Legislative Action

Fall Legislative session
THE 78TH General Assembly returned to Springfield November 7 through December 5 for unfinished business and then recessed until January 7.

The intended purpose of the fall session was to review and possibly act on the governor's vetoes of bills sent to him at the close of the preceding spring session. In addition to overriding a number of vetoes, the legislators also passed bills, including pay raises for legislators, judges, and state officials.

A selection of vetoed bills acted on by one or both houses and new bills passed and sent to the governor during the fall session is given below.

Gov. Dan Walker had vetoed 55 bills in full and had used his amendatory veto power to recommend changes in 18 other bills. Among the 299 bills he signed into law were 70 appropriation bills vetoed in part, either by striking items or by reducing the amounts.

A vote of three-fifths of the members elected to each house is needed to override a full veto, an amendatory veto, or an item veto. A vote of a majority of the members elected to each house is needed to accept any changes recommended in an amendatory veto or to restore the original amount of an item reduced by the governor.

Although a majority of the members elected to each house will suffice to pass a bill, a law passed by this vote between July 1 and the end of the year does not go into effect until the following July 1. For such a bill to become effective sooner, a three-fifths vote in each house is needed. (This requirement is intended to discourage legislative activity after June 30 and it was not completely successful in 1973, when the legislature continued until July 2, or in 1974, when the spring session continued until July 12.)

Three leaders chosen
Members of the 78th General Assembly who continue to serve in the 79th met with newly elected legislators on December 4 in party conclaves to choose a House minority leader and Senate president and minority leader. But, House Democrats did not meet during this period to choose their can (continued on page 58)

Bill Summaries

Action on total vetoes
S.B. 265, Weaver et al. Reduces from 4 to 2 per cent state's reimbursement for collecting local sales taxes. Vetoed 7/26/74. Senate override 11/21/74. House override 12/5/74 (See roll calls).

S.B. 408, Ozinga et al. Doubles maximum loan and maturity period under Consumer Installment Loan Act. Vetoed 9/13/74. Senate override 11 /20/74. House override 12/5/74.

S.B. 876, Conolly et al. Authorizes North Shore Sanitary District to raise tax rate. Vetoed 8/16/74 ("because ... a serious question arises as to whether a referendum would be required").

Bill passage requires a majority vote in both houses — 30 in the Senate and 89 in the House. In some instances, a three- fifths vote is required. Y=Yes; N=No; P=Present and not voting;*= Absent.

Senate override 11/21/74. House override 12/5/74.

S.B. 1212, Sours. Highway easement. Vetoed 8/30/74 ("no explanation furnished by the supporters ...."). Senate override 11/20/74. House override 12/5/74.

Please turn to page 58 for continuation of bill summaries.

Roll Calls