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Thursday, December 16, 1999
Arizona Special Session Ends In Failure, Illinois and North Carolina Still In
By Chrisanne Loll
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| States In Regular Session | States In Special Session | Notes on Session/Legislation |
| Arizona | Arizona legislators ended their special session on Tuesday without agreeing on how to fund a new state hospital for the mentally ill. Problems began when House Appropriations Chairman Bob Burns (R-Glendale) refused to hear Governor Hull's proposal, arguing that the session should not have been called. Lawmakers also failed to take action on gun legislation that would have imposed tougher penalties on those who shoot guns into the air. |
| Illinois | The General Assembly continues to wrangle in special session over how to rewrite the Safe Neighorhoods Act, which the state Supreme Court declared unconstitutional on December 2, 1999. The focus of the debate is whether to make illegal firearms possession a misdemeanor or a felony. Senate President James "Pate" Philip who is opposed to felony status, offered a compromise late Wednesday that was met with stinging criticism from Democrats. Governor Ryan, who is a long-standing supporter of gun control, insists on keeping the offense a felony. | | New Jersey |
| The Legislature will convene for its final voting session on January 10, 2000. Until then, lawmakers are busy in committee trying to put the finishing touches on last minute legislation. Still unresolved, is a bill needed to launch a statewide school construction program, including the court-ordered rebuilding of decrepit schools in 30 poor districts. Two different versions of legislation have been introduced thus far. The Assembly Education Committee will hold a hearing on December 16, 1999 to consider the House version sponsered by Speaker Jack Collins (R-Salem). |
| North Carolina | The General Assembly convened on December 15, 1999 to consider disaster relief legislation to aid state residents in their recovery efforts. In a 12-hour session on Wednesday, the House voted 114-2 to approve Governor Jim Hunt's plan with only a few substantive changes. The measure heads to the Senate on Thursday where it is likely to pass by a favorable majority. The Governor's plan guarantees $830 million -- $504 million from budget cuts and freezes, $286 million from the state's rainy day fund and $40 million left over from the 1999 legislative session -- to buy new houses, reopen businesses and restore flooded farmland. | | Ohio |
| The House amended a 26-year, $10.1 billion tobacco settlement plan last week to include $12.5 million on prescription drugs for the poor and elderly.After an emotional speech by Rep. Jerry W. Krupinski (D-Steubenville), the Senate voted 73-14 to approve the plan, but later objected 18-8 to the House changes. A House-Senate conference committee will try to work out the differences next month. Legislators also decided to include themselves in a bill requiring electronic filing of campaign finance reports. Ohio will join 40 other states with the requirement provided that Governor Taft signs the bill as expected. | | Pennsylvania |
| State lawmakers are considering legislation that would require police to keep race-based statistics of who they stop for traffic violations. The House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday to consider a series of bills proposed by Rep. Harold James (D-Philadelphia). |
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