Senate Week in Review         

[Nov. 21, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD - A new law limiting the availability of certain over-the-counter cold medicines is intended to prevent Illinois from becoming a favorite shopping site for out-of-town methamphetamine makers, according to State Senator Larry Bomke (R-Springfield).

The new law, signed Wednesday, will require pharmacies to keep cold medicines such as Sudafed and Tylenol Cold Severe Congestion behind pharmacy counters, and calls for anyone who wishes to purchase the medications to show photo identification and provide a signature documenting the date and the amount purchased. In addition, no more than two packages of medicines containing pseudoephedrine may be purchased at one time.

The legislation was modeled after an Oklahoma law that reduced methamphetamine laboratories by 80% within six month of its enactment. The new restrictions target individuals who manufacture the highly addictive drug, which is produced using large quantities of the pills and household ingredients. The key ingredient, pseudoephedrine, is found in some versions of Sudafed and other medications.

Senator Bomke hopes the new provisions will discourage out-of-state drug manufacturers from flocking to Illinois to buy the ingredients they need to produce methamphetamine. Surrounding states, including Iowa, Missouri and Indiana, have already passed laws that require consumers to sign a log and show photo ID before buying those products. The new law will take effect Jan. 15, 2006.

In other news, Senate Bill 92 was signed into law, which creates a new Department of Juvenile Justice and establishes new requirements for counselors who interact with the young people being held in the juvenile system. Currently, Illinois is one of only 11 states nationwide that does not have a separate juvenile justice system.

The new agency will be funded by shifting approximately $124 million from the current Department of Corrections to the new Department of Juvenile Justice. Proponents, including the Juvenile Justice Initiative, Metropolis 2020, and the Safer Foundation, claim the move is cost neutral because the money being diverted to the new department has already been allocated to juvenile prison facilities. Critics, however, questioned the motives behind the creation of a whole new department, maintaining that the Department of Corrections already has the ability to create specific programs for juvenile inmates, and that there is no need to create a new department with higher administrative costs.

Additionally, Senate Bill 1283 was approved by the Governor this week, which seeks to clarify the effective dates of several provisions passed under a workers' compensation reform package last spring. Specifically, the new law revises payments made by employers into the Rate Adjustment Fund and designates February 1, 2006 as the date compensation for certain accidental injuries will increase, as well as the day the new fee schedule becomes effective.

Finally, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed the "All Kids" children's health care initiative into law on Tuesday. The legislation outlines provisions to provide health care for every child in Illinois, and passed the General Assembly during the Fall Veto Session, despite warnings from several lawmakers about inherent problems with the program's design.

While supporting the goals of the measure, Senate Republicans maintain that the bill was sped through the Democrat-controlled Legislature without substantial and much-needed discussion over the program's infrastructure. Furthermore, many legislators fear the cost of the All Kids initiative could cost more than originally anticipated, which has serious economic consequences for the state's already financially unstable health care system.

[News release]