(Prayer by Pastor Robert Freeman)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Haine, to lead us in the Pledge.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Haine)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Tuesday, April 21st, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Good morning, Senator Hunter. Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I -- I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Hunter. She moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Lisa Gustafson with Blueroomstream.com requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 337, offered by Senator McCann and all Members. And Senate Resolution 338, offered by Senator Morrison and all Members. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 They are both death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Resolutions Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Biss, Chairperson of the Committee on Human Services, reports Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 13, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1465, and Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1775 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator McGuire, Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education, reports Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 221, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 223, and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 688, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 760, and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1146 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Collins, Chairperson of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1882 and Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Resolution 142 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Forby, Chairperson of the Committee on Labor, reports Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 47, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 993, and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1859 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Sullivan, Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, reports Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 543 and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1735 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Raoul, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary, reports Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 140, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 159, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 202, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1268, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1376, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1487, Senate Amendment 3 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 to Senate Bill 1547, Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1564, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1630, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1746, Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1761, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1763, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1833, and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1834 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Holmes, Chairperson of the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, reports Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1626, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1702, and Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1803 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Haine, Chairperson of the Committee on Insurance, reports Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 750, and Senate Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 750, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1680, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1805 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Hutchinson, Chairperson of the Committee on Revenue, reports Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 508, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 936, Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1236, Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1526, and Senate Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1526 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Sandoval, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, reports Senate Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 624, Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 625, and Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 626 Recommend Do Adopt.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 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 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 the Senate, to wit: House Bill 397. Passed the House, April 20th, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House. Message from the House by Mr. Mapes, Clerk. Mr. President - I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 242. We have received like Messages on House Bills 1051, 1320, 1445, 1453, 1666, 2462, 2503, 2636, 2932, 3273, 3299, 3333, 3428, 3464, 3512, 3761, 3785, 3810, 4007, and 4112. Passed the House, April 21st, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention. Will all Members within the sound of my voice please come to the Senate Floor? All Members within the sound of my voice, to the Senate Floor. We're going to have some -- a limited number of 2nd -- Senate Bills on 2nd Reading we'll go through and then immediately to 3rds. All Members, please come to the Floor immediately. Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 397, offered by Senator Bush. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1051, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 1445, offered by Senator Nybo. (Secretary reads title of bill) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 House Bill 1490, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2462, offered by Senator Link. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2636, offered by Senator McConnaughay. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 2932, offered by Senator Brady. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3241, offered by Tom Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3273, offered by Senator Murphy. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3299, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3332, offered by Senator Althoff. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3333, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3428, offered by Senator McGuire. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3457, offered by Senator Manar. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3493, offered by Senator Martinez. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3619, offered by Senator Noland. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3761, offered by Senator Morrison. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3810, offered by Senator Hastings. 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3882, offered by Senator Jones. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 3897, offered by Senator Righter. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4007, offered by Senator Clayborne. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4112, offered by Senator Haine. (Secretary reads title of bill) House Bill 4122, offered by Senator Kotowski. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bills.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if I can kind of give you a little bit of what we're planning on doing today. There are three hundred and seventy-two Senate bills that are on 3rd Reading. It's our intention today to proceed with a limited number of Senate Bills on 2nd Reading. We're going to do that shortly and then move immediately to substantial Floor action on Senate Bills 3rd Reading. We will adjourn for Senate committees later this afternoon. Under our current schedule, we will be on the Senate Floor for substantial action on Senate Bills 3rd Reading on Thursday and Friday as well. Please be mindful of the schedule and move your bills accordingly. Once again, all Members within the sound of my voice, we're going to go to the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading shortly. Please come to the Floor immediately. Mr. Secretary, as I mentioned just a minute ago, we have some bills on 2nd Reading -- Senate Bills on 2nd Reading that we'd like to run through, a limited number that are on the Calendar. Mr. 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Secretary, let's go to that order right now. The first one should be Senate Bill 47. Leader Clayborne, on Senate Bill 47. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 47. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. It just makes some clarification changes to make the bill better.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next up on the Calendar, we have Senate Bill 221. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill -- excuse me, 436. Senator Stadelman. Mr. Secretary, next up, we have Senate Bill 567. Leader Clayborne, on 567. Mr. Secretary, 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 please read the bill.
Senate Bill 567. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you -- thank you, Mr. Chairman {sic}. It just changes one word from unlawful -- it adds one word {sic}, "unlawful discrimination". Again, it makes the bill much better through compromise.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next up, we have Senate Bill - thank you - Senate Bill 760. Leader Clayborne, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 760. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Higher Education adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Have there been any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Clayborne.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne, to present Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, makes the bill much better. It just changes one word, from "nationally certified" to "nationally accredited".
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Clayborne. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next up, excuse me, we should have Senate Bill 781. Leader Clayborne, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 781. 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1334. Leader Clayborne. Do you wish to proceed? Whoops! Did I miss one? Mr. Secretary, excuse me, let's go back. We should have Senate Bill 1076. Leader Murphy. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1076. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1095. Senator Rose, on 1095. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1095. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. 3rd Reading. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1334. Leader Clayborne. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1334. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Executive adopted 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Amendment No. 2 {sic} (1).
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1475. Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1475. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1476. Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1476. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1585. Leader Trotter, on 1585. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1585. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Energy and Public 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Utilities adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1602. Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 1602. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1629. Senator LaHood. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1629. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1630. Senator LaHood. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1630. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported. 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator LaHood.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator LaHood, to present Floor Amendment 1. Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Mr. President, I move for its adoption. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1830. Leader Harmon. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, let's go back to Senate Bill 436. Senator Stadelman, on Senate Bill 436. Do you wish to proceed? Indicates he does not. Ladies and Gentlemen, if I could have your attention, I'd like to introduce a group that's here today, some guests of mine up in the gallery on the Democrat side. They are students, seniors from the Virginia and Meredosia High Schools. They're the government classes. They are here with Matt Werner and also their teachers, Jeff Bennett from Virginia and Travis Sievers from Meredosia. Would you, ladies and gentlemen, please rise? And -- and, folks, if you'd welcome these guests of mine to the Illinois Senate Chambers, I would appreciate it. Welcome. Senator Noland, for what purpose do you rise? 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. Likewise, I have a guest here that I'd like to introduce to folks here on the Senate Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland, to introduce your -- point of personal privilege.
Very good. Thank you, again, Mr. President. Sorry to be talking over you, sir. So, my guest here is Anna Bufano from Milan, Italy. She's an exchange student. She's a senior technically here in the United States at Burlington (Central) High School up in Kane County, where -- is my -- which is my neck of the woods. She's originally from, like I say, Milan, Italy, where she attends Lunardi, Lunardi High School in Milan, and where she studies linguistics and many languages, including French, Spanish, English, and Italian. She wants to be a journalist and make documentaries as a career. So please provide her with a warm Senate welcome, won't you?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our guest all the way from Italy. Great to have you joining us here today. Thank you so much. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 339, offered by Senator Harmon. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, on page 17 of the Calendar is the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. This is final action. Page 17. We're going to start with Senate Bill 1608. Ladies and Gentlemen, 14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 page 17 of your printed Calendar, Senate Bills 3rd Reading. This is final action. Senate Bill 1608. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1625. Leader Harmon. Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 1626. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, at the bottom of page 17, we have Senate Bill 1628. Senator Brady. Let's turn to the top of page 17. Mr. Secretary, it should be Senate Bill 1641. Senator Jones. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's go to Senate Bill 1657. 1657. Senator McConnaughay. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1665. Leader Radogno. Senate Bill 1668. Senator Rose. Senate Bill 1670. Senator Steans. Senator Steans. Senate Bill 1672. Senator Rezin. Senator Rezin. Indicates she does not wish to proceed. Senate Bill 1680. Senator Haine. Leader Haine, on 1680. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1680 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Senator Haine, if you'll bear with us just one second, we got to find some paperwork. Mr. Secretary, pull that bill back to 3rd Reading. We're waiting on some paperwork, Senator Haine, so we're going to come back to that later. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, continuing on the Calendar - again, we're on the middle of page 18 of the Calendar on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading - we have Senate Bill 1683. President Cullerton. Oh! Excuse me, Senator Cullerton, Tom Cullerton. Senator Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1698. Senator Bennett. With leave of the Body, we'll come back to 1702 and 1704. Let's go to Senate Bill 1714. Senator Rose. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1714. (Secretary reads title of bill) 15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rose.
How's that? Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Wait. Wait. Senator Rose, just one second. We got to get -- we got to get you at your right desk and then we'll be ready to go here.
I was prepared to present from Senator Althoff's desk. Thank you, Mr. President. This bill, Senate Bill 1714, is the form of a normal TIF extension, in this case, for the Village of Arcola and Paris. It has no opposition I'm aware of. All the appropriate and specific letters have been filed by the local authorities in support of the bill. Thank you, Mr. President. I ask for its consideration favorably.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1714 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 46 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1714, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1726. Senator Rose. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1732. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, let's go back to Senate Bill 1680. Senator Haine, we have that paperwork now in 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 line. We're ready to go. Senate Bill 1680. Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1680 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1680. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is the bill. It does a number of things. It establishes procedures for the delivery of insurance documents by electronic means. It makes -- this is after extensive negotiations between the insurance agents and some of the property casualty companies who want the ease of doing this. Thanks to Phil Lackman and the Independent Insurance Agents, this is a very consumer- friendly way to do it. There has to be an affirmative consent to the electronic delivery. Parties are provided with clear and conspicuous statement information about the ability to withdraw consent, things of that nature, which is very friendly to those of my generation which may not want to be blessed with electronic filing of documents. We like to feel paper in our hands and get notices in the mail. But I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration? 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1680. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1680. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a good bill. It's balanced and I would ask for an Aye vote. There's no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1680 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1680, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, now we're back to the regular Calendar. We should be to Senate Bill 1732. Is that correct, Mr. Secretary? There it is. Senator Althoff, on Senate Bill 1732. Senator Althoff, on Senate Bill 1735. Senator Althoff, on Senate Bill 1745. Senator Althoff, on Senate Bill 1746. Mr. -- Ladies and Gentlemen, at the 18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 bottom of page 18, we have Senate Bill 1747. Senator Mulroe. Senator Mulroe. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 19 of the printed Calendar. Again, we're on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. We have Senate Bill 1754. Senator Biss, on 1754. Indicates he does not wish to proceed. Let's go to Senate Bill 1761. Senator Silverstein. Senator Silverstein seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1761 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1761. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Silverstein.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Silverstein, on Floor Amendment 3.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'll explain the amendment on 3rd Reading. The amendment became the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1761. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1761. 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. This -- this creates a seven- member investment policy board to -- identify all Iran-restricted companies, Sudan-restricted companies, and companies that boycott Israel, and distribute that list to each retirement system. Take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. To the bill, please, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. Simply rise in strong support of Senator Silverstein's legislation. I personally am not a big fan of restricting investments based on this or that. This is an opportunity for this Senate to show solidarity with Israel and I think it's an important moment for us to do just that. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any further discussion? Senator Silverstein, do you wish to close? Senator Silverstein.
Thank you and I want to publicly thank Senator Righter for 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 those comments. Now -- then maybe Senator Righter and I can go to the Middle East and solve that problem.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1761 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 3 voting Present. Senate Bill 1761, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Good morning, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin, on your point of personal privilege.
Thank you. I'm honored today to have a guest from Minooka. Dylan Blough is visiting us today. He's an eighth grader at Minooka Junior High. He is in band, plays clarinet. He's in Scholastic Bowl, which he's going to regionals next week. He's going to South Africa June 7th for two weeks with the travel program at Minooka Junior High. One day, he would like to become a lawyer and then he would like to become the next Governor. He likes to collect license plates, and at school, he is known as "the voice", because he does the morning announcements at the junior high. Dylan is visiting us today because he wrote an essay and won, and the essay at Minooka Junior High was "I am too young to vote, but I can participate in Illinois government by…". And Dylan talked about his ability to volunteer to work with candidates 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 with the same views as he has to advocate for his views. In -- up right here, I have Dylan's family: Michelle, his mom; Todd, who is his dad; Len, his stepdad; and Hunter, his brother. I would like a warm Springfield welcome today for Dylan Blough.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome Dylan and his family to the Illinois Senate. Thanks for joining us. Great to have you here today. Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's a pleasure seeing you here today. Appreciate all the great work you do on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois. I am joined today by Allison Pariso. I first met Allison last year in Schaumburg at Keller Junior High School and she was the president of her junior high. And what was extraordinary about her -- I want everybody to pay attention here. Could we pay attention? What's extraordinary about her is that not only had she started a food pantry at her school, she'd also been involved in early childhood learning, and they were mentoring children and all of the -- all of the people involved in the student council - she led that effort. So I met her when she was in eighth grade and now she's a freshman in Conant High School. And she's an active member of student council; serves on the board as a freshman advisor; competes on her school's speech team on both original oratory and radio; is vice president of the science club. For her Critical Thinking Gifted independent class project, Allison researched frontotemporal dementia. Is developing a support group for high school students who have family members and loved ones suffering with all types of dementia. She enjoys volunteering in her community at Feed My Starving Children 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 and within her church. Her favorite hobby and pastime is reading. I suggest some of you take up that hobby. Allison resides in Schaumburg with her parents, John and Kelly Ann. Her mom, Kelly Ann, is here today. Please stand up, mom. Where are you? I don't know where she is. Well, mom's extraordinary too, and -- and her fourteen-year-old sister, Rachel. Could you please give my good friend, Allison Pariso, a great Springfield welcome?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Allison, please rise. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Thank you so much for joining us today. Great to have you here. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are back on the Calendar. We're on page 19 on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. We have Senate Bill 1763. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1764. Leader Harmon. Next up, Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 1775. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, Senator Cunningham seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1775 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1775. Are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amendment just corrects some mistaken information that was in the underlying bill. Would appreciate its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments, Mr. Secretary, approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1775. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1775. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1775, as amended, is an initiative of the Cook County Sheriff's Office and the aim is to patch some cracks in the child welfare system when it comes to reporting and finding missing wards of the State. These problems have been identified by the Sheriff's Child Protection Unit, were also laid out in some detail in a recent Chicago Tribune series that highlighted the problems -- the problem of wards of the State running away from State facilities and ending up victims of human trafficking. The bill seeks to codify a number of procedures and policies that DCFS and their contract facilities must follow if they lose contact with wards of the State. And there's also an element that will make it easier for police departments to identify wards of the State when they come across them out on the street by changing some procedures 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 related to the State Police LEAD System. I know of no opposition. Would be happy to answer any questions and I would appreciate the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1775 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1775, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1786. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1786. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1786 amends the Department of Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. It provides that any person or any entity who owns or has rights to a property will be free from obligation or liability to that property when surrendered to the Department at the Director's request.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1786 pass. 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1786, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1793. Senator Hastings. Let's go to Senate Bill 1798. Leader Trotter. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill -- 1798. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1798 is an initiative that has been put forth as we continue to try to look at the -- the economics of our State and how we spend our dollars. This is in answer to, one, when -- in the nineties, when we were getting tough on crime and creating policies that incarcerated individuals which, in some instances, needed to go through treatment versus being incarcerated in our justice system. So what this bill does, besides renaming the Act, it asks for an impact note to the correctional budget and a racial impact note that requires the note to include an estimate on the number of criminal cases per year that a bill will affect, the members of -- of which racial minority group, the operations of correctional institutions, and other matters that the Department of Corrections deems appropriate. So that's -- that's the essence 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 of the bill, again, looking at the cost of incarceration. It is an initiative that's supported by the Illinois Department of Corrections.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Trotter. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, please, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Righter.
Simply rise in support of the Senator's legislation. As introduced, this bill, think, had some difficulties. The -- the sponsor was willing to take input from many, including the Department of Corrections, who now support the bill. Thank you, Senator, very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Righter. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1798 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1798, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1800. Senator Steans. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1803. Senator Rezin. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Senator Rezin seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1803 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1803. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Rezin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin, on Amendment 2.
Thank you. Amendment 2 becomes the bill. The Department -- Senate Bill 1803 creates the Sand Mine and Transportation Study Act {sic} (LaSalle County Transportation Study Act). We ask the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the effects of agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and other industrial operations in LaSalle County and the bordering counties as well, because we have a tremendous amount of mining, and now with the silica mining going on and the passing of the fracking bill, we have many companies coming and looking at LaSalle County, purchasing farmland to mine it for the silica sand, which is great, but along with that, there's a lot of impact on the roads. This study will look at the impact on the roads and make sure that we have the protections in place to protect our roads. There's no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1803. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1803. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin.
Thank you, Mr. President. And, again, Senate Bill 1803 creates a transportation study in LaSalle County for the effects of mining and impact on the roads. There's no opposition. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1803 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1803, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1804. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1804. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff. 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1804 is a great taxpayer-friendly bill. It amends the various appropriate Use and Excise Tax Acts to provide, if a taxpayer overpays on his or her return, the taxpayer may credit that excess payment for the following years or transfer the credit to a similar taxpayer under the Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1804 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1804, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1805. Leader Haine. Mr. Secretary, Leader Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1805 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1805. Are there any Floor or committee amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine, on Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ladies and -- I mean, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The initial bill is designed to limit the ability of companies to set up 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 surplus coverage which is not adequate to fund workers' comp and then, when the -- when the hit comes, they go to the Guaranty Fund, which is a fund paid for by all insurance carriers, most of whom are responsible. And what Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 does is - - it's an agreement between the Guaranty Fund, the insurers, and Department of Insurance, which -- streamlines the accounting procedures, some of which are unnecessary in the bill because they're mandated by the NAIC, and requires an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a federally insured financial institution with an office in Illinois, a few other things, to make them sound.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1805. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1805. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Thank you, Mr. President. Again, this is a -- this becomes most of the bill. As I've indicated previously, this is a way to 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 prevent irresponsible companies from setting up -- these surplus lines insurance companies which are not properly collateralized and having the other carriers, through the Guaranty Fund, pay for their irresponsibility.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1805 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 50 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1805, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1808. Leader Hunter. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1808. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill creates the Illinois Young Adult Recreation Corps and it defines the responsibilities and qualifications for these participating -- for these youth participating in programs during the -- the summer. This bill is subject to appropriation and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Senator Van Pelt, for what purpose do you -- excuse me, Senator Righter, for 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr.…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield for a question, Senator Righter.
Thank you. Good morning, Senator Hunter. Where is the Department of Natural Resources on Senate Bill 1808?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Well, Senator Righter, as you know, the Director was in the committee and he indicated that he was against the bill because he did not want to operate this program out of his Department this year.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
I'm sorry, I didn't catch the last of it, Senator. I apologize. He said he was opposed because of what?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
He was not interested in operating this program out of his Department.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Did the -- did the Director also indicate an issue with 33 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 regards to sufficiency of funds?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
No, he did not.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might. Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber. I rise in respectful opposition to the bill. It is my understanding, from my communications from the Department, that there is a concern about a lack of money, which would be understandable considering that the fiscal year 2016 budget, as we stand here today, has a multi-billion-dollar deficit. Of all of the times that we've been here in recent years, we should all be able to agree that this is not the time to be creating new programs and new hopes for people that they are going to benefit from some program for which the money may or may not be there. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Senator Hunter.
