believe, proposal here that will help all the 9-1-1 systems around the State. The -- just some of the things that are in this are many of the recommendations of the task force that was put together to study the -- the -- some of the problems with 9-1-1 are incorporated into this. There is additional work to do, but with the advisory board and the additions to that advisory board, as well as -- I'm certainly pleased to see the law enforcement being added to that. There's also some -- some of the -- a small amount of money that will come -- go to some of the smaller counties that don't -- that don't simply have the resources for their 9-1-1 centers. So, just want to thank President Cullerton, Senator Harmon and others that have worked on this, and certainly ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There being no further discussion, President Cullerton, to close.
Would just ask for an Aye vote, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 2453 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 voting Aye, 4 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 2453, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 961. Senator Tom Cullerton. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary. Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 961 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On 145 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 961. Mr. Secretary, are there any further -- any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Cullerton, on your amendment.
I'd like to ask the -- thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to ask to adopt it on 2nd and explain it on 3rd, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? 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 MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. On the Order of 3rd Reading, House Bill 961. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 961. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Chamber. House Bill 961, as amended, requires the Comptroller's Office to transfer income tax receipts from GRF to the Local Government Distributive 146 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Fund within sixty days after the Treasurer's Office certifies the amount which is to be shared with the local government. I ask for an Aye vote, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall House Bill 961 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 961, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Point of -- point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Proceed on your…
My point is this, Mr. President, while we have a lull in the proceedings, I wanted to call attention to the remarks that Senator Kotowski made referring to me - hours and hours ago, it seemed like - about the dedication of today -- dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. I want to call his attention to the fact that today is the historic Decoration Day, or Memorial Day. That's why they dedicated Lincoln's -- his monument in Washington on this -- on May the 30th. But I also want to point out that today is also -- May 30th is an unfortunate day in history. In 1431, a nineteen- year-old girl, commanding the French armies victoriously against the British, was captured and burned at the stake as a result of a -- of a disgraceful heresy trial by the English Church. Her 147 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 name was Joan, a brilliant general of the French armies, who was keeping France independent, which they had become since the time of Charlemagne. So let's not forget that when we're talking about injustice to women. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Please proceed, Senator.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just want to acknowledge out of - - keeping that positive note going, we have a great couple here from -- Illinoisan citizens, just from an area of Palatine, Jim and Mary Lou Hammer, that's in the balcony. I just wanted to acknowledge two great folks I got to meet, and actually from the Palatine community. And I just wanted to acknowledge their presence in the President's Gallery. Let's say hello to Jim and Mary Lou Hammer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Will our guests in the gallery please rise? Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Senate Bill 219. Senator Hunter. Senator Hunter. Senate Bill 226. Senator Frerichs. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 226. Signed by Senator Frerichs. 148 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Frerichs.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. This is a motion to concur. Senate Bill 226, as amended by House amendment, creates the Support Your Neighbor Commission under the control of CMS, which is composed of members appointed by various legislative leaders and the Governor to help increase and encourage the purchase of more American and Illinois goods by the State. It requires State gift shops and State museums and parks to maintain a section or a booth with made in America and Illinois products.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 226. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received - - Senate Bill 226, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 226, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 345. Senator Hastings. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 345. Signed by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hastings. 149 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
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 levels {sic} (levies) without going to referendum, provided that the total amount that they levy is not increased. There's no opponents to the bill and appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 345. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 345. The bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 641 -- no. Excuse me. Senate Bill 647. Leader Harmon. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment to -- No. 1 to Senate Bill 647. Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 647 represents an agreement among health insurance providers and -- and -- and health care providers with respect to 150 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 telehealth. I want to thank Senator Haine for his guidance during the -- its time in the Insurance Committee here. I'm very pleased that we were able to send it over to the House, and the rough edges were worked off and it's come back as an agreed bill. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Leader Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Just to thank Senator Harmon, actually, for the work he did. And this is a very complicated enterprise. It's a major change in the way physicians see patients in -- in these settings. And the insurance companies had a vital interest in it, as did the medical community, and they all came together under this President Pro Tempore's leadership for a very good bill. And -- I'm glad to see Senator Harmon is another happy participant in the Insurance Committee's proceedings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon, to close? The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 647. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 647, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 798. Senator Haine -- Steans. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
151 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 798. Signed by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
The House amendment on this bill extended the language to the Nursing Home Care Act as well. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 798. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 798, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 902. Majority Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 902. Signed by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Majority Leader Clayborne.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President. The House Amendment 1 removes the Malagasy cat-eyed snake from the list of medically significant venomous reptiles; allows turtle hobbyists to transfer 152 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 baby turtles with carapace under four inches; and includes the Zoological Association of America and -- as an exempt organization. I would ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 902. 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 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 902, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1048. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1048. Signed, Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1048 is an initiative of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Illinois Chapter. As it left the Senate, it sought to protect people from undue influence by caregivers. The amendment in the House merely addresses and alleviates concerns raised by the -- the Illinois Bankers Association. As amended, I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 153 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 1048. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1048, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 1098. Leader Harmon. Leader Harmon.
Thank… Mr. President, I'm -- an -- an inquiry. Has -- has the motion to concur been reported to the Floor?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Yes, Leader. It's on the Calendar. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 1098. Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I believe the Judiciary Committee was so expeditious in its handling of matters earlier this week, I didn't realize they had sent out the motion to concur. I'm grateful. Senate Bill 1098 and Senate Bill 1099 left the Senate. They were companion bills related to the treatment of business entities after dissolution. The House found other uses for Senate Bill 1099, but they were kind enough to bundle up the contents of 154 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 1099 with 1098 and send it back to us as one bill. I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 1098. 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 56 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 1 -- 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 1098, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 1941. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1941. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The amendments made by the House and as Senate Amendment No. 1, they're all technical and related to the definitional Section of the Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1941. 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 155 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, and 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 1941, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2202. Leader Link. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2202. Signed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment makes various date changes due to the late passage of the bill. It also clarifies in case of conflict between Smoke-Free Campus Act and Smoke Free Illinois, the Smoke Free Illinois Act shall control. It also removes the exemptions to the smoking prohibition to individuals parked on campus. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2202. 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 41 voting Aye, 11 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2202, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2352. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, read the motion. 156 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2352. Signed by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The - - the amendment creates the Office of the Independent Juvenile Ombudsman within the Department of Juvenile Justice. There has been a report in -- 2013 that indicated Illinois was listed as one -- having one of the highest victimization rates within our juvenile justice system and we are thus, in follow-up, really -- creating this new independent office. They -- they will do -- investigate complaints, evaluate policies and procedures, and help secure the rights of youth that are committed and released within DJJ. They -- the -- this independent investigator will be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of four years. Funding for it shall be designated separately within the Department so they can operate independently. And they have to provide a report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1st of each year. I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2352. 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 157 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 question, there are 49 voting Aye, 6 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2352, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2583. Senator Noland. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2583. Signed by Senator Noland.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a bill that passed out of here earlier this year, as you may -- may very well know, with wide approval. Work over in the House, as we agreed would occur, has indeed been completed. The concurrence asks that we simply remove the minimum fine of fifty dollars and also, two, that the language in the legislation only apply to individuals who fail to appear in court, as opposed to fail to pay their fines in court. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator Noland, our analysis indicates this is known 158 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 variously as "sign and drive" and also as "sign and go". Can you tell us which one is accurate?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Noland.
Senator, given the freedom that our motorists will experience related to this bill, I'm, in fact, going to allow you to enjoy an early expression of freedom by allowing you to identify which you prefer and that's what it shall be called.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Thank you. I would much prefer "sign and go".
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Noland.
Though I may prefer the alternative, "sign and go" it is, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Outstanding. We shall look forward to voting for the new "sign and go" bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2583. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting 159 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2583, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2636. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2636. Signed by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Martinez. Please keep the noise down a little.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2636, as amended, includes seizure and epilepsy in the list of debilitating medical conditions that qualifies an individual to participate in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program. It also allows the Department of Public Health the ability to establish rules that will allow anyone under the age of eighteen with a qualifying medical condition the ability to use medical cannabis with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. It prohibits anyone under the age of eighteen from using medical cannabis in a smokable form and also prohibits anyone under the age of eighteen from purchasing medical cannabis.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Leader Haine, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Leader. 160 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I want to first thank the sponsor of this bill for her courage and her competence in bringing this in, along with Senator Dan Kotowski. This bill and -- and the amendments filed by Majority Leader Lou Lang in the House meet the test of the bill we passed two years ago. It is compassionate and it's got the proper restrictions and medical support. It meets the test of the ethics of the -- or the ethic of the bill that we -- we passed. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There being no further discussion, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2636. 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 54 voting Aye, 2 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2636, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2640. Leader Haine. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2640. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is the Legislative Reference Bureau -- the amendment actually 161 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 is a gut and replace. And the amendment is their annual revisory bill, which cleans up the -- the legislation that we may have inartfully passed. It was submitted and -- and accepted as part of the treatment for the -- for the -- to the Illinois society to prevent insomnia. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2640. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2640, and the bill is declared passed. We have to come back to that one. Senate Bill 2769. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2769. Signed by Senator Althoff.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. I concur with the amendment. It grants CMS the authority to grant rules governing paid blood, organ, and bone marrow donations' leave for the State employees to do so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, 162 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2769. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2769, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2778. Senator Biss. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2778. Signed by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2778, as we passed it, eliminated a sunset of a timing for a tax sale -- property tax sales in Cook County. As amended by the House, it's scaled back so that this sunset is pushed back and gradually phased in. Happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2778. 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 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in 163 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2778, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2808. Senator Biss. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2808. Signed by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 2808, as we passed it, creates the Freedom From Location Surveillance Act, which is about restriction -- restricting local law enforcement entities from engaging in electronic surveillance of a location without a search warrant. The amendment in the House is extremely technical.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2808. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2808, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2829. Leader Link. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 164 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2829. Signed by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This allows that the court may award reasonable costs, including attorney fees and court costs, to the plaintiff, if the court reverses the decision. It also allows the court to rule -- award municipalities an award of all reasonable costs, including attorney fees. That's what the amendment is.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2829. All those -- 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 52 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2829, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to be recorded as a No vote on Senate Bill 2202. I pushed the wrong button. How about that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Record will reflect a No vote on Senate Bill 2202. Senate Bill 2954. Leader Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, read the motion. 165 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 2954. Signed by Senator Silverstein.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. The House put an amendment that requires a guardian may also file a petition for legal separation or declare a {sic} (declaration of) invalidity of marriage, in addition to dissolution of marriage. This is a probate bill. It expands the authority of a guardian.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House -- Senate Bill 2954 -- Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2954. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2954, and the bill is declared passed. Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCARTER: On Senate Bill 2829, I'd like to be recorded as a -- a Yes vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Record will reflect a Yes vote on that bill. The Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on 166 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments will come to the President's Anteroom immediately. The Senate will stand at ease. Leader Silverstein, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Proceed.
Thank you. I've had the honor for the last four years of working with Sheri Lornitis, who has been my legislative liaison. She's extremely kind, very patient, and keeping me organized is no -- tough deal, but she does a really great job and has done a great job - yes, it is not impossible, Mr. -- Senator Sullivan - she's done a great job of keeping me organized. She's been a great asset to my -- to my office and to my constituents. She's moving on. She's -- today's her last day. Just wish the Senate would recognize her. And I want to thank her personally for all the hard work and putting up with me for all these years. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) We wish you all the best. 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 concurred with the Senate in the passage of a bill of the following title, to wit: Senate Bill 2728. Together with the following amendments which are attached, in 167 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2728. Passed the House, as amendment -- amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Sullivan in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Muñoz, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR MUÑOZ: A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I have some guests with me here in the gallery. A good friend of mine for many, many years, Alan Mercado, who's also a Chicago policeman for more than twenty years, came to visit today with his two boys. If we can welcome Joseph and Richard and his dad, Al, I'd really appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome Al and Joseph and Richard to the Illinois Senate. Thanks for joining us today. You're with a good Senator. (at ease) Senate will come to order. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Harmon, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Re-refer from Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee to 168 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Executive Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 2187; Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 4557, Motion to Recede from Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 4677, Motion to Recede from Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 5416, and Senate Resolution 1257. Signed, Senator Don Harmon, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The Senate will stand at ease -- excuse me, the Senate will stand in recess to the call of the Chair. After the committee meetings, the Senate will reconvene to receive committee reports and for further Floor action. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Again, will all Senators please report to the Senate Floor? We're going to be doing House bills and further concurrences. If you want your bills to get called, you need to come to the Floor. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Motions to Concur - House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 220, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 220, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 274, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2187, House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 2187, Senate Amendment 2 to House Bill 105 and Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 4283 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Landek, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affairs, reports Motions to Concur on House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 121, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 169 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 1681, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2612, House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2612, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2793, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2793, House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2793, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3113, House Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 3113, House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3259, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3433, House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3443 and House Amendment 6 to Senate Bill 3443 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Martinez, Chairperson of the Committee on Licensed Activities and Pensions, reports Motions to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 452, House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 452, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 641, House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1778, House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1778 and House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1778 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Sandoval, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3224 Recommend Do Adopt; and House Bill 3794 Do Pass.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senate Bill 2952. Senator Jacobs. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in their -- in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2952. Signed by Senator Jacobs.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
I move to concur with the bill {sic}. The House made the bill better. We've been working with the Illinois News -- Press Association, the Illinois Self Storage, and we found a compromise 170 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 and everyone's pleased.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2952. 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 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 2952, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2958. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2958. Signed by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Steans.
