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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, on April 7 members of
the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and
Accountability passed a motion 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 dollar 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 would 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. Blagojevich
signed
House Bill 949, which will restructure judicial boundaries in
several of Illinois' rapidly growing suburban counties. Senate
Republicans contested Democratic claims that the measure 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 Senate Appropriations Committee they instead advanced a
measure on April 7 that would sweep a Medicaid fund to supplement
the current funding gap.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 On April 8, the Senate paid tribute
to Pope John Paul II, passing a death 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."
This great man gave inspiration and hope to people all over the
world, and we will all mourn his passing.
Finally, the following bills also
passed the Senate this week:
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 shall
establish and maintain a supportive living facilities program
instead of a demonstration project.
[News release from Illinois
Senate Republicans] |
