SB1234 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB099 09954 MGM 30173 b

99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB1234

Introduced 2/11/2015, by Sen. Kwame Raoul

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/9-40

Amends the Election Code. Makes a technical change in a provision concerning the Campaign Finance Reform Task Force.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 9-40 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-40)

(This Section scheduled to be repealed on March 15, 2015)

Sec. 9-40. Campaign Finance Reform Task Force.

(a) There is hereby created the the Campaign Finance Reform Task Force. The purpose of the Task Force is to conduct a thorough review of the implementation of campaign finance reform legislation in the State of Illinois, and the feasibility of implementing a mechanism of campaign finance regulation that would subsidize political campaigns in exchange for voluntary adherence to specified expenditure limitations.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of 11 members, appointed as follows: 2 each by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate; and 3 by the Governor, one of whom shall serve as chairperson. Members shall be adults and residents of Illinois. The individual (or his or her successor) who appointed a member may remove that appointed member before the expiration of his or her term on the Task Force for official misconduct, incompetence, or neglect of duty. Members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for expenses. Appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly.

(c) The Task Force shall conduct meetings and conduct a public hearing before filing any report mandated by this Section. At the public hearings, the Task Force shall allow interested persons to present their views and comments. The Task Force shall submit all reports required by this Section to the Governor, the State Board of Elections, and the General Assembly. In addition to the reports required by this Section, the Task Force may provide, at its discretion, interim reports and recommendations. The State Board of Elections shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.

(d) The Task Force shall study the feasibility of implementing a mechanism of campaign finance regulation that would subsidize political campaigns in exchange for voluntary adherence to specified expenditure limitations. In conducting its study, the Task Force shall consider a system of public financing by State government for the conduct and finance of election campaigns for the following: (1) Representatives and Senators in the General Assembly, (2) constitutional offices of State government, and (3) judges. The Task Force may propose financing campaigns through funding mechanisms including, but not limited to, fines, voluntary contributions, surcharges on lobbying activities, and a whistleblower fund. In determining a plan for election to each office, the Task Force shall consider the following factors:

(i) the amount of funds raised by past candidates for that office;

(ii) the amount of funds expended by past candidates for that office;

(iii) the disparity in the amount of funds raised by candidates of different political parties;

(iv) the amount of funds expended by entities not affiliated with a candidate;

(v) the amount of money contributed to or expended by a committee of a political party to promote a candidate;

(vi) jurisprudence with relation to campaign finance and public financing; and

(vii) such other factors, not confined to the foregoing, that the Task Force determines to be related to the public financing of elections in this State.

The Task Force shall also study the feasibility of creating public financing within the statutory system of limits, or if the system of limits should be changed to facilitate a system of public financing and the need for a process to protect candidates who receive public financing against candidates who do not opt to participate in public financing or who self-finance.

The Task Force shall submit the report required by this subsection no later than December 31, 2011. The Task Force may provide, at its discretion, interim reports and recommendations before that date.

(e) The Task Force shall examine and make recommendations related to the provisions of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly in Section 9-8.5 (c-5) and (c-10) limiting contributions to a political party committee from a candidate political committee or political party committee. The Task Force shall submit a report with recommendations required by this subsection no later than September 30, 2012. The Task Force may provide, at its discretion, interim reports and recommendations before that date.

(f) The Task Force shall review the implementation of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and any additional campaign finance reform legislation considered by the General Assembly. The Task Force shall examine each provision of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and make recommendations for changes, deletions, or improvements. In conducting its review of campaign finance reform implementation, the Task Force shall also consider and address a variety of empirical measures, case studies, and comparative analyses, including, but not limited to the following:

(i) campaign finance legislation in other states as well as the federal system of campaign finance regulation;

(ii) the impact of contribution limits in Illinois, including the impact on contributions from individuals, corporations, associations, and labor organizations;

(iii) the impact of contribution limits on independent expenditures in Illinois;

(iv) the effectiveness, reliability, and cost of various enforcement mechanisms;

(v) the best practices in mandating timely disclosure of the origin of campaign contributions; and

(vi) the best way to require and conduct random audits and audits for cause.

The Task Force shall also submit a report detailing the following: (i) the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms, (ii) whether the disclosure requirements and the definition of "receipt" result in accurate reporting; (iii) issues related to audits, (iv) the effect of using the same election cycle for all members of the General Assembly, and (v) the impact of Section 9-8.5(h).

The Task Force shall submit reports required by this subsection no later than March 1, 2013 and March 1, 2015.

(g) The Task Force shall submit a final report by March 10, 2015. The Task Force is abolished and this Section is repealed on March 15, 2015.

(Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 7-1-10.)