SB1361 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 08268 JDS 38370 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB1361

Introduced 2/5/2013, by Sen. Dan Kotowski

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 420/1-102.5 new
5 ILCS 420/1-104.3 new
5 ILCS 420/1-104.4 new
5 ILCS 420/1-104.5 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105	from Ch. 127, par. 601-105
5 ILCS 420/1-105.2 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105.3 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105.4 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105.5 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105.6 new
5 ILCS 420/1-105.7 new
5 ILCS 420/1-110	from Ch. 127, par. 601-110
5 ILCS 420/1-112.5 new
5 ILCS 420/1-113.6 new
5 ILCS 420/4A-102	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-102
5 ILCS 420/4A-103	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-103
5 ILCS 420/4A-108
5 ILCS 420/4A-104 rep.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Creates a uniform statement of economic interest form that must be completed by all persons who are required to file that form under the Act. Changes the nature of the required disclosures that must be made. Authorizes the Secretary of State to institute an electronic statement of economic interest filing system. Repeals a provision that established a separate form for persons required to file a statement of economic interests with county clerks. Effective January 1, 2014.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 1-105, 1-110, 4A-102, 4A-103, and 4A-108 and by adding Sections 1-102.5, 1-104.3, 1-104.4, 1-104.5, 1-105.2, 1-105.3, 1-105.4, 1-105.5, 1-105.6, 1-105.7, 1-112.5, and 1-113.6 as follows:

(5 ILCS 420/1-102.5 new)

Sec. 1-102.5. "Asset" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, an item that is owned and has monetary value. For the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, assets include, but are not limited to: stocks, bonds (except those issued by the federal, state, or local governments), sector mutual funds, sector exchange traded funds, commodity futures, investment real estate, and partnership interests. For the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, assets do not include: personal residences; personal vehicles; savings or checking accounts; bonds, notes, or securities issued by any branch of federal, state, or local government; Medicare benefits; inheritances or bequests; diversified mutual funds; annuities; pensions (including government pensions); retirement accounts; college savings plans that are qualified tuition plans; or non-income producing trust holdings.

(5 ILCS 420/1-104.3 new)

Sec. 1-104.3. "Creditor" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, an individual, organization, or other business entity to whom money or its equivalent is owed, no matter whether that obligation is secured or unsecured, except that if a filer makes a loan to members of his or her family, a political committee registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections, or a political committee, principal campaign committee, or authorized committee registered with the Federal Election Commission, then that filer does not, by making such a loan, become a creditor of that individual or entity for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103 of this Act.

(5 ILCS 420/1-104.4 new)

Sec. 1-104.4. "Debt" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, any money or monetary obligation owed at any time during the preceding calendar year to an individual, company, or other organization, other than a loan that is from a financial institution, government agency, or business entity and that is granted on terms made available to the general public. For the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, "debt" includes, but is not limited to: personal loans from friends or business associates, business loans made outside the lender's regular course of business, and loans made at below market rates. For the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, "debt" does not include: (i) debts to or from financial institutions or government entities, such as mortgages, student loans, credit card debts, or loans secured by automobiles, household furniture, or appliances, as long as those loans were made on terms available to the general public and do not exceed the purchase price of the items securing them; or (ii) debts to or from political committees registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or political committees, principal campaign committees, or authorized committees registered with the Federal Election Commission.

(5 ILCS 420/1-104.5 new)

Sec. 1-104.5. "Diversified funds" means investment products, such as mutual funds, exchange traded funds, or unit investment trusts, that invest in a wide variety of securities.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105) (from Ch. 127, par. 601-105)

Sec. 1-105. "Economic opportunity" means any purchase, sale, lease, contract, option, or other transaction or arrangement involving property or services wherein a legislator or, in the case of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, the filer may gain an economic benefit. The term shall not include gifts.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3401.)

