PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) The regular Session of the 99th General Assembly will please come to order. Will our Members please be at their desk? Will our guests in the gallery please rise? The invocation today will be given by Reverend Julie Jones, Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, Illinois.
(Prayer by the Reverend Julie Jones)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please remain standing for the Pledge Allegiance. Senator Cunningham.
(Pledge of Allegiance, led by Senator Cunningham)
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Reading and Approval of the Journal.
Senate Journal of March 8th, 2016.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) 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 LINK) Senator Hunter moves to postpone the reading and the approval of the Journal, pending the arrival of the printed transcript. There being no objection, so ordered. James Carder of Blueroomstream.com seeks permission to videotape. Seeing no objection, permission granted. Mr. Secretary, Resolutions. 1 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016
Senate Resolutions 1634 and 1635, offered by Senator Anderson and all Members. Senate Resolutions 1636 through 1638, offered by Senator Haine and all Members. Senate Resolution 1639, offered by Senator Connelly and all Members. Senate Resolution 1640, offered by Senator Brady and all Members. And Senate Resolution 1641, offered by Senator Link and all Members. They are all death resolutions, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Resolution Consent Calendar. Mr. Secretary, Introduction of Senate Bills.
Senate Bill 3383, offered by Senator Van Pelt. (Secretary reads title of bill) 1st Reading of the bill.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Mr. Secretary, Committee Reports.
Senator Mulroe, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Health, reports Senate Bill 2415 Do Pass. Senator Delgado, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, reports Senate Bill 2469 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2823 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator McGuire, Chairperson of the Committee on Higher Education, reports Senate Bill 2743 Do Pass. 2 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 Senator Clayborne, Chairperson of the Committee on Judiciary, reports Senate Bill 2783 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2354 Do Pass, as Amended. Senator Cullerton, (Vice) Chairperson of the Committee on Local Government, reports Senate Bill 2825 Do Pass; Senate Bill 2604 Do Pass, as Amended; Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 571 Recommend Do Adopt. Senator Raoul, (Vice) Chairperson of the Committee on Criminal Law, reports Senate Bills 2228, 2601, 2778, 2872, 2875, 2876, 2880, and 2907 Do Pass. Senator Collins, Chairperson of the Committee on Financial Institutions, reports Senate Bill 2864 Do Pass; and Senate Bill 2414 Do Pass, as Amended.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator Bertino-Tarrant, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. For a point of introduction.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your introduction.
Members of the Chamber, today I'd like to welcome Eryn Frye from Minooka. Eryn is a senior at Minooka High School. We're -- we are actually a homework project today. She's in Honors Government and she is required to get a little more hands-on experience with local government. She has chose to come here to the State and watch us perform here. Outside of school, she participates in her school's investment club and dance company. She has been dancing for the last fifteen years. She is a huge Chicago Cubs fan. Her favorite subject is English. And next year, 3 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 she plans to attend the University of New Mexico and study elementary education with a minor in special recreation. So please welcome Eryn to the Senate Floor.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Syverson, from Senator McConnaughay's desk, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you so much, Mr. President. The view here is so much better. Senator Stadelman and myself are honored to have two special young people with us today, high school standouts - not just standouts, but two individuals that have, in their respective fields, have broken every record imaginable in this State. And so we'd like to introduce them to you and give you a little background about them and their achievements, and then ask you to welcome them. So I'd like to turn it over to Senator Stadelman to introduce our first guest.
I'd like to introduce James Robinson to the Senate Chamber. And just listen to this list of accomplishments that James and -- had during his football career at Rockford Lutheran the past four years. He's the all-time leading rusher in IHSA history, holds the all-time IHSA record for most touchdowns rushing, career, and the most points scored in a career; he stands in second place for all-time most touchdowns in a season, fourth place for all-time most touchdowns rushing in a season, and fourth place for all-time most points in a season, and fifth place for all-time most yards in total offense. And what's amazing about all these records that James has broken, that he and his Lutheran teammates were so strong during his career, and especially the past year, is that by the 4 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 time half-time came, they were often four, five, six, seven touchdowns ahead, and so oftentimes James would sit out all, if not most, of the second half and he still broke all these single- season career records despite sitting out much of the time. I mean, that shows you what kind of career he had over his career. So, certainly, like to congratulate James for a wonderful career. And fortunately, for you Illinois State fans, he's headed to ISU next fall. So he's staying close to home and we'll be able to watch him in our own backyard. Also like to thank his family for -- up in the gallery there, including his mom, for taking part in his special day. And thank you for being here.
