PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) The regular Session of the 99th General Assembly will please come to order. Will the Members please be at their desk? And will our guests in the galleries please rise? The invocation today will be given by Pastor Jeremy Wood from the First Congressional {sic} (Congregational) Church of Bunker Hill, Illinois.
(Prayer by Pastor Jeremy Wood)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Please remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of Thursday, May 7th, 2015.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Hunter.
Mr. President, I move to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal just read by the Secretary, pending arrival of the printed transcript.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and approval of the Journal, pending arrival of the printed transcripts. There being no objection, so ordered. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions.
Senate Resolutions 520 through 524, offered by Senator Harmon 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 and all Members. Senate Resolution 525, offered by Senator Murphy and all Members. Senate Resolution 526, offered by Senator Sullivan and all Members. Senate Resolutions 528 and 529, offered by Senator Bennett and all Members. Senate Resolutions 530 through 533, offered by Senator Althoff and all Members. And Senate Resolutions 534 and 535, offered by President Cullerton. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Proceed. Resolutions Consent Calendar.
Senate Resolution 527, offered by Senator Haine. It is substantive.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Mr. Secretary, House Bills 1st Reading.
House Bill 3933, offered by President Cullerton. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Mr. Secretary, Appointment Messages.
Appointment Message 990200 Governor's salaried appointment Edward Bobrick 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Member, Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board Appointment Message 990201 Governor's salaried appointment Anna Hui Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Labor Appointment Message 990202 Governor's salaried appointment Paul Chialdikas Member, Illinois International Port District Board Appointment Message 990203 Governor's salaried appointment Terrence Sullivan Member, Illinois International Port District Board Appointment Message 990204 Governor's non-salaried appointment Joseph Galvan Chairman, Illinois Housing Development Authority Appointment Message 990205 Governor's non-salaried appointment Shahram Dana Member, Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Appointment Message 990206 Governor's non-salaried appointment Robert Loeb Member, Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Appointment Message 990207 Governor's non-salaried appointment Steven Miller Member, Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Appointment Message 990208 Governor's non-salaried appointment Marcie Thorp Member, Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) James R. Carder from the Bluestream.com {sic} (Blueroomstream.com) requests permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission is granted. Would all Members at the sound of my voice -- come -- please come to the Floor? We will be doing House Bills 2nd Reading. All Members at the sound of my voice, please come to the Floor. We will be doing amendments -- House amendments {sic} 2nd Reading. On page 18 of the Calendar, the Order of House Bills 2nd Reading, I have House Bill 95. Senator Connelly. Senator Connelly, do you wish to proceed? …Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 95. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 123. Senator Haine. Senator Haine. Do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 123. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 3rd Reading. House Bill 132. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff? Senator Althoff, on House Bill 132, do you wish to proceed? Out of the record. On House Bill 163, Senator Delgado. Senator Delgado. Out of the record. House Bill 169. Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez. Out of the record. House Bill 182. Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff, you wish to proceed? Out of the record. On Senate -- House Bill 200, we have Senator Morrison. Senator Morrison. She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 200. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 208. Senator Brady. Senator Brady? Out of the record. House Bill 218. Senator Noland. Senator Noland? Wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 218. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 219. Senator Koehler. Senator Koehler wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 219. (Secretary reads title of bill) 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 220. Senator Sullivan. Senator Sullivan? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill. Out of the record. House Bill 226. Senator McCarter. Senator McCarter? Wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 226. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 227. Senator Morrison. Senator Morrison, on House Bill 27 {sic}? She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 227. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 228. Senator Connelly. Senator Connelly? Wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 228. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 233. Senator Bivins. Senator Bivins? Out of the record. House Bill 235. Senator Morrison. Senator Morrison, do you wish to proceed? I'm sorry, that's -- 235, that's Senator Cullerton. Senator Cullerton? Out of the -- do you wish to proceed? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 235. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Insurance adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Have there been any Floor amendments approved or -- for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 246, Senator Koehler. Senator Koehler? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 246. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 299, Senator Althoff. Senator 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Althoff, do you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 299. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. Going to page 20. House Bill 313. Senator Forby. Senator Forby? Senator Forby, do you wish to proceed? Out of the record. On House Bill 330, Senator Haine. Senator Haine? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 330. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 341, Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff, do you wish to proceed? She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 341. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. Proceeding down on page 20. House Bill 356. 356. Senator Harmon. Senator Harmon? Out of the record. House 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Bill 362. Senator McConnaughay. Senator McConnaughay? Out of the record. House Bill 363. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings? Wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 363. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 364, Senator Cullerton, Tom Cullerton. He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 364. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 369. House Bill 369. Senator Noland. Senator Noland? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 369. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 372, Senator Cunningham. Senator Cunningham? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the 9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 bill.