Yes, there is an amendment that is going before State Government -- in State Government this afternoon that is subject to appropriations. I have it here. I thought it was adopted already, but it had not been adopted, so…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, let's take Senate Bill 1808 out of the record, please. Apparently, there's some paperwork that needs to catch 34 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 up. Let's take that out of the record. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1810. Leader Link. Senator Link. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1810. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1810 protects law enforcement officers from civil liability, except for unwillful {sic} and wanton misconduct, as a result of administering opioid antidote to a person who he or she believes is experiencing a drug overdose. Know of no opposition to the bill. Would ask for an affirmative vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Link. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1810 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1810, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1811. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 1813. Senator Martinez. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 20 of your printed Calendar. Again, we're on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. I have Senate Bill 1818. Senator McGuire. Senate Bill 1820. Leader Harmon. Senate Bill 35 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 1821. Leader Harmon. Senate Bill 1826. Senator Althoff. Senate Bill 1827. Leader Althoff. Senate Bill 1833. Senator Biss. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Senator Biss seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1833 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1833. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Floor Amendment 2 becomes the bill. I'd ask your indulgence to adopt it and then discuss it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1833. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1833. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 36 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Thank you very much, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1833, as now amended, amends the Illinois Personal Information and Protection Act, which was a law enacted a decade ago to protect sensitive information that's held by third parties, typically by -- by companies. What this law -- this bill seeks to do is to update that law to keep pace with a changing world where there's more and more new types of complex data out there: location data, marketing data, health and biometric data, and so forth. This data is very, very sensitive, and if it's lost, there's potential significant harm that could befall individuals, and right now we have literally no idea if it's being lost. What this bill does is two things: One, it -- it mandates that companies put in place reasonable security procedures so as to avoid losing it when possible; and second of all, it enacts several disclosure criteria so that if that data is lost, it'll be disclosed sometimes to the individuals whose data is lost, and if not then, then at least to the Attorney General, who can set up a website so we can know what's happening with this data and if more significant security measures needs to be put in place. I'm happy to answer any questions and I'd certainly appreciate your support in this measure.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield? 37 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for a question, Senator Nybo.
Senator Biss, I -- I -- I understand what you're trying to accomplish with this bill, but my analysis is showing that this bill is opposed by both the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and also the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Is that your understanding as well?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes, thank you for the question. We had yesterday in committee testimony from both the Retail Merchants Association as well as the Chamber of Commerce and they are at this time opposed to the bill, though we've had very significant and positive discussions that have removed certain opponents entirely and have mitigated the opposition of some. This is a pretty complex issue and it's not exactly in anybody's wheelhouse. It -- it affects a lot of different groups in -- in kind of oblique ways and so it's taken some time to get the full detail list of requests and proposals from various groups that have an interest in this. But the discussions are ongoing and we -- we think there's a chance, though not a certainty in the House, of definitively addressing those groups' concerns. We certainly intend to continue the discussions and hopefully continue the progress.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
Thank you, Senator. I -- I -- I certainly do appreciate your 38 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 -- your willingness to work with groups to try to address these concerns, but I think you hit the nail on the head. There are some very complex issues involved with this bill and yet two of the biggest associations in our State that represent merchants' and business concerns are opposed to this bill. I mean, could that be because it's such a complex issue; that maybe this is something we should not be voting on at this point and relying on the House to fix?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss. I don't know if there's a question there, but Senator Biss.
I'll just say that this is a complex issue and it deserves to be thought through carefully, but this is also a moderate bill. We're not enacting penalties or enacting punishments. This bill does two things: number one, it directs companies to have a policy, just have one; and number two, it has transparency and disclosure. And I think that those two principles are sound, they're moderate, they're reasonable. I think most of your constituents and mine would strongly support those and that's why I think it's appropriate to move forward at this time.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
…you -- thank you, Senator Biss. I'll ask a real question this time. Can you help me understand why these groups are opposed to the bill? What's the nature of their opposition? Why are they concerned?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 39 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Biss.
Well, I think in their testimony before committee yesterday, they just had some concerns about this -- the -- let's say the -- the responsibility of making a new set of disclosures. And what I would say is, we want to tailor the bill so that it's not overbroad, but at the same time, those disclosures are important. There is very sensitive debt data about you and about me and your family and loved ones and mine that is being held by lots of companies and we have literally no idea if it's being lost. It's being collected, it's being analyzed, it's being sold, it's being utilized, but we don't know if it's being lost. And that disclosure is very, very important. There are also some technical issues that we -- we think can still be addressed regarding ensuring that any entity that is compliant with federal law, like HIPAA, would be compliant with this, and I think those technical things can most certainly be addressed.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Nybo.
Senator Biss, you and I have worked on some really good pieces of legislation and I think we're going to continue to work on some really good pieces of legislation. But I think you hit the nail on the head: This bill is not only complex, but there's a lot of issues that need to be worked out. And there is significant 40 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 industry opposition on this bill. I -- I can't see why at this juncture, without working out those issues, we would want to pass that bill and have more of a devastating - and that may be an overstatement - why we would want to harm our business climate any more than we already have done so through a bill, by your own admission, that -- that still needs to be worked out and that we would hope the House would -- would -- would fix for us. So I would encourage everybody to vote No. I don't think this bill is ready to be voted on and I think there's significant business concerns that need to be addressed on this one.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Rose.
Thank you. I -- I share many of the sponsor's concerns about data and data breach; however, this clearly is not ready yet. And we talked to a number of members of the banking community yesterday that was down and, in many respects, they're going to get stuck with the tab and the cleanup effort for what, in many cases, was not their initial breach, so… One of the examples that was raised with me last night -- and -- and, actually, you know what, I said "to the bill", that probably wasn't fair to the sponsor, 'cause I would like to hear his -- his response to these questions. But one of the things they pointed out is in the -- in the case of -- so -- you know, a Target data breach. At the end of the day, it's 41 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 the card-issuing company that has to clean up that mess, even though they weren't the one that had the -- the data breached. So, my main point here is, I really think that the sponsor's on to something. I just don't think it's ready yet and I think we need -- we should contain that here, continue to work on it through an extension of the deadline, as opposed to send it over to the House and let them, you know, continue, 'cause then they -- it gets out of our control, and that says nothing about the sponsor, 'cause he and I have worked on a ton of stuff to protect personal privacy. But I just -- I'm not comfortable sending this over there at this time. So, thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Hastings.
This past summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Attorney General in terms of consumer protection, information protection, and I can tell you, as technology evolves, we lose more and more privacy as we move forward. And I think this bill is an adequate step forward in terms of protecting the consumer about -- things that we may not know about that's out there, information that may be sold. So, although there may be some opposition on the other side of the aisle, I rise in strong support of this bill. I think it's important that we send it over to the House and that this bill becomes law to protect not only young 42 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 people who do business online, but senior -- senior citizens who are probably some of the most vulnerable people to data theft and data security. So, thank you, Mr. President. I rise in strong support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. There being no further discussion, Senator Biss, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President. Just two quick items of response, particularly to Senator Rose's comments. First of all, the Bankers Association, as well as the Credit Union League, have removed their opposition as a result of Amendment 2 that we're currently -- that -- that has now been adopted on the bill. And so I think those concerns have been significantly addressed, at least as the Association's point of view would -- would express. Second of all, that -- that Target data breach is a really important organizing principle for thinking about this, but this bill doesn't create liability. This bill doesn't put somebody financially on the hook. This bill is about disclosure and transparency so we can know when data that is sensitive and private and is held by third parties is lost in a way that would imperil us. I think that transparency is important. I agree the issue is complex, but the principle of that disclosure is simple and core and important for the consumers of Illinois, and therefore I strongly urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1833 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 43 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 35 voting Aye, 13 voting Nay, 4 voting Present. Senate Bill 1833, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1834. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 1846. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 1847. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 1853. Senator Link. Senate Bill 1854. Senator Link. Senator Link seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1854 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1854. Mr. Secretary, are there any committee or Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Link.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Link, on Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. The -- Floor Amendment 1 just makes grammatical and technical corrections to the bill. I would ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments, Mr. Secretary -- for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1854. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 44 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Senate Bill 1854. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Link.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1854, as amended, makes numerous changes to the North Shore Sanitary District Act, including renaming the Act and the district, which will now be called the North Shore Water Reclamation District. The bill allows the board to increase the pay of the president and other members by a four-fifths vote. These salaries are currently -- within the statute. It also allows the board to enact rates and changes {sic} (charges) for treatment and disposal of sewage and surface or ground water by ordinance. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Link. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1854 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1854, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1859. Senator Holmes. Senator Holmes seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1859 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1859. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for 45 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Holmes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Holmes, on Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you so much, Mr. President. Floor Amendment 1 just really goes in and changes some of the penalties of violation of the Act and that was basically done to get the Illinois Chamber to not be an opponent and be neutral on the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Senator McCarter, do you have a -- seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1859. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1859. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator -- Senator Holmes.
Thank you. This bill allows the Department of Labor to assess 46 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 civil penalties against employment agencies that operate without a license and provide for an administrative hearing procedure. And it also obliges the employment agencies to keep records of job placements for three years, as opposed to one year. It also permits the Department of Labor to assess civil penalties against licensed agencies that violate the substantial requirements of the law and the Department of Labor to post a list of all licensed employment agencies on its website so that job seekers, employers, and consumers have a means of verifying they're dealing with a licensed business. This basically protects the workers as the -- this is an initiative of the Attorney General, who was having problems with some of these temporary, unlicensed labor agencies.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: Question of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield for a question, Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senator, we -- we discussed this a little bit in committee yesterday, but -- if you would, can you make clear to me what kind of employment agencies we're talking about? 'Cause - I mentioned this yesterday - I still wasn't understanding. Because when I think of an employment agency, I think of a temporary-type agency that I go and say, I need two workers to be -- to do factory work, or I need two to do clerical, and if you charge me fifteen -- if -- if they're going to make ten dollars an hour, I will pay eighteen dollars an hour, which will include all of their benefits, payroll 47 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 taxes, workers' comp, everything, and I will hire them whether one day, five days, a month, or even six months, as long as they're doing a good job. Can you differentiate what I understand as an employment agency and what you're talking about right here?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Holmes.
Yeah -- yes, Senator. And this is very different than what you are describing and what most of us are aware of when we look at employment agencies. This is actually the employer themselves is paying the workers, not the employment agency. The workers are paying a fee to the employment agency in order to be working for the employer. This is something that's much more common, say, in -- in Chinatown at a buffet type of a -- a restaurant or establishment. So this is very different than the kind of labor -- workforce agencies you're looking at.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: So the -- so the bill is going to, as you said, address some problems with these types of unlicensed groups. Okay. Is that made specifically clear by the language that we're not talking -- that you are talking about these brokered type employees versus the temporary agency? I mean, are -- those words "employment agencies", does that distinguish that we're talking about this group that you're talking about that you would typically see in Chinatown?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Holmes. 48 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Yes, because there's a separate Act that this is under with the temporary agencies. I'd have to look at the specific bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Okay, so -- so, because it's a separate Act, that's what distinguishes it. Okay. I -- to -- to the bill. Here's -- here's the issue. I don't know how extensive the problem is and I do commend the -- the Attorney General's Office for being concerned about any worker that is being abused or mistreated or not protected; however, this is the responsibility, in part, of the Department of Labor, and as -- as you'll notice, they -- they are not in support of the bill. Because I think what they would like to do is rewrite this in its entirety. So I -- all I would ask is that -- first of all, let me say, I appreciate the amendment to make it better, but I -- I would ask that when this gets to the House that the Department of Labor be brought in to make more comprehensive changes, and that would just be my respectful request. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Senator Holmes, to close.
Yes, I would like to mention, with the Department of Labor, they have had numerous opportunities to work with us. On February 4th, we sent them a memo. February 25th, they had the language. They met with the -- we met with their staff to discuss it. We waited to hear feedback until the deadline. Heard nothing. The bill was brought up in committee in March and the Department told 49 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 us the day before they'd oppose it and they did not give us a reason why. Then they said they'd work with us over spring recess and we also had no language with them. We went ahead and we worked with the Chamber to address their concerns. Last Thursday, they told us they were fine with the bill with the amendment that we had done and they would be neutral or better and they wanted that a main -- some language in there that changed the fund the penalties went to. So we did honor that request. And then it was not till yesterday morning, when it was going back before committee again, they approached us and said that they were opposed to it because they want to rewrite the entire Act - which I say, great, please write the -- rewrite the entire Act if it needs updating. I'm -- I'm all for that. But in the meantime, can we pass this bill and protect those employees, who the Attorney General has been unable to work with these unlicensed companies, because there's no teeth in any of the laws that are currently in place. So I would respectfully ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1859 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1859, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator LaHood, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of introductions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 50 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Please make your introduction, Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: I first have my Page for the Day that I'd like to introduce. Joe, you want to stand up? Joe Nelan is my Page for the Day. Joe is a fourteen-year-old, who lives in Peoria. He attends St. Vincent de Paul grade school. He's an eighth grader there. His hobbies include playing basketball and baseball, and he has an interest in music and travel and also enjoys politics. And his future plans include being a student athlete in high school and getting a scholarship to play sports and to get a good job, is what he says. So, his parents are Bridget and Mark Nelan, and his mother is in the gallery here today. We'd like to welcome them to Springfield today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Joe and your family, your mom, welcome to Springfield. Thanks for joining us today. Let's give 'em a nice round of applause. Appreciate it. Senator LaHood. SENATOR LaHOOD: Mr. President, I have another introduction today. It's my pleasure today to introduce a group from Monmouth College, which is not in my district - actually, it's in your district, Senator Sullivan. But the new President of Monmouth College is here, President Clarence Wyatt. He's here with Professor Robin Johnson and a group of students from Monmouth College. They come down here twice a year to visit and I'd like to have them stand, behind the President's Gallery, introduce them. And I know Senator Hunter is a graduate of Monmouth College and she's up there with them also. Would like to welcome them to Springfield and the State Senate. 51 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President Wyatt, Robin, and your entire class, welcome to the Illinois State Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. A point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Barickman.
Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm an alum of Illinois State University and I've got some distinguished guests from ISU that I'd like to introduce to you today. For those who followed ISU football, whether you're an alum or others in the room, ISU football had a fantastic year last year. In the gallery above the Republican side of the Chamber, I'd like to introduce and have stand three gentlemen here from ISU. We have Mike Williams, who's the Assistant Athletic Director; Larry Lyons, the Athletic Director; and the Head Coach of ISU football, Brock Spack. For those who are unaware of ISU's football success this year, let me just read to you a -- you know, a few things: first conference title in fifteen years, made it to the NCAA Division I Football Championship game. Along the way, seven nationally ranked opponents, set sixteen school records: most wins, with thirteen; most points scored, five hundred and seventy-four; most touchdowns, seventy-six; most rushing yards, three thousand six hundred and nineteen. They've had tremendous turnover this year, losing a number of seniors - maybe a mixed blessing. We lost some great talent, but some of those seniors provided some leadership that I'm sure is going to carry on into next year and beyond as we 52 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 continue to see success at ISU. This team were student athletes. They had great success in the classroom, accumulative GPA of 2.87, which is an in-season record, and for all of us from ISU -- I represent ISU. I'm a proud alum. For my colleague, Bill Brady, who also represents the Bloomington area, we were very proud of the success that ISU had today. And I just ask all of you in the Chamber today to join me in welcoming Mike, Larry, and Brock to the Senate Chamber and congratulating them on a great year. Go, ISU Redbirds!
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our guests to the Senate. Thanks for joining us today. Thank you so much. Appreciate you having {sic} here. Senator Bennett, for what purpose do you rise?
Two points of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator Bennett.
Thank you. I would first like to -- to direct the attention of the Chamber to the right side of the gallery, where I'd like to welcome Larry Solava, who's standing there at the top. He's an Assistant State's Attorney in Champaign County, a former coworker of mine. He's devoted his career to working on cases of child abuse and neglect. He does an amazing job for Central Illinois and is in town today for a conference and to meet with legislators on this issue. So please welcome Larry Solava.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Larry, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Thanks for joining us today and appreciate your hard work. Thank you very much. Senator 53 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Bennett.
And on a lighter note, also, I'd like to welcome the fourth grade of the Holy Cross School from Champaign. They're on the left side of the gallery, along with their teachers, Mary Tate and Gerri Bramfeld. Please give them a welcome.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Will our guests in the galleries please rise? Please rise. Everybody stand up. Welcome to the Illinois Senate. Thank you for joining us today. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you. Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator Rose.
I, too, would like to welcome the fourth graders from my area and Larry, who I also used to work with a long time ago. But we need to recognize Jim Nowlan, our former legislative colleague and political commentator extraordinaire, in the President's Gallery.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Jim, welcome back to the Senate. Great to have you here today. Thanks for joining us. Senator McConnaughay, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: Thank you. I ask the Members to join me in welcoming my two 54 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Pages today. First one is an international exchange student. Ardi Audwina is an exchange student from Indonesia, studying at Batavia High School this year on a Department of State of -- Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange program. She does extra enrichment activities in the field of government and diversity and volunteerism. And also with me today is Kaitlyn Melendy, is a student at Huntley High School. I ask you to join me in welcoming both of them to the Illinois Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Will our guests -- let's welcome our guests to the Illinois State Senate. It's guests of Senator McConnaughay. Thank you so much for joining us today. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we're back to the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Next up on the Calendar is Senate Bill 1862. Senator Rose. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1866. Leader Lightford. Leader Lightford seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1866 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1866. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. I -- I'd ask for its adoption and be happy to discuss it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes 55 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1866. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1866. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1866 helps innocent victims of violent crimes. The purpose of the bill would be to allow these victims to apply to the Attorney General for reimbursement of costs resulting from being the victim of a crime of violence. Currently, victims can recover expenses related to medical treatment, mental health counseling, relocation expenses, replacement costs, loss of tuition, and loss of earnings. This is an initiative of the Illinois Attorney General's Office. There was some opposition, but the Floor amendment just removed that opposition. I'd be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Lightford. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1866 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. 56 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1866, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1877. Senator Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1877. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. This allows it -- Senate Bill 1877 allows a trustee to furnish a certificate of the trust instead of a copy of the trust -- to convey into a trust.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1877 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1877, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1879. Leader Lightford. Senate Bill 1882. Senator Harmon. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 21 of your printed Calendar. We have Senate Bill 1898. Senator Harris. Mr. Secretary, please read the 57 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 bill.
Senate Bill 1898. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1898 is an initiative of the Secretary of State that makes various changes to the processes related to issuing Illinois Identification Cards for persons with disabilities and driver's licenses. And we have no opposition and looking forward to an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1898 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1898, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we'll come back to 1899. Let's go to Senate Bill 1906. Senator -- Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1906. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 58 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1906 came to me from my Oak Park Township Assessor. He encountered a lot of seniors in our community who, during a period of property value deflation, had lost the benefit of their senior freeze. This bill would create a floor, a minimum value for that senior freeze, if we ever unfortunately would encounter another period of deflation. I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1906 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. Voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1906, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, 1907. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1907. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. 59 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 We passed a -- a very similar bill last year unanimously. This equalizes the taxes applied to different sorts of motor fuel, liquefied natural gas and propane. So, again, I don't expect we have any opposition to this bill and I'd ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1907 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1907, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1908. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1908. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill -- 1908 amends the Public Utilities Act. It adds an element to the annual ICC report. I'd ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1908 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 60 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1908, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 1919. Senator Morrison. Let's go to Senate Bill 1947. Senator Hunter, on 1947. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1947. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hunter.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill amends the Human Services Act. It expands the definition of "sexual abuse" to include an employee's action that results in the sending and showing of sexually explicit images to an individual via computer, cellular phone, electronic mail, portable electronic device, or other media with or without contact with individuals. And it has definitions in here. There is no opposition to the bill and there is no fiscal impact and I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1947 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1947, having received the required constitutional majority, is 61 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, if -- we're going to start at the beginning of the Calendar on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, and that would be on page 3 of your regular Calendar towards the bottom of the page. Again, on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 4. President Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 9. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill 10. Leader Trotter, on Senate Bill 10. Leader Trotter. Senator Trotter, on Senate Bill 10. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 10. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Mr. President, Members of the Senate, thank you very much for your time. Senate Bill 10 allows the Director of the Department of Human Services and gives him the authority to award grants to law enforcement agencies. It amends it -- and has been amended to allow non-EMT first responders to administer naloxone for the purpose of reversing the deadly effects of opioid overdoses. Under this bill, the State and local police officers, as well as the fire protection personnel and firefighters, the first responders, are provided training in administration of -- of naloxone as a component of their standardized training to be appointed as a police officer or firefighter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? 62 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 10 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 10, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to return to Senate Bill 9. Senator Bertino-Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 9. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Chamber. Senate Bill 9 prohibits a person from selling, offering for sale, giving away, or offering free -- free samples of powdered pure caffeine to any person under the age of eighteen in the State or to any individual under the age of eighteen making purchase in the State. I know of no opposition and the Illinois Licensed Beverage Association, as well as the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association, are both proponents. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 9 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 63 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 9, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 4. We have Senate Bill -- Matt, Senator -- Leader Radogno's light's flashing, but doesn't -- yeah, okay, just want to make sure. Senate Bill 12, Ladies and Gentlemen. Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill 12. Leader Hunter. Senator Hunter. Let's go to Senate Bill 13. Senator Morrison. With leave of the Body -- Senator Morrison seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 13 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 13. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Morrison.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Morrison, to present Floor Amendment 3.
