SPRINGFIELD – After weeks of meetings with legislative Democrats and Gov. Bruce Rauner in an attempt to find common ground on pressing issues, Senate and House Republicans filed legislation May 22 implementing major portions of Rauner’s Turnaround Agenda, according to State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).

The legislative package introduced in the Senate would: freeze property taxes; enact term limits; eliminate partisan gerrymandering; and advance pro-jobs economic reforms.

Underscoring the need for continued progress less than two weeks from the General Assembly’s scheduled May 31 adjournment, Republican legislative leaders stressed the need for bipartisan budget negotiations and an end to “business as usual” gamesmanship.

Governor’s reform legislation introduced in Senate, House

With the end of the 2015 session looming, a major package of legislation was introduced on May 22 that would freeze property taxes, improve Illinois’ jobs climate, and transform state government with term limits and redistricting reform.

·         Freeze Illinois property taxes: currently the second highest of any state

o   Supports local control: option to increase through local referendum

·         Improve Illinois’ business climate: recently ranked third worst in the country

o   Workers’ compensation reform

o   Lawsuit reform

·         Reform State Government: Illinois called “worst-run state in the country” last year

o   Constitutional amendment establishing term limits for legislators and executive officeholders – Illinois would join 15 other states with term limits

o   Redistricting reform – Constitutional amendment to create an independent commission for fair and balanced districts

 

Senator Syverson said instead of participating in good-faith negotiations repeatedly offered by Gov. Rauner and Republican lawmakers, Democrat leaders have stalled, played political games, and used the approaching end-of-session deadline as a negotiating tactic to support the same type of bloated, broken budgets they’ve advanced over the last 12 years.

‘Right-to-Try’ legislation on way to Governor’s desk

On May 19, the Senate passed the Illinois “Right to Try” Act to help terminally-ill patients.

House Bill 1335 would give terminally-ill patients access to clinical-trial, experimental medical treatments and medications. “Right to Try” offers hope to citizens afflicted with HIV, ALS, cancer or a litany of other serious conditions.

Typically, the federal Food and Drug Administration has a five-year trial period for the testing of medical and pharmaceutical products and procedures, which to some patients could represent a life-threatening delay. This bill removes that bureaucratic hurdle for patients and their families.

Decriminalizing marijuana

On May 21, after much debate, the Senate passed legislation that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana.

House Bill 218 would eliminate any criminal penalties or treatment requirements for possession of 15 grams or less of cannabis. Under this bill, a person could be caught with 15 grams of cannabis dozens of times and the toughest punishment that could be given is a $125 fine. In addition, the arrest and records would be automatically expunged each year.

Proponents of the legislation said it creates a uniform penalty throughout the state, and was crafted with input from prosecutors and law enforcement. They also noted that by eliminating the option for police to arrest people carrying small amounts of cannabis, the bill will help relieve an overcrowded court system and ensures future education, job, and housing prospects would not be jeopardized for low-level marijuana violations.

Opponents raised concerns about public safety, social implications, and the negative message it sends to our youth, pointing out that 15 grams of marijuana makes over 35 joints. They emphasized that the legislation replaces criminal sanctions with a civil fine of as little as $55, and expressed concerns that drug dealers will take advantage of changes in the law by only carrying 15 grams or slightly less on their person to prevent breaking any law. They also expressed concerns about the lack of zero tolerance driver’s license sanctions by the Secretary of State, and noted that that regardless of whether states decriminalize cannabis or allow for medical cannabis, using marijuana continues to be an offense under Federal law.

Vaccination legislation advances to Governor

Legislation that protects small children from exposure to fatal diseases now advances to the Governor for final approval.

Senate Bill 986 requires all day care workers who care for children under the age of seven to present proof of measles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccines or immunity. This legislation is an effort to protect young children from exposure to these potentially fatal diseases and was introduced in response to a recent measles outbreak in Cook County.

Senate Bill 986 passed the Senate 52-2-0 and the House 112-3-1 and has been sent to the Governor to sign.

Senate passes bobcat hunting legislation

Bobcat hunting and trapping is another step closer to becoming a reality, after legislation passed the Senate on May 21.

House Bill 352 is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), which has asked for the bobcat hunting season as a tool to control the growing bobcat population. The scientists and wildlife biologists who maintain and protect bobcat populations view this as a proactive step to safeguard the state’s natural resources before there are serious issues resulting from potential overpopulation.

 

According to IDNR, currently Illinois is one of only seven states without a bobcat hunting season, and Indiana is currently considering adding a season as well. In 1972, due to concerns over declining bobcat populations, the season was closed. The species was listed as threatened in 1977. The state’s bobcat population is now growing 4-9% per year.

Protecting senior citizens and disabled from exploitation

The Senate has unanimously passed legislation to help exploited senior citizens and persons with disabilities recover assets taken by criminals.

House Bill 1588 changes the civil liability provision of laws on the exploitation of senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Currently, victims can only file civil cases if a criminal case resulted in a conviction, regardless of evidence. The legislation would waive the requirement of conviction in bringing civil cases to court.

Streamlining Illinois’ adoption process

As a follow-up to 2013 legislation to speed up the adoption process for youth with “unfit” biological parents, a similar bill relating to foreign adoptions is advancing through the General Assembly.

House Bill 3079 streamlines the re-adoption process for inter-country adoptions to comply with the Inter-country Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012.  It also establishes better practices for post-adoption services that are offered by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

The legislation also removes several state-level redundancies that are covered under the latest federal provisions on inter-country adoptions.

Senate action round-up

Action continued on the Senate floor and in committees this week. A full round-up of all the measures that passed in committees and on the Senate floor during the week is available on the Senate Action Page.

On May 19, 2015, Senator Syverson meets with 4-H members including Megan Exner (far left) from Kirkland.

 

Senator Syverson welcomes students from Christian Life School to the Illinois Senate.