House Bill 372. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 404, Senator Muñoz. Senator Muñoz? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 404. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. The Committee on Local Government adopted Amendment No. 1.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Have there been any other Floor amendments approved for consideration?
No further amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 405, Senator LaHood. Senator LaHood? Senate -- House Bill 405, out of the record. House Bill 421. Senator Steans. Senator Steans? House Bill 421, out of the record. House Bill 422. Senator Connelly. Senator Connelly, do you wish to proceed? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 422. (Secretary reads title of bill) 10 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 437, Senator Althoff. Senator Althoff, do you wish to proceed? She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 437. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 439. Senator Muñoz. Senator Muñoz wishes to proceed. Please, Mr. Secretary, read the bill.
House Bill 439. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. Going to page 21. On House Bills 2nd Reading, we have House Bill 488. Senator Hastings. Senator Hastings. Do you wish to proceed? Out of the record. House Bill 494. Senator Van Pelt. She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 494. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments 11 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 500, on page 21, we have Senator Haine. Senator Haine, do you wish to proceed. He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 500. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 573, Senator Noland. Senator Noland? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 573. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 642, we have Senator Holmes. Senator Holmes? Out of the record. House Bill 745. Senator Kotowski. Senator Kotowski? Out of the record. House Bill 990 -- 940. Senator Link. Senator Link? Out of the record. House Bill 1004. House Bill 1004. Senator E. Jones, Emil Jones. He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1004. (Secretary reads title of bill) 12 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1014, Senator Anderson. Senator Anderson. He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1014. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1015, Senator Haine. Senator Haine, do you wish to proceed? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the record -- please read the bill.
House Bill 1015. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1051, Senator Muñoz. Senator Muñoz, you wish to proceed? Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1051. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 13 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1081, we have Senator John Cullerton. Senator John Cullerton. Out of the record. On Senate {sic} Bill 1119, Senator Raoul. Senator Raoul? Out of the record. Senate Bill -- House Bill 1285. John Cullerton. Out of the record. House Bill 1319. Senator Silverstein. Senator wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1319. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1326, Senator Bennett. Senator Bennett? Out of the record. Proceeding to page 2 -- 22. On top of page 22, we have House Bill 1335. Senator Connelly. Senator Connelly, wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1335. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. Going down the page, we have House Bill 1336. Senator Steans. Senator Steans? Out of the record. We have House Bill 1337. Senator Raoul. Out of the record. House Bill 1345. Senator McConnaughay. Senator McConnaughay? Out of the record. On House Bill 1359, Senator Biss. Senator Biss? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
14 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 House Bill 1359. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. House Bill 1360. Senator Biss. He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1360. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1361, Senator Martinez. Senator Martinez? Out of the record. House Bill 1362. Senator Tom Cullerton. Senator Cullerton? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1362. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1363, Senator Holmes. Out of the record. House Bill 1365. Senator Steans. Senator Steans? Out of the record. House Bill 1377. Senator Morrison. Senator Morrison? She wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
15 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 House Bill 1377. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. On House Bill 1407, Senator Bennett. Senator Bennett? He wishes to proceed. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
House Bill 1407. (Secretary reads title of bill) 2nd Reading of the bill. No committee or Floor amendments reported.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 3rd Reading. The Senate -- the Senate will stand at ease for a few minutes to allow the Committee on Assignments to meet. The members of the Committee on Assignments will come to the President's Anteroom immediately. The Senate will stand at ease. (at ease) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Clayborne, Chairman of the Committee on Assignments, reports the following Legislative Measures have been assigned: Refer to Agriculture Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 920, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3101, and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 4029; refer to Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1119, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 1516, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3529, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 4044, and Senate Resolution 477; refer to Education Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate 16 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Bill 220, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 165, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2683, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2781, and Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 3197; refer to Energy and Public Utilities Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3560; refer to Executive Committee - Floor Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 565, Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1168, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 248, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2513, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 3093, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 3485, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 4078, and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 4113; refer to Executive Appointments Committee - Appointment Message 990199; refer to Financial Institutions Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 155, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3333; refer to Higher Education Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 806; refer to Human Services Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2755, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3684; refer to Insurance Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 3382, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3549, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 3673, and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3910; refer to Judiciary Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 1485, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 