I would appreciate an Aye vote on this amendment and I'll discuss it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 64 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 13. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 13. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Morrison.
Senate Bill 13 makes several changes to the Children and Family Services Advisory Council. It specifies a number of items the Council may advise the Department of DCFS on, including its recommendation on monitoring the safety and well-being of youth placed in licensed care facilities and recommendations regarding the investigation of allegations of abuse and neglect to children in licensed child care facilities, institutions, and transitional living programs. This bill is supported by DCFS and the Cook County Public Guardian's Office. I'm happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 13 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 13, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, let's go to Senate Bill 30. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, Senate Bill 31. Senator Morrison. Senate Bill 32. Senator Morrison. Senate Bill 33. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 41. Senator 65 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Barickman. Senate Bill 43. Senator Morrison. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 43. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Morrison.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill requires the Department of Human Services to cooperate with the Department of Transportation to promote public awareness of the national human trafficking hotline. It includes display of public awareness signs in high-risk areas, such as truck stops, bus stations, train stations, airports, and rest stops. I'm happy to…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 43 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 43, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 46. Senator Martinez. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 46. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 66 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Martinez.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. As introduced and with the amendment, it amends the food handler training Section of the Act to require DPH to approve the training programs of multi-state businesses with a plan and on file with the Department by the 21st {sic} (March 31st) of 2015, currently through -- May of 2013. We're extending it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 46 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 46, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 51. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 51. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 51 extends the current sunset of the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law from December 12th of 2015 and extends it out to December 12th of 2020. This fund is 67 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 -- provides support for programs in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and in coal resources. Appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 51 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 51, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 52. Leader Clayborne. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 52. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill comes about as the result of a group in my area called "Collective Impact" that's made up of businesses and social service organizations and leaders from the community. And it is to address the truancy problem that's taking place in some of my school districts. The bill allows for districts to provide transportation to students who live in areas of pattern of criminal activity, as -- defined by the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. The bill had some - - some questions and issues. I've made two amendments: taking the Chicago Public Schools out, as well as defining what a 68 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 dangerous area is. I would ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Luechtefeld, for what purpose do you rise?
A question of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for a question, Senator Luechtefeld.
Senator, as you -- as you remember, you know, in committee there were -- and a -- few things you've done, I think helped the bill, but, you know, our concern has been, as you know, the cost of -- of -- of the program. If you -- you know, there's only so much -- so much money in the Transportation Fund. If you move that around, obviously, some schools will be -- will -- will -- will be hurt. I have some problems also with -- are -- is it -- did -- am I right that the local officials, the local police departments determine whether it is a danger?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne.
No. It's -- it's defined by the provision of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. What will happen is, the local authorities will look to determine if it fits within that category. That was the last amendment that was made as a suggestion from the Illinois State Police, because they did not want to make that determination because they weren't familiar with the local areas.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 69 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Luechtefeld.
And originally the Chicago schools were also part of this, I think, and could you tell me why they were taken out? I mean, if this is good for -- this is good for you and for the rest of the State, well, why wouldn't it be good for them? Or -- could you - - could you handle that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne.
Well, Senator, we took them out because of one of the issues you just raised. Because of cost and I believe that they have hired individuals who are making sure that those areas where they're -- they're -- those students are walking through are safe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Luechtefeld.
Again, I -- I -- I really don't believe that we've answered enough questions with this. I do believe that it moves money around; it will hurt other schools. And I guess I would advise, at least on this side of the aisle, a -- a No vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Rezin, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President. Question for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for a question, Senator Rezin.
70 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you. The previous -- previous speaker asked many questions, but let me ask again, who makes the decision or who sets the parameters on -- you define -- who -- who makes the decision what school districts will be in this and how long will they be in this particular program?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
The -- the board makes the findings and then there's criteria by which the local law enforcement officials must go by in order to make that determination.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin.
So once the local authorities write the criteria and make the decision, are you in the program -- is your school district in the program forever or is the criteria reviewed every year, every other year, or how does that process work?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
Well, that's not addressed here, but I would assume that as long as they -- they fit within the criteria of the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, then they will qualify.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin.
So in regards to the cost of the program, will this money 71 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 come out of the Transportation Fund and who will receive the funds? How do you prioritize who receives the money in the Transportation Fund?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne.
Well, it will just work as it does now. They'll submit it and -- and I guess, based upon the money there, they'll be paid or they won't be paid.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin.
So, is there a priority list? But currently we have many down school {sic} school districts that receive money to transport their students to school and will they receive a higher priority in this list? Or -- now that we have new people who are accessing the same funds, clearly somebody will be -- will receive less funds.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Clayborne.
This is a voluntary program. All school districts may not do this, so I can't -- because every school district, I'm sure, does not fit within the criteria. It's -- it's -- in this bill, it doesn't give them priority. It just gives them the ability to provide a safe transportation for those students who are not going right now, who, eventually, if we continue to -- to not protect them in going to school, they will cost us other costs in other parts of our agencies, whether it's our prisons or our jails. 72 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Murphy.
Senator, I -- I believe you had indicated that Chicago is exempt from this bill in its current form, but it appears that the amendment that exempted Chicago has not been attached to the bill, Amendment No. 2. And Amendment No. 3 that -- that was attached leaves Chicago in the bill. So I believe, in its current form, Chicago is still in the bill and I want to make sure that's your intention.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
Amendment 2 was adopted on March 18th and all -- in Executive Committee and 3 is just -- again, designed just to include the -- the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Murphy, Secretary tells me that all three amendments have been adopted.
Okay, well…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator -- Senator Murphy.
Well, the problem with that, though, is, is that Amendment 3 73 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 is a gut-and-replace amendment, so it replaces everything from 2 and it does not exempt -- it includes Chicago. It doesn't exempt it. So, anything that came before Amendment 3 is a nullity based on adopting No. 3, and No. 3 does -- does not exempt Chicago. Chicago is in this bill if it passes in its current form. If that's not your intention, Senator, my suggestion is maybe we pull this one out and see if we can fix it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Clayborne.
Well, Senator Murphy, that definitely wasn't my intention. Hold on one second.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) We're going to do the checking here, if everybody will just take a second. Leader Clayborne.
I'll take it out of the record.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, take Senate Bill 52 out of the record. Ladies and Gentlemen, continuing on the Calendar - thank you - we have Senate Bill 57. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 66. Senator Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's bill.
Senate Bill 66. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Silverstein. 74 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. This creates the Smart Phone Theft Protection Act. It requires that -- the bill requires that wireless phone dealers to keep a written record of any purchases or sales of smart phones. It exempts certain dealers. It's an agreed-upon bill. I know no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 66 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 -- 2 voting Present. Senate Bill 66, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 70. Senator McCann. Senate Bill 100. Leader Lightford. Senate Bill -- at the bottom of page 4, Senate Bill 106. Senator McCann. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 4 -- or, excuse me, top of page 5. Senator Steans, for what purpose do you rise?
Yes, a point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Steans.
Yes, I just want to let everyone know, today is IARF's Advocacy Day, the Illinois Association of Rehab Facilities. They have about two hundred direct service personnel, mental health professionals, and administrative staff, staff and advocates from facilities that take care of people with mental illnesses and 75 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 developmental disabilities. Just want to give them a warm welcome. Maybe they want to raise their hands. I'm not sure where they are in the galleries. There they are, up over on the Republican side. Welcome and thanks for being here today.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Thanks for joining us today and thanks for your great work. We appreciate it very much. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we're on page 5 of the printed Calendar, still on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. We have Senate Bill 116. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 125. President Cullerton. Senate Bill 140. Leader Harmon. Senate Bill 141. Senator Stadelman. Senate Bill 155. Senator -- Leader Haine. Senate Bill 156. Senator Muñoz. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 156. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 156, as amended, allows law enforcement agencies in cities and counties with over two million people to destroy all confiscated weapons within six months of the date of confiscation or six months from the final court disposition if the weapon was used in evidence. It also allows a county or a city with over two million people to begin the process of auctioning off personal property if the identity or location of the owner or persons 76 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 entitled to the property has not been found within sixty days. Current law -- law requires that law enforcement agencies wait six months before the beginning of the auction process. It also allows law enforcement agencies to sell abandoned, lost, stolen, or otherwise illegally obtain property at the online auction and allows law enforcement to post notice of either a public auction or online auction on the law enforcement authority website, rather than posting notice in a newspaper. I know of no opposition and I will attempt to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Muñoz. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for questions, Senator Righter.
Senator Muñoz, and I appreciate there's no institutional opposition to the bill, but in -- the current law prohibits law enforcement from disposing of - either by destruction or by auction - of confiscated properties until six months has passed. That's my understanding of current law. Your bill, were it to become law, would move that down to as little as sixty days, I think just for Cook County or the City of Chicago. I'm not sure which you said. Why has six months been in the statute? And why is that no longer a concern?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: 77 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you, Mr. President. Right now, Senator, the State Police has the -- takes possession of it and it's costly when you have that many weapons or things that were confiscated. So instead of these sitting for six months and spending all that money, this would be -- save us a lot of money that way. And if -- again, in the bill, it's for two million-plus.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Well -- and I appreciate that, Senator, and I have no doubt that, because of the volume of property we're talking about in Chicago or in the Cook County area, the savings to be realized from disposing of some of this property sooner would be greater there than anywhere else, but nevertheless, there might be savings in other parts of the State. Did someone specifically ask that everywhere else in the State be excluded from being allowed to dispose of property sooner? I mean, how did we wind up doing that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, this is a -- a City of Chicago initiative. No one else asked to be included in it, so, again, that's why it states in the bill two million or more.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 156 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting 78 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 156, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up on the Calendar, we have -- with leave of the Body -- Senator Manar, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For a point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Manar.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I just would like to recognize a few folks that are with us today in the President's Gallery that have joined to watch the Senate in action. I'm very proud to represent the SIU School of Medicine here in the State Senate. Joining us today are the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians to bring attention to primary health care issues, not just in Central Illinois, but across the State. With us are President Dr. Janet Albers of the SIU School of Medicine, resident physicians from SIU Family and Community Residency Programs, and SIU medical students. They are joined by family physicians and residents throughout Illinois. I would just like to give them a welcome to the Illinois Senate and thank them for the work that they do.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our guests in the galleries. Thank you very much. Appreciate you coming here today. Thank you for your great work. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we'll be skipping over some of the shell bills. Let's go to Senate Bill 159. Senator Haine, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 159 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. 79 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have Senate Bill 159. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine, on Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This becomes the bill. It's an initiative of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Illinois Chapter. Last year, we -- we changed the health care Power of Attorney Act, pursuant to an initiative of the Illinois State Medical Society. This bill, as I say, is an initiative of the Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and it clarifies and brings a change to the previous enactment. So it's in a nature of a trailer bill. Clarifies when the principal lacks the ability to make decisions, when people can receive medical information, things of that nature, the authorization of -- of an agent. There's no opposition to the bill and I would ask that -- and the Bar Association is for it and so is the State Medical Society.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Haine. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 80 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 159. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 159. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
I would strongly recommend an Aye vote. Any time we have a chance to vote on a bill that has the approval of lawyers and doctors, we should take that opportunity.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Well said. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 159 pass. All those in favor will vote -- say -- vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The -- voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 159, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we will go to Senate Bill 202. Senator Cunningham. Mr. Secretary, Senator Cunningham seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 202 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 202. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 81 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Cunningham, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. The amendment becomes the bill. I ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 202. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 202. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 202 creates the Accelerated Resolution Court program. It's a pilot program that aims to identify offenders who are being held at Cook County Jail on minor non-violent crimes, like retail theft and trespassing. And the aim of this court will be to get these cases adjudicated much more quickly, ideally within thirty days. Just to give you an idea about the -- the -- the problem that this is trying to address: A -- a recent snapshot of 82 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 the Cook County Jail population showed that there were two hundred and fifty inmates being held on retail theft charges of -- and the value of what they took was less than three hundred dollars. Their average length of stay at the jail at the time this survey was taken was a hundred and twelve days. Now a number of those offenders when their cases are adjudicated, if they're found guilty, will be sentenced to time -- to a sentence of lesser time than that. So, we want to try to move these cases along and capture them early on. It's an initiative of the Cook County Sheriff's Office and is supported by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. I would appreciate the Chamber's support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 202 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 202, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
Point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Hastings.
I'd like to introduce to the -- to Springfield some great students from Governors State University, an area in which I represent. They made the trip down here, about three hours from the South Side. I just wanted to give 'em a warm Springfield 83 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 welcome. If you wouldn't mind standing and being recognized.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our guests from Governors State University. Thanks for joining us here today. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, as I mentioned earlier, we'll be skipping over the shell bills. Let's go to Senate Bill 202. Senator Manar. Oh, did I say -- Senate Bill 220, rather. Senator Manar, on Senate Bill 220. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 223. Senator Kotowski, on 223. Senator Kotowski seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill to the --223 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 223. Mr. Secretary, indicates he'd like to take that out of the record. Take Senate Bill 223 out of the record. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to skip down to Senate Bill 274. Senator Kotowski, on 274. With leave of the Body, we'll come back to that bill later on. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to page 7 of the printed Calendar and we're going to go to Senate Bill 343. Senator Steans. Senator Steans, on 343. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 344. Leader Lightford. Indicates she wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 344. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is an initiative that came from a constituent, a group of women who are mothers and 84 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 experiencing challenges with nursing their children when they're traveling through the airport. Years ago, I passed a nursing bill for mothers in the workplace and we needed to extend that effort a little bit further. So what Senate Bill 344 does, it requires airports to offer lactation accommodations to breastfeeding women on or before January 1 of 2017. This would include O'Hare and Midway Airports and will be required to provide a room with at least a chair and an outlet in each terminal. So we're just asking that each terminal that's already set up provide a room with a chair and an outlet. For all new terminals going forward, that they would also be required to provide a room with a chair, outlet and a sink, only in each new terminal that is constructed or in a terminal being renovated. I'd be happy to answer any questions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Leader Lightford. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 344 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 344, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Let's go to Senate Bill 368. Leader Harmon. Let's go to Senate Bill 369. Senator Emil Jones. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 369. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 85 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 369 is an initiative from a constituent which allows a parcel of land of one acre or less to be annexed into a nearby municipality if they're separated by {sic} a municipality or -- by forest preserve district, federal wildlife refuge, open land, open space, or conservation area. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 369 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 369, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have Senate Bill 373. Senator Stadelman. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 373. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Stadelman.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 373, as amended, amends the Township Code, Municipal Code, and Fire Protection District Act. This bill would require private 86 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 or semi-private water systems to notify local fire protection authorities when there's a change in water system ownership or a change in the water system that would affect fire protection services. I'm not aware of any opposition. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 373 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 373, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to turn to page 8 of the printed Calendar to Senate Bill 417. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 417. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Collins.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 417 just extends the deadline for a report filed by the Long-Term Services and Supports Disparities Task Force by two years. Know of -- know of no opposition and would like an affirmative vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? 87 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 417 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 417, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to return to Senate Bill 398. It's on page 8 of the Calendar. Senator Muñoz. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 398. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This is a shell bill that I'd like -- the intent is to go to the House. Leader Feigenholtz needed a shell bill to put in some language. The language itself is not all there. It is going to be an initiative of the City of Chicago dealing with restaurants and liquor. To what extent, I don't know. I don't -- we haven't been able to talk about the language yet. I will be in negotiations with her soon, but, again, she needed a bill so we can have a bill ready once they get some language.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise? 88 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will, Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator Muñoz, you stated that the language is not quite all there. Can you tell us something about the language that is there, beyond it's about restaurants and liquor?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Again, Senator, I don't have any of the language. They're just going to start sitting down with the Restaurant Association and the City of Chicago. I haven't even been to one of the meetings as of yet, because we were looking to see if we can get a bill to her. She obviously didn't have a bill in the House, so that's why we're sending this to them.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Last question, Senator. If you can't tell us about the language that may be there, can you tell me, based on your conversations with Representative Feigenholtz, what is her goal in this legislation?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: I can tell you, it had -- when I did speak with her, there - - there were some concerns with happy hour or with the restaurants 89 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 and how late they were open for the holidays and it had to deal with when a place was closed and -- and they dealt -- for private parties and that. They just need some type of clarification. So the City of Chicago Liquor Commission, as well as the State Liquor Commission, will be working all together in conjunction with the Restaurant Associations and liquor establishments in the city. That's -- that's all I know of.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Murphy.
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
I had -- and I apologize to Senator Righter, because I did not have a chance to explain this to him, which was my fault. I have had a conversation with Representative Feigenholtz. I've also had a conversation with Representative Sandack from our side of the aisle about these negotiations. We are involved in them. We'll -- they will be bipartisan negotiations. And -- and they did come forth and I had said that I would support sending this shell over. I -- it is a shell bill. I would -- you know, recognize that and everybody on our side of the aisle certainly can vote their -- their conscience on that, but I had committed to Representative Feigenholtz that I would support sending this shell over, because the concept sounded pretty good. And so I will be voting for this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and 90 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 398 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 44 voting Aye, 9 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 398, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, go to page 9 of the printed Calendar, to Senate Bill 508. The middle of page 9, still on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. Senator Kotowski, on Senate Bill 508. You wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, Senator Kotowski seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 508 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 508. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you very much. This is a bill that we've been negotiating and working on for a long time. It impacts communities of Springfield, Schaumburg, Lombard, Tinley Park, Collinsville, Quincy, the Quad Cities, and Peoria. It provides for the creation of a -- a program through DCEO for incentives paid to attract conventions, meetings. and trade shows that would've otherwise not occurred without the incentive. Revenues for this fund are derived from the Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax and will pay to reimburse incentives to the mid-sized conventions. This requires that -- that about eighty percent is brought back to those invested in 91 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 these incentives, these -- these municipalities, but they have to put the money upfront and the money that comes back is the money that's generated from the -- the tax, from the hotel tax. So they have to generate this money and then the money comes back as a result of the -- as a result of the revenue generation. I'm more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 508 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Oops! Excuse me, that's right, it was an amendment. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 508. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 508. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
I -- I explained the bill. I apologize, I kind of jumped the shark on that one, but I -- I -- I explained the bill on the -- the amendment and it explained it. More than happy to answer any 92 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 508 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 508, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. With leave of the Body, we're going to jump -- well, we're going to skip Senate Bill 543. Let's turn the page, Ladies and Gentlemen, to page 10 and let's go to -- oh, we're going to skip 563 as well. Let's go to Senate Bill 621. With leave of the Body, let's go to Senate Bill 621. Leader Silverstein. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 621. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Silverstein.
