PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The regular Session of the 99th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desks? Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by the Very Reverend Daniel A. Smilanic, Vicar for Canonical Services for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Father.
(Prayer by the Very Reverend Daniel A. Smilanic)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Please -- please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Cunningham, would you please lead us?
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) WICS-TV, Blueroomstream.com, and WAND-TV all request permission to videotape the proceedings. Is there any objection? Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Wednesday, March 25th, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator -- ooh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 approval {sic} of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 251, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 252 and 253, offered by Senator Manar and all Members. They are death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Resolutions Consent Calendar. President Cullerton in the Chair.
Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have your attention, please? I would ask the Members to please be in your seats. I ask the Members to please be in their seats. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest is here. I'm pleased to introduce the Honorable Roey Gilad, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest. He arrived in Chicago in the summer of 2012 to assume his post as Consul General of Israel to the Midwest. As Israel's highest-ranking official in the Midwest, Gilad will be responsible for eleven states in the Midwest region, including his base in Chicago. Lives in my district. During his twenty-five-year tenure with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gilad has served in various positions outside of Israel, including Second Secretary in Kenya, Media Counsellor in The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 head of the Political Affairs Department in the UK. While in his native Israel, Gilad studied recently at Israel's National Defense College and, prior to that, was head of the Export Control Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Last year, Gilad received a Master's Degree in National Security at Haifa University. In addition, he has a Master's Degree in Middle Eastern studies from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a Bachelor's Degree in Middle Eastern studies from Tel Aviv University. He served as a staff sergeant in the artillery forces in the Israel Defense Forces. He is an avid marathon runner. He's already participated in ten marathons, two of which were in Chicago. His best time is 3:46. My best time was 3:18. A lot of you might not have known that. So, when I learned his best time, I was nervous, but I found out he was slower than I was. In addition to his mother tongue of Hebrew, he is fluent, as you will learn shortly, in English and Arabic and is knowledgeable in French. He is married to Nitza and they have one daughter, Avigail. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome Consul General Roey Gilad to the Illinois Senate. CONSUL GENERAL OF ISRAEL TO THE MIDWEST ROEY GILAD: (Remarks by Consul General of Israel to the Midwest Roey Gilad)
Senator Silverstein, for what purpose do you rise?
Purpose of an announcement, Mr. President.
Please state your point.
3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 The Senate Dems will -- Democrats will have a caucus immediately for approximately thirty minutes.
Senator Althoff, what purpose do you rise?
I rise for the same purpose, but may I make an announcement before I announce caucus, sir?
Yes.
Mr. President.
State your point.
I think all of you know "Retrofit Caucus" started today. I have, if you haven't received them, pedometers. Last year, we had a contest who would walk the most steps. You can participate or not. The pedometers are yours. So if you'd like to participate, sign-in sheets will be left here up by my desk. Otherwise, please come and get a pedometer. I know everybody has a Fitbit, but this is a nice way to walk how many steps here in the Capitol. And the Republicans would also like to caucus for about thirty minutes as well, Mr. President.
Senators Silverstein and Althoff have moved that the Senate recess for the purposes of a -- Senate Democratic and Republican Caucuses lasting thirty minutes. Seeing no objection, the motion is granted. Senate now stands in recess to the call of the Chair. After the Senate Democratic and Republican Caucuses, Senate 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 committees will meet. I'm sorry, we -- the committees are done for the day. We'll reconvene for Floor action. I would urge the Democrat Members of the Senate to please come to my office immediately. Thank you. Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The Senate will come to order. On page 17 of your printed Calendar on the Order of House Bills 3rd Reading, with leave of the Body, we will turn to House Bill 318. Senator Steans, are you ready to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 318. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
All right. Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. So we're doing two bills here together today, House Bill 318 and next we'll be taking up House Bill 317. They work as a package to do the fiscal year '15 budget fix. Together -- I'll give you an overview what together these -- these two bills are doing. They are addressing the 1.6-billion-dollar problem we have in the current fiscal year budget, fiscal year '15. There's four hundred and forty million dollars of cuts, which is a 2.25 percent reduction generally across the board. There is an exclusion for development disability and mental health providers. There's also 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 a increase of spending of about seven hundred and twenty-seven million to address core problems that we had in the budget this year. This takes care of the child care payments that we've been hearing so much about, Corrections payroll, court reporters. It also provides a ninety-million-dollar lump sum to fix payroll gaps at the Governor's discretion to -- to use and a ninety-seven- million-dollar lump sum into the ISBE budget to plug school district problems, as they're now going to be experiencing these cuts, and that will be based on fiscal-distressed school districts. There's a net increase of spending thus of two hundred and eighty- six million and we also have 1.4 million, about, in fund sweeps between these two bills, as well as twenty-seven-million increase in hospital assessment for additional revenue. The Governor is also given greater flexibility to transfer funding between lines, up to four percent from the usual two percent. I would just add that while this is not an ideal budget, I think it's really tough doing budget cuts this late in the year. We clearly had a significant budget challenge we needed to get through for this fiscal year. We knew it was an incomplete budget. This takes care of that without adding any debt and without any new tax revenues. It also allows us to now turn our focus onto the looming fiscal challenges we have for fiscal year '15. I would urge an Aye vote on this and then the next bill that we have, House Bill 317, as well. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Steans. Is there any discussion? Senator Radogno, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. To the bill. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) To the bill.
First of all, I would like to thank Heather Steans for sponsoring this bill. I know this is not the ideal piece of legislation that you would like to be sponsoring, nor, for that matter, the ideal piece of legislation that we all would like to be voting on. But, as you pointed out, we have a 1.6-billion- dollar problem in the short term that needs to be addressed before we even begin to look at the very significant challenges we have going forward. We will take a vote on this bill knowing full well it's going to cause some hardships, but it also does some good things in terms of preserving the child care program, avoiding some layoffs at Corrections, and other things that will allow State government to continue to function. It is a small but very significant step in moving this State forward. And while we often are quick to point the finger of blame all the way around, I think that today is a good time to give credit where credit is due, and credit goes to, certainly, Senate President Cullerton, Leader Durkin, Speaker Madigan, I've played a role in this, but significantly, credit goes to our new Governor, who came into a very partisan and rancorous situation and after many weeks of working and tearing his hair out, I'm sure, has brought together both Chambers and both parties in something I anticipate we think will pass that, again, represents a small but significant step forward and hopefully a model for all of us under the dome to look at as we go forward and, again, face the -- the very significant challenges that we have in fiscal year '16. So I, too, would urge an Aye vote on this bill. Thank you. 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Radogno. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Statement of legislative intent. Some questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Please state your point.
Yes. A question to the sponsor: Senator, do facilities licensed as long term care for under age twenty-two by Department of Public Health and commonly referred to skilled nursing facilities for pediatrics suffer a rate cut under House Bill 318?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
No. Long term care facilities for the under age twenty-two are licensed under the ID/DD Community Care Act and those facilities do not have their rates cut under House Bill 318.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Kotowski.
