SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The Latest on legislative action in Springfield (all times local):
9:25 p.m.
The Illinois General Assembly has adjourned its spring session.
The House lowered the gavel following departing comments from its Republican and Democratic leaders lauding the cooperation that led to overwhelming approval of a $38.5 billion spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1.
The Senate adjourned earlier Thursday.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has not made himself available to reporters for days but issued a statement Thursday promising to swiftly enact the budget plan.
Both Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs and Chicago Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan applauded the bipartisan cooperation of the session.
It was in stark contrast to the past three sessions when legislative Democrats locked horns with Rauner over a budget deal that was only broken last summer when legislators enacted an income-tax increase over the governor’s objections.
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7:40 p.m.
Gov. Bruce Rauner will get a plan encouraging public schools to invest more in mental health .
The House voted 65-42 Thursday on some final changes shortly after the Senate OK’d the plan. Schools can apply for state grants to pay for mental health professionals.
The plan initially said schools could only access the money if they replaced armed security officers with unarmed social workers. That condition was removed.
Hillside Democratic Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch is the sponsor. He says he recognizes the role police officers play in keeping schools safe. But he adds that investing in mental health is the best way to keep calm in the hallways.
Schools cannot use the grant money to pay for armed security.
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The bill is HB4208 .
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7:30 p.m.
A package of legislation addressing sexual harassment complaints in the state Capitol has won swift and unanimous approval.
The plan revamps the process followed by the Legislative Inspector General on ethics complaints. The Senate approved it 54-0 and the House followed with a 110-0 vote.
The post’s vacancy for years became a source of embarrassment for legislators last year when a woman complained there was no one to investigate her claim of sexual harassment. Activists have complained recently that the process is too heavily influenced by lawmakers.
The package removes a requirement that the Legislative Inspector General get permission from eight lawmakers on the Ethics Commission to investigate complaints. It gives the inspector to share information on an investigation’s status with the victim and the accused.
It extends some statute of limitations for complaints and allows investigation of former members and staff and allows for suspension of lobbyist registrations.
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The bill is HB138 .
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7:10 p.m.
Illinois lawmakers sent the governor a proposal expanding the use of medical marijuana to fight the state’s opioid crisis.
The House voted 72-38 Thursday. The Senate followed with a concurrence 44-3. The plan would allow individuals who qualify for opioid prescriptions to apply for the state’s medical cannabis program.
Rep. Kelly Cassidy is the sponsor of the proposal in the House. The Chicago Democrat says it’s a less-addictive alternative to treating pain and could be a remedy to the growing number of opioid overdoses across the state.
It will give patients short-term access to medical marijuana and allow them to bypass some bureaucracy including fingerprint scans and background checks.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has fought previous efforts to expand medical marijuana access.
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The bill is SB336
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1:30 p.m.
The Illinois House has approved a $38.5 billion state budget for the year that begins July 1.
The lopsided 97-14 vote Thursday in the House followed Wednesday night’s overwhelming Senate approval.
The proposal goes to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. He has not commented on the measure but his budget office was part of the negotiations. Budget director Hans Zigmund attended the House debate.
Democrats and Republicans both applauded the bipartisan cooperation on this year’s budget. It is in stark contrast to the last three years. Rauner and Democrats who control the General Assembly couldn’t agree on a plan in 2015 or 2016. Lawmakers forced through an income tax increase last summer that provides revenue that made this year’s deal easier to complete.
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The bills are HB109 and HB3342 .
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4:40 a.m.
The Illinois General Assembly enters its final day of the spring session halfway to sending Gov. Bruce Rauner what both Democrats and Republicans say is a balanced budget.
The Senate voted 56-2 on a $38.5 billion spending plan Wednesday night. It’s for the budget year that begins July 1.
The action moves the plan to the House. Negotiators there have been in on Senate discussions so it’s likely to get a thumbs-up there.
Senate debate was immersed in collegiately and compliments. They replaced the rancor of the past three years. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats controlling the General Assembly couldn’t agree on a budget during Rauner’s first two years. Lawmakers forced him to accept a plan with an income-tax increase last summer.
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