Video Gambling—Gut, Cut, and Strut Episode II


During the last two days of the autumn veto session—October 29th and 30th, the General Assembly once again attempted to pass without basic public input and debate a revision of the Video Gaming Act that would extend a gambling license even if a community or county had banned video gambling. The recorded attempt to continue to escalate this travesty was recorded at http://www.ilga.gov/. The information has been put into my format.

“Bill Status of HB1306
96th General Assembly

Short Description: LOC GOV/SCHOOL—ENERGY CONSERV

House SponsorsRep. Lou Lang

Senate Sponsors(Sen. Don Harmon - Pamela J. Althoff)

Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Local Government Energy Conservation Act, the School Code, and the Public University Energy Conservation Act. Provides that requests for proposals must be submitted to the administrators of all 4 volumes of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for publication in each bulletin. Provides that contracts let or awarded must be submitted to the administrators of all 4 volumes of the Illinois Procurement Bulletin for publication in each bulletin. Makes changes concerning drafters of specifications submitting bids or proposals for installment contracts and other agreements proposed by a school district or public university. Effective immediately.

House Committee Amendment No. 1
Removes the power of a school district or school districts in combination or an area vocational center to enter into ‘other agreements’ (agreements other than an installment contract and a lease purchase agreement) with a qualified provider for the purchase or lease of energy conservation measures. Deletes the power of a public university or 2 or more public universities in combination to enter into ‘other agreements’ (agreements other than an installment contract and a lease purchase agreement) with a qualified provider for the purchase or installation of energy conservation measures.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 1
Further amends the Local Government Energy Conservation Act and the School Code. Adds that contracts let or awarded must be submitted to the administrators of the Capital Development Board Procurement Bulletin for publication. Provides that any consultant, architect, engineer, or other drafter of specifications who assists the school district or vocational center in the preparation of specifications shall not submit a bid or proposal to meet the procurement need unless the body authorizing the contract or agreement determines in writing that there will be no substantial conflict of interest.”

So far, so good. The bill is dealing with the topic at hand. But then, it times for the Senate to display its total disregard for the public and public input. It’s gut the original bill, cut the original topic of the bill into oblivion, and strut out the new, improved, totally changed bill. The only items that are not changed are the bill number and the completed readings that have already occurred dealing with a totally DIFFERENT topic.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 4

Deletes reference to:

50 ILCS 515/25
105 ILCS 5/19b-1.4 from Ch. 122, par. 19b-1.4
105 ILCS 5/19b-3 from Ch. 122, par. 19b-3
105 ILCS 5/19b-5 from Ch. 122, par. 19b-5
110 ILCS 62/25

Adds reference to:

230 ILCS 40/27
230 ILCS 40/70

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Video Gaming Act. In provisions concerning ordinances or referendums to prohibit video gaming, provides that if the ordinance or proposition passes, then each existing licensed establishment, licensed fraternal establishment, licensed veterans establishment, or licensed truck stop establishment covered by the ordinance or proposition may continue to conduct video gaming for up to 2 years after the date of the approval of the ordinance or proposition. Effective immediately.

Actions:

02/11/2009 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Lisa M. Dugan
02/18/2009 House First Reading (Note: The first reading in the House occurred in February and the topic of the bill was school districts and energy conservation—my addition.)
02/18/2009 House Referred to Rules Committee
02/23/2009 House Assigned to Executive Committee
03/04/2009 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Executive Committee
03/04/2009 House House Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted in Executive Committee; by Voice Vote
03/04/2009 House Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Executive Committee; 010-000-000
03/04/2009 House Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading—Short Debate
03/23/2009 House Second Reading—Short Debate (Note: The second reading occurred in the House in March and still dealt with school districts and energy conservation—my addition.)
03/23/2009 House Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading—Short Debate
03/24/2009 House Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading—Short Debate
03/24/2009 House Third Reading—Short Debate—Passed 114-000-000 (Note: The third reading occurred in the House on March 24th and still dealt with school districts and energy conservation—my addition.)
03/25/2009 Senate Arrive in Senate
03/25/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading March 26, 2009
03/25/2009 Senate Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Don Harmon
03/26/2009 Senate First Reading (Note: The first reading in the Senate occurred in March and the topic of the bill was school districts and energy conservation—my addition.)
03/26/2009 Senate Referred to Assignments
04/15/2009 Senate Assigned to Local Government
04/22/2009 Senate Do Pass Local Government; 008-000-000
04/22/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 23, 2009
04/22/2009 Senate Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Pamela J. Althoff
05/07/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
05/07/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments
05/12/2009 Senate Second Reading (Note: The second reading occurred in the Senate in May and still dealt with school districts and energy conservation—my addition.)
05/12/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 13, 2009
05/13/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Local Government
05/13/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommend Do Adopt Local Government; 006-000-000
05/14/2009 Senate Recalled to Second Reading
05/14/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted; Harmon
05/14/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 15, 2009
05/22/2009 Senate Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2009
05/31/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
05/31/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments
05/31/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Energy
05/31/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommend Do Adopt Energy; 010-000-000
08/15/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Re-referred to Assignments; Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b).
08/15/2009 Senate Pursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments
10/29/2009 Senate Approved for Consideration Assignments
10/29/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading October 30, 2009
10/29/2009 Senate Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As December 31, 2009
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. John J. Cullerton
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Don Harmon
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Referred to Assignments
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Assignments Refers to Executive
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Recommend Do Adopt Executive; 011-001-000
10/29/2009 Senate Recalled to Second Reading
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Adopted; Harmon (Note: Amendment #4 which gutted the bill is adopted in a recall to Second Reading—my addition)
10/29/2009 Senate Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
10/29/2009 Senate Third Reading—Passed; 040-012-000 (Note: Amendment #4 which gutted the bill is adopted in a recall to Second Reading and passed by a third reading on the same day, on October 29th—my addition)
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)
10/29/2009 Senate Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a)
10/29/2009 House Arrived in House
10/29/2009 House Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 1, 4
10/30/2009 House Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. Lou Lang
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Lou Lang
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Lou Lang
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Executive Committee
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Executive Committee
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Executive Committee; 007-004-000
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Executive Committee; 007-004-000
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Motion to Concur Lost 057-052-001
10/30/2009 House Senate Floor Amendment No. 4 Motion to Concur Lost 057-052-001”

BOTH AMENDMENTS ARE DEFEATED IN THE HOUSE! However, the House and Senate did try to change the video gaming law by gut, cut, and strut. Do you think they will be back with the same in January? I DO!!! Now is the time to BAN VIDEO GAMBLING throughout the State—before the General Assembly can do more HARM!