Yes, thank you. The -- Mr. President and Members of the Senate. We sent over to the House a bill that is setting up a new pilot program for a new designation of health care worker within long-term care facilities, known as medication aide-certified. We -- I knew there was some work that we still needed to do, didn't quite get to an entire agreement. This amendment accomplishes that. Changed some -- some of the participation requirements on which long-term care facilities can be eligible, and moves it to -- under the review of the IDFPR agency. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 171 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2958. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0, voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2958, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2980. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2980. Signed by Senator Koehler.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The original bill allowed township clerks the option to provide a copy of the unaudited statement of financial affairs at the township meeting to the electors rather than reading it aloud. What the amendment does is it just says that the financial statement shall be unaudited. I'd ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2980. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received 172 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 2 to Senate Bill 2980, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3049. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3049. Signed by Senator Holmes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Holmes.
Yes, this is a gut-and-replace amendment, but it keeps the original language that was adopted under our Amendment 1. The only changes made include the addition of Gray wolf, American black bear, and mountain lion to the list of protected species under Section 2.2 of the Wildlife Code.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3049. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3049, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3056. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 173 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3056. Signed by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3056, as amended in the House, includes a series of reforms to our mass transit systems in the northeast Illinois region. It includes a variety of mechanisms by which the RTA has the authority to review what happens with the other three Service Boards, Metra, CTA and Pace. That includes certain employment contracts, bonuses, as well as severance agreements. It grants the RTA access to financial records of the Service Boards. It puts in place a revolving door prohibition for members of the Service Boards and the RTA to engage in business dealings with those Service Boards during their service or a year after it. It puts in place a number of measures around strategic geographic planning, geographic equity, strategic planning, and bikeways. And finally, it sets up an accountability and transparency portal to make information about employees and expenditures and contracts and so forth freely available to the public online. I appreciate your support and I'm happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? Senator McConnaughay, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Thank you, Mr. President. Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield. 174 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: …you. Senator, there's a provision in this bill that requires contract employees over a hundred thousand, their contracts have to be submitted to the Chair of the Transportation Committee, as well as the Minority Spokesman. Can -- do you -- can you give me some insight as to what the purpose of that is and what does, in this particular case, what does submit really mean?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
I'll answer your question, Senator, in reverse order. Submit means submit. It doesn't come with any additional procedural teeth, let's say. It means "submit" - presumably in writing by letter, though it does not specify that. As for what is the purpose, I think we can all, unfortunately, admit that because of the very complex - one might say generously convoluted, one might say realistically - nature of our Service Boards - RTA, CTA, Metra, Pace, forty-seven different members, tons of different appointing authorities - it becomes difficult for there to be an adequate level of sunlight for, in some instances, the decision makers to feel the kind of public pressure they ought to when managing an important public purpose with -- that's funded by public dollars. So this is a -- a tool, a modest tool, and, you know, again, let's be honest, an idiosyncratic tool to provide some opportunities for sunshine to -- to hopefully discourage those Boards from engaging in less ethical behaviors that would be less beneficial to the public good.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McConnaughay. 175 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: You and -- Senator, you and I are in complete agreement about the -- the need for transparency with RTA and the sub-agencies and -- and certainly think that these are good tools. I just want to make very sure that the purpose of sending these proposed contracts to the Transportation Chair as well as the Minority Spokesman is -- is just to provide nothing more than awareness, making -- making those individuals aware of what's happening. There is no - and I want to be very clear - there is no veto power involved here or any actionable item that can be considered on their part. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
The answer to your question is yes. And so I would just briefly add to that. So you -- I understand this might be a -- I mean, maybe you should vote Present actually. You might have a conflict of interest here, as the person who would be receiving this information. So I'm envisioning a situation where a contract like this is contemplated by the Service Board; you are sent a letter giving you notice. You're not -- you don't have the authority to stop it. You don't have to sign off on it. You may not sign off on it, but you're given notice for fourteen days and you might say, "Holy cow! This is somebody's nephew being hired without merit. There is some kind of political purpose here and -- and the public good isn't being served." You, at least, as a prominent community leader, would have the opportunity to bring some attention to the matter that might give the Service Board pause before engaging in an activity we wouldn't prefer for them 176 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 to engage in.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Thank you, Senator, for that clarification. I'm happy to support the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There being no further discussion, Senator Biss, you wish to close?
I'd appreciate your Aye votes. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3056. 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 55 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3056, and the bill is declared passed. Senator McGuire, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McGUIRE: Can I ask that my vote be changed on that last bill - I intended to vote Yes - please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The record will reflect. Senate Bill 3076. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 177 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3076. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Committee Amendment No. 1 is the result of negotiations between the Illinois State Medical Society and the Department of Public Health. Although the amendment deletes all and becomes the bill, it retains Senate Bill 3076 as passed by the Senate and makes three changes to the bill. First, it adds DNR back into the title of the form, so that the name of the form reads "Department of Public Health Uniform DNR/POLST form". Secondly, it requires DPH -- DPH to publish the form no later than 1/1/2015. And, finally, it adds an immediate effective date. I'd also like to add that I've had conversations with Ralph Rivera of the Illinois State Medical Association -- Society, and the Department to make sure that they engage in the process in changing -- making the changes to the form and trying to address everyone's concerns. And I asked that they report back to me on the progress. I'd ask for an Aye vote and happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator, I just want to make sure I'm crystal clear and that 178 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the -- the Chamber's crystal clear in terms of is there current opposition to the bill as it sits right now and the way we're going to vote on it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Okay. The -- the opposition -- or the Department itself is neutral, but I believe the initial opponents - even though they didn't sign in as opponents on the amendment, I'm assuming they still are, Senator Murphy - but they were Eagle Forum, Family-PAC, and Lake County Right to Life, and I think -- I'm not sure what Ralph's organization is, but I -- I don't know that they'd ever be neutral or in support of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
…you -- thank you for the clarification.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There being no further discussion, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3076. 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 40 voting Aye, 16 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3076, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3096. Correction - we'll be going -- we'll come back to your bill, Senator Hastings. We will now be going to House Bill 105. Leader Harmon seeks leave of the Body to 179 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 return House Bill 105 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 105. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? 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 MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. House Bill 105. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 105. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 105, as amended, is an omnibus election law bill. It is relatively modest in its scope. It continues our recent history 180 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of making it easier for people who are allowed to vote to do so. We do that by extending early voting, extending the great -- grace period voting, allowing vote-by-mail applications to be sent earlier in the -- in the cycle. We have left undone some other things that we had hoped to do, though. Same-day registration and voting is not included in this bill, nor is a -- a more aggressive vote-by-mail program. And, lastly, we, at this point, have not joined in with the Electronic Registration Information Center from the -- from the PEW foundation. Those will be tasks left to -- to future election law bills, but I'd urge you to join me in supporting this one.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates he will yield.
Senator, why is this bill only in effect for the upcoming, hotly contested, really tight gubernatorial race, and then it sunsets again?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, there is much that we have left to do. I hope that this is a bridge to a true, permanent same-day voter registration program, and I expect that we will be back. The sunset is merely to encourage us to come back quickly and to further extend voting 181 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 rights.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy.
The absentee voting goes ninety days under this bill -- it's currently forty days and now it goes to ninety days, so that's three whole months of absentee. Why do you need another fifty days -- or why do voters need another fifty days of absentee? And doesn't that run the potential risk of them missing out on significant information in a campaign?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for that question. I - - I want to clarify, this is the -- the absentee ballot application window. Not the -- the absentee voting window. Clearly, we have -- we believe more people would participate if they had greater access to the ballot. This is not nearly as ambitious as I would have hoped with a -- a true vote-by-mail program, but it -- it does allow more people to participate because they may request an absentee ballot earlier in the process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Murphy, your time's up. If -- give you more time to close, if you want.
Close real briefly. The -- you know, obviously, there's always an interest to be struck between access to polls and turnout and making sure that we maintain voter integrity. I'm pleased to see that we haven't taken the next step of allowing people who are 182 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 already dead to vote legally. I suspect that's in the next bill. But I think there is a legitimate risk here in what you're doing with these expansions, that you're watering down and maybe overlooking the ballot integrity components. And as a result, I encourage a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Move previous question, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There are no other speakers. Leader Harmon, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. I do just want to thank Senator Murphy. In committee, he did attempt to vote for Senator Syverson, but we didn't even have to ask him for a photo ID. We were able to just prevent in-person voter fraud right there through the existing laws. So this is a good indication how well this bill will enhance the franchise. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 105 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 39 voting Aye, 17 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 105, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 5348. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 5348. (Secretary reads title of bill) 183 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
…you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 5348 prohibits a commercial dealer, manufacturer, importer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer from selling, offering to sell, leasing, or offering to lease a crib bumper pad in the State of Illinois. And per the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and the Consumer Fraud Bureau, which is responsible for enforcing the Children's Product Safety Act, which we passed here in 1999 unanimously, this Act would prohibit online sales. And the crib bumper ban would apply to online retailers, provided they are selling these products to end users in Illinois. In 2011, the Tribune did a report highlighting many suffocation deaths…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Excuse me, Senator. Let's keep the talking down.
Thank you. In 2011, the Tribune reported on the rising number of suffocation deaths resulting from and attributed to crib bumpers. And the City of Chicago responded by banning the sale of crib bumpers in the City. Later in 2012, the State of Maryland did an extensive study and also concluded that they should also ban the sale of these inherently dangerous and unnecessary products. Bumper pads and similar products that are designed for placement within a crib to cushion the sides of the crib mattress are traditionally intended to prevent babies from becoming entangled between the slats of the cribs. But the cribs, as you know, have now got slats that are only two and three-eighths inch 184 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 between each other, so that's no longer necessary. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that they do not want families and babies to be using these. They are joined by SIDS, March of Dimes, EverThrive, the Illinois Attorney General, Lurie Children's Hospital, the Illinois Public Interest Research Group. And DCFS, when they license a daycare, will not allow crib pads to be in a bed, if they are going to license it. It's time for Illinois to continue to lead the way. We need to ban this inherently dangerous and unnecessary product. I ask you to join with me. I'm happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
A couple questions to the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator, did I hear you say at the beginning that this would ban the Internet sales of -- of these products?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
That's correct, Senator. The Attorney General gave me an opinion this week.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
And, currently, does any other -- any other state have a ban that's this -- that would be this broad and sweeping? 185 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
Senator Syverson, the State of Maryland does.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson.
It's my understanding that there was a -- there was an offer made by the -- the IMA that would have gotten them on board, which would have put this in line, I guess, with all the other states, and that would be to adopt the ASTM standards, which would be a - - a nationalized standard that all other states -- and it's used for, obviously, many other products as well. It's a recognized organization. That if they accepted those standards, it would be easier to comply with that, and with that in place, that would have removed all the opposition from that. Is that -- have we looked at that as a idea or -- or was that rejected?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
Senator, I have worked for several weeks with the IMA, trying to come up with a compromise that is anything but accepting the ASTM standards. And I'd like to explain why that is. The ASTM standards for this particular product were arrived at by a group that did the evaluation; consumer advocates, health care professionals, and industry members voted. Not a single consumer member or health care person voted in favor of this. This was an entirely industry-based vote. And, again, when I listed the names of the people who are supporting this legislation, these are people 186 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 who are out trying to protect our children.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Syverson. Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you seek recognition? Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Could we -- I just want to talk for a moment about why baby bumpers were invented in the first place. Why do we have baby…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
Thank you. Previously, like in the days when I had babies, the slats were so far apart in cribs that babies could literally have their heads go through and strangle. With the -- with the new standards that we now have for cribs, that's no longer necessary. There is a thing called a liner, which is allowed, which is a breathable net that does prevent the child's limbs from going outside of the slats, should that be a concern for parents.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hutchinson.
So standards have changed in the way cribs are manufactured today to allow crib slats to be in a much more closer alignment, so that you don't have heads getting caught in the midst of -- of the slats of the crib railings, the way they did years and years 187 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 and years ago?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
Exactly correct, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hutchinson.
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
I stand in support of this -- of -- of the woman's initiative, largely because -- and I've thought about this, because I've been lobbied on both sides of it. And a lot of people could see an issue like this and say "It's not that big a deal; why are we having this conversation?" "Outright bans are a little harsh." But those of us that have had children and, you know, really thought long and hard about how we would decorate a baby's bed, need to understand that today, in 2014, cribs are no longer manufactured in a way where -- they -- used to literally be a child's head could be stuck between the slats of a crib. That doesn't happen anymore because we've been able to, you know, challenge manufacturers on that and fix that situation. So as a result, this is largely decorative, and it's largely decorative in a way where people who produce them have a financial interest and keep producing them, when there's -- no longer necessary anymore. So, because there could be more harm caused by having a child caught in, you know, bedding and things that are loosely -- loosely 188 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 constructed along the -- the rails of the crib, it's just -- it - - they've long-lived {sic} their -- their usefulness. And so I would encourage everyone to think about this in terms of modernization and the understanding that we've long since solved the problem that caused the need for baby bumpers in the first place, not to mention the fact that the time and the width it would take in a crib to actually have a baby roll over and hurt themselves to the point that the bumper would be able to do anything to help that, long since gone. It's 2014 - they're no longer necessary anymore. And I respect Senator Morrison's initiative to actually, you know, answer a pretty commonsense situation right now. And I would -- I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
I'm just curious, how many documented cases have there been in Illinois of children being harmed by crib bumpers?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
The literature that I have that comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics says forty-eight. It's very, very difficult to prove the death from any -- any issue like that because the parents immediately go in and remove the child from the position they were in. 189 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
Are -- are you aware that the federal government is currently working on safety standards for crib -- crib bumpers or not crib bumpers? They're trying to prove up some of the statements that are being made.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
I am aware of that. It is in the very beginning stages.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Jacobs.