So, Senator, the language on page 71, line 22 and 23, of House Bill 318 does not cut the rates for any facility referred to as a SNF/PEDs and licensed as a long term care facility for under age twenty-two?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 You are correct. The language you referenced does not cut rates for facilities licensed as long term care facilities for under age twenty-two, the SNF/PEDs, under the authority of the ID/DD Community Care Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you for the clarification and to the bill. I appreciate the content of the bill. One of the things we've talked about for the last several years amongst our caucus is these special interest surplus funds that exist that we can use to address our immediate financial crisis. This bill provides about 1.4 billion of those dollars. Keep in mind, that is a -- partially a revenue solution for the challenge we have before us, which, I think, dictates in the future that we're going to have to examine and look at that possibility in the future for some other challenges that we have. But I think the fact that we're mindful of the fact that these funds, these special interest surplus funds, have been treated differently than other funds, other than are areas of the government that funded health care or human services, services to developmental disabilities, autism, mental health, that we're using these dollars to address these immediate financial needs and I appreciate the direction that the bill is taking us and I look forward to the -- seeing a bunch of green buttons. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Our final Member seeking recognition is Senator Sullivan. For what purpose do you rise, Senator?
Thank you, Mr. President. A question of the sponsor. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates that she'll yield. Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Steans, this has the -- the fund sweeps language in it. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Correct.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank -- thank you. And -- which includes the Road Fund. Is that correct? You nod - you indicate yes. I -- I just -- I rise in opposition to the legislation. I -- I just would like to make a couple of points. I appreciate the work that everybody has done on both sides of the aisle on the legislation, but this -- we're kind of in historic territory here with regard to sweeping three hundred and fifty to sixty million dollars out of the Road Fund. We've never done that. We've worked very hard, actually, with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop Road Fund diversions. This more than doubles any Road Fund diversions, this sweep does. There's been some claims made over the last several days that this is surplus money that's sitting in the Road Fund. It's not surplus money. This money is allocated. It's authorized for construction projects for this upcoming construction season, as well as construction projects that have been started over the past several years and the money needs to be authorized over multiple years. So this is not surplus money. Our constituents 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 pay gas taxes with the assumption that this money is going to be used to repair and improve roads. This is not what this money is doing - what this action here today does. Additionally, I want everybody to know that these sweeps are not just going to affect State highway projects. Because the money goes into the Road Fund, it's driven by a formula. The money is allocated off the top for various projects. Whatever's left over is what ends up going to your municipalities, to your townships and your counties. Those moneys are going to be reduced at that level as well. For these reasons, I will be voting No.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Sullivan. We've had one additional Member seeking recognition. Senator McCann, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates that she'll yield. SENATOR McCANN: Senator, thank you for sponsoring this legislation. I want to clear up. Will there be any Road -- Road Fund projects that will be halted or stopped or prevented from starting in any way, shape or form for FY '15?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Thank you for the question. I had wanted to clarify after the previous Senator's remarks. A couple facts on this. I'm going to get to that question. I'm going to read a letter from Department of Transportation. First, just want to indicate, it's two hundred 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 and fifty million dollars that can be swept, not more than that. And they're still projecting a year-end balance at the end of fiscal year '15, the current fiscal year, of nine hundred and sixty-eight million dollars in the Road Fund. Letter from -- I'm just going to read the letter from the Illinois Department of Transportation on this subject of these -- fund sweeps in particular: Per our discussions about the proposed fund sweeps involving the Road Fund, State Construction Account Fund, and the Motor Fuel Tax Fund, the Department has prepared a revised financial model for the Multi-Year Highway Program. The results of the revised model show that, while the projected available balances in the Road and State Construction Account Funds are lower than the Department normally considers prudent, they are still positive. Even with the proposed sweeps, the Department would still be able to match all of its currently expected federal funds and deliver the fiscal year 2016 Annual Element of the Highway Program at the introduced level of 1.85 million dollars -- or -- so -- excuse me, one billion eight hundred fifty million dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you very much for clarifying that. So my -- my understanding of that letter that you just read is that while it's not a perfect scenario, there is still plenty of money to -- to - - to make all the federal match, all projects will continue. And would you say - I don’t want to put words in your mouth - but would you say that in your discussions with the Governor, with Leadership that this enables us to patch the hole for FY'15 and move forward into '16 with a -- hopefully, a more robust outlook, especially 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 towards capital projects?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Yes. And what I would say is we can now actually turn our attention to the -- the next fiscal year. I think until we have done this and done a fix to fiscal year '15, we're not able to even have those conversations and start trying to address the future issues that we have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Last question. Thank you so much. Will this also -- will - - this hopefully will avert any layoffs within the Department of Corrections, hopefully within all agencies, but would -- would you say that this will definitely take care of our correctional officers and avert any layoffs, especially in -- in Corrections?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Well, yes. This is increasing the allocations to take care of the Department of Corrections' issues. They're still having the 2.25 percent reduction as in -- all the agencies are. So I wouldn’t want to say that there's guarantee that there's not going to be any impact, but it's the same as everybody else. This is fixing what the -- the -- the big hole that they'd had in the current fiscal year, their operational costs for the Department of Corrections.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Thank you. Senator Steans, to close.
