PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 99th 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 Rabbi Barry Marks, Temple Israel, Springfield, Illinois.
(Prayer by Rabbi Barry Marks)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journals of Thursday, March 12th, and Friday, March 13th, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Morrison.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journals just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Morrison moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. Shirley Descorbeth, Blueroomstream.com, requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015
Senate Resolution 221, offered by Senator Hunter and all Members. Senate Resolutions 222 and 223, offered by Senator Mulroe and all Members. And Senate Resolution 224, offered by Senator Van Pelt and all Members. They're all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 990113 Governor's salaried appointment John Rosales Member, Illinois Commerce Commission Appointment Message 990114 Governor's salaried appointment Donald Stolworthy Director, Illinois Department of Corrections Appointment Message 990115 Governor's salaried appointment Jack Calabro Chair, Employment Security Board of Review Appointment Message 990116 Governor's salaried appointment Raymond Nice Member, Employment Security Board of Review Appointment Message 990117 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 Governor's salaried appointment Nicholas Panomitros Member, Employment Security Review Board Appointment Message 990118 Governor's salaried appointment Henry Winfield Member, Employment Security Review Board Appointment Message 990119 Governor's salaried appointment Michael Woodward Member, Employment Security Board of Review Appointment Message 990120 Governor's salaried appointment Jim Stephens Director, Illinois Department of Insurance Appointment Message 990121 Governor's salaried appointment Gerald Keenan Member, Illinois Pollution Control Board Appointment Message 990122 Governor's non-salaried appointment Elizabeth Robb Chair, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Appointment Message 990123 Governor's non-salaried appointment Paula Wolff Member, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Appointment Message 990124 Governor's non-salaried appointment 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 Craig Backs Member, Illinois Medical Licensing Board And Appointment Message 990125 Governor's salaried appointment Reeve Waud Member, Department of State Police Merit Board
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 245, offered by Senator Biss. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 417, offered by Senator Biss. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1560, offered by Senator Cunningham. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will the members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom immediately? Will the members on Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom immediately? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of making a motion.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015
I am very pleased to announce, in the President's Gallery just above you, that we have the Illinois 2015 Teacher of the Year. Steve Elza is with us. He's an auto tech teacher at Fremd High School in Palatine. And he is joined today by his students: an upstanding young man named Matthew Murphy, Daniel McTague, Matthew Wells, Vincent Hoffman, and Robert Schroeder. And if you would all give them a warm Senate welcome and a -- and a special congratulations to Mr. Elza for a job well done. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield and thank you for your great job. Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Good morning -- good morning, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. I am honored today to have a guest of mine -- a friend of mine here, David Welter. He is the Chairman of the Grundy County Board, where I'm from. David got his start, as probably the youngest county board member, at the age of nineteen. And I'm proud to say that at the age of -- of twenty- three, he's probably the youngest county board chairman in the State as well. David has worked on many initiatives, such as transparency, getting the budget under control, and many issues. He has many achievements in his -- in his tenure as the Chairman of the County Board. I'd like a warm Springfield welcome as well. Thank you. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
There will be a Democratic Caucus for one hour upon adjournment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all the members on the Committee on Assignments please report to the President's Anteroom immediately? Senator Sullivan, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. For an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, it's finally arrived. It's St. Patrick's Day - which means, this year, that the 13th Annual Sullivan Caucus St. Patrick's Day Celebration is this evening. It starts at 5 o'clock. It's at Julia's Kitchen and Lounge, which is at the Vinegar Hills {sic} (Hill) Mall, just south of the Capitol here a block or two. And we have some great entertainment and great food, and hope that everybody, staffs can join us this evening. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) I have a couple announcements. The deadline for filing 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 committee amendments to Senate bills is Friday, March 20th, at 12 noon. Let me repeat that. The deadline for filing committee amendments to Senate bills is Friday, March 20th, at 12 noon. The second announcement is, the official Senate panoramic photo will take place in the Senate Chamber tomorrow at 11:45. All Members are asked to arrive on time and look as beautiful as Senator Holmes. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 44, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1371, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1422, and Senate Joint Resolution 9; refer to Appropriations I Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1797; refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 659 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1803; refer to Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 809, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1560, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1867; refer to Education Committee - Senate Bill 220, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 665, Senate Bill 1393, and Senate Joint Resolution 16; refer to Energy and Public Utilities Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 66, Senate Bill 451, Senate Bill 1879, and Senate Bill 1880; refer to Environment and Conservation Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 793 and Senate Joint Resolution 3; refer to Executive Committee - Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 52, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 82, Senate Bill 218, Senate Bill 759, Senate Bill 839, Senate Bill 986, Senate Bill 987, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1213, 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1226, Senate Bill 1260, Senate Bill 1390, Senate Bill 1403, Senate Bill 1414, Senate Bill 1448, Senate Bill 1507, Senate Bill 1516, Senate Bill 1600, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1665, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1723, and Senate Bill 1836; refer to Higher -- Higher Education Committee - Senate Bill 1565; refer to Human Services Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 13, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 721, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 788, Senate Bill 1204, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill -- 1385, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1728, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1751, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1792, Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1950; refer to Insurance Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 29, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 54, Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 94, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1573; refer to Judiciary Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 45, Senate Bill 140, Senate Bill 371, Senate Bill 372, Senate Bill 621, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 747, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 786, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1818 -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 818, Senate Bill 836, Senate Bill 1275, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1309, Senate Bill 1358, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1447, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1498, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1547, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1564, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1761, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 763 {sic} (1763), Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1790, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1824, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1877, and Senate Joint Resolution 14; refer to Labor Committee - Senate Bill 1610, 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1755, Senate Bill 1789, and Senate Joint Resolution 7; refer to Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 42, Senate Bill 431, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 785, Senate Bill 817, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 838, Senate Bill 1807, and Senate Bill 1895; refer to Local Government Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 26, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 118, Senate Bill 369, Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 728, Senate Bill 1206, Senate Bill 1430, Committee -- Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1523, Senate Bill 1629, and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1815; refer to Public Health Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 679 and Senate Bill 1228; refer to Revenue Committee - Senate Bill 692, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 707, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 743, Senate Bill 1236, Senate Bill 1427, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1599, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1625, Senate Bill 1661, Senate Bill 1662, and Senate Joint Resolution 13; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 563 and Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 691; refer to Transportation Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 674, Senate Bill 682, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1388, Senate Bill 1482, Committee Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1603, Senate Bill 1892, Senate Joint Resolution 1, Senate Joint Resolution 2, Senate Joint Resolution 8, Senate Joint Resolution 10, Senate Joint Resolution 11, and Senate Joint Resolution 17; re-refer from State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee to Assignments Committee - Senate Joint Resolution 18; re-refer from State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee to Executive Committee - Senate Bill 1898; and 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1304. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Paul Ellers {sic} (Elders) of WICS requests permission to video and auto -- audio record. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