Thank you, Mr. President. 621 -- as amended, allows vehicles occasionally used as rescue vehicles to oscillate red and white lights if the vehicle has been authorized as a -- as a rescue for a voluntary EMS provider -- has successfully completed in a -- a course provided by the Department of Public Health. This is just for the -- only for the City of Chicago and the Department of 93 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Public Health is now neutral on the bill. I'll take any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 621 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 621, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Let's go to Senate Bill 624. Senator Emil Jones. Senator Jones. Mr. Secretary, how about Senate Bill -- Senator Bush, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm sorry, I inadvertently pressed the wrong button. I had intended to vote No on SB 508, if the record could reflect that. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you and the record will so indicate that was your intent. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 625. Senator Muñoz, on 625. Senator Muñoz seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 625 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 625. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Muñoz.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz, to present Floor Amendment 1. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. As amendment -- excuse me, is an 94 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 agreement between Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the Secretary of State. The amendment would allow the Secretary of State to issue a -- five-year registration plates to rental car companies. I ask for its…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 625. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 625. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President. As I stated the amendment for its adoption, is the bill now. I will attempt to answer any questions. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 625 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 95 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 who wish? Take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 1 voting Present. Senate Bill 625, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 626. Senator Muñoz, on 626. Let's go to Senate Bill 627. Senator Stadelman. Mr. Secretary, Senator Stadelman seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 627 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 627. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Stadelman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Stadelman, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Mr. President, amendment becomes the bill. I move that it be adopted.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 627. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 627. 96 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Stadelman.
Mr. President and Members of the Senate, Senate Bill 627, as amended, makes various changes to the Illinois Vehicle Code dealing with DUI offenders. Basically, it expands the use of Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices for a number of categories, including those convicted of aggravated DUI involving death; if a person has any combination of two or more DUI reckless homicide convictions; also requires BAIID on a first DUI conviction that results in great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement. I'm aware of no opposition. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 627 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 627, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 628. Senator Manar. Senate Bill 645. Leader Haine. Senator Haine. Senate Bill 661. Senator Mulroe. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 11 of your Calendar. Senate Bill 669. Senator Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 669. 97 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
Senate Bill 669 changes the election of school board members from the consolidated election to the general election, and the bill states that the term of any incumbent serving on January 1, 2018, is extended until his or her successor is elected, and also that it remains on a nonpartisan basis.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for questions, Senator Righter.
Senator Cunningham {sic}, I noticed that this bill came out of the Senate Executive Committee and there was a measure of opposition. Explain to me and the other Members who were not in committee why you think moving these elections into the consolidated general election is a good idea.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
Senator Murphy, I thank you for the question. I'm Cullerton. He's Cunningham. The opposition was from your side of the aisle who felt that moving it would make it more of a partisan election, 98 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 I believe. You'd have to ask the members of your -- of your -- of your side why they voted against it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Okay, I'm going to follow up on my misstatement before. Did you say it would make it less or more partisan to move it to the general election?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
Your side believed that it would make it more partisan. That is why they were voting against it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
I'm sorry. I'm asking you, Senator Cullerton, why you think this is a good idea.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
I think it's a good idea because voter turnout at consolidated elections is disgustingly low. Senator -- or Representative Sandack is running a very similar bill in the House to do the exact same thing and will be carrying this bill once it comes over to the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
99 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 One of the concerns that I've heard about this, Senator, is that if you move these elections to the general election, then they kind of get swallowed up. In the -- you know, obviously, in the even-numbered year, you're electing Members of the State Legislature; you're electing your county board members; you're electing members of Congress in the United States Senate; and -- and sometimes a Presidency; sometimes, you know, statewide-elected officials, and so those races that are of enormous importance for school board and municipal kind of get swallowed up -- are going to get swallowed up by those in terms of the public discussion of the candidates and those issues. What's your response to that?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
First, I -- I don't believe they will, and secondly, our judges then would also get swallowed up. If you feel that way, then the judges are being swallowed up and they -- they cause a very important aspect of the State of Illinois. But you don't seem to mind that they are on the general election.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Cullerton, do you wish to close? Senator Cullerton.
I'd like to thank Senator Righter for the questions. I would ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 669 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 100 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 41 voting Aye, 11 voting Nay, 2 voting Present. Senate Bill 669, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, 675 is next up on the board. Senator Manar. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's go to 680. Senator Steans. Now let's go to Senate Bill -- or, excuse me, 688. Senator Lightford. Senator Lightford seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 688 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 688. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Lightford.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford, on Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 1 makes some changes. I'd be happy to debate on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendments {sic}? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Oh, excuse me, now on the Order -- or, excuse me, Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 688. Mr. Secretary, read the bill. 101 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Senate Bill 688. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Lightford.
Mr. President, I'm just being informed that another technical amendment is being processed right now. Will you please take this out of the record?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indeed we will. Please, Mr. Secretary, take 688 out of the record. Okay, next bill up is Senate Bill 717. Senator Hutchinson. Out of the record. Senate Bill 720. Leader Harmon. Out of the record. Senate Bill 727. Senator Stadelman. Let's go to Senate Bill 729. Senator Silverstein. Next up, we have Senate Bill 742. Senator Martinez. Senate Bill 743. 743. Senator Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 750. Senator Hastings. Mr. Secretary, Senator Hastings seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 750 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 750. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings, to present amendment -- Floor Amendment 3.
Thank you, Mr. President. Amendment No. 3 deletes all and 102 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 becomes the bill. I'll address it on the final reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings, on Floor Amendment 4.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 4 is a technical correction to Floor Amendment No. 3. I'll discuss it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on Amendment 4? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 750. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 750. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 103 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Hastings.
Senate Bill 750 requires dentists and dental care providers to notify insurers electronically or in writing of any changes to their information as listed in the insurers' in-network provider directory. It also requires insurers to update their dental provider directories within ten business days of receiving updated information from a dentist. The directory must list the specific location where dental providers are accepting new patients. Nothing in this Act will contract -- or void any contractual relationship between dental providers and insurers. This bill was a lot of discussion, a lot of amendments. It represents an agreement between the Dental Society, insurers, and dental service organizations. And I personally want to thank Senator Syverson and the Insurance Committee for the bipartisan work on this bill. I'll answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 750 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Did you want to close, Senator Hastings? Will vote -- those opposed will vote Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 750, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, 773. Senator Connelly. Senate Bill 785. Senator Harris. Mr. Secretary, please read the gentleman's bill.
104 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 785. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harris.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. SB 785 amends the Civil Administration {sic} (Administrative) Code to exempt health care professionals licensed to practice in another state or country from -- country from Illinois State licensure requirements if the professional is practicing in the State while under contract to provide services to an athletic team from another state other than Illinois.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 785 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 785, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 800. Senator McCann. Let's go to Senate Bill 806. Senator Kotowski. Next up, we have Senate Bill 817. Senator Tom Cullerton. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 12. Still on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 844. Senator Stadelman. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 844. 105 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Stadelman.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 844 amends the Drug Court Treatment Act by allowing a defendant to enter a drug court program even if that defendant has previously completed or been discharged from one. This basically eliminates the so-called "one and done" provision for drug courts. This provision has already been eliminated in other specialty courts, such as mental health and veterans courts. The goal here is simply to provide non-violent offenders with more potential access to rehabilitation instead of a direct path to prison, which costs the State much more money in the long run. I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 844 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 54 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 844, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, 845. Senator Mulroe. Let's go to 874. Leader Harmon. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to skip down to Senate Bill 936. Senator Rezin. Senator Rezin, on 936. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, let's turn to page 13. We're -- we're bypassing the shell bills, Ladies and 106 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Gentlemen. We're going to go to Senate Bill 993. Senator McCarter, on 993. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, let's go to… Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to go back to page 12 and Senate Bill 936. Senator Rezin, do you wish to proceed? Indicates that she does. I believe she seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 936 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 936. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Rezin.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment 1 deletes all and becomes the bill. I'll explain on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion on Amendment 1? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 936. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 936. (Secretary reads title of bill) 107 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Rezin.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 936 simply extends the TIF zone for Ottawa by twelve years. Everybody has agreed upon it. All of the paperwork's in and there's no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 936 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. And the voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 936, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we will go to… Mr. Secretary, let's go to page 13 of the printed Calendar, toward the top, and let's go to Senate Bill 979. Senator McCarter, on 979. Okay, let's go to 981. Senator McConnaughay, on 981. Senator McConnaughay, on 981. Okay, let's go to 983. Leader Radogno. Mr. Secretary, let's go to 986. Leader Radogno. 987. Leader Radogno. Now let's go to Senate Bill 993. Senator McCarter. There we go. Mr. Secretary, Senator McCarter seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 993 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 993. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
108 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator McCarter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter, on Floor Amendment 1. SENATOR McCARTER: I'll -- I'll speak about the bill on…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 993. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 993. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Senate Bill 993 amends the Employee Classification Act by moving the filing date of the report required by contractors from April 30th -- I'm sorry, from, originally, January 31st to April 30th. It also adds that the report should be filed electronically. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Is there any 109 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 993 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? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 993, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to skip down to Senate Bill 1026. Senator Duffy. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to bypass some of the shell bills. If you'll turn to page 14 of the regular Calendar, we have Senate Bill 1146. 1146. Senate Bill 1146. There it is. Senator Brady. Senator Brady, on 1146. Indicates he'd like to proceed. Senator Brady seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1146 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1146. Are there any Floor amendments, Mr. Secretary, approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Brady.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Brady, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amendment simply increases the size of the board of Illinois State University's Board of Trustees. We passed it last year.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor 110 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1146. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1146. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. I explained it on 2nd Reading. The chairman of the committee chose not to -- to take a pass on the vote for reasons, but other than that, it received all other support in committee. I ask for your favorable vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1146 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1146, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, Mr. Secretary, we're going to return to page 11 -- 11 of the Calendar. Senate Bill 688. To Leader Lightford's bill, Senate Bill 688. Wish to proceed? 111 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Indicates that she does. Leader Lightford seeks leave of the Body -- already adopted the amendment, so we're going to leave it on 3rd. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 688. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford.
Thank you, Mr. President. We were in fact ready to go. Senate Bill 688 creates the voluntary supplier diversity program. It requires institutions of higher education, all the institutions that receive MAP grants, to submit an annual two-page report to the Department of Central Management Services. The report must include the point of contact for the supplier diversity program, the vendor certifications recognized by the institution, and the tactics used to achieve the institution's supplier diversity goals. The Department is required to publish the report on its website for five years and hold an annual higher education supplier diversity workshop to discuss the reports with institutions of higher education and vendors. This was a -- a piece of legislation that was negotiated. I'd like to take the opportunity just to thank Dan Johnson for bringing this forward and to also thank all of our universities, Community College Board, private institutions for being active and engaged in a part of the negotiation process. This is a good piece of legislation. I'd ask for an Aye vote. I'd be happy to answer questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 112 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the -- oh, late light there. Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: A question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield for a question, Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: So, Senator, after hearing what you said, I -- I'm -- I guess we should assume that all the universities are in favor of this bill and supportive of it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Lightford.
There is no opposition to the bill, Senator. The Community College Board is neutral.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: To -- to the bill. I -- I -- neutral means they're not necessarily supportive, typically, and they perhaps wish that this burden wouldn't be on them, and -- and I guess they can speak for themselves, but a lot of times, groups don't. This -- this is a mandate and the Body should know this is a mandate on private universities as well. This is not -- not universities that are subject to our oversight necessarily, but private universities as well. So, for this reason, I'll be voting Present. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Lightford, do you wish 113 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 to close? Senator Lightford.
Quickly, Mr. President. I want to thank Senator McCarter for defining what a neutral vote means, as if none of us understood when a group takes a neutral stand. And I also want to include that Tom Ryder -- if any of you know Tom Ryder, you know that gentleman speaks for himself and he's not the type of guy to just sit back. They heavily negotiated this bill. He was involved. They -- we were all involved in this process. It's a very good program. I encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 688 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? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 48 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 3 voting Present. Senate Bill 688, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn towards the bottom of page 14, kind of where we left off, it'll be Senate Bill 1204. 1204. Senator Biss. Senate Bill 1206. Senator Tom Cullerton. Senate Bill 1213. Senator Murphy, on 1213. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of page 15. We have Senate Bill -- 1228. Senator Silverstein. Let's go to Senate Bill 1229. Senator Koehler. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1229. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 114 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a very important bill regarding physician licenses. It creates the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. It creates an agreement between the states to expedite the licensing process for physicians licensed to practice medicine in a particular state and they would be able to forego the process -- traditional process in Illinois or any other state in the Compact. What it does is it establishes, number one, a new board -- or an Interstate Commission composed of two members from each participating state to govern the licensing process of physicians in states participating in this Compact; number two, a new investigatory process for disciplinary actions involving physicians licensed in a participating state; and, three, the authority of the Interstate Commission to levy and collect annual assessments on participating states to finance the operations and activities of the Interstate Commission. This Compact would become effective upon the enactment of seven states. Illinois would be the seventh state. States that so far have approved this and their Governor has signed it into law are Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Idaho, West Virginia, and Montana. There are, in addition, quite a few states that are considering this as well. I think this is an important way for us to -- to move ahead, especially as it relates to health care in rural areas. The Illinois State Medical Society met last week and, at their board meeting, they voted to support this legislation. This is a concern of theirs and they debated it robustly amongst themselves and decided that this was a good thing and they are in support. 115 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 So, be happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Excellent. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Senator Kotowski, for what purpose do you rise?
I just wanted to speak to the bill, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Kotowski.
Thank you. I want to applaud the sponsor for his work on this. I meet with a -- a group of nursing students every three months from North Park University and the -- the Nursing {sic} (Nurse) Licensure Compact Act comes up all the time. We are going to be facing a shortfall of nurses in the State of Illinois and across the country and this is a way to -- to make sure we're able to fill those jobs and -- and to honor those type of agreements that we can have in other states, so we can fill the jobs that are out there so -- and -- and make sure people are able to get to work and -- and take care of folks. So I just want to applaud the sponsor for all his great work on this and I would ask for your support on this measure as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Althoff.
116 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Just in responding to the previous Senator's comments, we do have a piece of legislation that we're currently holding until the Compact, the nurses' compact, makes a few adjustments. That legislation will come forward. I am looking for everyone's support on the nurses' compact bill, but in the interim, this is a great first step and I, too, commend the sponsor for a great initiative. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1229 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1229, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1236. Senator Tom Cullerton. Mr. Secretary, Senator Cullerton seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1236 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1236. Are there any amendments -- Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Tom Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Tom Cullerton, to present Floor Amendment 3.
I -- I would ask for an Aye on the amendment and I'll explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 117 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 1236. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1236. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Tom Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill was on the Agreed Bill List during committee. It is attempting to address the correction of the corresponding -- under-assessments in County 2 when an over- assessment occurs in County 1 during the equalization process for multi-county tax districts. Ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1236 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1236, having received the required 118 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, Senate Bill 1258. Leader Harmon. Senator Harmon, on 1258. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1268. Senator Haine. Senator Haine seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1268 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1268. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Haine.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine, to present Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 2 becomes the bill, in effect replacing the language of the original bill but adding language that was suggested by the Illinois Attorney General's Office that is more consumer-friendly - increasing the notice time, provide notice of an interest rate - and the -- the bill as such amends the Illinois Structured Settlement Protection Act in various ways. A recent Appellate Court case rendered the liquidity option of a settlor -- raised a big question as to whether there can be a liquidity option - in other words, going to court and -- and -- and having some of the money taken out of the settlement and given to the plaintiff. And what this does is allow that with certain stronger protections for that settlor, including stronger mandates on courts to hear the evidence and weigh whether the anti- assignment clause should be kept or modified. And there's no opposition to the bill. All the parties came together. The Attorney General was part of it and… 119 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all -- all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1268. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1268. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Again, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, this is a -- a major change to the original Structured Settlement (Protection) Act, which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2003, made necessary by an Appellate Court case, but has strong protections for the settlor or the plaintiff. And all the parties came together - the primary insurers and the secondary insurers and then the Attorney General's Office.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1268 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 120 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1268, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
I rise on the point of a personal privilege. I'd like to make an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator Morrison.
Thank you, Mr. President. Members of the Senate, I'm very happy to have with me today a friend in the gallery, right behind me, Noah Bronfeld, who is here as a self-advocate today, representing the Anixter Center. And I'd like to invite him to stand and be recognized.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Noah, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Thanks for joining us today. Let's give him a round of applause, folks. Great to have you here. Thank you very much. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to go back to page 5 of the printed Calendar to Senate Bill 140. Leader Harmon, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, Leader Harmon seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 140 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 140. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 121 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Leader Harmon, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Floor Amendment No. 2 represents an agreement among the stakeholders. I'd move its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 140. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 140. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 140 is a modernization of the Limited Liability Company Act. It is initiated by the Illinois Business Law Institute, which used to be affiliated with the Secretary of State's Office. The amendment reflects an agreement between the Institute and the Secretary's Office. I'm not aware of any particular opposition and I'd ask for your Aye votes. 122 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 140 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 140, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 7, towards the middle of the page, we have Senate Bill 368. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 368. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 368 is an extension of a tax increment financing district in -- in my district, in Rosemont. I -- we have all of the letters from the local governments and I'd ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Harmon. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 368 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that 123 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 368, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to return to where we had ceased action and we're on page 15. We have Senate Bill 1271. Senator McGuire. Indicates he does not wish to proceed. Let's go to Senate Bill 1275. Senator Luechtefeld. Let's go now to Senate Bill 1281. Senator Collins. Mr. Secretary, how about Senate Bill 1318? Senator Martinez. Now let's go to Senate Bill… Senator Martinez, would you like to do Senate Bill 1322? Okay. Let's go to Senate Bill -- oh, excuse me, hers was 1318. She indicates she does not wish to proceed. Now let's go to Senate Bill 1322. Senator Barickman. Let's go to Senate Bill 1327. Leader Radogno. Ladies and Gentlemen, how about 1367? Senator Steans. She seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1367 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1367. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration? Mr. Secretary, take the bill back to 3rd Reading. There are no amendments. Mr. Secretary, read the bill, please. Senate Bill 1367.
Senate Bill 1367. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Steans.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This bill puts in place a task force to provide input on the 1115 waiver. 124 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Previous administration had been working on an 1115 waiver process. They've had it on hold, but I think their intent is to go back and potentially make some revisions and move forward with it. So, in that event, we want to make sure that there's a chance for the General Assembly to weigh in and have input. This bill came out of discussions I had with Director Norwood, as well as Senator Righter. I don't know of any opposition and would appreciate your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Righter.
Very briefly. I rise in support of the legislation. I appreciate very much the sponsor's willingness to sit down and have a conversation with the new members of the administration, and specifically, Director Norwood. I think that the language in this bill strikes the appropriate balance between allowing the new administration the flexibility to design whatever waiver they might, but also ensuring that the General Assembly will have significant input to that. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1367 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 125 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 58 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1367, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is Senate Bill 1376. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1376 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1376. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Hastings.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 1 is a technical change and I'll discuss it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is -- Senate Bill 1376. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1376. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 126 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hastings.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1376 was carefully crafted over two years by the Uniform Law Commission to address the fact that current law has not kept pace with technological advances in the Internet age. A generation ago, a person delivered mail, photos were kept in albums, documents were filed in file cabinets, and money was deposited at the corner bank. For most people today, at least some of their property and communications are stored as data on a computer server and accessed through the Internet. While Illinois citizens have complete control over what happens to their tangible private property when they die or lose capacity, that is not always the case for digital assets. This bill solves that problem. This bill will give Illinois citizens the power to plan for the management and disposition of their digital assets in the same way they can make plans for their tangible property by providing instructions in a will, trust, power of attorney, or using simple online planning tools. If a person has no estate plan, the same court-appointed fiduciary that manages the person's tangible assets can manage the person's digital assets, distributing those assets to heirs or disposing them as appropriate. These fiduciaries are required to act exclusively in the best interest of the person or estate they are representing. And I'll answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is -- excuse me, Senator Hastings, to close. 127 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
I just want to be very clear what Senate Bill 1376 will not do. This bill will not conflict with federal privacy laws. This bill will not impose unreasonable costs or burdens on Internet- based businesses. And this bill will not permit the invasions of privacy. Thank you, Mr. President. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1376 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1376, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
…you -- thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Mulroe.
