It was a move strikingly similar to last year’s $10 million bombshell, where the Governor used his executive authority to bypass the Legislature and utilize a $10 million appropriation that was slid into the budget “for grants and related expenses…for scientific research,” to be used for embryonic stem cell research. Rutherford noted that the Legislature has considered using state funds to finance embryonic stem cell research, but has yet to approve any initiative that would do so.

Senate Republicans maintain that regardless of an individual’s personal opinion of stem cell research, it is wrong for the Governor to circumvent the General Assembly in order to introduce an expensive, contentious public policy enterprise without legislative authorization or oversight. This concern is magnified by the cost of the program at a time when state debt has reached an all-time high, and payments to Medicaid providers are seriously delayed—creating substantial economic problems for pharmacists, doctors, nursing homes and hospitals across the state.

The Governor did sign several bills that met General Assembly approval this spring, including a measure (HB 4715/P.A. 94-1038) requiring landlords to change the locks in the homes of victims of domestic or sexual violence, or allow the victim to change the locks if the landlord does not do so within the required time. Additionally, victims will also have the option to prematurely terminate a lease.

Often victims of these types of crimes are placed in dangerous situations because they do not have the financial means to move from their current residence, and as a result continue to live where the danger exists. Lawmakers hope that by allowing women and men in these circumstances to more easily relocate or make their current living situations safer, the new law will not only reduce the incidents of physical and emotional injury, but lessen the often devastating economic consequences that impact many domestic violence victims.

Another new law (SB 624/P.A. 94-1035) seeks to reduce the number of uninsured drivers on Illinois’ roadways. Currently, an individual found driving an uninsured vehicle could be fined between $500 and $1,000—unless they produce satisfactory evidence that proves that they were covered by an insurance policy at the time of their arrest.

Now, any driver convicted of driving an uninsured motor vehicle can expect to have his or her driving privileges suspended for three months; the suspension will remain in effect until he or she pays a reinstatement fee of $100.

Additional legislation signed into law last week includes:

Insurance (SB 916/P.A. 94-1037) – Provides that no Illinois residents activated for military service, or their spouse, who was on a federal government-sponsored health insurance program while the resident was in service can be denied reinstatement into the same individual health insurance coverage without medical underwriting.

Medical District (SB 848/P.A. 94-1036) – Creates the Mid America Medical District within the City of East St. Louis in an effort to attract and maintain a thriving medical community in the area.

Principal Mentoring Program (SB 860/P.A. 94-1039) – Creates a statewide principle mentoring program to help new principals identify areas for professional growth and development choices.