…you, Mr. President. I rise for the purpose of making two separate motions. First, I'd like to move to waive posting and all other applicable Senate rules for Senate Bill 1582 in the CLEAR Subcommittee of the Criminal Law Committee so that the bill can be heard tomorrow, on Wednesday, March 18th, at 9 a.m. And the second motion, Mr. President, is to waive posting and all other applicable Senate rules for Senate Bill 1582 in the full Criminal Law Committee so that the bill can be heard also tomorrow, on Wednesday, March 18th, at 9 a.m.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We're going to be taking those separately. Senator Nybo moves to waive all notices and posting requirements so that Senate Bill 1582 can be heard Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Senate Subcommittee on CLEAR campaign -- Compliance. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. And all notice and posting required have been waived. Senator Nybo now moves to waive all notices and posting requirements so that Senate Bill 1582 can be heard on Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Senate Criminal Law Committee. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. And all notices and posting requirement are waived. Senator Bennett, for what purpose do you rise? 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015
Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Many of you in the Chamber may know, or relatives at least, of my Page for the Day. This is Ellie Faraci. If you'll stand up, Ellie. Those of you that served with Debbie Halvorson when she served here in the Senate, this is Debbie's granddaughter. And it's also her ninth birthday. So if you'll please give a warm Senate welcome to Ellie Faraci.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Happy birthday. Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have more guests here from Grundy County. It must be Grundy County Day today. In the gallery up above, I have the students from the Grundy County Area Vocational Center. Go ahead and stand up. They are students that are taking -- studying in areas such as fire science, criminal justice, building trades, early childhood development, IT, health occupational services, and welding. I have to say, Lance Copes, who I work with very closely on several different projects, he's been instrumental in helping to get our high school internship program up and going, and I'm proud to say that we have internships for thirty people this summer, thirty high school students, 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 connecting them with the industry in my district. Also, Lance has been instrumental in helping put together the curriculum that we just rolled out at Joliet Junior College, and it's curriculum that was developed in collaboration with the nuclear and the chemical corridor which is in my district. So, clearly, this program is very instrumental and is creating the pipeline from high school students to the workforce. And I'm very proud of that. One last fact that I talk about all of the time is they have a nationally recognized welding program. And their teacher, Jim Cebulski, is here today as well. Go ahead and stand up - Lance, everyone else. Every year Jim works with the welders in this program and they compete on a national level, and every year they take home the top prizes in this national competition. This year, the Tulsa Welding School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had their annual high school welding competition and G -- Grundy Area Vocational took six students to Tulsa to compete, and five of the six students placed, in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth place, they received - which is an incredible accomplishment. There are two hundred and forty-four competitors that attend this competition from seventeen states and we took the five top positions that come with substantial scholarships. First place comes with a full ride, a twenty-one-thousand-dollar scholarship; second place, eleven- thousand-dollar scholarship; third place, sixty-five hundred dollars; fourth and fifth place, forty-five-hundred- and three- thousand-dollar scholarships. Anyone who has, I would say, Caterpillar or John Deere or any large industry in their district, this is where your best welders come in the State. I'm very proud to have Grundy County Area Vocational here today. And I ask for a warm Springfield welcome. Thank you. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's a pleasure seeing you in the Chair today. I have the distinct pleasure - I get a chance to do this every year - to announce the fact that another birthday has taken place. My seatmate, Senator Linda Holme -- Linda Holmes, who is ageless and forever youthful - is a great seatmate - she celebrated a birthday yesterday. And she -- basically, I think she deserves all the success that she's achieved here in this Chamber because she's a wonderful person. And she is just a great friend and I -- I hope she has the greatest birthday week that she deserves. Ladies and Gentlemen, Linda Holmes. Happy birthday.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Happy birthday, Senator Holmes. Senator Lightford, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. On the point of an announcement, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
I have this young man with me; his name is Marcus King. He's from Belleville, Senator Clayborne's area. His mom is Barbara Staples King. He's my little nephew. But one of the wonderful things about him, in addition to being a Page for today for me, is that he won the spelling bee at his school. And not only did he 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 20th Legislative Day 3/17/2015 win the spelling bee, he went on to compete with over three hundred kids on the written portion and placed number thirty-two that qualified him to compete on the regional level. He's only seven years old and he made it to the fifth round. Please welcome this little genius to the Illinois Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) So we got Senator Clayborne's replacement. Couple quick reminders that there will be a Democratic Caucus immediately upon adjournment. Also remind you once again, for those who might not have heard it, it's picture day tomorrow, at 11:45. Please be on time. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned till the hour of 12 noon on the 18th day of March, 2015. The Senate stands adjourned. 14