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.2 new)

Sec. 1-105.2. "Economic relationship" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, any relationship that provides the filer with income or an economic opportunity. For the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, economic relationships include, but are not limited to, ownership interests in family-owned businesses and creditor-debtor relationships with third parties other than commercial lending institutions.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.3 new)

Sec. 1-105.3. "Family" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, a filer's spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), children, step-children, parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great aunts, great uncles, first cousins, grandfathers, grandmothers, grandsons, and granddaughters, as well as the father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother of the filer's spouse.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.4 new)

Sec. 1-105.4. "Filer" means, for the purposes of Section 4A-102 and 4A-103, a person required to file a statement of economic interests pursuant to this Act.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.5 new)

Sec. 1-105.5. "Gift" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 1-5 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act but does not include any item or benefit to which an exception in Section 10-15 of that Act applies.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.6 new)

Sec. 1-105.6. "Income" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, income from whatever source derived, including, but not limited to: compensation received for services rendered or to be rendered (as reported on any Internal Revenue Service forms, including, but not limited to, W-2 and 1099); earnings or capital gains from the sale of goods or property; profit from financial investments or other assets; dividends from common stock; interest or dividend income from all assets; revenue from leases and rentals, royalties, prizes, awards, or barter; forgiveness of debt; and earnings derived from pensions, retirement accounts, annuities or trusts other than testamentary trusts. "Income" does not include compensation earned for service in the position that necessitates the filing of the statement of economic interests, and income from the sale of a personal residence or personal vehicles.

(5 ILCS 420/1-105.7 new)

Sec. 1-105.7. "Investment real estate" means any real property, other than a filer's personal residences, purchased to produce a profit, whether from income or resale.

(5 ILCS 420/1-110) (from Ch. 127, par. 601-110)

Sec. 1-110. "Lobbyist" means an individual who is required to be registered to engage in lobbying activities pursuant to any statute, regulation, or ordinance adopted by a unit of government in the State of Illinois any person required to be registered under "An Act concerning lobbying and providing a penalty for violation thereof", approved July 10, 1957, as amended.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3401.)

(5 ILCS 420/1-112.5 new)

Sec. 1-112.5. "Personal residence" means, for the purposes of Sections 4A-102 and 4A-103, a filer's primary home residence and any residential real property held by the filer and used by the filer for residential rather than commercial or income generating purposes.

(5 ILCS 420/1-113.6 new)

Sec. 1-113.6. "Sector funds" means mutual funds or exchange traded funds invested in a particular industry or business.

(5 ILCS 420/4A-102) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-102)

Sec. 4A-102. The statement of economic interests required by this Article shall include the economic interests of the person making the statement as provided in this Section. The following interests shall be listed by all persons required to file: The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement. Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement.

(1) each asset that has a value of more than $10,000 as of the end of the preceding calendar year and is: (i) held in the filer's name; (ii) held jointly by the filer with his or her spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), his or her minor child or children, or his or her spouse and minor child or children; or (iii) held by the filer's minor child or children;

(2) excluding the income from the position that requires the filing of a statement of economic interests under this Act, each source of income that generated in excess of $2,500 during the preceding calendar year (as reported on the filer's federal income tax return covering the preceding calendar year) and, if the sale or transfer of an asset produced more than $2,500 in income during the preceding calendar year, the transaction date on which that asset was sold or transferred;

(3) each creditor of a debt in excess of $5,000 that, during the preceding calendar year, was: (i) owed by the filer; (ii) owed jointly by the filer with his or her spouse (including a party to a civil union or registered domestic partner), his or her minor child or children, or his or her spouse and minor child or children; or (iii) owed by the filer's minor child or children;

(4) each debtor of a debt in excess of $5,000 that, during the preceding calendar year, was: (i) owed to the filer; (ii) owed jointly to the filer and his or her spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), his or her minor child or children, or his or her spouse and minor child or children; or (iii) owed to the filer's minor child or children;

(5) each lobbyist registered with any unit of government in the State of Illinois and with whom the filer maintains an economic relationship, or each lobbyist registered with any unit of government in the State of Illinois who is the spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), child, step-child, parent, step-parent, or sibling of the filer; and

(6) each source and type of gift having a value of $500 or more, or an aggregate value of $500 or more, for gifts from a single source, received by the filer during the preceding calendar year, excluding gifts received from any family member or from an individual given on the basis of personal friendship.

(a) The following interests shall be listed by all persons required to file:

(1) The name, address and type of practice of any professional organization or individual professional practice in which the person making the statement was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor, or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1200 was derived during the preceding calendar year;

(2) The nature of professional services (other than services rendered to the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file) and the nature of the entity to which they were rendered if fees exceeding $5,000 were received during the preceding calendar year from the entity for professional services rendered by the person making the statement.

(3) The identity (including the address or legal description of real estate) of any capital asset from which a capital gain of $5,000 or more was realized in the preceding calendar year.

(4) The name of any unit of government which has employed the person making the statement during the preceding calendar year other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file.

(5) The name of any entity from which a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria, valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $500, was received during the preceding calendar year.