I just can't quite figure out why U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission isn't being allowed to do their work and we're rushing it. I just think that -- you know, I grew up in the back of a station wagon full of lead. Look where I rose today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Delgado, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the lady yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicates she will yield.
Senator Morrison, you and I've -- I want to congratulate you on moving a bill that's going to be pretty controversial here this evening, on the last day. And I know you've worked diligently in trying to get answers for all of us in trying to move this bill 190 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 forward. However, and some of the sponsors, you -- we continue to talk about that mesh. We're talking about a replacement and -- people have mentioned about corporations who may be selling, but I got one more. Isn't it true that one of the supporters is the American Academy of Pediatrics? Is that true?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
That's true.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Delgado.
And they do -- and you -- and you suggested that they recommend the mesh. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
I did not say that, Senator.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Delgado.
To the bill. Mr. President, to the bill. I just want to point out…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you. Members of the Senate, like the previous speaker stated, first of all, if you research this, the national medical pediatric -- the national American Pediatric association in 2009 191 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 indicated that neither the mesh, nor the bumper is safe. Now, keeping in mind their recommendation was neither product on the market -- anything on the market is not safe. Now, at that point in time, we still have them on this side of the aisle - at least in my analysis - as one of the supporters. Now, I know we're all parents, we've done a lot of things, and we're -- we know a little bit about everything in this Chamber. As a former DCFS worker and someone also who's had to deal with understanding mesh and when some families -- maybe a child may have some excrement or maybe have regurgitated their milk, and that can cake. But the point is that neither one of these products are recommended and it's very simple, if -- just like the previous speaker said, my colleague, if the standard consumer safety -- the national testers could see this things, then we could go. So they're recommending mesh, but yet mesh was -- was denied even by the same pediatric national association that locally is now saying it's an okay item to use. So apparently there's someone out there that has a business that wants to move it in. But our critical thinkers in society have said there is no product that's -- is safe. And then in marginalized communities, the families that cannot afford either one, well, you know a lot of 'em just put maybe a towel around or throw a pillow in it. These are real families in real time. I can go to any one of these districts, I don't care if it's from McHenry down to Harrisburg and my -- in my district itself. So I would say "Caution" and I would ask at this point that this dog doesn't hunt yet. This soup is not ready and -- and all respect to the -- to the sponsor, I would ask for a No vote on this particular legislation till -- till we get some safety precautions from the industry to be able to then move forward as to a consensus 192 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 on what type of -- of -- of control should -- or trigger control should be utilized and whatever name they give it, but mesh is not the answer according to the national Academy of Pediatrics. I would ask for a No vote, Mr. Chairman -- or, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Radogno, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill, and I may have some questions. Senator, you correctly surmised that I would be quite interested in this legislation. As many people in this Chamber know, I'm pretty into infants at the moment. So, I did some investigation on it because, obviously, I'm interested in children having a safe environment. I did find, as has been mentioned, there are, in fact, standards, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and I read the standards and the way that they're designed, down to the fact that the length of the cord has to be shorter than the circumference of a brand-new infant in the fifth percentile. So they're very precise in terms of the thickness and so on. There -- those standards were updated in 2012. There has not been a single death since then. They will be updated again in 2017. So I do think that there are standards there. I -- this was the first I've heard about the Internet sales issue. I'm curious as to how that would be enforced.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
Senator, I will be a thousand percent honest with you. I've been advised that that would be in effect. Actually, I mean, selling Internet is more difficult to -- to regulate. I -- I can't 193 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 give you a one-hundred-percent answer on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Radogno.
Yeah, I mean, I believe it's -- it's probably unrealistic. I mean, you are not going to stand between a Pinterest-crazed new mom and the chevron pattern crib bumper that she wants. She will get it. So I don't think that's realistic. The issue of manufacturing, I think, in the bill is somewhat vague. Are they allowed to manufacture crib bumpers in this State?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison.
No, that is not included in this bill. There is, however -- this does not go into effect immediately.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Leader Radogno.
Yeah, that was not my question. I wanted to clarify that the -- the manufacture of crib bumpers is not banned under this bill, because it is a legal product in other states. So they will still be manufactured here in Illinois. Finally, just as a personal story, as many of you know, I have a two-year-old grandson, who has a brand-spanking-new crib. His little leg got wedged in between the slats. So the idea that that's not possible is simply untrue. I mean, his mom came in and his little leg was cold and blue. He had no crib bumpers. She went out and got the mesh ones. But after we consider all the arguments against -- thank you. After we consider all these arguments as to whether or not this is 194 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 a good thing or not, the one that was most persuasive to me was the potential unintended consequence of this bill. And that is, a young mother comes in in the middle of the night when the baby's limb is wedged and they say "Oh, my gosh, I've got to do something" and so they roll up some towels or they put a pillow in the crib, and the unintended consequence of that is far more dangerous than crib bumpers that do have standards and no deaths have actually occurred from them. So I know we're all concerned about the safety and welfare of children, but I do not believe that, on balance, this is a good piece of legislation. I would urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison, to close.
Thank you, Senator. I know that you care very deeply about the safety of children. However, in 2012, a baby did die, in March of 2012, from being stuck in the bumper. I -- I…(microphone cutoff)…as a closing, I would urge you to continue our State's leadership in child safety and support the ban of dangerous crib bumpers. We can choose to protect an industry, which will have time to change over the next couple of years, or we can choose to protect babies' lives. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall House Bill 5348 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 28 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, 4 voting Present. It is declared -- failed to receive the required constitutional majority, is declared failed. Senator Morrison. 195 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Mr. President, I would request postponed consideration of this bill, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Morrison requests that House Bill 5348 be postponed. The bill will be placed on the Order of Postponed Considerations {sic} (Consideration). Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Inquiry of the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) State your inquiry.
Mr. President, I believe it is the rule of the Senate that photographs of the board and the vote tallies are inappropriate and in violation of the Senate rules. We have guests here on the Floor. Could you please admonish those who are not Members here, who may not be as familiar with the rules, that taking photographs may be -- allowed in another Chamber and not allowed here of our board?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) You are correct, Senator. House Bill 4283. Senator Cunningham. Mr. -- oh, Senator Raoul. Switched sponsors. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. Senator Raoul seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 4283 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 4283. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
196 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Raoul.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Raoul.
Floor Amendment No. 1 adds language with regards to the Illinois Eavesdropping Act. I'll explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? 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 MUÑOZ) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, House Bill 4283. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 4283. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Raoul.
First of all, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I'd like to clarify, 'cause as I explained the bill in Senate Exec Committee today, I omitted the underlying -- the original underlying explanation of the original underlying bill that provides that ID cards that are issued by the Department of Corrections to individuals who are being released from custody shall be valid up to ninety days, whereas the current law is thirty 197 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 days. So I apologize to those Members of the Executive Committee for not explicitly mentioning that. Secondly, the language that Floor Amendment 1 adds is in response to a March 20, 2014 decision in both the decisions of People v. Clark and People v. Melongo that struck down our Illinois eavesdropping statute. The amendment amends the elements of the -- of eavesdropping to provide that a person is guilty of eavesdropping when he or she uses -- an eavesdropping device surreptitiously to overhear, transmit, or record any private conversation, whether or not they are party to the conversation; two, surreptitiously intercepts, records, or transcribes any private electronic communication to which a person is not a party. A -- under the amendment, a person is guilty of eavesdropping if he or she discloses any information that he or she knows or should know was obtained contrary to the eavesdropping laws, unless the person does so with the consent of all parties. A person who commits eavesdropping will be guilty of a Class 4 felony for the first offense and Class 3 for a second and subsequent offense. However, a person who commits eavesdropping on law enforcement, State's Attorney, or -- or a judge is guilty of a Class 3 felony for a first offense. We -- this bill is a negotiation with the -- a product of negotiation with the State's Attorneys Association, which is a -- a proponent of the bill. Over the course of the last several years, the State's Attorneys Association and other representatives of law enforcement have moved - sometimes successfully and sometimes not - to expand the exemptions to -- for law enforcement on our eavesdropping law. By way of negotiation, we have -- we have expanded the exemptions offered to law enforcement to fight some serious crimes, including -- including first degree murder, solicitation of murder for hire, 198 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, res burglary, aggravated arson, kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping, child abduction, human trafficking, involuntary servitude, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, and also felony drug violations, excluding possessions -- possession offenses. There was, additionally, language added to make sure that -- that clarifies that nothing in this statute is intended to allow law enforcement to use eavesdropping devices in a manner other than the methods that are explicitly provided by law. Finally, as -- in the previous statute, authorization could be done verbally. With the -- under the new -- under the new proposed statute, it would have to be in writing and filed with the court.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall House Bill 4283 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 50 voting Aye, 6 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4283, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Sullivan in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, Supplemental Calendar No. 1 has been distributed. We're going to go to the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading. House Bill 3794. Senator Manar. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 3794. 199 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Ladies and Gentlemen, still on Supplemental Calendar No. 1, Secretary's Desk, Concurrence on Senate Bills. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 220. Senator Kotowski, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to -- I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 220. Signed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 220, with House Amendment No. 2, becomes the fiscal year '15 budget implementation bill. It includes the necessary provisions to execute the fiscal year '15 budget plan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
To remind the Chamber this is the implementation of a deficit- spending, borrowing, backward-looking budget that takes us back to 200 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the bad old days, when we got ourselves into the fiscal -- mess we are in today. And anything that implements that can't be good. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: One of the things I noticed about this is that there is a transfer to the Workers' Comp pool, and when I asked about it, it -- the interesting part is, there is money that comes out of the Road Fund for this. And at first I thought, well, we have work comp claims within IDOT, we have work comp claims within DHS and other areas, therefore that would make sense. Yet, there is money swept from numerous other funds that are -- that don't relate at all. And so -- so then someone told me, they said, "Well, we've -- we've done this in the past." Well, we have done it in the past, but that doesn't make it right. From all of these funds we have swept, we've taken money into the work comp pool and, you know, I think it's almost kind of like -- it's -- it's almost like our overtime issue. We -- we'd rather just ignore that it's really happening, therefore we can, you know, budget less every year and be over ten million, you know, be over twelve, be over fifteen. Because our work comp claims are a serious matter. Forget work comp reform in the State. Forget everything I ever said, but as an employer, as the major -- as a major employer in this State, 201 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 we've got issues. We have high claims, because we have bad law, but because -- there's a whole number of reasons that we need to address the cost of work comp claims, as an employer in this State. And to sweep, borrow, shift these funds from the Road Fund, that when people -- you know, they expect that to go to roads, not just, you know, to these uncontrolled expenses that we have. So that's just one more reason I -- I suggest a No vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, to close.
I -- I appreciate the concerns as articulated by the pervious speaker, but these are workers' comp claims, as they relate to IDOT employees. That's where the funding is going to - workers' comp claim as they relate to IDOT employees. Let's be very clear, this is -- again, to re-emphasize, enables us to pass this budget, which lives within the means already provided by taxpayers, to continue funding education at levels we funded in the past, while also maintaining funding for public safety and human services. But, again, to re-emphasize, we still face challenges in the future that will need to be addressed. This is not -- while decisive, this is not yet complete. It is very incomplete and we are going to have to do our best to fill this budget hole next year or to reduce spending and make cuts by 4.4 billion dollars. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 220. 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 202 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the record. On that question, there are 38 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 220, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to go to -- and, Mr. Secretary, we're going to go to House -- or, excuse me, Senate Bill 274. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 274. Signed by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill includes language for a continuing appropriation for the General Assembly, the interfund borrowing language, and a revenue volatility study. It also sets the fiscal year '15 per diem/mileage rate for General Assembly Members, and it freezes the fiscal '15 year COLAS. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
We had a -- a vigorous debate about this in the Executive 203 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Committee earlier this evening. One of the issues with this bill, number one, this is where the borrowing part of your deficit spending budget comes from. So that's problem number one. Problem number two is that Governor Quinn is going to be given the latitude to pick the money out of any of the funds that he wants, effectively. Now we've seen what Governor Quinn will do with money before an election. My concern is, he's going to take the leverage you give him here and use that to his advantage in this election by playing groups off of each other. This is a dangerous amount of power to give a Governor in an election year, and exposes all of us to embarrassment. And for that reason, I have to urge a No vote on this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Cullerton -- President Cullerton, to close.