Thank you. Yes. I do want to just note, I appreciate Leader Radogno's comments. I do think we're in a new area -- era here of shared governance. It's been very much appreciated, I know, by myself and my -- my -- my Co-Approp Chair, Senator Kotowski, of having the opportunity of really working with the Republicans on budgets. We look forward to doing that for next year as well. Urge an Aye vote. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The question is, shall House Bill 318 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 32 voting Aye, 26 voting No, 1 {sic} voting Present. And House Bill 318, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we're going to turn to the same order, House Bill 317. Senator Steans, are you ready to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 317. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Yes, I'm -- I'll be very brief, 'cause this is the companion. I -- I really was discussing and giving you the overview on what both House Bill -- this one, 317, as well as 318 did on the last 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 bill. This is the one that actually provides the supplemental appropriation. It's not the substantive language. It's the matching appropriations bill to accomplish this package.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall House Bill 317 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 32 voting Aye, 26 voting No, 1 voting -- no, one not voting. And House Bill 317, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bills 3rd Reading. With leave of the Body, we'll turn to page -- page 7 on your printed Calendar, Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 12. Senator Hunter. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
…you very much, President -- Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, it gives me great pleasure to introduce -- we have some friends in the gallery today who are here -- have joined us in Springfield. It's Epilepsy Advocacy Day. I passed a resolution the other day to raise awareness about people in the State of Illinois who are living with epilepsy and what we need to do to make sure people across our State are aware and that they're doing whatever they can to provide service and support for people who are challenged by seizure disorders and make sure they lead a great quality of life and get the health and support, treatment they need. If you could please stand up, all my friends here for Epilepsy Advocacy Day. Give 'em a round of applause. Welcome to Springfield. Great to see you. 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Welcome to the Illinois Senate. We're glad you could be here with us today. Continuing on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 23. President Cullerton. Senate Bill 26. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 26. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Morrison.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill requires that all local government units that currently have and maintain a website shall also publish on the website anything they are required to publish in a local newspaper. I know of no opposition. I believe this brings greater transparency to local government and I would be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 26 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 No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 26, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 29. Senator Connelly. Senate Bill 31. Senator Morrison. Senate Bill 36. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
Senate Bill 36. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 26 {sic} provides that a school district must comply with any valid local government zoning ordinance that applies where the pertinent part of the school district is located.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 36 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 36, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, please join me in welcoming Governor Rauner to the Floor of the Senate. Governor, welcome. Continuing on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 38. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 38. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Althoff. 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
Again, thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 38 amends the Minimum Wage Law. What it does is it actually clarifies that a collective bargaining unit may negotiate and contractually exempt themselves from the hourly wage requirements imposed by the Act. Instead the union can agree to make an alternate shift schedule as -- as is allowed under the federal law.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 38 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 38, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 41. Senator Barickman. Senate Bill 42. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 42. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The Senate Bill 42 amends the Department of Professional Regulations {sic} (Regulation) Law to allow certain health care workers who have had their license revoked or denied due to past criminal convictions the ability to petition the Department of Financial and 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Professional Regulation to restore or issue their license. The ability to petition the Department to restore or issue a license does not apply to anyone who has committed a sex crime or who requires registration as a sex offender as part of his or her sentence, or if an individual -- conviction is less than five years old from the date of petition. The Department may refuse to restore or issue any license which has been revoked. The Department must take into account factors such as the seriousness of the crime, prior disciplinary action by any state or federal agency, and the date of the conviction, among others when considering the restoration of a license. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates that she will yield. Senator Righter.
Senator Martinez, I heard in your description of the bill you mention certain people with -- people with certain crimes still would not be allowed to petition. I would like you to repeat who that is and then confirm for me that someone with a conviction for any other kind of forcible felony will be allowed to do the petition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 The individuals that will never be able to petition for any -- for a restoration or any license is anybody who has committed a sex crime or who is required to register as a sex offender as part of his or her sentence, and also a -- an individual's conviction is less than five years old from the date of the petition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Righter.
The petitioning process that you -- I mean, this would simply allow them to petition. Can you elaborate for me just a little bit on what that involves? I mean, they file a request with the Department and what happens from there? What kind of consideration is this given?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Let -- let me explain a little bit of why this -- this bill was brought to my attention and I want to just talk a little bit more. There are individuals that might have committed a crime maybe twenty years ago, a forcible felony. A forcible felony could be anything from throwing a snowball at a police officer or having been found with a weapon that was never used in a crime or things like that. That stays with them. So right now, we have individuals, right now, in my -- in my district, like many others that have also approached me. I had Senator Althoff, who also worked with me on this bill, on her constituent, who brought me the fact that he could not get his license renewed -- could not get his license renewed because of the fact that he had a forcible 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 felony that had happened twenty years ago. So when it came time for him to come and renew his -- his license, he was denied. So all we're asking in this bill is that the Department's given a little bit of flexibility to look at each case individually to make sure that nothing further than what has been committed in this bill, to make sure that it's nothing to do with a sex crime or any kind of sexual act, but more important, that he -- he or she is just looking to renew their license, because they have not had any problems again with the law.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Righter.
What about someone who's convicted of elder abuse?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Let me just -- let -- and, again, this will be at the discretion of the Department, but we have some of these -- some of the -- the petitions {sic} to restore, you know, their revoked license: poor {sic} (prior) disciplinary history, impact on injury, motive for the offense, the lack of -- these are -- these are the different things that the -- that the Department will look at when they're looking to see if they want to renew this person's license. So I think that anything that has to do as a health care provider where you -- I would think that if you abuse an -- an elderly person, I don't think that we will want to restore that person's license. This is just for people who had maybe prior convictions of some kind of forcible felony that wasn't violent, that wasn't sexually motivated or anything like that, that we can 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 actually help them restore their -- their license.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is final action. If we could bring down the volume just a little bit, so that the speakers can hear each other. Senator Righter, another question?
Thank you, Mr. President, for your indulgence. Senator, can you walk through, again - and I'm sorry, because of the noise - the criteria? I mean, what -- what is it the people from the Department have to consider? Because while I appreciate all you're saying in this bill is that they will be allowed to petition, that nevertheless opens the door, and because you're only excluding those whose crimes are crimes of sexual violence, that means you are opening the door to a whole bunch of other people convicted of a lot of crimes, crimes that -- some of which are mandatory prison time according to our Criminal Code.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you. The Department must consider -- some of the following things when they are considering the potential to restore or -- or even revoke a license, which is seriousness of offense, the prior disciplinary history, impact on any injured party, vulnerability of the injured party, motive for the offense, lack of contrition for the offense, lack of cooperation with the Department, lack of prior disciplinary action, self-reporting of misconduct. Those are all things that the - and there's more here - that will be taken into consideration by the Department as they look and renew or actually continue with the -- with -- with 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 revolving -- I mean, actually revoking the person's license.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Last area of inquiry. Senator, is there anything in this process or, if not, can you assure me that you will speak to the Department in its rulemaking on this to get into the process, an opportunity for those who may have been victimized by the crimes that the person committed to have input into this process, to be able to go to someone in the Department in some kind of hearing setting or submit a written statement saying "I don’t think that this person should be allowed to have a license because of XYZ"?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
I really believe that the Department is very cautious. First of all, back in 2011, when we created the law, there was a lot of things that were put into the law that practically took away their power to even do anything, but as some of these cases started to show up on the renewal of their licenses, what we've seen is that we need to give them some leeway. And I'm pretty sure that we can talk to the Department. I will talk to the Department because I think it's important that, as somebody who is trying to renew their license, as same as the individual who was hurt by an individual. I think they will take that all into account.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Righter.
23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 To the bill, if I might, Mr. President. Thank you. Senator Martinez, I am going to support this legislation. I do have concerns, because we are now opening this process up to a -- a much larger field of individuals who have been convicted of much more serious crimes, and I'm going to rely upon you, and whoever you'd like to being into the process, to make sure that the rules that flow from this legislation have due regard and keep in mind that the first -- the first and most important defense that needs to be made is on behalf of the people who may be cared for by these individuals. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Martinez.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
Yeah, to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) To the bill, Senator.
