August 25, 2009

To the Honorable Members of the Illinois Senate,

96^th General Assembly

Today, I return Senate Bill 1595 with a specific recommendation for change. 

Our State’s racing industry is among the most vibrant in the entire nation. We are privileged to have top-notch facilities and races throughout each region of the State. It is important that we work together to support this important industry. At the same time, it is also important that we allow local communities the opportunity to define the gaming that occurs within their communities, something this bill does. When it comes to important decisions facing our communities, each person deserves to have his or her voice heard. That is why I propose that a referendum held under the Video Gaming Act be subject to the same requirements imposed on other referenda under the Election Code. 

Therefore, pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(e) of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 1595, entitled “AN ACT concerning gaming.” with the following specific recommendation for change:

on page 39, below line 3, by inserting the following:

“Section 10. The Video Gaming Act is amended by changing Section 70 as follows:

    (230 ILCS 40/70)
    Sec. 70. Referendum. Upon the filing in the office of the clerk, at least 90 days before an election in any municipality or county, as the case may be, of a petition directed to such clerk, containing the signatures of not less than 11% of the total ballots cast by the registered voters of the municipality, township, or county in the last regular election conducted in the municipality, township, or county 25% of the legal voters of that municipality or county, the clerk shall certify such proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at such election to the voters of such municipality or county. The proposition shall be in the following form:
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
Shall video gaming                      YES
be prohibited in                       ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
.................?                                 NO
‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑
If a majority of the voters voting upon such last mentioned proposition in any municipality, township, or county vote "YES", such video gaming shall be prohibited in such municipality, township, or county. The petition mentioned in this Section shall be a public document and shall be subject to inspection by the public.”.

With this change, Senate Bill 1595 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

PAT QUINN

Governor