Just ask for a Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 274. 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 39 voting Aye, 18 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 274, and the bill is declared passed. On page - - on the second page of -- still Supplemental Calendar No. 1, let's go, Mr. Secretary, to Senate Bill 852. 852. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion. 204 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 852. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The House amendment will allow the Village of Rosemont, which is in my district, to attract an international trade show for manufacturers and supplier of tobacco products and accessories. It's anticipated that four thousand people will attend the trade show from over thirty countries. The trade show, however, necessitates smoking to test products and accessories. The House Floor Amendment No. 1 allows smoking in a convention hall of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center where the trade show is being held, during the time the trade show is occurring. The exemption is inoperative on and after October 1, 2015. Be happy to answer any questions and I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you. Question of the sponsor, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Rose.
Senator Mulroe, do I have this right, that our State, which is smoke free, is creating a smoke-free exception -- I'm sorry, a 205 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 smokable exception to the Smoke Free Illinois Act? Is that -- for this one show. Is that right?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
That is correct. We hope to bring four thousand people from throughout the United States and beyond to the convention center to display their products - manufacturers, suppliers, buyers. They're going to generate revenue at the convention through the hotels, motels, restaurants, bars, outlet stores - bring a lot of money to the State, instead of sending it to another state.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Senator Mulroe, I -- I love that idea. Now, let me ask you this. Exactly what show is it that you're -- this four thousand people you're planning to bring to Rosemont?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
It's a show that was previously brought -- or actually held in Las Vegas. It's called the Tobacco Plus Convenience Expo trade event. It's called Tobacco Plus Convenience Expo.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Let me get this straight. We had Senator Link's bill to go smoke free, and now we have a bill to create an exemption - one time, one time only - for Rosemont to bring the smokers to 206 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Illinois. Is that correct, Senator Mulroe?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
This is a very, very narrow exemption. Senator Link's bill is for the kids. This is not for kids.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
So the bill we voted on earlier to tell the college kids, who are adults, that they can't smoke at the University of Illinois or Western or Southern, if they go to Rosemont for a couple, was it two or three days, four days, they will be able to smoke at the Rosemont Horizon, just not at the University of Illinois. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
This is not a -- a public event. It's for -- it's a trade only event. Over twenty-one. And it's limited -- well, it's limited to attendees and exhibitors that are twenty-one years of age or older. So we'd never want to promote smoking for -- with anyone under that age.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose, you have just a little time left. Senator Rose.
So it's not a public event to smoke at the Rosemont Horizon. Will you be able to drive your car through the parking lot smoking a cigarette, as long as your windows are not open? 207 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
I imagine if you're able to smoke your cigarette in your car now, you can smoke it then.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
Very well. Senator Mulroe, this may come as a shock - I very much look forward to voting for your bill. The reality is, this accentuates just how crazy we are in Illinois. We have a ban and now we're going to exempt the ban, and of -- for all things, to do exactly what the ban's in place for. Vote for the bill. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Mulroe, do you wish to close? The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 852. 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 43 voting Aye, 10 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 852, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, let's go to -- still on Supplemental Calendar, let's go to Senate Bill 3224. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 208 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3224. Signed by Senator Hutchinson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3224, House Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3224 becomes the bill and increases the total general obligation bond authorization for the State by six hundred million. The bill increases the bond authorization for transportation purposes by 1.1 billion for State and local highways, roads, and bridges. The total bond authorization increase is kept at six hundred million by lapsing or reducing five hundred million of old coal and energy development bonds. GOMB is requesting authorization, because without it, they cannot obligate the projects. Senate Bill 3224 is one of two bills for the 1.1-billion-dollar road and bridge capital project. This bill deals with the bond authorization aspect, while the other bill, House Bill 3794, deals with the appropriation aspect. I would hope for your support, but I'm happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? As the debt -- as the debt in question is secured by the full faith and credit of the State of Illinois, it is the ruling of the Chair that this action falls within the scope of Section 9(b) of Article IX of the Illinois Constitution, and therefore the passage of this measure will require a three-fifths majority. The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3224. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have 209 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 4 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3224, and the bill is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, let's go to -- Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
If I may, have the record reflect my intention to vote No on House Bill 5889 and No on House Bill 2453. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate that was your intent. Mr. Secretary, let's go to -- or, excuse me, House Bill 3433. We're still on the Supplemental Calendar, on the Secretary's Desk, Concurrence, Senate Bills. Senate Bill 3433. Senate Bill 3433. Senator Morrison. You wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3433. Signed by Senator Morrison.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Morrison, to your motion.
One moment, please. 210 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Take your time. Senator Morrison.
Mr. President and Members of the Senate, there are some minor changes to this bill. It substantially retains the engrossed bill, but makes a few minor changes and adds an exemption for residents who have met the -- the applicable boating safety requirements from another state. Adds an exemption for a person who uses only electric motor to propel the motorboat and adds an exemption for a person operating a motorboat on private property. I believe that this deals with all of the concerns that were expressed, in the House especially. And it also has individuals being actually much younger. They would be eighteen when this would be applicable. I would ask for concurrence.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3433. 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 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate -- does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3433, and the bill is declared passed. Next up on the Calendar is Senate Bill 3443. 3443. Before we do that, Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, would you record me as an Aye on that last vote. I didn't get to my switch in time. 211 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate that was your intent. Senate Bill 3443. Senator Kotowski, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 4 and 6 to Senate Bill 3443. Signed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 340 -- 3443 is legislation that we passed in this Chamber. It went over to the House. They made brief changes. It's a byproduct of the Budgeting for Results subcommittee on eliminating costly and wasteful mandates in our State. I'd like to thank Senator Althoff for her leadership and her support and her partnership on this initiative to reform spending in our State. And thank you for your efforts and bipartisan support for this initiative.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 4 and 6 to Senate Bill 3443. 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 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 4 and 6 to 212 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senate Bill 3443, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's go back to our regular Calendars. If you'll turn to page 21 on the Secretary's Desk, Concurrence, Senate Bills. Let's go to Senate Bill 3425. Leader Radogno. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3425. Signed by Senator Radogno.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill addresses a situation in Indian Head Park, which is a community in my district. They had passed a 2.5-million-dollar bond for infrastructure. It passed with sixty-eight percent of the vote. The ballot question was correct; however, the newspaper notification failed to specify the upper limit of the bond. In spite of that, it passed with over sixty-eight percent of the vote, and this bill will allow them to proceed with that project. I would ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3425. 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 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3425, and the bill 213 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, on the Supplemental Calendar, on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Resolutions. Mr. Secretary, let's go to House Joint Resolution 102. While we're doing a little paperwork up here, Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to be recorded as a Yes vote on Senate Bill 3443.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate that was your intent, Senator Bivins. Thank you. Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point.
One of our former Senate Dem -- Dem staffers, Andre Jordan, who for the past three years has served as the Governor's legislative staff - and I hope he's on the Floor - and he's -- also serves as an Assistant Chief of Staff, the Senate Floor liaison, and basically today is going to be his last day with us, because he's going to start working for AARP as the Associate State Director, Advocacy and Outreach. We will miss you, Andre. We look forward to you having a wonderful career with AARP and we really wish you the best in your new position.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Andre, we wish you the best. There he is. Andre, we wish you all the best. Somebody made the comment - you're a little bit too young to go to work there. Good one, Scott. Leader Clayborne, 214 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 for what purpose do you rise?
For a point of clarification.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point.
Somehow my button didn't -- didn't work on Senate Bill 3443 and I wanted to be recorded as an Aye.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate that was your intent, Leader Clayborne. Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
For some reason, my button didn't work on Senate Bill 3433 {sic} (3443), and I wanted the record to reflect my intention to vote No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so reflect it was your intent as well. Okay, Mr. Secretary, I understand you have the proper paperwork. We're going to go to House Joint Resolution 102. It's on your Supplemental Calendar. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 102, offered by Senator Raoul.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Raoul.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. By -- by law, the General Assembly has to prepare an explanation of and a brief argument for and a brief argument against any 215 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot. Earlier this Session, we passed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 52, the State voting rights amendment, with support of all Members who were on the Floor who -- who voted. Some did not vote for some reason. But House Joint Resolution 102 provides for that explanation and the arguments for and against.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the resolution? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, will you make it expressly clear that this will ensure there will never be a voter ID law in this State, in that pamphlet?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Raoul.
I'll -- I'll just have you work on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, as this resolution requires the expenditure of State… As this resolution requires a roll call vote, we'll be -- as this resolution requires a roll call vote, the question is, shall House Joint Resolution 102 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 216 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 are 53 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Mr. Secretary, House Joint Resolution 103. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 103, offered by Senator Steans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Steans.
Yes, similar to the last resolution, this is to get the explanation and brief argument for and brief argument against a constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot. Earlier this Session, we passed HJRCA 1, the crime victim rights amendment. It had passed here unanimously. And this is providing the arguments for and against for the pamphlet. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 103 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Joint -- having received the required constitutional majority, House Joint Resolution 103 is adopted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 1281, offered by Senator Steans and all Members. 217 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 1282, offered by President Cullerton. It is substantive.
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 333. 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 333. We have received like Messages on Senate Bill 336, with House Amendments 1 and 2; Senate Bill 727, with House Amendment 2; Senate Bill 3044, with House Amendment 1. Passed the House, as amended, May 30th, 2014. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, back to Supplemental Calendar No. 1. Mr. Secretary, let's go to House Joint Resolution 100. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 100, offered by President Cullerton. 218 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This resolution sets forth the estimated amount of general revenue funds that will be available to spend on the fiscal '15 budget. It estimates the total -- sources to be thirty-five billion three hundred and fifty-two million. This is an increase of eight hundred and fifty-seven million over the amount that we passed in House Joint Resolution 80. That is attributable to three increases. COGFA indicated they believe we would bring in one hundred and ninety-seven million more in personal income tax revenues, ten million in public utility tax revenues, and six hundred and fifty million in transfers from the interfund borrowing. Be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 100 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 41 voting Aye, 16 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Joint Resolution -- 100, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, back to the regular Calendar, on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. If you'll go to page 5, Senate Bill 1011. President Cullerton. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, 219 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 please -- President Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1011 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1011. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Cullerton, on Floor Amendment 1.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I would like to indicate that it's my intent to adopt this amendment and then leave the bill on 2nd Reading. This is pursuant to a discussion in the Executive Committee. We had a -- a -- testimony on the bill. We received some suggestions from Republican Members that -- that it would -- asked me to hold the bill to work on some amendments to the bill over the summer and I agreed to that. This bill creates the Illinois TRUST Act, which deals with law enforcement agencies and detaining individuals on the basis of immigration detainers. So I think we can make some progress in working on this bill over the summer. So, for that reason, I'd like to adopt the amendment and then leave the bill on 2nd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, 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. 220 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. At the -- at the request of the sponsor - by my mistake, I put it to 3rd - let's recall that back to 2nd. Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill 1011 back to -- the Order of 2nd Reading. All right. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 14 of the regular Calendar. On the Order of Secretary's Desks {sic}, Resolutions, we have House Joint Resolution 96. Senator Noland. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 96, offered by Senator Noland.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Joint Resolution 96 creates the Joint Criminal Justice Reform Committee to examine the impact of the current -- current sentencing structure here in Illinois and to ensure that enforcement and punishment of crimes do not disproportionately or unfairly affect certain racial, ethnic, or minority groups, and -- and for us to develop solutions to address the issues that exist within the system. Provides that the committee shall submit a report to the General Assembly no later than December 1st, 2014. Know of no opposition. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Leader Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. We had some discussion about this in the Executive Committee. I think it's a 221 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 really, really good idea and one that we definitely need to do, both for fairness as well as, was pointed out earlier, to be more efficient with our resources in Corrections. So I'm very much in favor of doing this. I look forward to it. The fault I find with this bill, however, is that it's -- the partisan balance is not equal. I think that the product would not be as suspect if there were a better balance, and so I would urge a No vote, and hopefully we could have a more balanced commission. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? President Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, thank you, Mr. President. I -- if this -- if this started in the Senate, it would be a bipartisan and not a partisan number, but it started in the House. They think differently over there. But I still think it's a good idea to pass it, and maybe we can lobby the Speaker to add another Republican to the Commission.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, as this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 96 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 46 voting Aye, 9 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. House Joint Resolution 96, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, we're going to go back to the regular Calendar. If 222 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 you'll turn to page 19, to Senate Bill 3096. Okay. We were already on the regular Calendar, I'm told. So continuing on the regular Calendar, but on page 19, on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Concurrence on Senate Bills, we have Senate Bill 3096. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3096. Signed by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings, on your motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3096 retains the underlying bill and amends the Section of the Vehicle Code concerning speed enforcement equipment and testing requirements. The amendment addresses technological advancements and equipment used to test and calibrate radar equipment. There's no opponents and I appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3096. 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 46 voting Aye, 7 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3096, and the bill is declared passed. Next up on the Calendar, we have Senate Bill… Senate Bill 3109. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, please -- 223 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3109. Signed by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Amendment 1 makes a technical change in Senate Bill 3109, which amends the Illinois Optometric Practice Act, to continue to allow optometrists the ability to prescribe a limited supply of Hydrocodone in the event that federal regulation reclassifies Hydrocodone from a Schedule III controlled substance to a Schedule II controlled substance.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House -- in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3109. 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 51 voting Aye, 1 -- 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3109, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have -- Senator Forby, for what purpose do you rise?
That last bill, I want to be an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 224 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 The Senate will so indicate that was your intent to vote Aye on the previous bill. Okay, Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill -- Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise?