1588, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2635, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2641, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3332, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3464, House Bill 3933, House Bill -- or, I'm sorry, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3983, and Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 4090; refer to Labor Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3323, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 3323, Committee Amendment 3 to House Bill 3323, and Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3619; refer to Licensed Activities and Pensions 17 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2925; refer to Local Government Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 1745, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 245, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 264, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 264, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 417, and Senate Resolution 527; refer to Public Health Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 152, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 184, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2462, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2706; refer to State Government and Veterans Affairs Committee - Senate Resolution 517 and House Joint Resolution 10; refer to Transportation Committee - Floor Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 626, Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 1441, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3241, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 3241, Senate Joint Resolution 4, Senate Joint Resolution 12, Senate Joint Resolution 19; Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bill 142. Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-8 (b-1), the following amendments will remain in the Committee on Assignments: Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 806, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 313, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 735, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 735, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 1516, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 1531, Floor Amendment 1 to House Bill 2628, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 2717, Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 2717, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3673, Committee Amendment 1 to House Bill 3674, and Committee Amendment 2 to House Bill 3674. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
18 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 527 can be heard today, Wednesday - no, that's tomorrow - May 13, in the Local Government Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Haine moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 527 can be heard on Wednesday, May 13th, in the Senate Local Government Committee. All in those favor -- in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and all notice and posting requirements have been waived. Senator LaHood, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR LaHOOD: Thank you, Mr. President. For purposes of an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Please proceed, sir. SENATOR LaHOOD: Thanks, Mr. President. I wanted to introduce my Page for the Day. Hannah Bachman is fifteen years old and is a freshman at Rochester High School. She enjoys cheerleading, playing the guitar, and swimming. Hannah plans to attend Lincoln Land Community College for two years and then a four-year university to major in mathematics. Hannah's parents are Dennis and Susan Bachman. And some of you may remember, her mother, Susan, was my former legislative assistant. Wanted to ask everyone to give a warm Springfield welcome to Hannah today, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Hannah, welcome to Springfield. Glad that you're here. Please. Senator Collins, for what purpose do you rise? 19 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 517 can be heard on Wednesday, May 13th, in the Senate State Government Committee.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Collins moves to waive all notice and posting requirements so that Senate Resolution 517 can be heard on Wednesday, May 13th, in the Senate State Government Committee. All those in favor will say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it, and all notice and posting requirements have been waived. Senator Hunter, wish to be recognized?
Thank you, Mr. President. Purposes of an announcement. My heart is…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Make -- make your announcement.
Thank you. I'm sorry. My heart is very heavy right now because yesterday we lost one of our -- our lobbyists who -- well, she was once a lobbyist here for the Illinois Education Association, Janette Weatherall. She passed away yesterday suddenly because of breast cancer. And I just got the word yesterday and so I just wanted to share that information with everyone. Janette was with Illinois Education Association for almost thirty years and she was a very dear friend of mine for a very, very long time. And I -- I -- I believe that they're having the services in -- in Belleville this Saturday. But once I get the complete arrangements, I'll make you-all aware of it. Thank you. 20 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Thank you very much, Senator. Senator Haine, for what purpose do you rise?
Mr. President, I -- for purposes of an introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) State your purpose.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Senate, I wish to introduce my Page for the Day, Chris Hornsey, from Alton, Illinois. And Chris is a student at Truman State University. He's completing his first year. He has observed, by the way, he tells me, the Missouri Legislature in Session. And now he's spent the morning with me in my office and observed the Illinois Senate in Session. And he says we are clearly, far and away, above the Missouri General Assembly - just a note to the President and to the Chamber. Welcome Chris Hornsey.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Welcome, Chris. That's an excellent assessment of Missouri and Illinois. Welcome to the Senate. Senator Rose, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For a point of personal privilege, if I may.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) State your point.
Ladies and Gentlemen, today I'm pleased to be joined by my intern, Paige Ehrat. Paige is a sophomore at Millikin University 21 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 in Decatur. She is a communications major. And when she graduates, she's interested in doing something related to the political or public policy fields. She likes to play tennis. She's a huge Cardinals fan. And something of interest to Senator Oberweis, she is from Vandalia, where her parents operate a dairy farm. So if we could welcome her to Springfield.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Paige, welcome to the Illinois Senate. Hope you enjoy your visit. The Senate will be going to Postponed Consideration shortly. Please, all Members, come to the Floor? We're -- we're going to the Order of Postponed Consideration. Will all Members come to the Floor? On page 35 of the Calendar is the Order of Consideration Postponed. This is final action. As the bills on this order have already been presented and debated on the Floor, debate on each bill will be limited to one proponent and one opponent, each speaking to the bill. Senate Bill 1380. Senator Koehler.