And I'll speak quickly to the bill because I'm -- I'm eager for us to adjourn, because as we adjourn today, I'm leaving to go to Stratton Building for the first meeting of the Governor's Criminal Justice Reform meeting, and it's fitting that we're discussing this bill. And one of the things that I've discussed with the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Reform Commission is the need for looking at individualized treatment. So we often speak, as the previous speaker spoke, about the gravity of the offense instead of the risk of the particular offender, and that's what we need to start doing. And what Senator Martinez's bill allows is 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 for the Department of -- of Professional Regulations {sic} (Regulation) to look at the offender. It does restrict with regards to sex offenses, but we have to look at the -- the offender, because you can have an offender of a serious forcible felony who's less of a risk than somebody found guilty of a non-violent offense. And so I applaud the Governor, who was just on the Floor, to -- to -- for -- for -- for his desire to -- to address criminal justice reform, and I think this is part of the package and I -- I applaud the sponsor for bringing this forth. And I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez, to close.
…you -- thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I want to thank my colleagues for the comments. I also have an article that was put in the -- it was an editorial about ex- offenders deserve second chance to make pitch for jobs and I believe that our -- our wonderful Governor actually commented on the fact that we have to start doing a better job of making sure that individuals, who might have had, you know, a -- a -- a past when they were young, should not be -- actually be able to carry the same problems with them when they are at a job. They've changed their lives around. They're finally doing great things. They got a profession and we should be allowing the Department to make that call. I know the Department is very serious about making sure that we don’t allow individuals that have hurt patients or that have had any -- anything -- anything bad done to patients be able to ever get a license or revoke their license. I think this is a good way of making sure that people who have finally changed their lives now have an ability to work and be at peace. And I 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) The question is, shall Senate Bill 42 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 6 voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 42, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Continuing on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 43. Senate Bill 44. Senate Bill 45. Senator Barickman. Mr. Secretary -- oh! Senator Barickman. Senator Barickman seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 45 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 45. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Barickman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Barickman, on the Floor amendment. Senator Barickman.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. The amendment is a technical amendment that was requested by the Medical Society. I'd ask for an Aye -- Aye vote on the -- or ask to adopt the amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is -- all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Has there been any further Floor 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 46. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 49. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 49. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill's a cleanup bill from the Illinois Department of Public Health. It just makes clear that the role of the Farmers' Market Task Force is to serve only in the capacity of farmers' markets and not for food-making rules.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 49 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 No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 49, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 54. Senator Mulroe. Senate Bill 70. Senator McCann. Senate Bill 73. Senator Connelly. Senate Bill 82. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, Senator Sullivan seeks leave of the Body to return 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senate Bill 82 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 82. Mr. Secretary, have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Sullivan.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I'll be happy to discuss it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan moves for the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 86. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary please read the bill.
Senate Bill 86. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 86 is an 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 initiative of Lake County and actually puts counties in parity with what municipalities can already do. So a county in which a default payment of a fine or a penalty was imposed, the State's Attorney of the county may retain attorneys or private collection agencies in order to collect the default payment or installation of that fine or penalty. It's just much more efficient for counties to have the same availability as municipalities. Be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 86 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 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 86, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 87. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 87. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Althoff.
Thank you, again, Mr. President. Senate Bill 87 provides that a county may accumulate in a separate fund no more than three percent of the equalized assessed value of property that is subject to taxation by the county for capital improvements, repairs, or replacements. This actually allows much more transparency in 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 county budgets and it allows them to accumulate moneys for a specified project. I'd be happy to answer any questions, but I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 87 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 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 87, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, on Senate Bill 94. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 94. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an initiative of the Department of Insurance. It allows the Director of the Department of Insurance and his Department to reserve liabilities for outstanding life insurance policies and annuities, consistent with the NAIC, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, model principle-based reserves. It's a very interesting bill. It -- it received a honorable mention in the favorite bill category by the Illinois society to prevent insomnia.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 94 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 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 94, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 96. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 96. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an initiative of IDNR and the Aggregate Association. It repeals the Fluorspar and Underground Limestone Mines Act because the Act is obsolete and is replaced by several other State and federal regulatory Acts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 96 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 96, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 100. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 107. Senator Link. Mr. 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Secretary, please read the bill
Senate Bill 107. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amends the Property Tax Code to provide that any improvements to residential property that is designed to improve accessibility, such as a wheelchair ramp or lift, will not increase the property assessed valuation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 107 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. Senate Bill 107, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we'll return to Senate Bill 140. Senate Bill 220. Senator Manar. Senate Bill 274. Senate Bill 563. Senator Sullivan. Senate Bill 650. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 650. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a -- amends the Fire Protection District Act in such a way as to define clearly what an injury would be to an annexed fire protection district or a part thereof. Initiative of the Fire Protection Districts. I don't know of any opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 650 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, and none voting Present. Senate Bill 650, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 653. Senate Bill 655. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 655. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill provides that the first conviction for driving under the influence shall not be considered a subsequent conviction for a person applying for a license to operate a video gaming establishment and conviction occurred more than ten years prior to the application. 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 655 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, 13 voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 655, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 661. Senator Mulroe. Senate Bill 663. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 663. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Koehler.
…you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill allows -- will allow for public bodies to hold closed meetings concerning school building safety and security, and it's really to protect the information about school security.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 663 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present -- 55 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 663, having received the required 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Raoul, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) State your point, Senator.
You know, traditionally, we, in May, have a competitive game between the House and the Senate, a softball game, and years ago that Senator Hendon would make an announcement of that game. And some of us have been enjoying "March Madness" so much that we've decided to embrace the idea of having a House/Senate basketball game. And we all come down here and enjoy Springfield, so when we come back in a couple of weeks, we're going to have a House/Senate charity basketball game on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club of Springfield. It'll be held at Springfield Lanphier High School on April 14th. And so I've told Senator Hastings and Senator Anderson that we are going to need all of their five fouls as the Members of the House of Representatives try to drive to the hole, so we can slaughter them, the same as we did in the last softball game.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Raoul. Reserve your ambulances now. Continuing on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 665. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 665. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senator Steans.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Last Session, we had passed a new process for ISBE to intervene in priority districts. This is a trailer bill that we discussed at the time. It was initiated by the IFT. It requires school districts that are identified as priority districts to provide bargaining representatives a five-day notice so they have time to prepare. I don’t know of any opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 665 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 No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 665, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 672. Senator Lightford. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 672. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 672 amends the School Code by adding consumer debt, higher education student loans, and identity-theft security to the list of financial literacy concepts required to be taught to pupils 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 in public schools grade nine through twelve. We already have certain courses that are required to -- we already have a financial literacy course, I should say, and what I'd like to do is add some more area that's more consistent with children today. We do know now that many kids are finding themselves in debt. They are being victims of financial fraud and trying to -- to surf the Internet to find out ways to earn scholarships to go to college. So this would just give them an opportunity to gain most of that knowledge now while they're in high school. I'd be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Any discussion? Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. You know, this, again, is a -- a -- certainly, I think, a costly measure, also somewhat of a mandate. These are things that we keep talking about, but we -- we continue to add those things to our budget and also to -- for schools to do certain things. So, again, you know, we -- we talk a heck of a game that -- every time we go out talking to school administrators that we're against this sort of thing, but then we add it -- add a little more every year. So as long as you know that, then I guess just vote your conscience. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any further discussion? Senator Lightford, do you wish to close? Senator Lightford.