Like -- I would like to be an Aye vote, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate your intent as well. Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill 3222. Senator Hastings. Please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3222. Signed by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 3222 is an initiative of IDVA and it creates the Illinois Joining Forces Foundation and defines the missions, duties and powers of this public-private partnership foundation. There are no opponents and I appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The -- the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3222. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. 225 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 3222, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we're going to go to Senate Bill 3228. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3228. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President. This House amendment merely adds technical clarifying language at the request of the Anatomical Gift Association. It also clarifies the role of successor agents. And for legislative intent, I want to state this for the record: With these House Amendments 1 and 2, I want to clarify that with these changes, neither the attending physician, nor any other health care provider or health care professional may act as agent, unless that physician or health care provider is not administering health care to the patient. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3228. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional 226 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3228, and the bill is declared passed. If you'll turn to the next page, which is page 20, of your printed Calendar, to Senate Bill 3267. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3267. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This merely add -- defines the term "violent offense" and -- and deletes some of the bill, leaving only a provision of up to a hundred and twenty days for an -- an offender on probation. There's no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3267. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3267, and the bill is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, we're going to go to -- with leave of the Body, we're going to go to page 17 of the printed Calendar and to Senate Bill 2744. Senator Muñoz. Mr. Secretary, please 227 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2744. Signed by Senator Muñoz.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the -- Senate. The amendment deletes all and becomes the bill, and I'll be more than happy to explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Actually, we've already -- that's already done. You can go ahead and explain it, Senator Muñoz. This is a concurrence. Yes. SENATOR MUÑOZ: This just makes a technical change clarifying that the products offered will be offered through insurers licensed to transact insurance business in Illinois. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Muñoz. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2744. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2744, and the bill is declared passed. We're back on the 228 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 regular Calendar, Ladies and Gentlemen, page 20. Senate Bill 3283. Leader Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3283. Signed by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I want to concur with Amendment -- House Amendment No. 1, which amends the bill by providing that a child should not be removed from the home of a fictive kin if that fictive kin fails to apply for licensure within six months of the child's placement, or fails to meet the standard of licensure. It also changes the date by which the Department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria and standards for placement, identification, and licensure of fictive kin from January 1st, 2015, to June 1st, 2015. And it also provides that the provisions added to the Children and Family Services Act by this amendment -- Act shall become operative on or after June 1st, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3283. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional 229 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3283, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, it should be Senate Bill 3288. It is. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3288. Signed by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: …you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3288, with House Amendment 1, is a Secretary of State initiative that allows the agency to distribute electric {sic} copies, upon agreement, of the bound volumes of the Session laws of this General Assembly.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3288. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3288, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we should have Senate Bill 3294. Senator McConnaughay. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 230 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3294. Signed by Senator McConnaughay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment to 3294 simply adds labeling requirements for recycling bins as a violation covered under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3294. 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 54 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3294, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 3309. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3309. Signed by Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Chamber. House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3309 now includes downstate police and fire in language to be -- to recalculate pensions in case of 231 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 error. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3309. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3309, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 3314. Senator Syverson. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3314. Signed by Senator Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. The changes that were made in the House were just a couple of technical changes by the -- the Municipal Clerks Association. Know of no opposition to that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3314. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received 232 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3314, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 3387. Senator McConnaughay. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3387. Signed, Senator McConnaughay.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Thank you, Mr. President. This amendment simply sets forth the district boundaries.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3387. 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 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 3387, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 3405. Senator Biss. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3405. Signed, Senator Biss. 233 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 3405, as it left this Chamber, was a -- a negotiated bill to address the problem of "patent trolls" in Illinois. House Amendment 1 changes literally - and I mean literally - nothing. And, therefore, I urge your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3405. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3405, and the bill is declared passed. Next up is 3425. Leader Radogno. Whoop! Wait a minute. I missed one. We did pass one. Let's go back to Senate Bill 3409, Mr. Secretary. Senator Manar. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3409. Signed by Senator Manar.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Manar.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the 234 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senate. This bill left the Senate. It would have allowed dentists to administer vaccinations for -- for influenza. The House made two changes that are sizable. One, it sunsets the Act; and, two, it strengthens the requirement that we had in the bill that requires a conversation between a dentist and a doctor. These two changes represent an agreement between the Dental Association and those that were opposed to the bill. Be happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3409. 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 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3409, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we -- it should be Senate Bill 3437. It is. Senator Harmon -- Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill {sic}.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3437. Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The Senate passed Senate Bill 3366 unanimously over to the House. 235 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 For whatever reason, the House decided not to use that bill, but is sending back the exact same language as an amendment to this bill. I am not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3437. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3437, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3438. Senator Harmon. Leader Harmon. Please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3438. Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 3438 is a modernization of the Co-operatives {sic} (Co-operative) Act. The amendment is a technical amendment we anticipated in the House. I move for concurrence and it's -- in the House amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the 236 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 question is, shall the Senate concur in Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3438. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3438, and the bill is declared passed. Next up should be Senate Bill 3465. Senator Syverson. Mr. Secretary, read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3465. Signed by Senator Syverson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator -- Senator Syverson.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a -- a couple changes were made and worked out between the Medical Society and the Ambulatory Surgical Centers. Know of no opposition on the legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3465. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3465, and the bill is declared passed. Next up - we're at the bottom of page 21 of 237 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the regular Calendar - Senate Bill 3551. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3551. Signed by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Amendment No. 1 is an agreed amendment and it changes the requirement for the minimum number of days prior to opening that a migrant camp -- labor camp must have filed for licensure and be ready for inspection. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3551. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3551, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 22. Still on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Concurrence, Senate Bills. Senate Bill 3574. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their 238 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3574. Signed by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Mr. President. 3574 is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Transportation, which elevates {sic} some of the agency's concerns as it relates to weight limits. I'd ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3574. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3574, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, on page 14 of the regular Calendar, still on the Order of Senate Bill Concurrences, we have Senate Bill 219. Leader Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 219. Signed by Senator Hunter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I concur with the -- with the 239 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 amendment. It creates the scratch-off Lottery ticket called "Go For The Gold". It's a Special Olympic {sic} (Olympics) ticket. I know of no objections and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 219. 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 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 219, and the bill is declared passed. Senator McCann, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. For a point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you very much, Mr. President. I would like to recognize a gentleman on our staff, Mr. Mike Brooks. He is a -- he -- he works for us on Senate Republican communications staff and he has here, joining him here tonight, in the gallery on the Republican side, his wife, Jodi; his son, William Glenn Brooks; his parents, Bill and Sue Brooks, who are farmers here in Sangamon County. She's also a good public employee retiree. And William Glenn, if you -- William Glenn will celebrate his first birthday at midnight, along with us, I guess, bringing in the capital bill. So, please join me in welcoming them here to the Senate, please. 240 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Folks, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Great to have you joining us today. Thanks for joining us. I heard William just a little bit ago. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are going to go back to Supplemental Calendar No. 1. On Secretary's Desk, Concurrence on Senate Bills, we have Senate Bill 121. Senator Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 3 to Senate Bill 121. Signed by Senator Hunter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I concur with the amendment that was placed on over at the House, which removes the provision that was in question in the original bill that basically states that starting July 1, 2014, the Commission's -- the African-American Family Commission's funding allocation must be less than five hundred thousand dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, does the Senate concur in House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 121. 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 52 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received -- received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 121, 241 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 and the bill is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 452. Go to Senate Bill 452, Mr. Secretary. Leader Clayborne. Let's go to Senate Bill 504. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 504. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. As the bill left the -- the Senate Chamber, it was -- the bill consisted of the extension of two TIFs, one in my district, another one in Senator Muñoz's district. In the House, there was an amendment placed on the bill to extend a TIF actually located in Senator Connelly's district, in the City of Naperville. I know of no opposition. Well, except -- except for Senator Oberweis, but -- and I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 504. 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? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 504, and the bill is declared passed. On the second page of the Supplemental 242 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Calendar 1, still on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Concurrence on Senate Bills, we have Senate Bill 641. Leader Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 641. Signed by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I concur with the amendment. Authorizes any nationally or -- internationally recognized independent organization to certify elevator inspector's license. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 641. 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 56 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 641, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1681. Leader Link. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 1681. Signed by Senator Link. 243 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. These amendments just amends the -- the Regional Fire Prevention District {sic} (Protection Agency Act) does not apply to a unit of local government. The -- amendment also exempts local units of government from -- adopting resolutions. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 {sic} to Senate Bill 1681. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1681, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1778. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1778. Signed by Senator Althoff.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1778, Amendments 1, 2 and 3, create the Resale Dealers Act. Back last 244 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 year about this time, House Bill 3359 created a precious metals task force. They were charged with creating a statewide system for the collection of information of the sales of precious metals and jewelry by pawnbrokers, auction services, for -- for-profit consignment sellers, and other resellers, and for the compilation, storage, and timely access to that information by law enforcement, and they also were to propose legislation implementing these recommendations. Ladies and Gentlemen, 1778 is that legislation. It defines "precious metals". It requires that those selling the items must provide identification to the resale dealer in order to make a sale. Resale dealers must keep records of the items sold, which include the name, address and time of sale of each purchase, for three years. And then there are certain dealers that are exempt from the Act. Be happy to answer any questions, but I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1778. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 1778, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 2187. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 2187. 245 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The House amendments to Senate Bill 2187 reflect an agreement between the Illinois Psychological Association and the Illinois State Medical Society and Psychiatric Society with respect to the authority of a psychologist to prescribe medicine in certain circumstances where they are well trained and closely supervised by medical doctors. I want to thank my cosponsor, Senator Syverson, for all of his work on this. It is surprising to me, but quite pleasing, that we have reached an agreement and we will be able to move forward with this. I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 2187. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 2187, and the bill is declared passed. Next, we have Senate Bill 2612. Senator Kotowski. Let's go to Senate Bill 2730. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 {sic} (1 and 2) to Senate Bill 2730. 246 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The -- the amendment actually just addresses some concerns that the lenders and their attorneys have -- had. It also clarifies that the bill preserves a claim of the person who held the omitted subordinate interest to any surplus resulting from the subsequent sale of the real estate. I -- there -- I do not believe there's any opposition. I'd be happy to answer a question. I'd ask -- ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 2 {sic} to Senate Bill 2730. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 2 {sic} to - - to Senate Bill 2730, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 2793. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2793. Signed by Senator Hutchinson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 247 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Body. I move to concur with the amendments and the changes that happened in the House. I think the bill was made better as a result of it. I'm happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2793. 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 45 voting Aye, 3 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1, 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2793, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 2801. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2801. Signed by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Floor Amendment No. 2 is a technical amendment. House Floor Amendment No. 1 requires forensic interviews to be videotaped, unless it would be impractical to do so. And these videotapes 248 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 shall be -- also include examination notes and evaluations, to give people a better opportunity to review the conduct of one presumed to be unfit.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2801. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2801, and the bill is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 3113. Senator Barickman. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 3113. Signed by Senator Barickman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Barickman.
Thank you, Mr. President. As passed by the House, Senate Bill 3113 allows the Mercer County School District to save money through the refinancing of debt and ensures that the burden of the debt will remain with the community that authorized it. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the 249 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 3113. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments 1 and 5 to Senate Bill 3113, and the bill is declared passed. Leader Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, I'd like the record to reflect I intended vote -- to vote Aye on Senate Bill 2801.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The record will so indicate that was your intent. Thank you, Leader Lightford. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's go to Senate Bill 3125. Senator Noland. Please read the motion, Mr. Secretary.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3125. Signed by Senator Noland.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a very important bill, so I want to make sure I have everybody's attention on this. House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 3125 makes just a technical change to the original language by adding the term "amusement enterprise" in relevant Sections. Now, you'll recall that Senate Bill 3125 changes the name of the Carnival and Amusement Rides Safety Act to 250 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Act. It also changes the name of the Carnival-Amusement Safety Board to the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board. Mr. President, this is the latest in my series of bearded lady bills. It's very important. I realize that I'm having to speak over this crowd, but they should know that "carnival" means and includes an aggregation of attractions, whether shows, acts, games, or amusement devices, which are set up or conducted in a public place and which, from the nature of the aggregation, attracts attendance and causes promiscuous intermingling of persons in the spirit of merrymaking and revelry. And for the purposes of legislative intent, Mr. President, I want you to understand that promiscuous intermingling doesn't mean that we can't visit each other on either side of the aisle. We want to encourage that in the spirit of collegiality. And also, too, that except for merrymaking and revelry, this job wouldn't be any fun. So, with that, I -- I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Raoul.
What were you talking about?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) I'm not going to allow him to respond to that. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the -- Senate concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3125. All those in favor will vote 251 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 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 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 3125, and the bill is declared passed. Okay, we are at the bottom of -- or, excuse me, we're at the bottom of the page of the Supplemental Calendar. Senate Bill 3259. Senator Frerichs. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 4 to Senate Bill 3259. Signed by Senator Frerichs.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Frerichs.