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a bill we…
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Excuse me. Mr. -- I'm -- I'm sorry, very sorry. Mr. Secretary, please read the bill.
Senate Bill 1380. (Secretary reads title of bill) 3rd Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Koehler. 22 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015
Thank you, Mr. President, Members of the Senate. This is a bill we discussed a couple weeks ago and we got close but it was not enough to pass it, so we're bringing it back today. What this bill does is it provides that when a municipality has obtained a lien for removal activities, then the municipality may also bring an action for money judgment against the owner of real estate in a manner provided in the Code of Civil Procedure, and upon obtaining judgment, the municipality may file a judgment lien against all of the real estate of the owner and then enforce the lien. What this does is it formalizes the process for obtaining a lien on properties other than the underlying process -- or, underlying parcel in which the removal actions were taken. So what I need to do is I need to explain this in a lot better way, because, really, this is a simple bill and it makes a lot of sense for cities that are dealing with slum landlord problems. So the way the law is right now, that a city, if they want to tear down a property, they go to a judge and they obtain an order for demolition, and they can demolish that property and place a lien on that particular property. Now if they want to place a lien on other properties, then they have to go back and file another motion before the court and the court would have to rule on that. What this bill does is it just combines that into one step, and it allows that at the time when they petition for a demolition, that they would also be able to obtain liens -- or at least consideration from the judge at that point, liens on other properties. Now I explained that this -- that this is really only going to be used where there's egregious, you know, violations and a landlord has continually, kind of, you know, thumbed his nose at 23 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 the city and has just refused to pay any -- any costs that have been related to that demolition. So let me tell you a real live example of what one of those aggravated situations might be. Here's a property in Peoria. On March 25th, 2014, a fire occurred in an eleven -- eleven-unit apartment building in one of our historical districts. The property's substandard condition meant that it really had to be demolished. So the building was demolished and a lien of ninety-one thousand dollars - because, again, this is an eleven-unit apartment - so a lien of ninety-one thousand dollars was filed on that property. Well - guess what? - the -- the vacant lot has a market value of just a little over twenty thousand dollars. So the landlord in this situation had no incentive and no reason why he would want to pay this lien on the property, because his value then was only really worth twenty thousand dollars. So he would've had to pay almost a hundred thousand dollars to the city. Well, what's not fair is that all the taxpayers of the City of Peoria have to pay for this. That's what's not fair. And so, if you can do this anyway -- and -- and this is where I -- I really don't agree. I know the Realtors are against this; they're working this bill hard. But, you know, you can already do this in a two-step process. Alls {sic} this does is it makes it easier and cheaper for the city to be able to have this considered before a judge when they go for a demolition. I can't explain it any simpler than that. Since we first talked about this bill, I've had a number of cities call and saying, "Yes, we need to have this." Because otherwise what we have is a -- a system where slum landlords can just take -- get these properties, drain 'em for all they're worth, because they use 'em for cash flow, and then when they're ready for the demolition bulldozer, 24 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 then they just turn their back and walk away, and the rest of the taxpayers are faced with the bill. What it does is it devalues the properties, because it's a -- it's a slum property, and then they leave the -- the very citizens who they've devalued their properties with the bill. And that's not fair. That's just not fair. So I would appeal to you to do the right thing and to please vote Yes on this bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Debate is limited to one Member on the opposition. Senator Barickman.
Thanks, Mr. President. Questions of the sponsor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) He says he will yield.
Okay. Senator Koehler, I want to, I guess, first focus on some of the comments that you made in your opening remarks. You mentioned that this bill was about handling an issue with slum landlords. Is slum landlords somewhere in this bill? I'm not seeing any reference to who these slum landlords are.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Koehler.
No. When you have properties that are ready for demolition, usually that's -- and -- and the -- the situation I cited was where you have -- and here's my definition of slum landlord, and I've dealt with this issue for the last thirty years: It's when somebody buys a piece of property for investment, but instead of investing in that property, uses it for cash flow, depletes the 25 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 asset, and then walks away and leaves a building that's in substandard condition for the community to deal with. That's a slum landlord.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Barickman.