I do, Mr. President. Thank you. There are no opponents on this bill and the Illinois State Board of Ed is neutral. We're 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 not creating a new mandate. This is already being done in our high schools. The goal was to just add more up-to-dated concepts that our kids are using, like protections from consumer fraud, and to allow them an opportunity to search for scholarships and be taught by their teachers on how to gain that information, and consumer debt. I encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. The question is, shall Senate Bill 672 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, 16 voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 672, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 674. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 674. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. 674 prohibits a towing service from removing a commercial vehicle that requires a commercial driver's license under that vehicle's own power without the authorization of law enforcement. This is identical to a bill that passed this Chamber last year 55 to 0. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 674 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, none voting No, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 674, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 675. Senator Manar. Senate Bill 679. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 679. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. A few years ago, we created the Mercury Thermostat Collection Act, which required thermostat manufacturers to develop and maintain a program for collecting and recycling out of -- out of service thermostats that had mercury in them. This bill is simply allowing them to also collect loose mercury ampoules that also count towards the collection goals. I don't know of any opposition and would urge an Aye vote. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 679 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 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 the record. On that question, there are 50 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 679, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 680. Senator Steans. Senate Bill 681. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 689. Senator Murphy. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 689. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Murphy, it's nice to hear from you today. To present your bill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate the opportunity to move the Murphy agenda through the Senate this afternoon. Senate Bill 689 amends the Illinois Controlled Substances Act and the Pharmacy Practice Act to clarify an advanced practice nurse, a practical nurse, a registered nurse licensed under the Nurse Practice Act, or a physician assistant, who provides hospice services to a hospice patient or who provides home health services to a person, may lawfully possess controlled substances prescribed for the patient while traveling from the pharmacy to the patient's home. I'm aware of no opposition and appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 689 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 52 voting 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 689, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 706. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 706. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Cunningham.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 706 amends the School Code. It's the initiative of the State Board of Education and it updates and clarifies the law regarding student teacher criminal background checks. It will essentially treat student teachers the same way any other employee is treated in regards to background checks when they apply at a district. Know of no opposition. Would appreciate the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 706 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 52 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 706, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we're going to turn to the top of page 10 on your Calendars. Senate Bill 727. Senator Stadelman. Senate Bill 729. Senator Silverstein. Senate Bill 730. Senator Lightford. Senate Bill 731. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, read the -- please 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 read the bill.
Senate Bill 731. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate amendment -- I mean 731 -- Senate Bill 731 amends the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act by allowing the Department of Public Health use the International Hearing Society's licensure exam to license hearing instrument dispensers, requiring licensed hearing instrument dispensers earn at least two hours of continuing education credit in Illinois law and ethics per licensing period, and also restricting a hearing instrument manufacturer from distributing or selling hearing instruments to unlicensed hearing care professional -- professionals, and allowing the IDPH to require a fee of an exam in addition to exam and licensing fees. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 731 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 48 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 731, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 735. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
Senate Bill 735. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 35 {sic} amends the mortgage foreclosure procedures to create additional circumstances in which a court is not required to appoint a special representative to protect the interests of a deceased mortgagor in a foreclosure proceeding. I know of no opposition. I'd appreciate Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 735 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. Senate Bill 735, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 740. Senator Holmes. Senate Bill 748. Senator Barickman. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 748. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Barickman. 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 748 is an initiative of the Illinois State Dental Society. It's an amendment to the Dental Practice Act which will clarify the certification of dentists that are qualified to respond to emergency situations. And I'd ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 748 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. Senate Bill 748, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 749. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 749. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. House {sic} Bill 749 amends the Professional Geologist Licensing Act. It raises the maximum to -- the Department of Financial and Professional Regulations {sic} (Regulation) can charge for disciplinary action from five thousand to ten thousand, requires all fines to be paid within sixty days, and it clarifies other language to align with other Acts under DFPR. 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 749 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 749, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 751. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 751. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 751 further clarifies that a dentist who administers a vaccination at a public health clinic and enjoys immunity cannot receive a fee or compensation for that service in any way. There's no opponents to the bill and I'll take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 751 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 751, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 777. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 784. Senator Forby. Senate Bill 786. Senator Hunter. Senate Bill 788. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 788. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Steans.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to develop an algorithm for the auto assignment program into managed care. For people who are first coming in who don’t make a selection of a managed care entity they want to be in, this auto enrollment assignment process shall include -- shall be based, in part at least, on quality scores, as well as -- other operational proficiency criteria. This new algorithm shall be implemented no sooner than January 1st, 2017. I don’t know of any opposition and would urge an Aye vote. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 788 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 52 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 788, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 791. Senator Bush. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
Senate Bill 791. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Bush.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman {sic}, and thank you, Members. So, 791 allows the board of any forest preserve district to lease any or all -- or part of a building used for administrative uses if the board deems that the building, in whole or part, is not required for the district purposes. I'm happy to answer any questions, but I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 791 pass. All those in favor, vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 791, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 792. Senator Bush. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 792. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Bush.
47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 …you very much, Mr. Chairman {sic}. So, SB 792 requires a taxing district to publish the truth in taxation notice on a website. So, basically, this is in addition to what they currently publish in newspapers. It just says, if you have a website, truth in taxation should go on that website. Again, happy to answer any questions. I would urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 792 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 52 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 792, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 793. Senator Holmes. Senate Bill -- Senate Bill 800. Senator McCann. Top of page 11 of your printed Calendar. Senate Bill 804. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 805. Senate Bill 807. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 807. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Morrison.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 807 simply requires that a county board or county board of commissioners hold one public hearing prior -- ten days prior to the final action of {sic} the budget. 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Morrison, thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 807 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 voting 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 807, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Haine, I apologize. I skipped over your bill inadvertently. Did you want to call Senate Bill 804? Mr. Secretary, could we return to Senate Bill 804, with leave of the Body and my apologies to Senator Haine? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 804. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This allows for the imposition of a court fee for -- to be dedicated only to security expenses of the court house and the ancillary facilities by court security as managed by our sheriffs. It is only to be imposed after an acceptable cost study. I know of no -- oh, I'm sorry, the Bar Association is opposed, but the Sheriffs' Association and the Metro Counties are strongly in favor of this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 804 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 32 voting Aye, 17 voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 804, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Back on to the regular order here, we have Senate Bill 809. Senator Haine. Senator Haine requests leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 809 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 809. Mr. Secretary, have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine, on your amendment.
The amendment just clarifies and limits the scope by which investigators can be used.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine moves for the adoption of Floor Amendment No. 1 to Senate Bill 809. All in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 813. Senator Sullivan. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 813. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Sullivan.