This is a bill that really is -- is trying to help out towns devastated by tornadoes. It was amended in the House, the bill, to only provide property tax relief from tornadoes instead of all natural disasters. Definition of "natural" disaster is replaced with definition of "tornado". Amendment also provides a clarification to the method assessment for Cook County by providing reference to the Section of the Constitution where that is defined.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3259. 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 252 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 3259, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to go back to Senate Bill 229. We are still on the Supplemental Calendar and we're still on Senate Bills for Concurrence. We have Senate Bill 229. Senator Delgado. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 229. Signed by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. I'm asking for concurrence to Senate Bill 229 and would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 229. 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 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 229, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, still on Supplemental Calendar No. 1, we're going to go to House Joint Resolution 97. Senator Delgado, on House Joint Resolution 97. Do you wish to 253 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 97, offered by Senator Delgado.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Joint Resolution 97 designates the month of June of 2014 as the "Illinois Prescription Monitoring Program Month" in the State of Illinois. And this is an initiative of the Department of Human Services. And I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen, still on Supplemental Calendar No. 1, on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Concurrence on Senate Bills. Let's go to Senate Bill 452. Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution. Excuse me, Mr. Secretary, please read the motion on Senate Bill 452.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 452. Signed by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill originally went out as -- provide transparency on who we were allocating funds to and it came back with various changes. One, 254 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 similar to the already existing law regarding setting goals for minority brokerage, we change that to set -- add in a provision also requiring goals for minority pension funds. We also clarify the contract language to make it consistent with either an oral or written contract as it relates to who we're allocating money to and who they're doing business with. I would ask for a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 452. 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 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 452, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3275. Senator Dillard. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3275. Signed by Senator Dillard.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Dillard.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill left this Chamber as a response to the emergence of a new drug that is being seen mostly on college campuses, called 25I, and we added it to the Schedule I controlled substances. We worked with the Illinois Pharmacists 255 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Association, who support the bill. Over in the House, DHS came in with a suggestion to add two nearly identical substances to this list, and I would urge us to concur in the House's work. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} 1 to Senate Bill 3275. 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 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3275, and the bill is declared passed. Senate Bill 3358 -- excuse me, Mr. Secretary, 3538. Senate Bill 3538. Senator Sandoval. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3538. Signed by Senator Sandoval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 3538 creates a Class C misdemeanor for a person that falsely impersonates a legal guardian of a disabled person. I'd ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 256 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 3538. 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 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3538, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, still on the Supplemental Calendar 1, Secretary's Desk, Non-Concurrence on House Bills, we have House Bill 4677. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to recede from Senate Amendment No. 1 to House Bill 4677. Signed by Senator Mulroe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 4677, originally what we did was add an amendment that was actually Senator Haine's, regarding coordination of benefits. It passed the Senate, I believe, 56 to nothing. Sent it over to the House; they did not concur on the amendment. So I'd ask to recede on the amendment and we just continue on with the original bill, which has no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate recede from its amendments {sic} to House Bill 4677. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have 257 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. The Senate recedes from Senate Amendment 1 to House Bill 4677, and the bill, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to go back to the front of Supplemental Calendar No. 1 on the Order of Secretary's Desk, Resolutions. We have Senate Resolution 1257. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1257, offered by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Collins, on your resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 1257 urges the Governor to design and execute a strategy to align the unique expertise and functions of six State entities - the Illinois Commission to End Hunger, the Illinois Commission on the Eradication of Poverty, the Illinois Local Food, Farms, and Jobs Council, the Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, the Illinois Task Force on -- of Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise, and the Illinois Business Development Council - in an ongoing program to embolden and empower communities to advance low-cost and high- return strategies to help end hunger and poverty.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1257 pass. All those in favor will vote {sic} 258 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Next on your Calendar, Senate Resolution 1269. Senator Sullivan, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1269, offered by Senator Sullivan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President. The resolution recognizes the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. They're celebrating their twenty-fifth year representing nearly twenty-five hundred thoroughbred horse owners. Speaks about some of the good things that they've done for -- for their employees and for the industry. And the final -- resolves that the -- we designate the month of August of 2014 as the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association Month in the State of Illinois in honor of their twenty-fifth anniversary. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1269 pass. All those in favor will vote {sic} Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, the Senate will stand at ease for a few moments to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please report to the President’s Anteroom? The Senate will stand at ease for a few moments to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please report to the President's Anteroom? (at ease) 259 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Re-refer from Higher Education Committee to Assignments Committee - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2765 and Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3441; Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 333, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 336, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 727, Motion to Concur on House Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2728, Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3044, and Senate Resolution 1282. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman. Senator Clayborne, Chairman of -- of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2765 and Motion to Concur on House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3441. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn your Calendars on the Order of Concurrences - Secretary Desk, Concurrences. Senate Bill 2612. Senator Kotowski. He indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2612. 260 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Signed by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you very much, President -- Madam President. It's a pleasure to see you in the Chair tonight. House Amendment No. 1 {sic} to Senate Bill 2016 {sic} maintains the underlying language to hire additional auditors and provide deposit of five percent of the revenue generated into Tax Compliance and Administration Fund. We've had this bill here before and we've -- debated this bill. Also, the bill creates sourcing rules for most common transactions. Sourcing rules determine where a sale occurs. The tax rate and allocation of the revenue depends on where the sale occurs. Bill also creates a Use and Occupation Tax Reform Task Force that'll look at modernizing our use and occupation taxes, including the effects of transitioning to a destination-based sourcing system. Be more than happy to answer any questions. I believe that Chairman Hutchinson from the Revenue Committee, who's cosponsoring this with me, would be available to answer any questions regarding the sourcing component of this legislation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: To the -- to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the bill, Senator. SENATOR McCARTER: I just want to say thank you to the sponsor and Senator 261 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Hutchinson for all the hard work you've put into the part of the bill that I agree with. That portion on new Revenue employees with a five percent bounty, I still have a real problem with. So for that reason, I'll be voting No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Further discussion? Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) To the bill, Senator.
Thank you. As stated, there were some concerns with this legislation in the beginning, but the Department of Revenue has contacted us. They've addressed those concerns. I believe that the Chairman of the Revenue Committee and I, as the Minority Spokesperson, have pledged to work together this summer and continue updating and modernizing the sales tax system. But as it stands, I would urge an Aye vote on this legislation. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. This is -- the portion of this bill that deals with the sales tax sourcing has been -- it's been -- it was hard to come by, but it was after a series of significant negotiations between a lot of different stakeholders and it does create a task force to modernize the sales tax and use code. And as Senator Althoff said, we are -- we stand ready to be able to look at those things to make sure that we're operating with a tax 262 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 code -- or, a sales tax and use code that is truly reflective of 2014, not 1970. So I am very appreciative to the sponsor for adding this bit of language to this bill. And I would also urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Kotowski, to close.
Sorry. I'm being heckled by Senator Haine. The -- I'm just very grateful that one of the previous Senators who spoke is actually -- supports a component of this bill. I would simply ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2612. 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 44 voting Yea, 12 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 2612, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments No. 2 and 3 to Senate Bill 2612, and the bill is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn your Calendars on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading at the bottom of page 8 - on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, the bottom of page 8. We will begin with House Bill 3635. House Bill 3635. Senator Sandoval. He indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 3635. (Secretary reads title of bill) 263 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Sandoval.
Thank you, Madam President. 3635 is a -- an initiative of the Federation of Women Contractors, the ICC, and the Illinois VFW. It requires that the IC {sic} collect from all gas, electric, and water companies with at least a hundred thousand customers an annual report regarding the procurement goals and spending for female-owned, minority-owned, veteran-owned, and small business enterprise. The report shall be submitted by April 15th of each year. I'd ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3635 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3635, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. On the top of page 9 - please turn your Calendars to the top of page 9 - Senator Sandoval, on Senate -- House Bill 3659. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 3659. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Sandoval. 264 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 3659 is an initiative of the Chicago Transit Authority. It prohibits employees and members of the RTA, CTA, and Metra from holding any other office or employment under the federal, State, or any local unit of government, including municipalities and counties. I'd ask a favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3659 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed -- opposed, vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3659, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 3831. Senator Hutchinson. Oh, I'm -- excuse me. House Bill 3784. Senator Harmon, on House Bill 3784. Out of the record. Senator Hutchinson, on House Bill 3831. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read her bill.
House Bill 3831. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Madam -- Madam President. I didn't get a chance to say I'm so happy to see you in the Chair before the end of this Session this year. So, Members of the Body, Senate -- or, I'm 265 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 sorry, House Bill 3831 amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title. This is a bill that replaces -- amends the State Comptroller Act. Exempts contracts administered for statewide orders placed by agencies, commonly referred to as "statewide master contracts", from a Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative fee. This is a mirror bill, something we've already passed through the Senate unanimously. I would appreciate your support. Would answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator Hutchinson. And it's a pleasure to be in the Chair before the evening is over, absolutely. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3831 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 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3831, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 3835. Senator Hastings. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 3835. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 3835 is an initiative 266 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 of IDVA and it's an omnibus veterans bill containing several technical and substantive changes outlined below. Many of these changes either come from audit findings, staff review, or the current statute or statutory conflicts. I know of no opponents, and I appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3835 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3835, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Bertino-Tarrant, on House Bill 3885. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
House Bill 3885. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Thank you, Madam President. House Bill 3885 amends the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and expands which municipalities can receive sales tax information about businesses. Municipalities must use the information for official purpose. The intent is for municipalities to receive net revenue received from a specific business, not the total net sales tax revenue allocated to the municipality. I know of no opposition. 267 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 3885 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 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 3885, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on House Bill 4216. Senator Haine. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 4216. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Haine.
Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this -- this requires a Class 4 felony for any person who knowingly alter any local government record with the intent to defraud. There's no opposition. This is similar to the -- a -- a provision in the Act affecting courts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4216 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4216, having received the required constitutional 268 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 majority, is declared passed. Please turn your Calendars to the top of page 10 on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. Senator Forby, on House Bill 4223. Out of the record. Senator Cunningham, on House Bill 4283. Senator Cunningham. Senator Jones, on House Bill 4304. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
House Bill 4304. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Jones.
Thank you, Madam President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill -- I mean, House Bill 4304 amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that a -- individual that has injured themselves but not another person as a result of driving under the influence are still eligible to receive a monitoring device or permit. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4304 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 51 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4304, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Delgado, on House Bill 4418. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill, Mr. Secretary. 269 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
House Bill 4418. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. House Bill 4418 requires that a municipality, city or village with five hundred or more residents may only dissolve a fire department by referendum brought to the voters of the municipality. And I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) …the bill, Senator. SENATOR McCARTER: Ladies and Gentlemen, this -- this bill has been discussed a long time here. It was brought by one of the communities that I represent. The town of Centralia is only about fifteen thousand people right now. Used to be a much larger town. The fire -- the fire department is a much larger fire department and the city has wanted to make some changes, but to preempt that, the firefighters came with this requirement for a referendum. Now referendums are -- seem to always be good things, 'cause they involve the public. They -- they give people a voice. But this is really -- was meant 270 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 to keep changes from taking place, changes that really the city cannot even -- I mean, without, cannot even afford to keep operating the fire department. So, there are ways to fix this. The Municipal League has suggested a few that -- what needs to be put in this to make it a win-win situation is for -- to be inserted the phrase that a viable alternate fire protection agency must be provided before they do this. That's what it really needs. That's what the -- that's what the city has requested. This agreement was never -- never -- they never came to agreement on this. I think it can still happen. So I would, at this point, urge a No vote and -- in hopes that we can fix this later.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Any further discussion? Seeing none, Senator Delgado, to close.
I would ask for your Aye vote, Madam Chair {sic}.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) The question is, shall House Bill 4418 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 43 voting Yea, 11 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4418, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. House Bill 4557. Senator Cullerton. President Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return House Bill 4557 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. On the Order of 2nd Reading is House Bill 4557. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
271 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Yes. Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Yes, thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. The amendment becomes the -- pretty much becomes the bill. It has to do with Executive Orders. So I'd like to adopt the amendment and then come back and debate the bill on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. Thank you. And the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported, Madam President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is House Bill 4557. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 4557. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President. The amendment that we just adopted was added to a House bill, which is -- remains intact, so I'll just briefly mention that this allows the Secretary of State to collect money from the proceeds of State employees who pay to 272 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 park in the underground lot just south of the Stratton Building, and a non-controversial bill. The second part of the bill is a - - an amendment that corrects a Governor's Executive Order, 14-03. This Order transfers statutory functions from the Bureau of Real Estate Professions to the newly created Division of Real Estate. We will not disapprove the resolution, but we will be correcting that resolution, because it contains some defects, with this bill. It -- the Executive Order cited the incorrect type of reorganization. This bill clarifies that. The Executive Order transfers functions from the Bureau of Real Estate Professions so that it will not have any functions upon the effect of the reorganization, but they failed to provide for terminating the affairs of the abolished Bureau of Real Estate Professions. And -- and, thirdly, the Executive Order had the wrong effective date. So this bill is a companion then to the Executive Order, and I would be happy to answer any questions and ask for your support. It's something which is supported by the real estate industry.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4557 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 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4557, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 273 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Please state your point, Senator. SENATOR McCARTER: Ladies and Gentlemen, as the Minority Spokesperson on Local Government, I -- I've had someone as staff that's made it very easy for me. And there's -- a number of times I told Margaret Nunne that she was making everyone else look bad, because she was trying too hard and being too thorough. But as many of our staff here that help us, they outgrow the opportunities that we have for 'em here, because they're very talented. And so it's -- I guess I'm -- I'm -- I'm happy to announce that she has outgrown this and is going to have an opportunity to do something even more wonderful. She's going to be going to Davenport, Iowa, to go to law school. And I just want to say thank you to her and all the hard work she's put in to help us. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator -- Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you rise?