Right. And I -- I think my point, Senator, though, is that's your definition. That definition is not in this legislation that we're debating. Maybe another question. You've talked about the need for this for demolition activities, but my understanding, this bill really talks to the placement of liens on properties for -- for blighted properties, right? For people who maybe have let their grass grow too long or otherwise. This really doesn't have anything to do with demolition, right? This has to deal with putting liens on properties who are -- who are maybe unkept, right?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Koehler.
Yes, that's the situation if you have rats on properties, if you have garbage that's thrown in the yard, if you have a property that's not mowed. I mean, it all fits within the -- the scope of -- of somebody who uses what should -- should be an asset and just uses it for cash flow and doesn't bother to put any investment whatsoever. It's a blight to the neighborhood. That's -- that's what the issue is. And for a -- a judge -- I mean, I think it's reasonable to -- to -- to say that if a judge had this kind of a case brought before them, we're not talking about any minor violations; we're talking about over and over again, repeated offenses where it becomes egregious. That's what we're talking 26 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 about.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Barickman.
Sure. We're -- we're talking about -- you know, your word's egregious, but -- but we're talking about the weeds are overgrown, right? We're talking about some of these nuisant acts -- nuisance acts here. Let me -- let me ask another question. This -- this -- this legislation, this proposal here, would -- would arguably create a new set of rights for municipalities. Can a roofer today, who works on a property and is not paid - we all know that roofer can put a lien on that property - can a roofer today, who's not paid for -- for fixing the roof, put a lien on someone else's property as a result of that -- of not being paid?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Koehler.
No, they can't. And this would not give them the right to do that. This would be for municipalities to use. You know, again, I know that there's a slippery slope argument in that, well, we're going to come back next year and we're going to talk about roofers and carpenters and them placing liens. No, we're not talking about that. We're talking about a situation where you've got a neighborhood that is being devalued because you have absentee owners that own these properties that don't put any investment back into 'em. These are not investment properties; these are cash flow properties. That's the definition of a slum landlord. They use it for cash flow only.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 27 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Senator Barickman.
So -- so, why not, though? Why not give -- if you're going to give this right to municipalities that you can lien any set of properties owned by an owner, why not give that same right to the roofer? The roofer's the guy who's out there who's -- who's working in the summer, who is, you know, sweating on the roof, who's not being paid for -- for making improvements to the property. Why give government, why give the municipality rights to lien other properties if you're not going to give 'em to the roofer?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Koehler.
Well, that's -- the -- a roofer can get a mechanic's lien already. This is not about, you know, that situation. This is about where a neighborhood is -- is blighted and the influences of this absentee owner is that it causes devaluation in the neighborhood. That's a very different thing than -- than somebody trying to get a mechanic's lien on a property. This is about, really, a community and it's about a -- a city who is trying to maintain property values and keep the tax rates up in these areas. When I was on the city -- let me just tell you a story. When I was on the city council in Peoria, the scariest moment for my constituents was when our property values in our area were devalued and everybody had to pay less taxes. I got more phone calls on that, because they said, "Why is it that my life investment is now worth less?" That's a scary thing, when people's -- when people's values of their property begin to erode, and it becomes a real 28 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 burden on the city, because all of a sudden they lose their tax base.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Barickman.
All right. I want -- I want to continue our discussion on this roofer, the roofer or the contractor who works on -- on that -- on that individual property. You said they have lien rights. You're right - so does the municipality. Municipality has lien rights on that property. Let's call that "Property A". Today, though, the roofer doesn't have the right to place a lien on some other property. Right? The roofer doesn't -- the roofer who works on the first property, Property A, does not get the right to put a lien on some other piece of property just because they're not paid on the property they worked on. This here is an extraordinary power being offered to the municipality to place a lien on another piece of property for which the municipality doesn't have an issue with. You know, there's not overgrown weeds on the other property. So if the municipality puts a lien on that second piece of property, the good property, "Property B", my question is, what does that lien mean to the priority of everybody else who might work on that other property? So for the roofer, so for the plumber, for all the individuals who might be working on that good piece of property that is not -- does not experience overgrown weeds and the blight that you're concerned about, suddenly a municipality comes in and says, "Hey, we're going to put a municipal lien on this other property." What does it mean to that roofer and that plumber and those other contractors?
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) 29 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Senator Koehler.