(b) The following interests shall also be listed by persons listed in items (a) through (f), item (l), item (n), and item (p) of Section 4A-101:

(1) The name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois, in which an ownership interest held by the person at the date of filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which dividends of in excess of $1,200 were derived during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed;

(2) Except for professional service entities, the name of any entity and any position held therein from which income of in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year, if the entity does business in the State of Illinois. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(3) The identity of any compensated lobbyist with whom the person making the statement maintains a close economic association, including the name of the lobbyist and specifying the legislative matter or matters which are the object of the lobbying activity, and describing the general type of economic activity of the client or principal on whose behalf that person is lobbying.

(c) The following interests shall also be listed by persons listed in items (g), (h), (i), and (o) of Section 4A-101:

(1) The name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file if the ownership interest of the person filing is greater than $5,000 fair market value as of the date of filing or if dividends in excess of $1,200 were received from the entity during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(2) Except for professional service entities, the name of any entity and any position held therein from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year if the entity does business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(3) The name of any entity and the nature of the governmental action requested by any entity which has applied to a unit of local government in relation to which the person must file for any license, franchise or permit for annexation, zoning or rezoning of real estate during the preceding calendar year if the ownership interest of the person filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value at the time of filing or if income or dividends in excess of $1,200 were received by the person filing from the entity during the preceding calendar year.

For the purposes of this Section, the unit of local government in relation to which a person required to file under item (o) of Section 4A-101 shall be the unit of local government that contributes to the pension fund of which such person is a member of the board.

(Source: P.A. 96-6, eff. 4-3-09; 97-754, eff. 7-6-12.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-103) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-103)

Sec. 4A-103. The statement of economic interests required by this Article to be filed with the Secretary of State or county clerk shall be filled in by typewriting or hand printing, shall be verified, dated, and signed by the person making the statement and shall contain substantially the following:

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS

INSTRUCTIONS:

You may find the following documents helpful to you in completing this form:

(1) federal income tax returns, including any related schedules, attachments, and forms; and

(2) investment and brokerage statements.

To complete this form, you do not need to disclose specific amounts or values or report interests relating either to political committees registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or to political committees, principal campaign committees, or authorized committees registered with the Federal Election Commission.

The information you disclose will be available to the public.

You must answer all 6 questions. Certain questions will ask you to report any applicable assets or debts held in your name; held jointly with your spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), your minor child, or both your spouse and minor child; or held by your minor child. If you have any concerns about whether an interest should be reported, please consult your department's ethics officer, if applicable.

Please ensure that the information you provide is complete and accurate. If you need more space than the form allows, please attach additional pages for your response. Failure to complete the statement in good faith and within the prescribed deadline may subject you to fines, imprisonment, or both.

DEFINITIONS, EXAMPLES, AND FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:

As used in this form:

"Asset" means an item that is owned and has monetary value. Assets include, but are not limited to: stocks, bonds (except those issued by the federal, state, or local governments), sector mutual funds, sector exchange traded funds, commodity futures, investment real estate, and partnership interests. "Asset" does not include: personal residences; personal vehicles; savings or checking accounts; bonds, notes, or securities issued by any branch of federal, state, or local government; Medicare benefits; inheritances or bequests; diversified mutual funds; diversified exchange traded funds; annuities; pensions (including government pensions); retirement accounts; college savings plans that are qualified tuition plans; or non-income producing trust holdings.

"Creditor" means an individual, organization, or other business entity to whom money or its equivalent is owed, no matter whether that obligation is secured or unsecured, except that if a filer makes a loan to members of his or her family, a political committee registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections, or a political committee, principal campaign committee, or authorized committee registered with the Federal Election Commission, then that filer does not, for the purposes of this form, become a creditor of that individual or entity by making such a loan.

"Debt" means any money or monetary obligation owed at any time during the preceding calendar year to an individual, company, or other organization, other than a loan that is from a financial institution, government agency, or business entity and that is granted on terms made available to the general public. "Debt" includes, but is not limited to: personal loans from friends or business associates, business loans made outside the lender's regular course of business, and loans made at below market rates. "Debt" does not include: (i) debts to or from financial institutions or government entities, such as mortgages, student loans, credit card debts, or loans secured by automobiles, household furniture, or appliances, as long as such loans were made on terms available to the general public and do not exceed the purchase price of the items securing them; or (ii) debts to or from political committees registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or political committees, principal campaign committees, or authorized committees registered with the Federal Election Commission.