I would like to be recorded as a Yes vote on the previous bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Record will reflect your intentions. Senator Noland, for what purpose are -- you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. For a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) State your point, Senator.
Thank you. Over the last Session, I have been very fortunate 274 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 to have been ably assisted by one of our members of -- of our staff, who is leaving our services - Sam Scarrow, who's been on our communications staff, has helped with the newsletters, many of the comments that I've made here on the Floor and the research that we've engaged in on -- on some of our -- our bills as well. I just have to say, Sammy, we hardly knew you. He's going to -- he's been great. He's been one of the best staff members we've had. Unfortunately, they -- the -- the top ones send -- send -- tend to stay a little bit more briefly than others. I ask you to give him a warm sendoff as he goes to Iowa to beat up on Republicans.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations and good luck on your journey. Ladies and Gentlemen, please turn your Calendars, Senate Calendars, to Supplemental Calendar No. 2 - Senate Calendar to Supplemental Calendar No. 2. On the Order of Senate Resolutions, 1282. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1282, offered by Senate President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) President Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President, Members of the Senate. The Illinois Constitution permits the Governor to reorganize or reassign functions of State agencies directly responsible to him through an Executive Order, but if the Order contravenes a statute, either Chamber of the General Assembly may disapprove the Executive Order by a resolution adopted by a majority vote. That's what I'd 275 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 like to do with this resolution. The Governor has three resolutions {sic}. One consolidates the Division of Mental Health with the Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. The other transfers a entity, "Serve Illinois", from the Department of Human Services to the Department of Public Health. And the third creates the Illinois Data Exchange Coordinating Council. The way in which these were done should have been through legislation, not through Executive Orders, 'cause they were flawed in the way they were done. They used the wrong type of reorganization used to do the transfer. They failed to terminate the affairs of the abolished divisions. They included appointments that's not subject to Senate confirmation, and they had the wrong effective date. Again, I would be happy to answer any questions and ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1282 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 54 voting Yea, 0 voting No, 0 -- excuse me, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Resolution 1282, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Please return yourselves to the regular Calendar, House Bill {sic} 3rd Reading. Please go to page 10. In the middle of the page, page 10, on House Bills 3rd Reading, House Bill 4534. Leader Harmon. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 4534. (Secretary reads title of bill) 276 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 4534 relates to fees, but it does not impose a new fee. I want to be very clear about that. It does not impose a new fee. It clarifies the way two fees that must be imposed together relate to one another. It's a necessary change after a -- an amendment to the law last year that changed the amount of one of those fees. This is important to the State Police and to the Department of Natural Resources, which is the beneficiary of the second fee, and there is a risk that their fee would not be properly collected without this amendment. I am not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4534 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 voting Yea, 4 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4534, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Harmon, on House Bill 4579. House Bill 4579. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 4579. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 277 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 4579 is a long-neglected initiative of my State Representative Camille Lilly. It requires the Department of Human Resources {sic} (Services), as part of a pilot program, to designate employees as Department Ambassadors. I am not aware of any opposition and I would ask, on behalf of Representative Lilly, for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4579 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 voting Yea, 8 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4579, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Manar, on House Bill 4616. House Bill 4616. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 4916 {sic}. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Manar.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill is fairly straightforward and simple. It's a initiative of the School 278 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Management Alliance and it allows school boards to use remaining funds on hand, cash on hand, in the Fire Prevention and Safety Fund for required safety inspections. I know of no opposition. Be happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Sponsor indicates he will yield. Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, can you just explain, the money -- coming out of this, what it's going to be used for, to clarify? 'Cause I think if you can, people will see that this is a good bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Manar.
All right, let me -- let me start with the current -- let me start with the current. Currently, they can use the funds for fire prevention, safety, energy conservation, and school security purposes, or transfer to the Operations and Maintenance Fund for the purpose of abating an equal amount of operations and maintenance purposes taxes. This would simply add safety inspections to that current list that's in statute today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator McCarter. Senator Manar -- Mr. Secretary, will you please verify the bill number?
279 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Yes, Madam President. We're on House Bill 4616. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Senator Manar, would you like to close?
Again, thank you. I would just ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Question is, shall House Bill 4616 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4616, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Harmon, on House Bill 4649. Out of the record. Please turn your Calendars to the top of page 11 on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading. Senator Haine, on House Bill 4769. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read his bill.
House Bill 4769. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Haine.
Yes, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this amends the Public Construction Bond Act to require all bonds obtained for construction by entities covered under the Act be 280 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 backed by sureties with a strength rating of at least A- as rated by A.M. Best Company, Inc., Moody's, Standard & Poor's, so on.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4769 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4769, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Steans, on House Bill 4784. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
House Bill 4784. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. This bill provides that condo boards may provide notice to its members by electronic means. I don't know of any opposition. Thank you for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 4784 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 55 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 4784, having received the required constitutional 281 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 majority, is declared passed. Senator Martinez, on House Bill 5563. Senator Martinez, on House Bill 5563. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
House Bill 5563. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Martinez.
Thank you. Thank -- thank you, Mr. -- Madam President. Thank you. Madam President and Members of the Senate, House Bill 5563 amends the Equal Pay Act to provide that the Department of Labor may refer a complaint to the Department of Human Rights for investigation if the complaint also alleges a -- a violation of the Human Rights Act and the Department of Human Rights has jurisdiction over the matter. This is a joint initiative of the Department of Labor and the Department of Human Rights to avoid simultaneous and duplicate investigations. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5563 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 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 5563, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hutchinson. With leave of the Body, we'll be returning -- excuse me, to House Bill 5017. 282 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 House Bill 5017. Leader Link, on House Bill 5017. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
House Bill 5017. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Link.
Thank you, Madam President. This just amends the Charitable Gaming {sic} (Games) Act. Gives licensees additional scheduling flexibility by allowing the licensees to conduct no more than twelve charitable events per year, rather than no more than one event each month.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5017 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 43 voting Yea, 8 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 5017, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Harmon, on House Bill 5684. Out of the record. Please turn your Calendars to page 12. Please turn your Calendars to page 12. On the top of page 12, Senator Forby, on House Bill 5903. Senator Forby, on House Bill 5903. Out of the record. Senator Raoul, on House Bill 5968. Senator Raoul. He indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
283 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 House Bill 5968. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Raoul.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Bill 5968 is a bill that I've worked on for some time. It's a clarification of a current statute in response to a Appellate Court decision requiring the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board to use certified court reporter to transcribe its proceedings. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5968 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 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 5968, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. I rise on a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
I would like to introduce to some of you who may not know him, my legislative assistant, Casey Williams. Casey and I both 284 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 came to the Senate not knowing exactly what this job was going to entail. I will tell you now, he has become one of the most trusted people in my life. He's an exceptional young man. And he is going to be leaving us to go to DePaul Law School. So please join me in thanking him for his service to the Senate and wish him good.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations, young man. Good luck in your endeavors. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please direct your attention to Supplemental Calendar No. 2. Please direct your attention to Supplemental Calendar No. 2. We will begin with Senate Bill 333. Senate Bill 333. Senator Harmon. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 333. Signed by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Harmon, on the motion.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 333 is another bill that has taken a circuitous route through the -- through the House. Last year, Senator Muñoz passed a bill relating to erroneous homestead exemptions. Earlier this year, he passed a bill, a trailer bill, dealing with some technical issues following up on that. For whatever reason, the House has taken the substance of that bill, amended it onto this bill and sent it back to us. I see no reason not to concur, and so I move to do so.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 285 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 333. 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 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 333, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Trotter, on Senate Bill 336. Leader Trotter indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 336. Signed by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 336 left here as Senate Bill 1740. It's an initiative that will give local governments a tool to return vacant homes to productivity by giving them the authority to produce a limited property tax assessment freeze on residential improvements. It left here basically as a Cook County initiative. Over in the House, they thought it'd have been good business for us to expand it to a statewide project and we have done so. And I concur with their efforts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall 286 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the Senate concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 336. 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 53 voting Yea, 2 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 336, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Martinez, on Senate Bill 727. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments -- Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 727. Signed by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Madam President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 727, as amended by the House, contains Liquor Code exemption for three grocery stores, one restaurant, one proposed -- proposed brew pub, one mixed-use development area in the City of Chicago. The bill makes corrections to two exemptions enacted last year. And, lastly, it would allow liquor to be delivered and sold at Six Mile Regional Library District in Granite City buildings for six library events. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 2 to Senate Bill 727. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have 287 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 45 voting Yea, 8 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 727, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment No. 2 to Senate Bill 727, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Good evening, Madam President. You're doing a wonderful job in the Chair tonight. I would just like to take this time - a point of personal privilege - to recognize the fact that we have someone else who is going to be leaving us, but for greener and better pastures. Josh Epstein was an intern and he worked for us. He's worked on the Financial Institutions Committee. He also worked on a big bill that hasn't realized its potential yet. This massive transfers bill, about 2.1 billion dollars of automatic spending, which we're trying to -- well, we're trying to have greater scrutiny on that. And Josh did a tremendous job on that. He's going to be going to UC Berkeley Law, back to his home State of California. He's very smart. He's Daniel Biss smart. So give him a round of applause.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Congratulations, and we wish you well. Senate Bill 2728. Tom Cullerton, for what purpose do you… Senator -- Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendments 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2728. Signed by Senator Tom Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 288 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 2728, I'd like to move the question -- no, it's just an extension of the civics task force we passed out of here last year. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 2728 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments No. 1 and 2 to Senate Bill 2728, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Rose. Senator Rose. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill. Please read the gentleman's motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2765. Signed, Senator Righter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Chapin Rose.
Thank you, Madam President. Always nice to see you. Senate Bill 2765 is actually Senator Righter's bill. He's at home for his son's graduation tonight and has asked me to run this bill extending the -- the sunset on the Eastern Illinois University "Panther Promise" discount tuition program to 2018-2019 academic 289 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 year. This was the House's suggestion rather than making it permanent.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any question? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Bill 2765. 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 2765, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Bill 2765, and the bill is declared passed. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 3044. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3044.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This -- this change becomes the bill. It allows real estate brokers to prepare broker price opinions and makes technical cleanup changes to the real estate broker Act. No opposition. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendments {sic} No. 1 to Senate Bill 3044. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting 290 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 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 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3044, and the bill is declared passed. Senator McGuire, on Senate Bill 3441. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's motion.
I move to concur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3441. Signed by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you and good evening. House Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 3441 clarifies the roll of the Attorney General in the consumer protection provisions of Senate Bill 3441, which creates the Illinois (Higher Education) Distance Learning Act and allows Illinois to participate in the Midwest regional state authorization reciprocity agreement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3441. 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 57 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 3441, and the 291 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 bill is declared passed. Please turn your attention to Supplemental Calendar No. 3. Supplemental Calendar No. 3. On the Order of Secretary's Desk, Concurrence, Senate Bill 2694. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings indicates he wish to proceed. Mr.… Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's motion.
I move to nonconcur with the House in the adoption of their Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2694. Signed by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Hastings.
It's unfortunate, Madam President and Members of the Senate, that this legislation, what has been known to become as a revenge porn law -- and, quite simply, it offers protections to younger and older men and women to prevent them from being victimized online. And it came out of this Chamber. We passed it in February without any opposition and it arrived in the House and it was sponsored by the all-knowing, the highly educated, the great junior federal prosecutor that they have in the other Chamber. And giving his -- given his extreme popularity, I feared that my bill would get hijacked, but that junior federal prosecutor, who knows everything about the law, everything about the law, gave me his word. He gave me his word that he would not amend my bill without my consent. So what he had done, he -- as Senator Trotter would say, he -- he may have told a fib, but the problem is, is that young men and women aren't offered that protection anymore online. But hope springs eternal here in Illinois at the Capitol and Scott Drury managed to get the votes to get it out of the House. But, 292 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 unfortunately, he watered down some of the protections in my bill that I had to offer. And I think that's very unfortunate. So I promise to this Chamber, if you vote Aye on this bill {sic}, I promise to keep working hard to make this a better law, and I promise to find a better House sponsor next year. I urge an Aye vote to nonconcur.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall the Senate nonconcur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2694. 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 53 voting Yea, 1 voting Present, 0 voting Nay. Senate Bill 2694, having received the required constitutional majority, the Senate does not concur in House Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 2694. The Secretary will so inform the House. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we will be returning to the Order of 3rd Reading - on our Calendar, Order of 3rd Reading, page 11. Leader Harmon. Leader Harmon, on House Bill 5684. He indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the gentleman's bill.
House Bill 5684. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 293 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senate. Last year, I passed a bill to reconcile the taxation of leased cars and purchased cars. This is a trailer bill that delays the effective date. It's necessary for the Department of Revenue and the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association. I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 5684 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 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. House Bill 5684, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Koehler, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Madam President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Please state your point, Senator.