I would just like to take this moment to introduce -- introduce some of -- friends in the gallery, the President's Gallery. They're from DePaul University. They're promoting the funding of MAP grants. If you could please stand. And to my left, my seatmate is an -- DePaul University is his alma mater, very proud of the Blue Demons. One of the people here that I met today was Matthew von Nida. He's the president of the student government and hails from Madison County, from Senator Haine's home. And 128 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 also Cristina Vera. Matthew is majoring in international studies, minoring in Italian. Cristina, a woman after my own heart, in finance and -- I'm accounting, but finance is very close. They're both seniors. They're here promoting MAP grant and the importance that that program has for kids that are trying to get educated that don't have the -- the wherewithal. So it's extremely important. We need an educated society. If you'd all join me in welcoming Matt and -- or, MC and Cristina and the rest of the student government from DePaul.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, let's welcome our guests from DePaul. Thank you so much for joining us. Great to have you here today. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Just a personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please state your point, Senator Haine.
To add to the congratulations to this fine group of students from DePaul University, the alma mater of the Senator back here cheering for them. I just want to make a note that Matthew von Nida's father is the distinguished circuit court clerk in Madison County, and we wish him the best. He was my office manager when I was State's Attorney and earned his keep. Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Thank you very much. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 1380. We're on page 15 of the printed Calendar. Senator Koehler, on Senate Bill 1380. Let's go to Senate Bill 1382. Senator Link. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1383. Senator 129 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Bennett. Let's go to Senate Bill 1389. Senator Bennett. And 1393. Senator Bennett. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom? All members of the Committee on Assignments, to the President's Anteroom, please. (at ease) Senator Link in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 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 bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 806. We have received like Messages on House Bills 1646, 3122, 3303, 3323, 3704, 3764, and 4029. Passed the House, April 22nd, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 340, offered by Senator McGuire and all Members. It's a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Senator Althoff, for what purpose do you rise?
130 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you, Mr. President. Point of an announcement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
The Senate Republicans would like to caucus immediately for about thirty minutes, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate Republicans request a -- a caucus for thirty minutes. Permission granted. We will come back after the Republican Caucus and resume Floor action. The Senate stands in recess. (SENATE STANDS IN RECESS/SENATE RECONVENES)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The Senate will please come back to order. Will the Committee on Assignments please report to the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments, please meet at the President's Anteroom immediately. (at ease) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 274. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Will all Members at the sound of my voice please come to the Floor? We will be going to 3rd Readings, final action, immediately. All Members at the sound of my voice, please come 131 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 back to the Senate Floor. We will be going back to 3rd Readings, final action. Paul Elders, WICS-TV, requests permission to take video and audio. Seeing no objection, permission granted. With leave of the Body, we will -- we will go back to page 2, Senate Bills 2nd Reading. Senate Bill 221. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments -- Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 221. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is -- 3rd Reading. Oh! Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McGuire, on your amendment. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I ask - Mr. President - I ask for approval of the amendment and I look forward to explaining it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment has been adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported. 132 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senate Bill 1830. Senator Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1830. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Have there been any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Harmon, on your amendment.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the Floor amendment and would look forward to taking it up on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment has been adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 3rd Reading. Senator Sullivan in the Chair.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, page 6 of the Calendar, regular 133 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Calendar, on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 223. Senator Kotowski. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 274. Senator Kotowski. Senator Kotowski seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 274 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading, we have Senate Bill 274. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, Floor Amendment 1.
Don't want it. Just withdraw that one.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski would like to table Floor Amendment 1. Are there any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 4, offered by Senator Kotowski.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski, on amendment -- Floor Amendment 4. Go ahead and present the amendment, if you would, Senator Kotowski.
Sure. This is a -- a bill that -- this is an amendment that authorizes a list of funds which would allow up to twenty-six million in transfers for General Revenue Fund. I'd like to speak to it after we approve the amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and 134 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 274. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 274. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. I appreciate your attention. This -- this amendment is a byproduct of efforts in working with the Governor's Office and working with my colleagues in the Republican Caucus and the Senate Democratic Caucus to fashion a proposal that addresses the twenty-six million dollars in resources that are needed to restore these cuts that have been made to services for autistic children, for people who are living with epilepsy and seizure disorders, for addiction prevention, for support for funeral and burial for poor people, for immigration services, for Teen REACH. The total is twenty- six million dollars. It's a restoration of Public Health grants and Human Services. And the funds that are being accessed here are these other State funds that have surpluses. We had about a hundred of these funds in House Bill 318, which were voted on in the bipartisan solution to fiscal year '15, and one of the funds 135 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 we're including right now, which has a balance of seventy-five million dollars is the Supplemental (Low-Income) Energy Assistance Fund. It's money that's surplus. It's not needed for fiscal year '15. It could be accessed. The funds that are not included in this bill that were included in House Bill 318 are the Road Fund, the State Construction Account Fund, and the -- Motor Fuel Tax Fund. Be more than happy to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Murphy, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Murphy.
I just -- I want to thank the sponsor for his tenacity on this issue and -- and appreciate the opportunity to work with him to negotiate this. I very much appreciate the -- the flexibility of the Governor, his willingness to work to reinstate these cuts and find a creative way to do so. I think we have found a creative way to do so. Protecting autism and epilepsy and early intervention were priorities over here. We're able to do that for the time being with this bill. I hope that there is a receptiveness to this bill in the other Chamber in the General Assembly. I think it's important to note, though, that the fact that this had to happen at all is a byproduct of the fact that the State has been spending more money than we can afford and difficult decisions are coming down the pike. We are able to forestall that with this bill for this fiscal year for these programs, but we need to brace 136 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 ourselves for the fact that difficult financial decisions are coming. Let's enjoy for the moment the fact that we're able to help with these programs for the time being, because, through the creative efforts of the Governor's Office of Management and Budget and the Senate Democrats and the Senate Republicans working together, we were able to find a way to do this for fiscal year '15. Again, I appreciate the efforts of those involved and encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Noland, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. In having a child who is on the autism spectrum, I am having great sensitivity, or at least I'd like to suggest that, you know, there are many of us in this Chamber that have probably a number of either friends or family and certainly members of our communities that are going to be affected by this measure. But I have to ask you, Senator, does this -- do -- does the -- the financing, or at least the -- the restoration, of these funds in any way require a sweep from one fund to another in order to restore the overall funding for -- for these programs that you're identifying here?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
So, if I get your -- your -- your question correctly that -- this allows to transfer surplus dollars in these surplus funds to the General Revenue Fund to fund Project Autism, services for epilepsy, burials for people who are poor, addiction prevention. 137 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 So, yes, it does allow for a transfer, but it's a transfer of surplus dollars that are not needed in this fiscal year. In effect, the -- the fund that I mentioned, the Supplemental Energy Assistance Fund, has an additional seventy-five million dollars that are not needed for this fiscal year. That's where -- one of the funds it could be drawn from, but there's a list of about a hundred funds that have been provided for that can be reviewed to see if they have excess balances to be used in this situation.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland.
Thank you, Senator. I appreciate your description of the mechanism by which we're making these transfers, but - to the bill, Mr. President - this is -- a transfer by any other name is a sweep. And to the point that Senator Murphy made, that we're spending money that we don't have here in the State of Illinois, and that we should take pleasure, or at least momentary relief, that we don't have to make tough decisions here in the State of Illinois with what has become essentially a train wreck of a budget, not because we're spending too much here in this State, but because in this State, where we have had on average about a thirty-five- billion-dollar budget here in this State over the last five or six years, but have a seven-hundred-billion-dollar economy. Doing the math, it's easy to see that we are spending only but a nickel for every dollar that flows through this State for State operations. So anybody that believes that we're overspending in this State and who would suggest that any business that is operating on a five percent overhead cost of -- of doing business should truly go back to Economics and Finance 101 and come to understand that this State 138 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 is operating fairly efficiently and we have a long way to go leveling up to the just demands of these people and the people of the -- of our State. So, I'm sorry that we're having to engage in what is essentially robbing one piggy bank to feed another. And I agree, we need to make some adjustments to the way that we're doing business with all of these various funds. And if there is a surplus, we need to go in and we need to make sure that they're more appropriately and responsibly, as you have said in the past, Senator, appropriated. But this is not the bill to do that. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Trotter, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. I -- I certainly rise in support of this initiative. I want to thank those individuals who sat down at the table and with calm, thoughtful minds came up with this resolution to a problem which did not have to be. Yes, as -- as pointed out by the previous speaker and -- and things that we know down here, that we do have to organize and -- and come up with a better way of how we spend the limited dollars that we have. But I think we should not lose focus that we're all working for the people of this State, for all of its people. So we don't necessarily have a spending problem. We have a priority problem. We need to remember that we need to 139 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 prioritize the needs of those individuals who cannot fend for themselves. We need to realize that some of these programs that we call "social service" are actually life-giving services for individuals that need 'em, not just to -- for the ailments that have been recognized already, but when we're talking about prevention - those are services we need. When we're talking about after school programs - those are needed to have a strong viable, sustainable society. So we need to continue, as we go forward, looking at how we can spend our limited dollars; that we keep in mind this is not just math, this is also about people. And I ask an Aye vote for everyone.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Steans, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Steans.
So, yeah, I carried the fiscal year '15 budget fix bills, and was pleased that we had bipartisan support in doing that. It was not a perfect bill, but it was providing a solution to our current year budget so we could really turn our focus on to fiscal year '16. It was then, with quite dismay, I felt like I had a kick in the stomach on April 3rd when I started getting phone calls and emails from providers from around the State who were -- got notice -- well, really, no notice that their -- their contracts were getting canceled with -- with absolutely zero notice, and certainly not what we were expecting. And, you know, as we've been 140 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 discovering and having hearings on, these nonessential services are things like funeral and burial. You know, last time we did this, we had bodies piling up in Cook County morgue, things like Project Autism - and we've heard from so many kids and their -- parents of those kids with autism on how important these services are, getting them early and making them productive citizens later on - things like addiction prevention services and the cigarette hotline, the -- the quit smoking hotline. I was very thrilled then that we were able to actually sit down with folks from the Governor's Office and -- and just delighted that Senator Kotowski led this effort, very diligently, to bring us all to the table and try to come up with a restoration, way to not have all these grant cancellations, these twenty-six million dollars, so to speak, get in fact terminated. And now to find a solution to restore them with cooperation of the Governor's Office and Senator Murphy and others on the Republican side of the aisle is really, I think, a tremendous step forward and will again allow us to now focus back onto fiscal year '16, where we really need to be providing our -- our attention and efforts. I am thrilled that we're able to do this. Again, it's not perfect having to sweep funds. This is clearly the right thing to be doing so that folks are not claimed non-essential and have the rug pulled out from under them. I urge an Aye vote. And thank you, again, Senator Kotowski, for your efforts on this.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you, Senator Steans. Senator Kotowski, to close.
So, thank you very much, Senator Steans, and thank you as well for your leadership. As stated, I want to thank Senator 141 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Murphy for his support here and for the Governor's Office and Budget Director Tim Nuding for his outreach. Last week, sat down with the Governor and indicated to him I personally did what I -- what a mistake I thought this was and I know that our leadership and the Senate President has expressed that to him as well, which I think all of us greatly appreciate. And the fact remains that there's been an understanding, as articulated by the administration, that something needs to be done, that we need to have the resources necessary in order to restore these cuts that have been frozen by DHS and the Department of Public Health, and to make sure that we provide funds for people who, quite frankly, need the most help right now. I want to echo something that Leader Trotter had said: These are just not numbers on a page; they're people with lives, real lives, and they're impacted by this, and there's -- there's nonprofits that have lost their jobs and there are families that can't sleep at night because they don't know where they're going to get the service now. And -- and I think about yesterday, this young man, Dan, who came out there and he talked about this program, this early intervention, that helped him because he was diagnosed with autism and he got the services he needed and now he's a taxpayer, now he's working, now he's not relying upon any government support, and it's an example of when you invest in people -- when we invest in people, we change lives - we change lives. And not only do we save taxpayers money, we save lives and we change lives. And this is what's so important. And the priority discussion we need to have here is not just saying that this is a reduction in the amount of money that we have to pay, it's, like, what does this mean? Project Autism impacts fifteen thousand autistic children and adults - fifteen thousand. 142 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 So what happens if you make those reductions? So -- and I think about the people that I've met who have been advocating for this and I'm doing this, and I think we're all doing this, for people like Dan yesterday - Danny Stanton, who died because he had a seizure in his sleep; he was four years old - and other people like that who have seizure disorders. This is for Brian. This is for Declan. This is for Melissa. This is for Erin. This is for all the people that we've met who've testified in our hearings, who said, "We're the people who are impacted by this. We want you to rise above any of these political games and do what's right and get the funds in place to make sure that we have a decent quality of life." And that's what we need to do here today and I simply ask for your Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 274 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 57 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 274, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to go to the top of page 16 of the regular Calendar, start where we left off prior to our recess with Senate Bill 1400. Senate Bill 1400. Senator Muñoz. Senate Bill 1407. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, let's go back to Senate Bill 1400. Leader Muñoz. Indicates he wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1400. 143 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. 1400 expands the Criminal Code definition of "gambling device" to include sweepstakes machines and classifies a gambling offense involving sweepstakes machines as a Class 4 felony. This aligns the Criminal Code with Gaming Board interpretation of the Video Gaming Act. I know of no opposition. We passed it in Chamber last Session and for whatever reason, I don't know why, it didn't move in the House. I will attempt to answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Seeing none… Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1400 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1400, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senate Bill 1408. Senator Koehler. Senate Bill 1410. Senator Mulroe. Senate Bill 1421. Senator Koehler. Senate Bill 1446. Senator Rezin. Senate Bill 1455. Senator Delgado. Senate Bill 1458. Senator Luechtefeld. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1458. (Secretary reads title of bill) 144 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Luechtefeld.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the -- of the Senate. Senate Bill 1458 simply allows DNR to create an Office of Oil and Gas (Resource) Management and -- and replace the funds into that new name, at least, the (Oil and) Gas Resource Management Fund. I don't know of any opposition. Would ask for an Aye vote. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1458 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 56 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1458, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Leader Trotter, on Senate Bill 1465. Leader Trotter seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1465 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1465. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Trotter.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter, on Floor Amendment 1.
If I could, Mr. President, I would like to explain the 145 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 amendment along with the whole bill, if we adopt the amendment.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The -- the Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Mr. Secretary, are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, Senate Bill 1465. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1465. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1465 sets forth policy guidance to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services with reference to criteria used to control the utilization of interferon-free therapies for hepatitis C virus. The bill also provides a fee-for-service supplemental payment to managed care companies that authorize the prescription of such drugs. The amendment provides one change to the first component, the policy of -- guidance portion, to allow fewer restrictions to licensed physicians seeking to prescribe the drug, requiring them to receive a written consultation from a board- certified specialist in a relevant sub-specialty or an infectious 146 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 disease specialist. This language, which we have been talking with Members from the other side and for this side as well, it is not our intent to -- to -- to not allow for the -- the training of the doctors to be taken into consideration, but not to allow them not to seek a more professional sub-specialty consultation from others. There is, again, some -- some little language we may need to clean up as it goes over to the House, but that is the essence of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for questions, Senator Righter.
Senator Trotter, we discussed this in the Human Services Committee a few weeks ago and, for the edification of the rest of the Members, this would be a new coverage under Medicaid, which obviously is an entitlement program. That's correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
It -- they're not new coverage. There'll be a -- a different way in which it would be paid for under the managed care program. Basically, looking at this as a fee-for-service -- component, but not necessarily a new coverage.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter. 147 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
I appreciate the correction. This is a new therapy or new drug for an existing coverage. Is that a fair way to say it?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Trotter.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Now, Senator, give me what you understand to be the fiscal impact of adding this therapy to the State's Medicaid entitlement program.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. I do not have the exact number with me at the time. It depends, of course, how many people will be deemed eligible for this based on the criteria, this seventeen-point criteria that individuals have. We know that hepatitis C is an insidious drug -- insidious illness that impacts thousands of our citizens and tens of thousands of citizens across the country. With this, in this disease that has stricken so many individuals, especially in a cohort of individuals born from 1945 up through 1975, that -- we know that there -- there are many, but, however, the criteria is pretty specific about who in fact will get this. A number has been touted by some that, one, it'll cost over a billion dollars, and I'm certain it -- it could cost over a billion dollars if everyone that has this disease or at 148 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 least a trace of the disease is treated. That is not what this bill is purporting to do. This is asking for a very specific cohort of individuals that have this disease to be treated, and if we use even six percent of those individuals that we have identified - and there's another bill out here today, I think we passed earlier this week, that will ask for more screening - that even if we use six percent of those, it'll be less than - what? - seventy-five percent of the cost, that sum has been talked about.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President. Thank you. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, we just -- we just acted on a bill that will, once again, take money out of a fund that for some reason in the past someone decided was important for us to have to help people who need the assistance. And there were a number of Members who stood up and decried the fact that we are going to be cutting services for people down the road. This bill adds a new drug as a therapy for hepatitis C to the Medicaid program, which, as you all know, is a Medicaid -- is an entitlement program. If just six percent - if just six percent - of the people who have hepatitis C who are receiving Medicaid benefits take advantage of this new therapy, the cost will be a mere fifty million dollars a year - fifty million. If everyone did - and I think that's unlikely, in all fairness to the Senator - but if everyone did, that cost is nine hundred and ninety million dollars. Now, we don't have to go all the way up there. Let's stay with the low number. Fifty million dollars. Do we have fifty million dollars in the Medicaid program to devote to something new? Do your 149 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 providers back home, your nursing homes, your hospitals, your doctors, all the other people that rely on the State to pay its bills in something resembling a timely basis, think that we've got fifty million dollars laying around that we can use to expand on a current service? No, we don't. This might be a good idea - to Senator Trotter's credit - this might be a good idea at some point in the future. And maybe it was a good idea at some point in the past, but do not, please, do not vote for this and then go back home and tell your medical providers, who are talking about insufficiency when it comes to rates or the long delay when it comes to payments, and tell them that you really care about what they're saying, because you cannot do both. Let's all at least get on the same bandwagon here that, at this time, we do not have the money to afford these kind of exorbitant costs. I urge a No vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Syverson, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Questions for the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Syverson.
Senator, one of the issues I -- I -- I failed to bring up in -- in committee was to -- to talk about the concern about covering this benefit and what that might mean for individuals in other states that do not cover this, about their ability to come to Illinois then to get that treatment. Do we know how many other states currently cover this and do our neighboring states cover 150 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 that, and -- and, if not, what are your thoughts on the concern? Because we've seen this with other programs, where Illinois covers something and our surrounding states don't, that the families or individuals will come to our State, and once they get here, declare residency and then get those benefits right away. Is there a concern that this could become a significant cost to Illinois from other states?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Trotter.
That concern rightfully does exist; however, when we have basically cried wolf before, that knowing any time that we expand our -- our Medicaid eligibility requirements that that's going to happen, well, that hasn't happened in other instances as well. The idea and -- and the possibility certainly does exist, but that is not something that is being factored in into this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Syverson.
Well, I think we have heard stories from hospitals that have -- have told us that they've had people that have showed up at their -- at their doors from other states because of certain programs that we've had. But this is a little bit different, this is a -- a -- a simple drug treatment for -- for individuals that would be even -- even easier for them to come in and get and there probably isn't any way, based on Medicaid laws, to put any -- any residency requirements in this 'cause we're probably not allowed to do that. But, I guess, I am concerned that because of the cost of this program, that other states would either refer people here 151 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 to get that treatment or that message would spread and we would get more people coming here. And, transversely, if there are some other states that are covering it, maybe it would be good for us to suggest to people that -- that they could get coverage there as well. But I guess I have a concern that -- and I don't think there's a way we can deal with the residency issue in Illinois, but maybe you can comment on that as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Did you want to comment to that? Senator Trotter.