Yes, thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. The legislation requires -- no longer requires the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service to establish a Rural Transition Program. This program was established back in the eighties during the farm crisis. Simply not needed anymore. Many of the tasks that it does now is done through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Sullivan. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 813 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 813, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 816. Senator Tom Cullerton. Senate Bill 818. Senator Nybo. Oh! Oh! I'm sorry, we're turning back to Senate Bill 816. Senator Tom Cullerton, in a new seat. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senate Bill 816. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Cullerton.
I'm in a new seat. Thank you very much, Mr. President. HB -- HB 6 -- 816 -- SB 816 removes a Section of the Water Commission Act that allows the cessation of a water commission by annexation. There is no opposition. And this actually was brought to me by the DuPage County Water Commission. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 816 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 52 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 816, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Now we'll turn to Senate Bill 818. Senator Nybo. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 818. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Nybo.
Thank you, Mr. President, and I certainly did not want to cut 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 off Senator Cullerton. I hope he's enjoying that new seat over there. This is an initiative of Mental Health America. There is no opposition to this bill. It amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act to provide that, unless otherwise expressly provided for in the Act, records and communications made or created in the course of providing mental health or developmental disabilities services shall be protected from disclosure regardless of whether the records and communications are made or created in the course of a therapeutic relationship.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Thank you, Senator Nybo, for presenting what I believe is your first bill in the Senate.
That -- that -- that is true, Mr. President, and I know that it is late in the hour here and I'm sure we're all eager to get home. So, I will entertain questions, but the fewer questions there are, the sooner we get home.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) I'm told we'll -- we're planning to be here for at least an hour. Are there any questions for Senator Nybo? Is there any discussion? Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield for a question?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates he'll yield for a question. Senator Haine.
I want you to define the term "therapeutic relationship".
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senator Nybo.
Senator Haine, that's a great question, by the way. "Therapeutic relationship" is now defined to mean that -- the receipt by a recipient of mental health or developmental disabilities services from a therapist. "Therapeutic relationship" does not include independent evaluations for a purpose other than the provision of mental health or developmental disabilities services. That was an amendment that was brought to us as a result of conversations with the State Medical Society, and with that amendment and that definition provided, they withdrew any concerns that they had with the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Are there examples that you see sometimes in life of people demonstrating a therapeutic relationship? Can you describe some that you might observe, apart from that verbose, highly technical, and suspect definition?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Nybo.
My apologies, I'm still getting used to the one mike on at a time over here.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) We'll -- we'll train you on that one very quickly here. Thank you, Senator. Senator Nybo.
Senator Haine, I apologize. I'm at a loss to provide any 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 examples, and I'm not even sure if you're listening to my answer here, but I -- I'm at a loss to provide any specific examples, but if you have some that you'd like to share, I would certainly be interested in hearing them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Now that you inquired of the inquirer, I did observe a long hug a few moments ago between His Excellency the Governor and Senator McCann on the Floor. Would that be the evidence of a therapeutic relationship?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Nybo.
…would -- I would certainly hope so and I'd love to see more of those hugs as we progress towards our May 31st adjournment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
I don’t think I have any further questions, Your Honor -- or, I'm sorry, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion? Well, Senator Nybo, you got off easy. The question is, shall Senate Bill 818 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 53 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 818, having received the required 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 constitutional majority, is declared passed. That's -- so much for spring training there. We're out of practice. Senate Bill 833. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 833. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 33 {sic} aligns the crimes of armed robbery, home invasion, kidnapping, and aggravated kidnapping with the extended statute of limitations of certain sex crimes if both crimes were committed at the same time and certain other factors are present. There's no opposition and I'll take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 833 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 Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. Senate Bill 833, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 834. Senator Haine. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 834. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an initiative of the mental health advocates and the Public Guardian. It basically changes the law allowing a change of venue in a commitment hearing, to be determined by a judge if it is necessary to ensure the attendance of a material witness. Before, it was almost mandatory and caused a lot of delays. There's no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Is there any discussion? Senator Nybo.
Will the sponsor yield, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Sponsor indicates he will yield. Senator Nybo.
Senator Haine, I apologize. I have not had a chance to review this bill. Are there any new definitions in this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Senator Haine.
No. There is a possibility of many new relationships, however.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR HARMON) Seeing no further discussion, the question is, shall Senate Bill 834 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 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 are 52 voting Aye, none voting No, none voting Present. And Senate Bill 834, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Muñoz in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senate Bill 835. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 836. Senator Sullivan. Out of the record. Senate Bill 837. Senator Martinez. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 837. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 837 amends the Nurse Practice Act and the Physicians {sic} (Physician) Assistant Practice Act of 1987 to include the definition of "hospital affiliate". The definition of a "hospital affiliate" is currently in the Hospital Licensing Act and this amendment creates continuity among all three Acts. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 837 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 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 837, having received the 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 838. Senator Martinez. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 838. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Martinez.
…you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 838 extends the sunset date of the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act from January 2016 until January 1st, 2026. It makes changes to the Act by making technical corrections so as the Act conforms and -- and is consistent to other licensing {sic} (licensed) professions regulated by the Department of Professional Regulations {sic} (Regulation). And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 838 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 50 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 838, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 842. Senator Mulroe. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senate Bill 842. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 842 requires the Chicago Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago's annual report to include a statement of the amount of revenue needed for -- from all sources to fund the liabilities of the fund. I know of no opponents. I'd appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 842 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 50 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 842, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 844. Senator Mulroe. Out of the record. Senate Bill 870. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1205. Senator Barickman. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1205. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Barickman.