I -- I rise on a sad note tonight. We're about to take into a vote, death resolutions, and I filed a death resolution for a young man in -- in Peoria, Derrick Booth, Jr. Let me just say that in my twenty-eight years as a Pastor of the Stark Congregational Church out in rural Stark County, I was called upon many times to comfort families who had lost children, usually in accidents, car accidents, and it's always a tough, tough thing to try to explain. There's just no explanation for it. So I can't even fathom what it is like to have a child murdered. Last weekend, Derrick Booth, Jr., was -- was murdered. He's the son of Derrick 294 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Booth, who is the coach at Manual and husband of Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth. Derrick Booth, Sr., said something in the paper that I think is very important for us to remember, and he said that the family of the young man that was accused of the murder, he said, is -- is a family I know; they're a good family. And so they, too, have been victimized by this tragedy. You know, we're a society that is governed by the rule of law and so we know that justice will be dispensed. But, I guess, I believe that only God can really heal our hearts and mend our lives. And so, as we pass this resolution -- and right after I'm through, Madam President, if we would, I'd -- I'd request a moment of -- of silence so that we can focus our thoughts and our prayers on those who mourn and who are grieving over the tragedy of this event. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please rise for a moment of silence. (Moment of silence observed) Thank you. Okay. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please turn your Calendars to the Order of Secretary's Desk, Resolutions, on page 13. Secretary Desk, Resolution, on page 13. Senate Resolution 1073. Senator Bush -- excuse me, Senator Biss. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1073, offered by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Madam President, for the extremely generous flattery. I don't know of a better compliment. Senate Resolution 295 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 1073 deals with the really heartbreaking historical phenomenon of "comfort women." These were women, primarily Korean women, but also quite a few Chinese and other East and Southeast Asian women, who were victims of really awful sexual victimization under the Japanese army during and prior to World War II. Senate resolution lays out these facts and then urges Illinois educators to educate students about this historical phenomenon, and -- and urges tolerance and education about hate crimes more generally. But before we vote to adopt it, I want to also say this is obviously a delicate international discussion and I -- I want to particularly thank the Japanese-American community for working with us on the language of this resolution and for their -- their desire to seek a state of healing and to appropriately recognize and -- and apologize for these actions as well. So, with that, I would request your approval.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate resolution pass -- Senate Resolution 1073 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 1115. Senator Harmon. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1115, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Madam President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Resolution 1115 is an initiative of the Greater 296 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Chicagoland {sic} (Chicago) Food Depository. It simply calls upon schools that participate in the School Breakfast Program to utilize alternative delivery mechanisms so that all kids who participate are -- are fed and able to participate in class. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1115 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 1172. Senator Tom Cullerton. Senator Cullerton.
Senate Resolution 1172, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Out of the record. Senator Noland, on Senate Resolution 1173. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the bill.
Senate Resolution 1173, offered by Senator Noland.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, from November 1st, 1955 until November 30th, 1975, the United States was involved in combat missions in Vietnam. In 1961, North -- Vietnamese forces advanced into South Vietnam using the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which crossed into neighboring Laos. From 1961 to 1975, combat was fought along the trail during this time in Laos, becoming historically known as the "Secret War". Senate Resolution 1173 supports Lao veterans of the Vietnam War; supports and applauds Governor Quinn's proclamation naming July 19th, 2014, as Lao 297 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Veterans Memorial Day; urges elected officials and Department of Veterans' Affairs to work together to achieve burial rights for Lao Americans -- Lao American veterans in Illinois; and urges educators to discuss the "Secret War" when talking about Vietnam War history; and commits to exploring ways to develop an Asian American social science/history curriculum for the public schools. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1173 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 1183. Senator Rose. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1183, offered by Senator Rose.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Rose.
Thank you, Madam President. This resolution urges Congress to dedicate additional NSF funds to antibiotic resistance. The May 10th New York Times editorial had a -- had an edit entitled, "The Rise of Antibiotic Resistance". A recent World Health Organization study determined that the growth of antibiotic- resistant strains of microbes is -- is becoming seriously problematic and the number of pathogens that no longer respond to any treatment is growing. This is a very, very serious problem for all of us as we move into this new century. So, I'd ask for its approval. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 298 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1183 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Leave of the Body, we will return to Senate Resolution 1172. Senator Cullerton. Senator Tom Cullerton. He indicates he wish to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1172, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 1172 recognizes the Metra's Western Avenue crossing, known as A-2, as a -- as a major bottleneck for passenger rail service, both for Metra and Amtrak, and shows support for federal, State, and -- and any private investments to eliminate delays at the A-2 crossing. The A-2 crossing impacts seven of the eleven Metra routes. As many of you know, this winter, we had some staggering delays and the cold was absolutely brutal. So I would appreciate passage of the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1172 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Senator Kotowski, on Senate Resolution 1184. Please read the gentleman's resolution.
Senate Resolution 1184, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 299 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Kotowski.
Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 1184 is in honor of Honeywell UOP's contribution to the modern oil refining industry and its continued presence in Illinois. It's a company that's located in my district. Senate Resolution 1184 proclaims June 17, 2014, which is the company's centennial, Honeywell UOP Day and requests that Honeywell UOP receive a copy of this resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1184 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Senator Stadelman, on Senate Resolution 1203. Senator Stadelman. Please read the gentleman's resolution.
Senate Resolution 1203, offered by Senator Stadelman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Stadelman.
Senate -- Resolution 1203 designates August 1st, 2014 as World Lung Cancer Day in Illinois. This is the third recognition of World Lung Cancer Day. Around one hundred fifty-eight thousand Americans are victims of lung cancer every year, more than any other form of cancer. Although smoking is the most common form of lung cancer, we cannot forget that secondhand smoke exposure, asbestos, and genetic disorders have also been well known to cause lung cancer. I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 300 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1203 pass. All those -- will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Please return, with leave of the Body, to Senate Resolution 1202. Senator McCann. Gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 1202, offered by Senator McCann.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Madam President. Senate Resolution 1202 calls on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continually evaluate its dredging procedures and protocol on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. I represent the confluence of the -- of the two great rivers of Illinois and I know many of you represent many more miles of it further up river. And my constituents and many of yours feel that dredging -- a more aggressive dredging protocol would be in order to alleviate many of our community's flooding problems. So I call for the adoption of the resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 1202 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Senator Hastings, on Senate Joint Resolution 56. Please read the gentleman's resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 56, offered by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 301 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Madam President. This resolution renames I-80 between 355 and I-57 in my district as Vietnam Veterans (Memorial) Parkway. I have the pleasure of having many veterans who served in the Vietnam War. Over fifty-eight thousand have served {sic}. And three -- in Illinois, over three thousand in Illinois are dead or still missing from that war. Some of the common phrases I hear from all the veterans in my area is that "we are forgotten about"; "when we came home, people spit in our faces". And when I came home from Iraq, Iran and Syria, most people praised me when I came home. And I can never fathom the response that they had received. We've had over seven hundred people -- veterans sign this -- sign on to support this resolution. And I just ask for its approval tonight. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, as this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. 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 -- 56 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Joint Resolution 56, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Senator Bush, on Senate Joint Resolution 66. The lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read her resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 66, offered by Senator Bush.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Bush. 302 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Thank you, Madam President. May I say it's an honor listening to your voice tonight? A little too soothing maybe. Anyway, thank you so much. Excuse me. Senate Joint Resolution 66 designates the section of road of Route 120/Belvidere Road between John Mogg and Sears Boulevard in Grayslake as "Army SPC Joseph W. Dimock II Joey Memorial Highway". A little background: SPC Joseph W. Dimock II enlisted in the United States Army during the spring of his senior year of high school. For nearly three years, he served with the 1st Battalion, 75 Ranger Regiment. He was in his third overseas deployment, his second in Afghanistan, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, when he died after an explosion at an ammunition facility. During his service, SPC Joseph W. Dimock two -- II received the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Parachutist Badge. He was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Champion {sic} (Campaign) Medal, the Iraq Champion {sic} (Campaign) Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. This section of highway was, incidentally, the piece of road that his mother and father brought him home on when he was born and it was the road he came back on for his final resting. So I would urge an Aye vote on this resolution.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, as this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting 303 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Present. Senate Joint Resolution 66, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 73. Senator Rezin. The -- the lady indicates she wish to proceed. Please read the resolution. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Madam President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Rezin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Rezin, on the amendment.
Thank you, Madam President. Floor Amendment No. 2 simply makes some slight changes requested by IDOT. After it's adopted, IDOT will be neutral on this bill {sic}.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 73, offered by Senator Rezin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Rezin.
Thank you, again, Madam President. Senate Joint Resolution 73 is simply a landowners' property bill of rights. It's an initiative to help landowners who are facing public or private development projects. And as I had said before, with the amendment adoption, IDOT is neutral. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) 304 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, as -- as this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Yea, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Joint Resolution 73, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Please turn your Calendars to the top of page 14. On the Order of Secretary Desk, Resolutions, Senate Joint Resolution 74. Senator Bivins. The gentleman indicates he wish to proceed. Please read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 74, offered by Senator Bivins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Senator Bivins.
Thank you, Madam President. SJR 74 directs the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission to study and make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on finding cost-effective alternatives to requiring the physical appearance of juveniles at every court appearance. They are to submit the report on {sic} (by) March 1st, 2015. And I ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LIGHTFORD) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, as this -- this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Joint Resolution 74, having received 305 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Leader Harmon in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Still on page -- on page 14 of our printed Calendars is Senate Joint Resolution 78. Senator McCann, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 78, offered by Senator McCann.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator McCann, to explain your resolution. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. SJR 78 seeks to recognize the service and sacrifice of the Powell family of Greene County, Illinois. At one time or another during World War II, seven of the Powell brothers served in World War II. They -- some of them were -- were injured and wounded. Some -- were -- were actually held as POWs. And believe it or not, all seven of them returned home. And so this -- this resolution seeks to honor the service and sacrifice of the brothers and their family, as it designates the stretch of Route 67 in Greene County as the Powell Brothers Memorial Highway. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we'll move to a vote. As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall Senate Joint Resolution 78 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 56 voting Aye, none voting 306 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 No, none voting Present. And Senate Joint Resolution 78, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Senate Joint Resolution 79. Senator Raoul. We'll turn to House Joint Resolution 21. Senator McCann. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution No. 21, offered by Senator McCann.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator McCann, on your resolution. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, again, Mr. President. This resolution seeks to honor John "Doc" Davidson. Doc Davidson was a chiropractor by trade. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a founding member of the Prairie State Games and a member of the Sangamon County Board of Supervisors, where he served for thirteen and a half years, including two and a half years as the chairman. But where -- where his story really becomes relevant is Doc Davidson, as some of you may have heard, served as an Illinois State Senator from 1973 to 1993, representing the 50th Senate District, which I am privileged to represent today. His greatest legislative accomplishment was ensuring that the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine would -- would be seated in Springfield, thus providing world-class care for the City and the surrounding areas. In light of John "Doc" Davidson's contributions to the State of Illinois, we, the Members of this Body, believe it appropriate to honor John "Doc" Davidson by dedicating the section of Illinois Route 97 beginning at the intersection of Veterans Parkway in Springfield and ending at the intersection of County Highway 12 in Menard County as the John "Doc" Davidson Memorial 307 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 Highway. I move for the adoption of the resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, we'll turn to a roll call vote. As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 21 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 55 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. House Joint Resolution 21, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. House Joint Resolution 72. Senator LaHood. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution No. 72, offered by Senator LaHood.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator LaHood, on the resolution. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. House Joint Resolution 72 pledges support for the development of an East-West passenger rail corridor across Illinois. This has the genesis of a working group that we have on rail issues and an Amtrak corridor going from the Quad Cities over to Danville. I would ask for the adoption of the resolution. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Joint Resolution 72 pass. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. House Joint Resolution 77. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, 308 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 77, offered by Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez, on the resolution.
…you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House Joint Resolution 77 creates the Latinos with Disability {sic} (Disabilities) Task Force to examine the current status of Latinos with disabilities in the State of Illinois and to advise the General Assembly and the Governor on necessary improvements. The task force shall submit the final report and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1st of 2016.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 77 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 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. House Joint Resolution 77, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Continuing on our printed Calendar, House Joint Resolution 89. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution No. 89, offered by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Lightford, on the resolution. 309 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. House Joint Resolution 89 seeks to honor the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela by erecting honorary signage declaring Mandela Road along Cicero Avenue between Roosevelt Road and West Grand Avenue. I'd be happy to answer any questions and I appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? As this resolution requires the expenditure of State funds, a roll call vote will be required. The question is, shall House Joint Resolution 89 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 55 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And House Joint Resolution 89, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. President Cullerton, for what purpose do you seek recognition?
Mr. President, I'd like to make an announcement, and I hope everybody within the sound of my voice is paying attention. I would like to propose that the Senate temporarily suspend the Central Time Zone and adopt the Eastern Time Zone while simultaneously abolishing daylight savings time in order to immediately consider a capital construction program. If anyone questions this action, keep in mind that we have previously, through former Senator Dahl, restored Pluto's planetary status. Or we can wait an hour and a half and come back on Saturday, which is, unfortunately, what we're probably going to have to do. So, 310 STATE OF ILLINOIS 98th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 132nd Legislative Day 5/30/2014 we have one bill to consider tomorrow, and that will be House Bill 3794. We will adjourn, come back tomorrow at 12:01 and take up that matter. That'll be the only matter that we expect to take up. And please be back here on time so that we don't have to take too much time. If any Senators are interested in -- taking the next hour and a half for watching television or whatever, my office is available. And we'll see you at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday; we'll be back in Session.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12:01 a.m. on the 31st day of May, 2014. The Senate stands adjourned. 311