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Senate sponsors worked closely with the
attorney general to draft
Senate Bill 562, which organizes methamphetamine-related
provisions into a single law that is designed to assist judges, law
enforcement authorities, prosecutors and defense attorneys in
attending to the rising number of methamphetamine cases plaguing
many communities throughout Illinois. The new act specifically
addresses the manufacturers of methamphetamine, who frequently
adjust the production tactics to avoid detection, arrest and
prosecution -- often in ways that pose new dangers for children, law
enforcement authorities and other Illinois residents.
By enacting provisions that make it
illegal to engage in the possession, procurement, transportation,
storage or delivery of anhydrous ammonia in an unauthorized
container and by targeting individuals who knowingly possess a
substance containing methamphetamine, Senate Bill 562 would allow
law enforcement to keep pace with the ever-evolving production
methods of methamphetamine producers.
In other news, members of the
bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability
passed a motion April 7 allowing the commission to hire a consultant
who will explore the potential savings the state could realize if
Illinois would administer its own prescription drug benefit program
to state employees. Although the state recently brokered a $2
million contract with Medco, a mail-order pharmaceutical provider,
commission members suspect that Illinois could accrue greater
savings if it served as its own pharmaceutical provider.
Senate Republicans had encouraged
the commission to investigate the contract and determine the amount
of cost savings Illinois will benefit from by using a mail-order
pharmaceutical provider. Republicans emphasize that exploring
alternative health care options has the potential to save the state
money, as well as prevent the state from entering into future
contracts that might negatively affect taxpayers' access to
lifesaving medicines and medical assistance.
Also on April 7, Gov. Rod
Blagojevich signed a measure that will restructure judicial
boundaries in several of Illinois' rapidly growing suburban
counties. Senate Republicans contested Democratic claims that
House Bill 949 will promote the election of African-American and
Latinos into judicial seats, arguing that the measure was really an
attempt to introduce partisan Democrats into judicial subcircuits
that are currently dominated by Republicans, rather than a sincere
effort to increase the number of minority judges in these counties.
Republicans stated that the new law dilutes minority populations by
dividing the minority districts, thereby separating these
communities and reducing the large minority populations.
In other news, Senate Republicans
introduced a measure that would require Democratic leadership to
reinstate $14 million that the Blagojevich administration had
previously siphoned from the Mental Health Trust Fund as a way to
supplement the state budget. As a result of the fund diversion, the
state is now unable to pay mental health providers for their
services, forcing some providers to take on credit to pay their own
bills. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats did not support the measure,
and in the April 7 Senate Appropriations Committee they instead
advanced a measure that would sweep a Medicaid fund to supplement
the current funding gap.
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On April 8, the Senate paid tribute
to Pope John Paul II, passing a resolution honoring the pontiff for
his 26 years of service and sacrifice. Legislators mourned the
passing of this great historical figure as an "extraordinary hero
for our time, an inspiring leader of the Catholic church, and a
wonderful warrior for freedom and democracy."
The Senate passed the following
bills during the week of April 4-8:
Adoption Act (SB 511) -- Creates
specific guidelines for the judiciary to refer to when presiding
over a contested adoption case.
Autism (SB 1698) -- Requires
qualified professionals who diagnose an individual with an autism
spectrum disorder to expediently report the existence of the
diagnosis to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Alternative fuel (SB 769) --
Provides that beginning July 1, owners of vehicles using domestic
renewable fuel are eligible to apply for a fuel cost differential
rebate.
Election registration (SB 1696) --
Requires first-time voters who registered by mail to vote in person
unless they first provide specified types of documents identifying
their name and address.
Identify theft (SB 1479) -- In an
effort to prevent identity theft, requires expedient disclosure of
any breach of the security of personal data that is held by both
state and private entities.
Military leave (SB 1627) -- Provides
that an employee is entitled to up to 30 days of unpaid military
leave after exhausting all other forms of leave and provides
employment protection for any employee who seeks military family
leave.
Pensions (SB 1660) -- Provides that
a teacher who has been receiving a disability benefits for at least
one year and remains unable to resume full-time teaching due to the
disability may engage in part-time employment as a teacher without
loss of disability benefits.
Technology development (SB 1645) --
Provides that the state treasurer will be the custodian of a
Technology Development Fund and may deposit earnings from the
investments of the Technology Development Account into the new fund
to be used for schools to buy computers and upgrade technology.
Supportive living (SB 1651) --
Provides that the Department of Public Aid will establish and
maintain a supportive living facilities program instead of a
demonstration project.
[News release from Illinois
Senate Republicans]
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