You know, this program isn't unique to the -- the State of Illinois. Maryland is doing it and I know they have a similar program out in Vermont, and other states certainly are considering it. But those states that are up and running these kinds of programs have not negatively been impacted on that. And when we talk about the cost, these are such arbitrary numbers, such made up numbers, based on somebody's idea of what the cost is. At this point in time here in our State, our drug groups or -- or manager is negotiating with the pharmaceutical companies to bring down a -- a -- the price of what this drug has originally been proposed, the cost. Also because of competition, there's more than just one drug company that does offer these drugs and different kinds of formulas. So -- so the numbers themselves are, again, are -- are made up numbers. Pointed out by the previous speaker, he said it was nine hundred million -- nine hundred and ninety million dollars. Why didn’t he just say a billion dollars? You know, why -- why didn't they just say three billion dollars, this is what it's going to cost, because we're also going to have people from 152 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Indiana and from Wisconsin and everybody else coming. Why? Because we know that's unrealistic. You know, it's not the fact. And, you know, it's -- and if I -- and if I could, just to get this point across, I mean, there's very seldom -- we hear about dollars that are spent all the time on research and development with these pharmaceutical companies and we're always looking for that -- that magic pill to do something. Well, believe it or not, they have developed a magic pill that essentially cures hepatitis C - cures hepatitis. We found the cure. And what we're saying is, let's not make it available to our constituents, let's not make it available to the people of the State of Illinois, because we can't afford it. We have the cure.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Steans, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Steans.
So, some of you may have met my sister-in-law who was down here lobbying on this bill. She didn't know it; she'd been sick for years. She's had a serious illness, cancer, when she was young and had blood transfusions during her getting to health. Years later now, she started getting sicker and sicker and sicker. Didn't know what she had. Finally, she got diagnosed that she had hep C. She got the -- the -- the medicine and like practically overnight was a different person and is now home, out of the hospital, taking care of her kids. This is a personal reality of 153 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 what this drug can do. The numbers that are getting thrown out there -- I -- are really, I think, just incredibly misleading. People who -- who get this disease will, and not get treatment, end up getting liver transplants, which are far more expensive. So you talk about one little part -- part of the cost without acknowledging how much worse it is if you don't get this cure for the disease. If it just takes -- you use that nine hundred and ninety million dollars that was put out there, just three thousand people at the cost of a liver transplant is what that was, when we have in Illinois over two hundred thousand people probably who have hep C. This is just a facetious argument. What we're also trying to do here in this bill is actually incentivize the MCOs for actually diagnosing people, catching it. There's a lot of folks out there with undiagnosed hep C and they can be transmitting it to other people. We need to reduce that and it can further reduce the cost. I commend the sponsor on bringing this bill forward. I think it makes both human sense, as well as economic sense, and really encourage an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Senator Trotter, to close.
I just ask for an Aye vote. There are going to be more discussions as we go forward. Negotiations are being done right now with HFS, along with these various pharmaceutical companies. This is the right thing to do at the right time. And I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) The question is, shall Senate Bill 1465 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all 154 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 32 voting Aye, 20 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1465, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a special guest on the Floor. Will you please welcome our former colleague and the current Treasurer for the State of Illinois, Mike Frerichs? Mike, thanks for joining us. Mr. Treasurer, good to see you. Thanks for coming on the Floor. Senate Bill 1466. Senator Bush. Senate Bill 1480. Senator Righter. Senate Bill 1482. Senator Muñoz. Senator Muñoz, on 1482. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1482. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Muñoz. SENATOR MUÑOZ: Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. The bill extends the repeal date of the Section of the Vehicle Code concerning the verification of liability insurance policies to December 31st, 2016. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1482 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, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1482, having received the 155 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, Members of the Senate, we're going to go back to Senate Bill 1455. Senator Delgado, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1455. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Delgado.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1455, as amended, requires that one of three assessments that the State Board of Education is authorized to administer to high school students each year must include tests in the areas of English language arts, reading, mathematics, and science for the purpose of student application or admissions to a -- public institutions of higher -- of learning. And I would ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1455 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1455, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. We'll go back to where we left off and that is 1485. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, let's go to 1487. Senator Cunningham. Senator Cunningham seeks leave of the Body to return 1485 {sic} to 156 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is 1487. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Cunningham.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham, on Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. This amendment just -- clarifies an -- an exemption given to municipalities in the underlying bill. I ask for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, 1487. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1487. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. 157 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 1487 amends the County {sic} (Counties) Code. It's the initiative of the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office and it establishes a pilot program for Cook County that is aimed at preventing fraudulent recordings against properties that are vacant due to foreclosures. Essentially, what it does is allow for a seal to be placed on property while it -- a foreclosure is pending. And if that seal's in place, a claim on that property could only be filed with the recorder if it's been approved by the court. I was just alerted yesterday, very late yesterday, in committee by the State -- State Bar Association that some of their members voiced some concerns about some of the details of the bill. I'm not sure exactly what those concerns are, but I've made a commitment to them to get together with the Recorder's Office and the House sponsor on trying to address those concerns in the House. I'd be happy to answer any questions and I ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Barickman.
Yeah, Senator Cunningham, I -- if you could just reiterate some of your comments that you just made. I think we, too, have heard some of the concerns coming out of the Bar Association and others who have an interest in -- in these title issues. Can you reiterate for me just what your -- you know, maybe what you've heard and what your commitment is on this legislation when it moves 158 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 to the House?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cunningham.
Thanks, Senator Barickman. Yes, I -- I talked to some representatives of the Bar Association. They indicated to me that they had heard from some of their members about some concerns about, in some cases, where they would like to continue to be able to make filings without having to go to court. I've told them that I will help put them together with the Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office - again, this only applies to Cook County - and to see if we can reach some sort of agreement with them. And I've talked to the Recorder of Deeds about working with the House sponsor on that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Barickman.
Okay. Thank you, Senator, for those comments. And, you know, I think from our side of aisle, we'd simply urge you to, you know, to continue to work with those parties. You know, I think we understand where you're trying to go. We hope these issues that have been raised by the Bar Association and others will be addressed as this moves to the House. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1487 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. 159 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 1487, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Morrison, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, I'd like the record to reflect I would have voted Yes and I unintentionally voted No on Senate Bill 1482.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. The record will so indicate that was your intent. Ladies and Gentlemen, 14 -- excuse me, 1505. Senator Bertino- Tarrant. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1505. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Chamber. Senate Bill 1505 makes the appointment of a State Superintendent of Education subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield, please, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield for a question, Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator, why? 160 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
I wish I had a -- a more profound answer - a more sinister answer - other than the -- the reality is the Department of -- or, Education is probably one of the most debated topic in committee and on the Floor here. And coming here on the -- as a legislator, I was surprised at how unknown some of the policies and some of the actions that go on. So this is simply, for me, a good policy. It allows for transparency. It allows for one of the most significant roles of government to simply be -- to be vetted out.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Well, Senator, let's start. You were concerned when you first came here when you saw all of the things that were going on and - - I mean, can you give me some examples? Give me some examples where you believe that things would have been better or not happened or maybe happened better had the State Superintendent been subjected to the advice and consent of the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Well, I can't think -- say things will be better. I definitely think there's some policy decisions that when you learn about the philosophy of your State -- your State Superintendent or any educator, you learn more about them - issues such as Common Core, PARCC, or all significant policies that run through the Department of Education that's led by the State Superintendent. 161 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 And I can tell you from experience, direct experience, that there was confusion. There is a strong belief out there that that was legislatively done. And that's just -- that's just one. I mean, while -- whether or not that would change anything, the appointment will not change those policies. Again, all it does is allow for a State Superintendent's philosophy to be shared and I don't see any harm in good leadership being shared with the Senate.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Now, Senator, I know that you are aware that the Senate signs off on every appointee to the State Board of Education, which is, of course, the body that hires the State Superintendent. So you already have a level of scrutiny there and actually you have a more meaningful level of scrutiny, or we do, right now because, while we don't sign off on the State Superintendent, we sign off on who hires the State Superintendent. Is that not the kind of transparency we're looking for?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Yes. Yeah, I am -- I am aware of the -- the practice that the appointments do go to the State Board. They do have longer terms. Sometimes we may not -- we may not, you know, see who the -- the State Superintendent during that process. But, again, most people can't even identify who their State Board members are. People -- usually, especially in the education field, amongst us here, we can identify who the State Superintendent is. Again, there is nothing that I can think of that is bad with this 162 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 legislation. I do not understand any reason why we would not be able to talk about the State Superintendent, know who the State Superintendent is, know his policies, know his leadership style. I've been here for two years and I haven't seen any -- any one that we have voted on turned down. I just think it's good information for this Body to have.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
To the bill, if I might, Mr. President. Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I think that -- that there is an abundance of information out there about the State Superintendent, who they are, what they stand for. If you're not clear on that, pick up the phone, call the State Board of Education. They'll find out. This Body signs off on every appointee to the State Board of Education that hires the State Superintendent. Now maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt that the sponsor would entertain a suggestion that after a local school superintendent is hired by the locally elected board, that we should then also have another body through which that hiring of the local superintendent should be cleared. That would be silly. That would be duplicative. That would be adding a burden that we do not have now. We're supposed to be in the process of eliminating middle management, driving efficiencies into our system. This just adds another and I suggest it adds another at a time when we have a Governor of a different party who is making appointments to the State Board, and that is disappointing. I would urge a No vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise? 163 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield for a question, Senator Nybo.
Senator, I'm still new here and I'm learning a lot about how things operate, but Senator Righter just alluded to the fact that we have State Board of Education where the members do have to get approval by the Senate. Right?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) That question's been asked and answered, but, Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
And, Senator, there are several other boards where the members also need to get approval from this Body. Correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
Senator, of all those bodies where the members need to get approval by the Senate, where else do we require the administrator that is -- that reports to the body to seek Senate approval? Where 164 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 else are we doing what you're trying to do right here with this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Bertino-Tarrant.
It is my understanding that our -- currently the Ethics Committee does this, where we have a board appointment and also the director is -- has the Senate approval. The -- the…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Senator Bertino-Tarrant, to close.
Thank you. I just want to clarify a couple things. Currently, the State Board has already been appointed. The State Superintendent has already been appointed. This is legislation moving forward. For me, this is a good transparency, good policy for us to be able to understand the leadership's philosophy of our State Superintendent. The State Superintendent sets policy throughout the State and I see no harm in us having a discussion here on the Senate Floor about who that leader is. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1505 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 35 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1505, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up on the Calendar, at the bottom of page 16, we have Senate Bill 1508. Senator Koehler. 165 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Ladies and Gentlemen, turn to the top of the next page, which is 17, and we have Senate Bill 1516. Senator Mulroe. Mr. Secretary, let's go to 1518. Senator Noland, on 1518. Senator Noland seeks leave of the Body to return 1518 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is 1518. Mr. Secretary, are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Noland.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland, on Floor Amendment 3.
Are we on -- happy to read it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it. The amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1518. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1518. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Noland. 166 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. This is a good Earth Day bill. What we've had in place is a pilot program for about the last two or three years where we allow the transportation of larger amounts of compost in a -- few selective communities. The permitting of that's been limited to eighteen months. We're just extending it to twenty-four months, which will make it much easier for them to -- to operate and actually develop markets for their products. So I just simply ask for an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1518 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1518, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we have -- 1523. Senator McGuire. Mr. Secretary, 1526. Senator McGuire. Senator McGuire seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1526 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1526. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes, Mr. President. Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McGuire, on Floor Amendment 2. SENATOR McGUIRE: 167 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Floor -- thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Floor Amendment becomes -- No. 2 becomes the bill, which I will be happy to explain on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator McGuire.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McGuire, on Floor Amendment 3. SENATOR McGUIRE: Similarly, I ask for adoption of Floor Amendment 3 and will be happy to explain it on 3rd Reading.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd is Senate Bill 1526. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1526. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill. 168 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McGuire. SENATOR McGUIRE: Thank you, Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. This bill is an initiative of the County Assessment Officers Association. It was improved in negotiation with the Illinois Property Tax Lawyers Association and the Illinois Association of Park Districts. It seeks to streamline notification of taxing districts when a change of assessed valuation of at least one hundred thousand dollars is requested. I know of no opposition. Will be happy to answer any questions. Request an Aye vote, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1526 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? Please take the record. On that question, there are 55 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1526, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 1529. Senator Link. Let's go to 1539. Senator McConnaughay. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1539. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: 169 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you, Mr. President. This bill clarifies that the public treasurer may not require a financial institution to offer a product or service that is -- that it does not otherwise -- otherwise offer in order to be eligible to bid on an RFP. Passed unanimously in committee. Would appreciate an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 15… Senator Biss, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield, Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President. And, Senator McConnaughay, we had a really good discussion about this in committee, but I just want to make sure it's on the record. As I understand it, this bill is not going to change the RFP process or take away from treasurers the authority to make the same kind of determinations regarding the granting of these projects that they have in the past. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator McConnaughay. SENATOR McCONNAUGHAY: That is absolutely correct, yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Thank you very much and I urge an Aye vote. 170 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1539 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1539, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is 1547. Senator Hutchinson. Senator Hutchinson seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1547 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd is Senate Bill 1547. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment 3, offered by Senator Hutchinson.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Floor Amendment 3, Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you. Floor Amendment No. 3 becomes a part of the bill. I'm happy to discuss on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd is Senate Bill 1547. Please read the bill. 171 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Senate Bill 1547. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Body. Senate Bill 1547 will protect survivors of domestic violence and individuals with disabilities in Illinois from being penalized for calling 9-1-1 for service or on the basis of criminal activity committed against them. After Senate Amendments 2 and 3, there is no opposition to the bill. This was negotiated only to make sure that people who call the police for help continue to do so when there is an emergency. I'm happy to answer any questions and I ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you very much. Is there any discussion? Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Can I ask a question of the sponsor, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she'll yield for a question, Senator Rose.
Is the -- the Realtors Association on board with these amendments?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson. 172 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Realtors Association is neutral.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Nybo.
Senator Hutchinson, I appreciate you working with the opponents to address their concerns. I know you made that commitment to me in committee and I wanted to thank you. So, appreciate it.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Tom Cullerton, for what purpose do you rise?
Question of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates she will yield, Senator Cullerton.
Senator Hutchinson, you and I went over this prior, but this in no way takes away crime-free housing from a municipality. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
That is absolutely correct. 173 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, you wish to close? Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. This is just a bill that makes sure that people aren't caught unintendedly in excessive calls to the police, especially and there's -- when there's situations that specifically relate to domestic violence and people with disabilities. And this, again, is -- in no way stops a municipality from using a crime-free ordinance bill that they have, but it does make sure that people who are victims of crimes are not penalized for the actions against them. I would appreciate an Aye vote. Thank you all so much for your consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. As the bill denies or limits the power of home rule unit, pursuant to Section 6(g) of Article 7 of the Illinois Constitution, the passages {sic} of this measure will require a three-fifths majority. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1595 (sic} 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1595 {sic}, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise? 174 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Point of personal privilege, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the computer was out of sequence with our Floor debate. We had the wrong bill on the board. So we're going to dump that roll call and we're going to go back to 1547. Senate Bill 1547. There it is on the board. So, Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to redo the roll call on Senate Bill 1547. Again, as the bill denies or limits of the power of home rule unit, pursuant to Section 6(g) of Article 7 of the Illinois Constitution, the passage of this measure will require a three-fifths majority. Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1547 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1547, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Our apologies for the error. Okay. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Please make your point, Senator Rose.
Ladies and Gentlemen, in the gallery, I'm joined today by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign journalism students in the class of Professor Nancy Benson. Students, if you'd rise, and we could welcome them. And oddly enough, there's two former Daily 175 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Illini columnists in the back corner up there as well, so they may want to get -- get acquainted with the students. So, thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Will our guests in the galleries please rise? The journal - - let's welcome our journalism students. Thanks for joining us here today. Ladies and Gentlemen, Senate Bill 1548. Senator Hutchinson. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1548. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Body. Senate Bill 1548 changes the local sales tax sourcing rules for equipment lessors so that the sale is sourced where the equipment or item is delivered for its intended use. Under current regulations, the sale occurs where the equipment is located before it's shipped to the customer, which often will not be in Illinois or, in some cases, the equipment may not have been -- may not have been manufactured. This bill attempts to clarify sourcing regulation as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling on the Hartney Fuel case. And, as amended, the bill incorporates clarifying language suggested by the Department of Revenue. Know of no opposition. I would appreciate your Aye support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1548 pass. All those in favor will 176 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1548, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is 1560. Senator Raoul. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1560. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Raoul.
Thank -- thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1560 makes several changes to the Juvenile Court Act. This is a bill to address the fact that we're committing too many people -- too many minors to the Department of Juvenile Justice, at quite a cost to the State. It makes certain that we no longer commit juvenile misdemeanants to the Department of Juvenile Justice, nor do we commit any minors to the Department of Juvenile Justice for an offense that, if they committed it as an adult, they would not be committed to the Department of Corrections. The bill also places limits on the length of time a minor spends in aftercare and it expands the documents that must be provided by courts upon the commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice. I know of no opposition to the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1560 pass. All those in favor will 177 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1560, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is Senate Bill 1561. Senator Manar. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1561. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Manar.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is a -- an initiative of the School Management Alliance and the Illinois Association of School Boards. It seeks to remove what is an impediment in statute today for school consolidation, dealing specifically with how the school construction grants are scored. I'd be happy to answer any questions about the details of the bill. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1561 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1561, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 1562. Senator Brady. Please read the bill, Mr. Secretary.
178 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 1562. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Brady.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1562 makes it easier to put oil wells back into production that have been abandoned. Language has been agreed to with the Department. It passed out of this Chamber last year. Ask for your favorable support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1562 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1562, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is Senate Bill 1564. Mr. Secretary, Senator Biss seeks leave of the Body to return 1564 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is 1564. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Yes. Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Biss.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss, on Floor Amendment 3.
Thank you, Mr. President. Floor Amendment 3 becomes the bill. I'd like to adopt it and discuss it on the Order of 3rd Reading. 179 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments, Mr. Secretary, approved for consideration?
No further amendments.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd is Senate Bill 1564. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1564. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the Senate. Senate Bill 1564 is an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act. The Health Care Right of Conscience Act establishes the right of a health care provider to decline to provide a service that is inconsistent with that provider's ethical or religious views. That's a right of health care providers that this bill retains and that I personally support. I think it's embedded deeply in the First Amendment. What this bill does, though, is to also establish some rights of patients to ensure that that right is exercised in a way that allows patients to receive timely information. So, specifically, the bill directs health care providers to establish written protocols around the 180 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 decision to refuse care for ethical or conscience reasons and it also ensures that patients will be given timely, medically accurate information about the range of legal treatment options available. This bill, as now amended, represents an agreement reached between the Catholic Conference, the Catholic hospitals, the Medical Society, the ACLU, and Planned Parenthood. And I -- I want to thank those groups for being involved in a very constructive negotiation that ensured that we have a bill that I think achieves the goal of ensuring access to information on the part of patients while also protecting an ironclad right of providers to refuse -- refuse to provide care consistent with their religious or ethical beliefs. Happy to answer any questions and I would appreciate your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Barickman, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Barickman.
You know, Mr. President, we had a considerable discussion of this legislation in committee yesterday and still today a number of the pro-life groups remain opposed to this legislation based on the -- you know, the -- the very substantive questions. Senator Biss talked about First Amendment rights. You know, the -- the discussion we had at -- in committee yesterday focused on -- you know, my points yesterday, the First Amendment allows us to speak, but it also allows us not to speak. And the -- the question posed 181 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 by this legislation, you know, is significant. The mandate that is placed on a health care provider who may morally object to certain types of treatments and services, by this legislation, is now being mandated that the provider must tell their patient the risks and benefits of certain procedures for which the provider may find morally objectionable. And I think it, you know, it begs the question of the type of advice that we want patients to be able to obtain from their providers. You know, what kind of -- what kind of advice can a patient expect to receive if their provider is by law mandated to them to -- to provide advice that -- that assesses the risks and benefits of services that the provider may find morally objectionable? And so I think what we -- we've asked of the sponsor of the bill is that we don't go this far and maybe in the -- in the -- in the balance that ought to be struck here is that providers who find certain services morally objectionable simply be required to tell their patients that there are services that they don't perform. But asking those providers to go beyond that and speak to the risks and -- or benefits of services for which they're morally opposed may be one of those situations that simply goes too far. So I know the -- the -- the pro-life groups have raised these objections. I -- I presume, if this bill moves forward to the House, those objections will consider -- continue to be raised. But for those who find these objections to be reasonable objections, such as myself, I'd simply urge a No vote today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Righter, for what purpose do you rise?