Again, we're talking about a situation where there would be an egregious and flagrant violation of the municipal codes. And, most likely, we're not talking about ordinary situations. We're talking about maybe one or two percent of the -- of the situations out there. But these are important for neighborhoods that have been blighted by these influences. I think it's a completely different thing. I think it's a completely different thing. So, again, a judge would have to rule that this is so flagrant a violation that it would warrant the city being able to attach liens to other properties. That's not going to happen in an ordinary case. And -- and if a -- a plumber or, you know, a carpenter were working for that -- that kind of an owner, I think they would have to be careful, because if their reputation is such that they -- they walk away from their responsibilities, then I'm not sure that would be a good business investment in the first place. This is different. What the rights of the city are in terms of trying to protect the tax base and trying to protect families that live in that neighborhood are different than the rights of, you know, an individual contractor, who already has the right for a mechanic's lien.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Senator Barickman, to close -- or, to -- to the bill. Wrap it up, please.
Sure thing. Thanks for -- Mr. President. You know, I -- I think it's interesting here, we're talking about all the rights of the municipalities. This bill would substantially shift the powers 30 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 given to government in a higher priority than it gives to many of the thousands of workers who work around our State, doing the jobs that we ask them to do in improving our properties. This is the roofer. This is the plumber. This is the guy who does the tile in the bathroom. All of these individuals, suddenly by this legislation, are -- are being told, your lien rights are of a lesser priority than a municipal government. This bill gives the municipal government in Peoria the right to lien properties in Bloomington, where I'm from, let alone in Carbondale or elsewhere around the State. This bill is an extraordinary step that gives an extraordinary power to municipalities that doesn't exist today. It shifts the priorities given. The priorities that exist today among those who can lien properties - thrown out by this legislation. I think the sponsor, admittedly, trying to work on a problem that exists I think in many municipalities around our State, but I don't think this is the solution. This isn't yet ready because of the dramatic shift this bill would make on thousands of contractors -- thousands of contractors around the State. Mr. President, this is a very controversial issue. I'd ask for a verification of the roll call vote if the sponsor is successful in obtaining thirty or more votes. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Thank you. Senator Koehler, to close.
Well, this -- this is -- this bill is aimed at extraordinary situations, because, again, this -- the municipality would have to go before a judge. They can already. All this does is combine it into one step. So what you've talked about is already in existence 31 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 in terms of what municipalities can do. They can go after the fact, after something has -- after they've obtained a lien on that one property, and if it's an egregious situation, they can go back to the courts and say, "We're not getting any action. We're not getting any attention here. We'd like to place liens on the other properties." They can do that now. What this does is it attaches it to one process, so that when they go in for an initial order, they can also attach this. Let me just finally close with this. You know, having raised my family in the Near Northside of Peoria, which is a very depressed area - I mean, our median income in my census tract is about fifteen thousand dollars - when you see landlords who don't live in the neighborhood, or absentee landlords, come in and they take a piece of property - and, again, I've watched this happen year in and year out - they use it for cash flow. They -- they have no intention on putting investment into that property to really make that asset more valuable. The only thing they care about is putting cash in their pocket month after month. When these properties are done, they walk away from 'em and everybody else in the neighborhood has suffered because of 'em. The tax base has gone down. Our properties are devalued. And we wonder why people in -- in slum areas complain because they can't get to first base, it's because of situations like this. The deck is stacked against us. This bill helps municipalities have another tool in the toolbox to be able to combat the influences of blight. I ask for your support.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) A verification of the vote has been requested. The question is, shall Senate Bill 1380 pass. All those in favor will vote Aye. Opposed, Nay. The voting is open. Have all voted who wish? 32 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 39th Legislative Day 5/12/2015 Have all voted who wish? Have all voted who wish? Mr. Secretary, please take the record. On that question, there are 30 Aye votes, 19 Nay votes, no voting Present, 10 not voting. Senate Bill 1380, having received the required constitutional majority, is declared passed. Senator Barickman has requested a verification of the vote. Will all Members please be in their seats? Mr. Secretary, please ring the bell. The Secretary will read the affirmative votes.
Bennett, Biss, Clayborne, Collins, Cunningham, Delgado, Harmon, Hunter, Hutchinson, Jones, Koehler, Kotowski, Landek, Lightford, Link, Manar, Martinez, McCann, McGuire, Morrison, Mulroe, Muñoz, Noland, Raoul, Sandoval, Silverstein, Steans, Trotter, Van Pelt, President Cullerton.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) Does Senator Barickman question the presence of any Member voting in the affirmative?
No, thank you, Mr. President. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR TROTTER) On a verified roll call, there are 30 Nays -- 30 Yeas and 19 Nays and no voting Present. Having received the required constitutional majority, Bill 1380 is declared passed. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 13th day of May, 2015. The Senate stands adjourned. 33