60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1205 is an amendment to the Patients' Right to Know Act. It provides for a retired physician to maintain his title as retired physician without having to provide detailed information as an active physician must. And I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1205 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 52 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1205, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1246. Senator Mulroe. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1246. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a trailer bill to the House Bill 5485 that we passed in Veto Session that required -- or made manning a mandatory subject of -- of bargaining no longer permissive. It clarified the -- the initial Act, which was forty years before that. So, as promised, I brought the trailer bill. This is an agreed bill, no opponents. Senate Bill 1246 is a trailer bill to the Act -- or the bill that I 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 referred to, the fire -- referred to as the firefighter manning bill. This bill clarifies that Public Act 98-1151 shall not change the analysis applied by arbitrators when ruling on the issue of firefighter manning.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? Senator McGuire, for what purpose do you seek recognition? SENATOR McGUIRE: Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Sponsor indicate {sic} he will yield. Please proceed. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you. I ask this question on behalf of my friend and colleague, Senator Pam Althoff, and myself. Senator Mulroe, for purposes of legislative intent, is the purpose of this bill to maintain the same analyses applied by arbitrators in firefighter manning decisions as before the passage of House Bill 5485?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you, Senator McGuire. Excellent question and thank you for including Senator Althoff in that for purposes of legislative intent. The -- when we passed Senate Bill -- or House Bill 5485, I promised a trailer bill. This is the agreed-upon trailer bill. The legislative intent of this bill is to have arbitrators apply the same analysis they used prior to the enactment of Public Act 98-1151 when deciding whether to add, modify, or remove firefighter -- firefighter manning provisions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Any further discussion? There being no further discussion, Senator Mulroe, to close. The question is, shall Senate Bill 1246 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1246, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1249. Senator Steans indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1249. (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 bill -- simply changes current law about doing a -- a mental health systems planning from the Governor's Office of Health Innovation and Transformation to the Governor's Office, since GOHIT no longer exists, and it gives the administration an extended timeline under which to do this planning. So it moves the date from July 1st, 2015, to January 15th, 2016. I don’t know of any opposition and would appreciate an Aye vote. Thanks.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1249 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. 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 On that question, there are 49 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1249, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1252. Senator Righter. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1253. Senator Martinez. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1253. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1253 requires all managed care entities under Medicaid managed care to develop and implement language access policies. Language access policy shall provide standard {sic} (standards), guidelines, and operational plans that eliminate language barriers to health care access. Policies shall both inform any designated entity of the language needs of the population it serves as well as establish staff training and rules for written documents. And I'll be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, Senate Bill 1253 -- 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1253, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 passed. Senate Bill 1262. Senator Link. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1265. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1265. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Under current law, voter registration ends twenty-eight days before election day, and the reason for that is simply because of the administrative challenge of dealing with paper registration forms and getting everything in order in time for election day. That’s no longer necessary in -- in world of online voter registration, which we now have. So what this bill does is it extends the window for voter registration by twelve days, up until sixteen days before the election, but exclusively for online voter registration, to increase access to the franchise for our citizens. Happy to take any questions. And I'd appreciate your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1265 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, Senate Bill 1265, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 32 voting Yea, 11 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. 1265, having received the required 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1268. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1298. Senator Rose. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate -- Senate Bill 1298. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Rose.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to say a -- a big thank you as well to the cosponsors on this. There are many on both sides of the aisle. We've worked for over a year on the Illinois Care Act. This is an initiative of the AARP and they, along with the Illinois Hospital Association, really did the bulk of the work on this bill. And really, the goal here, first and foremost, to provide a higher standard of care for patients coming out of our -- discharging out of our Illinois hospitals. But, second, it would also help save the taxpayers and insurance ratepayers money by limiting the number of re-admits to our -- our hospitals. Through the work of the group that met over the summer, the fall, and into the early winter, what we have here is the final product. Again, I appreciate everyone's time, but we're going to define for once the ability of a patient to define and designate a caregiver. That caregiver will be given training on how to make sure the patient receives medication, receives treatments, and other things they need as they are discharged out of the hospital, again, with the end goal of making sure they do not re-admit. On your side of 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 the aisle, Mr. President, Senator Stadelman has had a keen interest on this. Senator Silverstein had a very similar bill. Senator Biss is, of course, a cosponsor. We -- we appreciate all your support. This truly will upgrade the level of care delivered to Illinoisans. We'll have better health outcomes for the citizens we represent and I truly believe, by limiting re-admits, we will save quite a bit of money in the process. With that, I ask for favorable passage, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1298 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. Senate Bill 1298, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1304. Senator Silverstein. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1312. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1314. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1319. Senator Martinez. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1319. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1319 deletes and makes changes to the obsolete and duplicative 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 language in the School Code, including updating the terms of children of limited English-speaking ability - two antiquated terms - to reference English learner {sic} (learners). This is an initiative of the ISBE and I'll be happy to take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1319 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1319, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1322. Senator Barickman. Senate -- Senator Barickman. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1335. Senator Lightford. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1335. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is an initiative of the Cook County State's Attorney's department. It amends -- as amended, it allows them to receive unfounded reports for the purpose of screening and prosecuting a petition filed under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act alleging a subsequent allegation of abuse or neglect relating to the same child, sibling on {sic} the child, or the same perpetrator. 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Basically, what the State's Attorneys brought up in testimony is that there is sometimes a pattern shown of abuse, but once the children are in the presence of their family or their abuser, they will deny that they have had domestic violence done on them. But -- so all of their cases would end up coming unfounded. So if there's a history of unfounded cases, the State's Attorney's department would like to include that history in -- in their case as they're moving forward for the purposes of DCFS reporting. I'd be happy to answer additional questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1335 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 49 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1335, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1339. Senator Bennett. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1340. Senator Anderson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1344. Senator Haine. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1354. Senator Manar. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1360. Senator Trotter. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1360. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Trotter.
69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is an initiative of the County Clerk of Cook County. It provides that filings under the Assumed Business Name Act shall be in a manner prescribed by the County Clerk where the business is to be conducted and that assumed business name certificates must be renewed every five years in those counties with a population of four million or more. Failure to renew in a timely manner shall result in a cancellation of that certificate. There is a cost of twenty-five dollars for those renewal applications.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? 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 Trotter, what's the -- what's the need for the new fee? What -- what have the people who brought this bill to you tell you they need the money for?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Trotter.
In order for them -- for them to update all their records. As you know, the assumed business recordkeeping started back in 1941. The county is trying to bring their records up to date, so there is a cost to -- to getting the software, to getting the technology all in place to go forward and to help them clean up their records and also provide for a -- a -- a real record of who's 70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 doing business in the County of Cook.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Righter.
To the bill, briefly, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) To the bill.
Just -- just a cautionary note to Members of the Senate who are wary of fee increases and why they might be put forth, this bill - and I appreciate Senator Trotter being very open about this - this bill does create a twenty-five-dollar new fee for Cook County businesses that does not exist today. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any other discussion? Senator Trotter, to close.
Thank you very much, Senator Righter. This is for Cook County only. There is a provision in here if there are other counties that wish to opt into and use this particular law, they can do so. But at this point in time, it is something that has been agreed upon with the county officials, along with the County President, Toni Preckwinkle. And I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1360 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 33 voting Aye, 14 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1360, having received the 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1369. Senator Morrison. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1371. Senator Morrison. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1374. Senator Hastings. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1374. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1374 allows common interest community associations to organize as a limited liability organization. Currently, these organizations can only organize as an unincorporated association. There are no opponents and I'll take any questions. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1374 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 49 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1374, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1376. Senator Hastings. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1377. Senator Forby. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1378. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1388. Senator McCann. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1393. Senator Bennett. Senator Bennett. Out of the record. 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senate Bill 1407. Senator Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1422. Senate -- Senator Anderson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1426. Senator Bush. Senator Bush. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1426. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bush.
Thank you very much. Senate Bill 1426 requires the Department of the Lottery to offer a special instant scratch-off called "The End of Alzheimer's Begins With Me". This money from this lottery ticket will be used for -- an Alzheimer's Awareness Fund. I think what's really interesting is that we all remember this great organization that's -- that's making everyone aware, but they receive no State or federal funding. So this will really help them continue to raise the awareness of Alzheimer's. And I certainly will answer any questions and I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1426 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 44 voting Yea, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1426, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1440. Senator Sullivan. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 read the bill.