182 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Will the sponsor yield, please?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Righter.
Thank you. Senator Biss, first, what is the problem that you are trying to solve? And -- and let me be a little more specific. What has happened that has brought this to you? What -- what -- I don't want to call it a crisis. You may not use that word. But what's happening out there that creates the need for this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Thank you for the question. We had, a few weeks ago in the Judiciary Committee, a really harrowing testimony, I have to say, of a -- a woman who had a pregnancy that had gone wrong, where the determination was made that it was not going to be a viable pregnancy, and there was information regarding the medical consequences of terminating that pregnancy, as well as simply the information about what her options were, that she did not receive in a timely fashion. As a result, she went through a number of weeks of extraordinary physical pain and literally had to come back to the hospital a number of weeks later with a tremendous volume of bleeding pads to demonstrate that it was urgent that they provide her with information regarding availability of care. The purpose of this bill is to make sure that that information about what the different treatment options are and what the upsides and downsides and medical consequences of those treatments are is provided on the front end to all patients so as to avoid that kind of situation. 183 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Senator, I obviously was not in committee and so I'm not in a position to question the testimony that was given, except for what I -- what I think I understood you to say she said was that she went to a provider to terminate a pregnancy. Okay, she went to provider for what? Fill in the blank.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
She initially went to a provider because she was a pregnant woman and that's a situation in which one goes to a health care provider, and then she began going more and more frequently because of complications associated with the pregnancy and was getting incomplete information. Finally, on her own, decided to terminate the pregnancy and then eventually made that request as well. But the problem existed throughout her story, beginning with the fact that she didn't receive medically complete information about the options before she had made a determination to terminate the pregnancy.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
At what point in the example you're giving did the individual make a request of health care that was refused based on the right of conscience?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss. 184 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
I'm not sure I understand the question. That's -- I mean, she did, at one point, make that request. It was -- it was around twenty weeks into the pregnancy, I believe. It was after learning that her pregnancy would not be viable; she would not have a surviving baby and that there would be significant potential consequences to her future reproductive capabilities if the pregnancy were not terminated then.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
You mentioned in your opening, Senator, a concern for timely care and timely information. What -- define that word for me.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Well, I think, the important -- important line in the bill is -- is -- is subsection (g) of Section 3, lines 23-24 of page 3, that defines "undo delay" as an "unreasonable delay that causes impairment of the patient's health".
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
So, let me give you an example, a -- along the lines of -- of what the witness testified, a woman goes to a health care provider and requests an abortion. She is told that that facility or that doctor does not do that. Is there a -- what -- what period of time do you have in mind that it is incumbent upon what is the new burden that this statute will now place on health care providers 185 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 who choose to exercise the right of conscience? At what time -- how much time do they have to provide more assistance to that woman to find a place to have that abortion?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Well, I just want to read from later in the bill. They are not required to provide assistance. There's a number of things that they may do and one of them is "provide in writing information" about -- "to the patient about other health care providers who they reasonably believe may offer the health care service" that they themselves refuse to provide - may offer. So they don't have to refer; they don't have to say, "Hey, you can definitely go down this -- go down the road to this other hospital and they will, we promise, perform that procedure." They just have to say here's information about other providers who may offer.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Can I have just a moment, Mr. President?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your indulgence. Page 5 of the bill, Senator, talks about when a health care provider is unable or unwilling to perform that particular service and it lays out in lines 18, 19, 20 and going on beyond that, that they must be provided some kind of assistance, whether that is a -- transferring them, a specific referral. I mean, am I reading that wrong? 186 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
As I read it, that goes -- that goes on to say, "or given information in accordance with paragraph 3", and paragraph 3 was -- included the language I read for you -- to you in our previous back-and-forth.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter, to the bill.
Not quite yet, but thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) We've got several speakers wishing to seek recognition, so if you could bring your comments to a close…
I will be…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) …as quick as possible. Senator Righter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I know that you appreciate the importance of this issue. Are you familiar with the women's resource centers, Senator?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
I'm not sure if I am.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Righter.
187 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Otherwise known as crisis pregnancy centers. Crisis pregnancy centers exist for the purpose of providing care, but also, quite frankly, avoiding abortions. Under the definition that you have provided of what is health care and, therefore, what is a health care facility, crisis pregnancy centers in this State qualify as a health care provider who will now be required to provide some assistance to that person as to where they can get abortion. So while the crisis pregnancy centers were created to avoid just that, this, were it become law, is going to require them to tell the person where they can have that done. Is that - - is that what you're shooting for?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
I think there's two different scenarios here. In the -- in the case of a situation where the woman simply comes into the crisis pregnancy center and says that she wants an abortion, they're required only to do, as I read before, provide information, if she asks for it, about other providers who may offer the health care service, and that is what we're trying to do. I would say if there is a -- an acute medical emergency, that situation is trumped by EMTALA, the federal law, and I -- I think that would already leave the provider without a lot of flexibility.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Righter. Thank you.
Ladies and Gentlemen, that's the point. That's exactly the point. Women go to crisis pregnancy centers all across the State, and under the sweeping definition of what is health care that is 188 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 in this bill, those centers, created for the purpose of avoiding abortions, will be required to provide information about where someone can go to get abortion. That is exactly contrary to why they were formed and is flatly contrary to the ideal of what is the right of conscience. As Senator Barickman said a moment ago, we should be very, very, very careful with changing the balance at all with regards to the First Amendment right for someone to, as he said, not speak and not provide this assistance. This bill steps over that line. I would urge a No vote. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Questions of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield for a question. Senator Mulroe.
A few questions, Senator Biss. First one, prior to the amendment, the Catholic Conference of Illinois, they opposed this bill. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
After the amendment, they changed their opposition to become 189 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 neutral. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes, and in fact, they had a very significant role in drafting of Amendment 3.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
Thank you. That was my third question. Now, for purposes of legislative intent, does Section 12 of the Act create a cause of action for treble damages against a physician who does not follow protocols created by the facility in which he or she practices?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
No. There is no cause of action under Section 12 based on an individual's failure to comply with protocols discussed in Section 6.1. Failure to create or follow Section 6.1 protocols could leave -- lead to other types of correction -- corrective actions, but not under Section 12.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
One more question: Is a physician still free, under Section 6, to refuse to "perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any form of medical practice or health care service that is contrary to his or her conscience"? Does Section 6.2's language, compliance with the Act, include this 190 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 right?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Section 6.2's language, quote, "compliance with the Act", unquote, means the compliance with the Act as a whole, including lines 12 through 15 of Section 6 and the provisions of Section 6.1. Under Section 6, physicians have the right to refuse to, quote, "perform, (assist,) counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any form of medical practice or health care service that is contrary to his or her conscience", unquote. But, such refusal must occur in accordance with access to care and information protocols discussed in Section 6.1 that will accommodate the objection while also assuring patient access to appropriate care and information.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Further discussion? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Nybo.
Senator Biss, I'd like to follow up on a couple of the questions that Senator Mulroe just asked. As a preference, I -- I am pro-life, as are many of my colleagues in this Chamber, and I'm also a Catholic, as many of my colleagues in this Chamber. And as you know - we discussed this at hearing - Catholics operate a lot of hospitals throughout the State and I see that -- that 191 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 whereas they -- the Catholic Conference and Catholic hospitals were once opposed to the bill, they are now neutral on the bill. Right? And -- and is that because the Catholic health care community now believes and their ethicists have informed them that the changes that you are proposing in this proposal will not prohibit a physician from practicing in a manner that's inconsistent with his or her faith or moral beliefs and that it will also not prohibit a Catholic hospital from operating in a manner that's inconsistent with the faith or the moral beliefs of the institution?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes, that's right, and I would just add that I have a Catholic hospital in my district too, which is a cherished provider of care to many of my constituents and a point of view that I take very seriously in the policymaking process.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
Senator Biss, am I also correct in understanding that the Catholic health care community believes that the proposal that you're presenting will also not abridge First Amendment or rights of free speech that physicians may have -- or that physicians do have? We know they have 'em, but they will not be abridged by your proposal?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
192 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Yes, that's right, and I would -- I would add that one feature of this amendment that I think is important from that point of view is that it strengthens and clarifies the right of an individual provider to exert their own right of conscience to refuse to provide a service, regardless of the institution that they may be practicing within.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
…President, to the bill. Senator Biss, I'm -- I'm going to support your bill and I've told you I'm going to support your bill and I want to applaud you for working not only with the Catholic Conference, which oversees and helps support a variety of health care institutions across our State, but also I -- I applaud you for working with the Illinois State Medical Society to deal with the concerns that they have with -- with the bill. However, I do want to make a statement that I don't think your bill really changes much. And -- and my understanding from the Catholic Conference is, what you are proposing here is essentially the way the Catholic hospitals operate currently. And that's why I can support the bill, because I think your proposal is not going to infringe on their ability to -- to not engage in practices that they feel that they morally cannot engage in and it will not prohibit from -- physicians from undergoing and -- and performing practices or sharing information that they're not currently prohibited from. So I don't think your bill does much, but you're very concerned about it and I really appreciate the fact that you worked with those who were concerned about it and those groups are very important to me. So I will support your bill and I -- I 193 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 applaud your efforts.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator McCarter, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCARTER: To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator McCarter. SENATOR McCARTER: Ladies and Gentlemen, this bill is -- doesn't apply just to medical emergencies. It -- it does put pro-life doctors in a position that they have to discuss with patients the benefits of abortion. How they do that, I don't know. It does require pro- life doctors to refer or present a place to go for that patient to do something that they object to. It -- it does require crisis pregnancy centers to go completely against their mission and their mission is very clear. I find it -- I just -- I find this interesting that even though we have differences on whether abortion should be legal or not legal, at -- I've always heard on the other side that people want less abortions and they want more adoptions. But this is very clear, the sponsor wants more abortions and more opportunity for those, because it's not just in medical emergencies. This is the way I take it. This is the way I see it. I believe this is -- this is not right. I urge a No vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Could I wait a few moments after the previous speaker? 194 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Biss, my dear friend, Senator Biss, in discussing the patient's condition and the risk and the benefits of various medical services, there may be instances, such as the -- the patient seeking an elective abortion, for example, for gender selection, in which a health care professional may, in accordance with his or her personal or professional beliefs, advise that there is no medical benefit to be derived from the procedure. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes, absolutely. I think it is the obligation of the provider, if he or she believes there to be no medical benefit, to state that clearly. It would be unethical for a provider to fabricate a -- a benefit that he or she believes is not real.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
And they're free to discuss their views of the procedure, whatever it is, whether it's abortion they're coming in for or euthanasia, tubal ligation, genital mutilation if they're from some country that wants to impose this on their daughter. They're free to discuss their own views on that, right, by this Act - this proposed Act?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 195 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senator Haine.
Thanks. And the health care facilities, they're -- if they're engaging with their patients and informing them fully of their condition, prognosis, legal treatment options, they -- they also maintain the ability to exercise their right of conscience and not perform, assist or refer if they believe to be morally wrong. Right? As you've stated previously, I believe.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
And to meet the terms of the Act, they could invoke the protocol only to simply provide a patient with a list of health care facilities that may provide the sought after advice. Isn't that correct? Doesn't that do it - meet the Act?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Haine.
Okay. To -- to the bill. I appreciate the colloquy with the sponsor and I appreciate the sponsor listening to the concerns that many of us have expressed to him about the breadth and scope 196 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 of this change. And this is a change in the nuance of the right to conscience protections historically in Illinois. This is a change and with change comes a question - why we are doing it. And I have -- I -- I must say I come from a district with one venerable Catholic hospital and three public hospitals, and I don't get any complaints from anyone that anyone's not being served. And -- and -- and there's a tension in this bill and the Senator has dealt with it admirably, but the tension in the bill should be recognized. And I referred to this prior in a prior statement. A hundred and some years ago, seventy to eighty percent of health care in the United States in urban areas was provided by Catholic nuns. These are women who devoted themselves to providing health care. They -- they -- in fact, my hometown, the Sisters of Charity came from Europe at the -- personal request of President Lincoln to treat the typhoid outbreak at the federal prison in -- in Alton in which two thousand prisoners died. The regular employees would not go in, but the Sisters did. They went in. So -- and you have this throughout the past century, where these women have risked their lives. In the South, the State of Alabama sued them because they refused to segregate the hospitals and they were threatened with closure unless they segregated the hospitals and they fought it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. So, Mother Cabrini went -- came from Italy to pick up orphans and to found health care in the slums of Chicago. This -- these are women whose reason for existing is providing health care. So the -- the -- the tension in the bill is the genesis of the bill - and -- and the sponsor has done -- has done a brilliant job of removing that as much as he could and he's not responsible for it - but the tension in the bill is that you have an inference that these women are doing 197 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 things which are not consistent with their mission, their God- given mission, of treating women for their various diseases and ailments. It's -- it's somewhat of a shocking inference, and that's why I cannot support the bill. For me to vote for the bill, I would have to say that there's something wrong with -- there's something wrong with this mission and that we have to correct it. This could have been done with -- through the Catholic Hospital Association without a bill, I believe. Again, the fact that they sat down with you and worked this thing out probably indicates they were shocked that anyone would infer that they would not treat any woman with the dignity of one of God's creatures. And that's the -- the -- my basic reason for voting No. And I do agree that you've come far and away, away from that first terrible bill, which was introduced, and I congratulate you for that and for your character and esteem. But, anyway, I'm -- I would encourage a No vote or -- or a Present vote. Thank you, sir.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Further discussion? Senator Hutchinson, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield. Senator Hutchinson.
Thank you. Senator Biss, let's go back to the witness testimony that we talked about, because I want to make sure that the story is accurate. So, this was a wanted pregnancy. Correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss. 198 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
Yes. It was in fact a -- a badly wanted pregnancy for a loving family and, in fact, a fairly conservative religious family.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
So she didn't go to the hospital with the intention of terminating a pregnancy? In fact, she went because this was her second pregnancy and it was progressing normally up to that point.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
That's right.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
After she was told that her pregnancy wasn't viable, how far did she have to travel to another place where she thought she might be able to get the services she might need?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Senator, I don't remember the distance, but there's actually two points. One is that it was a long way, but the other is that because the hospital from which she came wasn't obligated to transfer any medical records, she couldn't have the pregnancy terminated there when she got there either, and that's why she wound up ultimately in a situation where the pregnancy persisted for several weeks longer, causing her very significant physical 199 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 harm and the risk, though thank God it didn't wind up coming to pass, of future infertility.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
I'm hoping you can refresh my memory. I remember a part of the discussion in committee as to what the risks were if she were to continue to carry the baby until there was no longer brain activity or a heartbeat.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
There was the risk of infection and potentially death of the mother and certainly also the risk of her subsequent inability to conceive and carry a baby to term.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
So why do you use the words -- or the phrase "risks and benefits" in this bill?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
In every situation when different medical options are being weighed, it's important to have all the information in front of you. When -- and we all want all the information in front of us when weighing the options, and so that includes the risks, the downsides of what could go wrong, what harm could befall us, and how we could be helped by all the various options, and that is the 200 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 language used to enable truly informed consent, which is what this bill seeks to achieve.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
So is it fair to say that the term "risks and benefits" as used in this legislation is a medical term, not a moral one?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
Yes, and I just -- that's a really important point in this discussion and I appreciate you bringing it up and I hope everyone heard. The term "risks and benefits" is a medical term. It's not a moral judgment at all.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Hutchinson.
To the bill. I am -- I'm -- I'm listening to various debate on this and I appreciate that this is a topic that elicits very strong emotion on either side, and I've heard about what the responsibility of the doctors are and I've heard about what the responsibility is -- or what we ought respect in terms of a right of consciousness for people who don't believe in certain positions or don't believe in providing certain services based on their religious, moral or ethical objections. I think that we've not spent enough time talking about what the rights of the patient are. And there is a right to a patient when any patient goes into a medical office receiving medical care from a trusted provider to get medically accurate information about the entire situation 201 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 that's happening so that that individual can make informed dissent. So the problem I have in this discussion so far is that we are not acknowledging the fact that when a patient has all of the information that is due or all of the information that could help her make an informed dissent from a medical perspective that she is entitlely {sic} capable -- or, I'm sorry, not she, he or she, 'cause this is about whatever -- whatever procedure could happen that someone may have a moral objection to. An example might be a -- a physician who's a Jehovah's Witness and doesn't believe in blood transfusions or someone who has a moral concern with AIDS or HIV treatment and doesn't believe that the person should have that kind of procedure because of their lifestyle. There are a number of different situations where someone would be in a health care provider's place and need and have a right to receive all medically accurate information pertaining to the situation that the person is in. Let me be clear, when this woman realized that this wanted pregnancy was no longer viable, it was after a lot of discussion and prayer and family talks before they decided what it was they could do. And when they made the decision that it would be better to terminate, it was because they were able to find out that the risk of carrying carried with it a risk of hemorrhaging, which carried with it a risk to her future fertility, which means that a benefit, not a moral -- not a moral term, but a medically accurate term that describes the benefit to terminating this pregnancy earlier, would be that she would have a chance of having children later. She would have a chance at having the children she wanted later. And the amount of pain that happened because there were other people making decisions for her, irrespective of what it was she needed to make for herself, is at the cause of the -- of the 202 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 need for a piece of legislation that's like this. Now for people who believe in small government and people who believe in freedom and liberty and people who believe that the government needs to stay out of our personal affairs, it is very, very interesting that it's quite okay for them to be there in the bedroom and in the doctor's office, two of the most private places you can be. So I respect a right of consciousness to decide this is something I will not do; it goes against my code of beliefs. But I -- the door has to stop when your right of consciousness then infringes on my rights as a patient. That's at the core of this bill and that's why I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you rise?
To the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Holmes.
Well, first of all, I want to sincerely thank the last speaker, because the reason I pushed my button, because I sat here through this entire discussion and I heard conversation from a bunch of the male Members of this Body and I thought, it's really interesting as they sit here and they talk about passing judgment and a woman's right to choose what is medically for her in her best interest. That was my major concern and I did want to speak up. And I want to say that the last speaker actually said so much of what I was going to say. But I did want to reiterate just a couple of points, because what we keep hearing is, this means if I go -- and in this woman's situation, which is such a sad story 203 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 because really what was happening was this woman was in a very long drawn-out miscarriage that was allowed to progress for weeks without being terminated because that was really not given to her as an option, and the best option for her. She wasn't given that information. What the doctor did not have to do - and this is what we're -- he didn't have to tell her, you can go to facility X. He just had to tell her that, as an option, she could terminate that pregnancy and there were probably places she could go. He did not have to specify what location that would be. Is that correct?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss.
So the -- the text of the bill is that he would have to -- he or she would have to provide in writing information about -- about other providers who the refusing provider would reasonably believe may offer the health care service. So he can -- he or she can say, "this is another hospital, another facility, that I believe might", but is not required to say, "this place would definitely do that", "this place would definitely decline to refuse the way I have refused."
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Holmes.
Absolutely, so basically that wasn't done, though, because the provider had a moral feeling that this was inappropriate. And I want to say to any doctor out there, and certainly any doctor I'm ever going to, your moral beliefs, frankly, I could give a damn. That's not my concern. I am seeing you as a medical 204 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 professional to get the best advice of what is medically accurate. I don't want your moral judgments, don't need your moral judgments. Save that for some theology discussion you're having over dinner. That is not what we're talking about. We're talking about my physical being, my health, my right to know every single available option out there, and I, as an adult, can make an informed choice because I have medically accurate information, which you, as a doctor, have the knowledge and ability and, I will argue, the obligation to provide me with. So I stand in huge support of this bill because I think this is every woman's right. And to not do that, to assume that we as women are not capable of receiving information and making an informed choice, is, frankly, insulting. I urge an Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Our last speaker is Senator Raoul. For what purpose do you rise?