The other thing that wasn't mentioned is, besides breaking all these records and having to sit out most of the second halves because they ran up the scores so high in every game, he actually missed the last game of the season due to an injury. And he still amassed all of these records, which is incredible. One game, I think he had scored -- he had four hundred and seventy-eight yards in one game. I think what was interesting, he scored seven touchdowns, and if I'm reading this right, he averaged -- the average carry was like twenty-eight yards a carry. That's -- the Bears could use him very quickly. But good news is, he chose Illinois over Iowa, so we are certainly grateful for that. The other individual we have with us is Nick Sommer. And Nick is on the bowling team in Hononegah, which is just north of Rockford. What makes him a standout is, as a sophomore, Nick has broken every Illinois bowling record when it comes to scoring for a season. Not only did he break every Illinois record, Nick broke every national record. The best bowler in the nation in history, and he 5 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 is a sophomore right now. So we'd like to welcome him, and his coach/father and his father's coach/grandfather are up in the gallery as well. And so we appreciate them visiting. So, an -- two outstanding individuals that are game changers for us in Illinois and we're so proud to have both of them here. So, if you'll join us in welcoming them, we'd appreciate that.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield and good luck with your future. Will the Committee on Assignments please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately? The Committee on Assignments, please meet in the President's Anteroom immediately. Senator Bivins, for what purpose do you rise?
Thank you, Mr. President. Point of personal privilege.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
Thank you, Mr. President. With me today, I have a Page for the Day who happens to be the grandson of a former Sheriff of Clay County, served fifteen years, Sheriff Lee Ryker, and his grandson is here with us, Collin Moseley. He's from Clay City. He attends Flora High School and he's on the Student Council, in Business and Band and Drama Club, and plays golf and tennis, and he's in the Scholar Bowl. And he likes -- would like to go to college and become involved in law enforcement and politics. So I'd ask if you'd please welcome both these -- these fine people.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator Holmes, for what purpose do you rise? 6 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
I want to introduce a wonderful group who is here today. Illinois's been recognized as a leader in providing quality daily physical education and health programs for the students of our State and we should celebrate and be proud to be part of this process. So the legislative Body here in Illinois, as well as the Center(s) for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine, understand that quality daily programs play a big role in ensuring the success and health for all students. So at this time, I would like to recognize the members of the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, who have just completed their annual Shape Up Illinois Day in the Capitol. They are in the President's Gallery. I'd like us to recognize them for the General Assembly. Thank you. And then my last point is, is each of you on your desks will have a few little fun exercises that are to give your brain a break and re-energize. So I suggest, as all of us have so much work to do, and hard work to do, and some good decisions to make, that we take time out and do one of the brain breaks. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. 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 - Committee 7 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 Amendment 2 to Senate Bill 2143; refer to Criminal Law Committee - Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2346; refer to Public Health Committee - Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 2403; and Be Approved for Consideration - Senate Bill 185. Signed, Senator James F. Clayborne, Chairman.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Senator McCann, for what purpose do you rise? SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. On a point of personal privilege, please.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point. SENATOR McCANN: Mr. President, I have with me a Page for the Day, Richie Cullen, seventeen from Jerseyville. Richie, when he -- when he moves on to the next chapter of his life, he wants to have his own show, television or digitally, or however that might be, by the time our hair -- hair is even grayer than it is, Mr. President. That being said, I'm honored to have Richie here representing Jerseyville today. He is joined by his dad and mom, Richard and Becky, and Becky's brother, Richie's uncle Mike. They are in the Republican gallery. And I'd like you to welcome them to the Capitol today. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Welcome to Springfield. Senator McCann. SENATOR McCANN: Thank you, Mr. President. I rise on a second point of personal privilege today to ask you and the -- the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber to join with me -- to join with me in 8 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 honoring a fallen police officer. I just returned from a funeral in Jacksonville, Illinois. I'm proud to represent that community. Actually, it's the Village of South Jacksonville. This officer had served the Village for quite some time. He also was an EMT and a fireman. This gentleman exemplifies the word -- the term "public service". He leaves behind a wife, a four-year-old son and a four-month-old daughter, and many other family members. And I hope that you and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chamber will join me in a moment of silence in recognition for this man's ultimate sacrifice. Thank you.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) Please rise for a moment of silence. (Moment of silence observed) Senator Hunter, for what purpose do you rise?
For an announcement, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your announcement.
I would like -- I would like to announce that the Democrats will be holding a caucus immediately following caucus {sic} for one hour in the -- in the President's Chamber.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) That will be recognized upon adjournment. Senator Hastings, for what purpose do you rise?
A point of personal privilege, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) State your point.
9 STATE OF ILLINOIS 99th GENERAL ASSEMBLY REGULAR SESSION SENATE TRANSCRIPT 89th Legislative Day 3/9/2016 Yesterday on the news -- or two days ago on the news, we saw one of our police officers -- security officers from our district get stabbed in the head, stabbed forty times in a tow yard, and he actually survived. And so what he ended up doing was, he fought off the offender, went down to the people who worked in the towing yard and defended all the ladies in the office, and being stabbed forty times, he was able to provide them with security while providing himself with medical first aid. And tomorrow in the district, we'll be honoring him. But I wanted to let him and his family know, who are watching right now, that we appreciate his service, we appreciate what he does for our community, and we wish him a safe recovery. Thank you, Mr. President.
PRESIDING OFFICER: (SENATOR LINK) We wish for a speedy recovery on his behalf. There being no further business to come before the Senate, the Senate stands adjourned until the hour of 12 noon on the 10th day of March 2016. The Senate stands adjourned. 10