Senate Bill 1440. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Sullivan.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. 1440 amends the -- the Real Estate License Act to clarify an auctioneer that's been grandfathered in, that they are required to hold a real estate auction certificate only if that person sells or leases real estate at an auction in a transaction with another licensed non- grandfathered-in auctioneer. This is really a cleanup from some legislation we passed last year. I know of no opposition. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1440 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 49 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1440, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1444. Senator Bush. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1444. (Secretary reads title of bill) 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Bush.
Thank you. SB 1444, as amended, prohibits board members from receiving per meeting compensation for more than one meeting held during any seven consecutive day period unless each meeting is more than four hours in length and {sic} (or) in the case of a bona fide emergency. This applies to a board where at least one of the members is an appointee of the Governor and the compensation at issue is on a per meeting basis, but reimbursement for expenses is not considered compensation. I would urge an Aye vote. I'm also happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1444 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 49 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1444, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1447. Senator Kotowski. Out of the record. Senate Bill 1457. Senator Althoff. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1457. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is actually the last recommendation from the Discharged Servicemen's {sic} (Servicemember) Task Force under Governor Quinn's administration. And what it does is it creates the Military Prior Learning Assessment Task Force within the Board of Higher Education and the task force is commissioned with studying and making recommendation on how best to effectuate the recognition of military learning for academic credit and recognized credentials and college degrees. Many of our colleges already have programs that address this, but it is not uniform throughout the State of Illinois. And the task force obviously is going to be charged with trying to come up with some uniform standards. I'd be happy to answer any questions, otherwise I just ask for and Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1457 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Yea, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1457, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. That was our last bill for the day. We're going to resolutions. On page 18 of the Calendar is the Order of Resolutions. This is final action. Senate Joint Resolution 16. Senator Delgado. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution 16, offered by Senator Delgado. 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. SJR 16 modifies four waivers submitted by ISBE for consideration by the General Assembly. The amendment retroactively approves three waivers related to nonresident tuition and approves a waiver related to the general State aid for a period of two years rather than the requested five. And we would ask for your indulgence and Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) There any discussion? There being none, as this resolution requires the expenditure of State -- correction, as required by State law, we have to have a vote on this. 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, Senate Joint Resolution 16, 46 Yeas, 0 Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Joint Resolution 16, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared adopted. Senate Resolution 176. Senator Collins. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 176, offered by Senator Collins.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Resolution 176 urges the Little League International to respond to the Jackie Robinson West team attorneys in writing, come to a face-to-face meeting with the 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 players and parents in Chicago, and reinstate Jackie Robinson West's Little League World Series title. I ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, shall Senate Resolution 176 pass. All those in favor will vote {sic} Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Senate Resolution 184. Senator Koehler. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
Senate Resolution 184, offered by Senator Koehler.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the -- of the Senate. This is a resolution that I'm happy to join with Senator LaHood. It involves two businesses - one that's in his district, one that's in mine. What this does is it asks the Basel Action Network, which is a industry standard - it's much like ISO 9000, or whatever - to allow for the placement of treated CRT glass - this is glass that is crushed and -- and used in recycling from TV tubes - to be -- to be in a retrievable storage area. So it would be put into a landfill in a separate area so that if there's a market for glass to be recycled that it can be retrieved and -- and put into production. So I'd ask for your support. I think this is an exciting recycling bill -- or resolution here that is going to create jobs and will help us in the future with recycling. Ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? There being none, the question is, 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 shall Senate Resolution 184 pass. All those in favor will vote {sic} Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 254, offered by Senator Haine; 255, offered by Senator Radogno; and 256, offered by Senator Althoff. They are all substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Landek, Chairperson of the Committee on State Government and Veterans Affair, reports Senate Bills 1383, 1404, 1405, and 1846 Do Pass; Senate Bill 1941 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1458 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Martinez, Chairperson of the Committee on Licensed Activities and Pensions, reports Senate Bills 817, 1229, 1820, and 1895 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 1381, 1826, and 1827 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, reports Senate Bills 1680, 1781, 1782, 1805, and 1806 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 750, 810, 1318, and 1573 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Harmon, Chairperson of the Committee on Executive, reports Senate Bills 4, 14, 17, 22, 120 through 139, 141 through 177, 179 through 217, 219, 221 through 272, 275 through 342, 344 through 367, 370, 373 through 430, 432 through 450, 452 through 542, 544 through 562, 564 through 620, 622 through 649, 843, 881 through 895 {sic} (985), 988 through 1197, 1327, 1400, 1505, 1529 Do Pass; Senate Bills 343, 986, 987, 1213, 1256, 1382, 1448, 1516, 1813, 1898 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Amendment 3 to Senate 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 Bill 52 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports Senate Bill 1608, 1732, 1786, and 1804 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 666, 743, 780, 1236, 1427, 1526, and 1548 Do Pass, as Amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 13 Be Adopted, as Amended. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, reports Senate Bills 1362 and 1735 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 106, 543, and 1668 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Joint Resolution 9 Be Adopted. Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, reports Senate Bill 773 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 659 and 1626 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Koehler, Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Conservation, reports Senate Bills 178, 1475, 1485, 1562, 1672, Do Pass; and Senate Bills -- Senate Bill 1518 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Joint Resolution 3 Be Adopted. Senator Hunter, Chairperson of the Committee on Energy and Public Utilities, reports Senate Bill 1476 Do Pass; and Senate Bills 66, 1445, 1446, 1585, 1726, and 1879 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) 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 passed a bill of the following title, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, wit: House Bill 2416. We have received a like Message on House Bill 3093. Passed 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 the House, March 25th, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 1345, offered by Senator McConnaughay. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2416, offered by Senator Landek. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) We will now proceed to the Order of Resolutions Consent Calendar. With leave of the Body, all those resolutions read in today will be added to the Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, have there been any objections filed to any resolutions on the Consent Calendar?
No objections filed, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Is there any discussion? If not, the question is, shall the resolutions on the Consent Calendar be adopted. All those in favor, say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The motion carries, and the resolutions are adopted. Mr. Secretary, Messages from the House.
A Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has adopted the following joint resolution, in the adoption of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 25th Legislative Day 3/26/2015 House Joint Resolution 59. Offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads HJR No. 59) Adopted by the House, March 26, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) On the Order of Resolutions is House Joint Resolution 59. Mr. Secretary, read the resolution.
House Joint Resolution 59, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR MUÑOZ) Senator Clayborne moves to suspend the rules for the purpose of immediate consideration and adoption of House Joint Resolution 59. Those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the rules are suspended. Senator Clayborne moves for the adoption of House Joint Resolution 59. All in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. To all Senators and staff, have an enjoyable, safe holiday, whether it be Passover or Easter. There being no further business to come before the Senate, pursuant to House Joint Resolution 59, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of noon -- 12 noon on the 14th of April, 2015. The Senate stands adjourned. 82