To the bill, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) To the bill, Senator Raoul.
So this came before the Judiciary Committee and there are a lot of instances, Mr. President, when you really wish you can take the witness who testified in a committee and bring them out onto the Floor and allow them to speak to -- on the mike and -- and so -- so the full Body could -- could hear the compelling nature of the testimony that those of us who were on the Judiciary Committee was able to hear. And -- and, like Senator Holmes, I - I'll be brief, because I think Senator Hutchinson said it -- said -- said 205 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 it all. But one important point that she made, and -- and -- and I'm speaking as a male Member of this Chamber, that -- and I want to correct Senator Holmes, 'cause it's not just about a woman's choice to make health care decisions, it's about a man's choice to make fully informed health care decisions. This is -- we tend to politicize things here in the Chamber. It was done earlier to the point where decorum was lost, because the bill is being made about abortion. It's not a bill about abortion. It's a bill about health care. I'm not a -- I'm not a physician. My dad was one and -- and his obligation was to care for his patients and -- and fully inform his patients about the risk and benefits of the options of health care procedures that he can -- he or other physicians could offer. And -- and so it -- it's critical sometimes. I -- I know that, you know, we like to -- we necessarily run in races and we politicize issues and we send mail -- versus -- against each other and we get negative and -- and you want to point the finger at somebody and say, "oh, you're -- you're just for abortions and you just want more abortions." No, this is about health care and we ought to have a respect for our colleagues and respect for the fact that this Senator has worked with the Catholic health providers to the point that they're neutral and supportive. And I disagree with my colleague who spoke earlier from the other side of the aisle who characterized this bill as doing nothing, because -- because it does do something. Because notwithstanding what -- what Senator Haine said earlier about the good services that many Catholic health care providers provide, there can be one isolated provider that goes against the policy that may be embraced by Catholic health care providers at large, and that's what this bill addresses. That they're doing it already, that most of them 206 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 are doing it already, doesn't erase the reality that that one witness brought to our attention of the circumstances that she faced. And so politicize this if you will and make it about abortion if you will, but this is about health care and that's why I urge an Aye vote on this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Biss, to close.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members. We've had a long robust debate, so I'll try to be quick. I want to quickly echo what my friend from Hyde Park just said about the witness. Her -- and we're referring to her as though she's not a person; her name is Mindy Swank and she -- she went through a really harrowing experience and -- and explained it in committee with clarity and in a heart-wrenching way that was poised that was really admirable. And -- and it did illustrate that there is a problem here. The reason we have an agreement with the Catholic Conference and the Catholic hospitals and the Medical Society is that they agree that providers should do this and they believe that most of their providers are already doing this, but occasionally there are these aberrations where someone does not receive the information they need and terrible consequences results. And so I think this is a sensible compromise that addresses that problem wholly and I respectfully request your Aye votes. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1564 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that 207 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 question, there are 35 -- 34 voting Aye, 19 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1564, having received the majority vote, will be declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, will all members of the Committee on -- the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. Will all members of the Committee on Assignments please come to the President's Anteroom? Senator, do you want to make… (at ease)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Clayborne in the Chair. 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 bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 235. We have received like Messages on House Bills 341, 573, 821, 1485, 2580, 2755, 2919, 3197, 3215, 3311, 3341, 3438, 3497, 3504, 3670, 3788, and 3895. Passed the House, April 22nd, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolution 341, offered by Senator Jones and all Members. It is a death resolution, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR CLAYBORNE) Resolutions Consent Calendar. John back in the Chair. (at 208 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 ease)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Commerce and Economic Development Committee - House Bills 3103, 3194, 3425, and 3556; refer to Criminal Law Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 1337, House Bills 356, 369, 2567, 3184, 3718, and 3977; refer to Education Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 100, House Bills 163, 165, and 226; refer to Environment and Conservation Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 544, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 545, Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 1408, Floor Amendment 5 to Senate Bill 1408, and House Bills -- and House Bill 3540; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 125, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 509, Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 1334, Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 1813, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1919, House Bill 113, 303, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 373, House Bills 2557, 3262, and 3695; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - House Bills 2477 and 3543; refer to Higher Education Committee - House Bills 3599, 3692, and Senate Resolution 325; refer to Human Service -- Human Services Committee - House Bills 1530, 3753, and 4107; refer to Insurance Committee - House Bills -- 439, 2677, and 3137; refer to Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 488, House Bills 2640, 2641, 2642, 2643, 2644, 2673, 3079, 3363, and 3552; refer to Labor Committee - House Bill 2698; refer to Licensed Activities and Pensions Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 437, Committee Amendment 1 to 209 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 1315, and House Bill 1424; refer to Local Government Committee - House Bill 404, 3203, and 3693; refer to Public Health Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1410, House Bill 2790 and 2915; refer to Revenue Committee - House Bill 3448; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - House Bill 3748; Be Approved for Consideration - Floor Amendment 4 to Senate Bill 52, Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1834, Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 1882, House Bills 1335, 2731, 2812, 3093, 3624. Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments: Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 568 and Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1670. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, if I may have your attention for the purpose of committee announcements for this afternoon and this evening. Committee announcements for this afternoon and this evening: Exec will meet at 5 p.m. in Room 212; Licensed Activities and Pension, at 5 p.m. in Room 400; State Government and Veterans Affairs, 5 p.m., Room 409; Local Government, 6 p.m., Room 212; Criminal Law, 6 p.m., Room 400; Education, 6:30, Room 212; Public Health, 6:30, Room 409; Energy and Public Utilities, 7 p.m., Room 212; Environment and Conservation, 7 p.m., Room 409. I'll run through 'em once more: Exec, 5 o'clock; Licensed Activities, 5 o'clock; State Government and Veterans Affairs, 5 p.m.; Local Government, 6 o'clock; Criminal Law, 6 o'clock; Education, 6:30; Public Health, 6:30; Energy and Public Utilities, 7 p.m.; Environment and Conservation, 7 p.m. Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen, we're going to take off from where we left off in the regular Calendar. It should be Senate Bill 1595. It's on page 17 of your 210 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 regular Calendar, on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading. 1595, Senator Kotowski. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
Senate Bill 1595. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Kotowski.
Just a point of clarification, Mr. President. If this bill does, in fact, pass, will you attempt to get it pulled from the record and have all history eliminated of the vote and determine that it didn't really count? Will revision -- take place?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) I'm -- I'm sure that we have a good bill here, Senator Kotowski. Let's just proceed as is.
I'm just -- okay, thank you, sir. I just wanted a clarification. I have a great deal of respect for you and appreciate everything you do for the Chamber. Senate Bill 1595 creates the Music Therapy Advisory Board. It establishes a ten- member Music Therapy Advisory Board appointed by the Secretary of Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. The Board serves without compensation; is required to develop and submit a report to the Governor and Legislative Leaders of the General Assembly twelve months following its first meeting. The report must include recommendations for the certification, training, curriculum, and best practices of music therapists. Here's what's 211 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 important here. There are currently two hundred and forty-three board-certified music therapists in Illinois. We do not have a certification within the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. If you have a -- a license to be a therapist or a social worker, you can provide music therapy. But these folks who have been trained in music therapy have -- not only do they have bachelor's degrees, not only do they have an emphasis in music therapy in these degrees, they also have clinical training and board certification and tests that they've taken and, quite frankly, there is a -- there's a dramatic difference between how we treat people who have licenses to be social workers and allow them to be music therapists and those who are -- actually have the credentials to provide music therapy. So this is a -- I came up with a compromise to this, to provide an advisory board, to get the ball moving in the right direction on this front.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1595 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 36 voting Aye, 14 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1595, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is Senate Bill 1608. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1608 to the Order of 2nd. Seeing no objection, leave is… No? Excuse me, apparently there are not any amendments. Very good. Mr. Secretary, on 1608, we're going to leave it on 3rd Reading. Please read the bill.
212 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Senate Bill 1608. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you. Senate Bill 1608 provides that the provisions under the Retailers' Occupation (Tax) Act or the Use Tax Act that impose a penalty of one hundred dollars for the failure to file a return apply only to returns that would not result in a tax being owed if the return was properly prepared and filed. In addition, it provides the transaction reporting returns that would result in a tax being owed are subject to the standard penalty, which is currently two percent of the tax due on the return with a maximum amount of two hundred and fifty dollars.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1608 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1608, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up is Senate Bill 1625. Leader Harmon. Senate Bill 1626. Leader Harmon. Senator Harmon seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1626 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is 1628 {sic}. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
213 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon, on Amendment -- Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Floor Amendment 2 reflects an agreement among the stakeholders. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd is -- Senate Bill 1626. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1626. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. A constituent of mine, Peggy McGrath, came to me with a -- a -- a concern about pesticides in lawn care applications and asked if I'd try to do something legislatively to improve the notice given to neighbors and pedestrians, folks walking their dogs or taking 214 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 their children to the park. I'm very pleased that, working with the Illinois Environmental Council and the advocates for the -- the lawn care industry, we came to an agreement on better signage and notification when an application to -- to a lawn is -- is done. I'm aware of no opposition and I ask for your Aye votes and I thank Peggy for bringing the idea to me.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1626 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 Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1626, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. The bottom of page 17, 1628. Senator Brady. Ladies and Gentlemen, let's turn to the top of the Calendar of the next page, page 18. We have Senate Bill 1641. Senator Jones. Mr. Secretary, Senator Jones seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1641 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd is 1641. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Jones.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Jones, to present Floor Amendment 1.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption and I'll explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 215 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading is Senate Bill 1641. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1641. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President and Members of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 1641 simply separates the parking fees collected for parking facilities located at the University of Illinois Champaign from those collected from the Secretary of State facilities in Springfield. I know of no opposition.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1641 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1641, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Next up, we 216 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 have Senate Bill 1657. Senator McConnaughay. Mr. Secretary, let's go to 1665. Leader Radogno. Mr. Secretary, 1668. Senator Rose. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to skip down to Senate Bill 1683. Senator Tom Cullerton, on 1683. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1683. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Cullerton.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill is a trailer bill to last year's OSHA fix that matched us up with federal standards. It was brought to me by the Department of Labor and there's -- as far as I know, there is no objection.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1683 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1683, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we'll turn to page 19, to Senate Bill 1764. Leader Harmon, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1764. 217 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 1764 is also a constituent-initiated piece of legislation. It amends the -- the portion of the Illinois Insurance Code relating to infertility coverage to update the law to make it consistent with current medical and insurance practices. I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye vote.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Nybo, for what purpose do you rise?
Will the sponsor yield?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Nybo.
Leader, my analysis may be wrong, but -- again, my analysis may be wrong, but -- and perhaps I'm misreading this here. I'm seeing that this is opposed by Illinois Insurance Association, Manufacturers' Association, and BlueCross BlueShield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I certainly hope that your analysis is in fact in error. My understanding is that all of those groups withdrew whatever opposition they may have had. 218 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Nybo.
One second, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1764 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? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1764, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 20 of your printed Calendar. Mr. Secretary, let's go to Senate Bill 1820. Leader Harmon. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1820. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) President -- excuse me, Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. We've -- we've hit a very nice stride here. This is the third bill in a row that I'm presenting that came to me from a constituent. Actually, Judith Alexander and a group of constituents along North Avenue in my -- in my Senate district came to me concerned about a -- a concentration of pawn shops that have been located there. This is an amendment to the Pawnbroker Regulation Act to enact certain safeguards on their 219 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 practices to ensure that they are not moving goods around that may have been stolen. Again, we've -- we've worked with the -- the pawnbroker industry and I -- I think we have reached a -- a -- a point of agreement among all stakeholders and I'd ask all of you for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1820 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 1 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1820, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we're going to skip down the page to Senate Bill 1882. Leader Harmon, do you wish to proceed? Leader Harmon seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1882 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd is Senate Bill 1882. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon, to present Floor Amendment 2.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1882, Floor Amendment No. 2 reflects most of the agreement among the stakeholders. I believe there's a third amendment as well. I apologize, we've amended -- this is the second amendment. This is the technical 220 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 amendment that just ratifies the last couple of negotiated points between the stakeholders. I'd move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any discussion on Amendment 2? Mr. -- Senator Harmon.
We're working out finding Amendment No. 3. So we'll get to that next. This amendment is a more substantive amendment. It does reflect most of the agreement among the stakeholders. The third amendment is -- is the technical amendment. I just want to be clear as we're adopting these. I would move for the adoption of No. 2 and will look forward to adopting No. 3 as well.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on Amendment 3? Seeing none, all those -- excuse me, excuse me, is there any discussion on Amendment 2? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 3, offered by Senator Harmon.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon, on Floor Amendment 3.
Thank you, Mr. President. I apologize for the confusion. Floor Amendment 3 is a page-and-line amendment that brings the Department fully on board in support of the bill. I move for its adoption.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on Floor Amendment 3? 221 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1882. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1882. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1882, as amended, is a long-negotiated modernization of the currency exchange laws. It reflects an agreement among both of the principal industry groups and the Department, as well as sign off from the consumer advocate groups and folks who are wanting to protect the interests of folks dealing with currency exchanges. Again, with these amendments, I'm not aware of any opposition and I ask for your Aye votes.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For a clarification, question to the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 222 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Indicates he will yield, Senator Collins.
First of all, I'd like to thank Senator Harmon for working with some consumer advocacy groups dealing with concerns I had about this bill. We know that it's been a longstanding directive of the Department that currency exchanges cannot sell payday loans. I worked, along with the leadership of Senator -- or Leader Kim Lightford, on reform in -- as it relates to payday loan and the payday loan industry. So the clarifying question I would like to raise for intent of this legislation is this: Does this legislation restrict currency exchanges from selling payday loans?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, thank you both for your question as well as for your stewardship in committee in making sure we reached a good outcome. I was just thrown off by the -- the phrasing of your question, which is why I had to consult. There is nothing in this bill about currency exchanges providing payday loans. The existing law, which I confirmed, is that they are precluded from doing that. We are not upsetting that arrangement.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Collins.
With that, I will vote Yes. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1882 pass. All those in favor will 223 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 53 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1882, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, if you'll turn to page 12 of the regular Calendar. We have Senate Bill 874 up on the board. Leader Harmon, do you wish to proceed? Indicates he does. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 874. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate. Senate Bill 874 came to me from the Illinois State Bar Association. It is in response to a recent court decision on property tax purchases. In short, there are a series of notices required when property taxes are purchased. Up until this court decision, the first notice was held to a standard of substantial compliance and the rest of the notices were held to the standard of strict compliance to make sure that folks who needed notice were given notice. The court misapplied, in my view and the Bar Association's view, the strict compliance standard to that first notice. This bill would simply restore the status quo and return the first notice to a substantial compliance standard.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 224 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you. Is there any discussion? Senator Mulroe, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. Two questions of the sponsor, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Indicates he will yield, Senator Mulroe.
Thank you. Senator Harmon, why do we need to specify a substantial compliance standard?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Mulroe, for your question. Since 1976, when Section 22-5 was enacted, attorneys and circuit court judges believed substantial compliance was required for this notice, until 2011, when the 1st District Appellate Court held that judges should apply a strict compliance standard. This has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being refunded to tax purchasers who may use this standard to get out of a deal they made and it has kept hundreds of properties from returning to productive and taxpaying use. There are three other notices that a delinquent taxpayer receives on their property. Senate Bill 874 would restore the substantial compliance standard for the Section 22-5 notice only. The second, third, and fourth notice remain subject to the strict compliance standard.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Mulroe.
225 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 Thank you, Senator Harmon. One more question: Why does the current or former owner have the right to challenge the Section 22-5 notice?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Harmon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Senator, the -- the use of the term "current or former owner" is intended to include any holder of a legal or equitable ownership interest in the property. The intent of the bill is not to give a former owner standing if the former owner does not have a substantial interest in the outcome of the litigation. Therefore, tax purchasers would not have to do a title search for every former owner at the time they send the notice.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Seeing no further discussion, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 874 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 51 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 874, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, with leave of the Body, we will turn to page 18 of the regular Calendar. Still on the Order of Senate Bills 3rd Reading, we have Senate Bill 1732. Senator Althoff. Do you wish to proceed? Indicates she does. Mr. Secretary, please read the lady's bill.
Senate Bill 1732. 226 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Senate Bill 1732 amends the State Finance Act to create the Sales and Excise Tax Refund Fund, and this Fund would be used by the Department of Revenue to pay refunds under various tax Acts. The money's generated from the 6.25 percent sales tax provided. Very similar to our currently existing Income Tax Refund Fund.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1732 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 49 voting Aye, 0 -- 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1732, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Mr. Secretary, let's go to the next bill, 1735. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1735 to the Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is Senate Bill 1735. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 1, offered by Senator Althoff.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff, on Floor Amendment 1. 227 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015
The amendment becomes the bill and I'll explain it on 3rd.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd, we have Senate Bill 1735. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1735. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Senate Bill 1735 is actually -- stems from my district and a situation that we have had on numerous occasions dealing with large companion animals, specifically horses, that have been neglected and abandoned. We've had nowhere to store them or put them while the -- we're trying to either correct the situation or find them new homes. So this bill actually -- amends the Humane Care for Animals Act. So in cases where a county has no facilities being able to take these companion animals, we can actually -- the authorities can use the onsite impoundment of the animals, pursuant to a court act. Be happy to 228 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 answer any questions.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1735 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, 52 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1735, having received the required constitutional amendment {sic}, is declared passed. Next up is - - on that question, there were -- whatever the vote was, and they -- it did receive the required constitutional majority and passed. Senate Bill 1745. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. Mr. Secretary, excuse me, take that out of the record. Next up, we have Senate Bill 1746. Senator Althoff. Mr. Secretary, Senator Althoff seeks leave of the Body to return Senate Bill 1746 to Order of 2nd Reading. Seeing no objection, leave is granted. Now on the Order of 2nd Reading is 1746. Are there any Floor amendments approved for consideration?
Floor Amendment No. 2, offered by Senator Althoff.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff, on Floor Amendment 2.
Floor Amendment 2 just provides better information and definition of when this Act is to take place.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Is there any -- any discussion on the amendment? Seeing none, all those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and the amendment is adopted. Are there any further Floor 229 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) 3rd Reading. Now on the Order of 3rd is Senate Bill 1746. Please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1746. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Senator Althoff.
Thank you very much. This bill actually is a clarification request from the State's Attorneys Association, and what it does is allows a county board to enter into contracts of up to four years for purchasing goods and services. It also contains the provision, however, that contracts exceeding one year must contain a provision that allows the board to terminate this contract within one hundred and twenty days after a new board member -- or after the board is reorganized.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1746 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, take the record. On that question, there are 44 voting Aye, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1746, having received the required constitutional majority, is 230 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 declared passed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Secretary, with leave of the Body, we're going to turn to the top of -- top part of page 18 to Senate Bill 1665. Leader Radogno, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the Leader's bill.
Senate Bill 1665. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Leader Radogno.
Thank you, Mr. President. This bill would exempt veterans' medical foster homes from the Nursing Home Act. They're -- these entities are regulated by the federal government. They allow three residents. The Nursing Home Act only allows two. So we would just make the law consistent with the federal regulations. I know of no…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Thank you. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Ladies and Gentlemen, the question is, shall Senate Bill 1665 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, 0 voting Nay, 0 voting Present. Senate Bill 1665, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. 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 231 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 31st Legislative Day 4/22/2015 House of Representatives has passed bills of the following titles, in the passage of which I am instructed to ask the concurrence of the Senate, to wit: House Bill 2916. We have received like Messages on House Bills 3268, 3384, 3896 and 4089. Passed the House, April 22nd, 2015. Timothy D. Mapes, Clerk of the House.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR SULLIVAN) Ladies and Gentlemen, just a reminder, committees start at 5 o'clock, the first round. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 9 a.m. on the 23rd day of April, 2015. The Senate stands adjourned. 232