"Diversified funds" are investment products, such as mutual funds, exchange traded funds, or unit investment trusts, that invest in a wide variety of securities.

"Economic opportunity" means any purchase, sale, lease, contract, option, or other transaction or arrangement involving property or services wherein the filer may gain an economic benefit. The term shall not include gifts.

"Economic relationship" means any relationship that provides the filer with income or an economic opportunity. Economic relationships include, but are not limited to, ownership interests in family-owned businesses and creditor-debtor relationships with third parties other than commercial lending institutions.

"Filer" means a person required to file a statement of economic interests.

"Family" means a filer's spouse (including a party to a civil union or a registered domestic partner), children, step-children, parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great aunts, great uncles, first cousins, grandfathers, grandmothers, grandsons, and granddaughters, as well as the father, mother, grandfather, and grandmother of the filer's spouse.

"Gift" means any gratuity, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or intangible item having monetary value including, but not limited to, cash, food and drink, and honoraria for speaking engagements related to or attributable to government employment or the official position of an employee, member, or officer but does not include any item or benefit to which an exception in Section 10-15 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act applies.

"Income" means income from whatever source derived, including, but not limited to: compensation received for services rendered or to be rendered (as reported on any Internal Revenue Service form, including, but not limited to, W-2 and 1099); earnings or capital gains from the sale of goods or property; profit from financial investments or other assets; dividends from common stock; interest and dividend income from all assets; revenue from leases and rentals, royalties, prizes, awards, or barter; forgiveness of debt; or earnings derived from pensions, retirement accounts, annuities, or trusts other than testamentary trusts. "Income" does not include compensation earned for service in the position that necessitates the filing of the statement of economic interests, and income from the sale of a personal residence or personal vehicles.

"Investment real estate" means any real property, other than a filer's personal residences, purchased to produce a profit, whether from income or resale.

"Lobbyist" means an individual who is registered to engage in lobbying activities pursuant to any statute, regulation, or ordinance adopted by a unit of government in the State of Illinois.

"Personal residence" means a filer's primary home residence and any residential real property held by the filer that is used by the filer for residential rather than commercial or income generating purposes.

"Sector funds" means mutual funds or exchange traded funds invested in a particular industry, business, or location. BASIC INFORMATION: Name: ....................................................... Job title:................................................... Office, department, or agency that is requiring you to file this form:................................................... Other offices, departments, or agencies which require you to file a Statement of Economic Interests form: ................ Full mailing address: ....................................... Preferred e-mail address (optional) .........................

QUESTIONS:

1. If you have any single asset that was worth more than $10,000 as of the end of the preceding calendar year and is held in your name or your minor child's name, or held jointly with your spouse (including a registered domestic partner or party to a civil union), your minor child, or your spouse and minor child, list such assets below. If you do not have any such assets, list "none" below. ............................................................. ............................................................. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

2. Excluding the position that is requiring you to file this form, list the source of any income in excess of $2,500 as reported on your federal income tax return covering the preceding calendar year. If you sold an asset which produced more than $2,500 in income in the preceding calendar year, list the name of the asset and the transaction date on which the sale or transfer took place. If you had no other sources of income exceeding $2,500, list "none" below.

3. Excluding debts incurred on terms available to the general public, such as mortgages, student loans, and credit card debts, if you owed any single debt in the preceding calendar year exceeding $5,000, list the creditor of such debt below. If you had no such debts, list "none" below.

List the creditor for all applicable debts owed by you; owed jointly by you with your spouse (including a registered domestic partner or party to a civil union), your minor child, or your spouse and minor child; or owed by your minor child. In addition to the types of debts listed above, you do not need to report any debts to or from financial institutions or government agencies, such as debts secured by automobiles, household furniture or appliance, as long as any such debt was made on terms available to the general public and does not exceed the purchase price of the item securing the loan, debts to members of your family, or debts to or from a political committee registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or any political committee, principal campaign committee or authorized committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. ............................................................. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

4. Excluding debts owed to you by members of your family or by a political committee, if there is any entity or person who owed debt to you in the preceding calendar year exceeding $5,000, list such debtor below. If no such debts were owed to you, list "none" below.

List the debtor for all applicable debts owed to you; owed jointly to you with your spouse (including a registered domestic partner or party to a civil union), your minor child, or your spouse and minor child; or owed to your minor child. You do not need to report loans you made to members of your family or to a political committee registered with the Illinois State Board of Elections or any political committee, principal campaign committee or authorized committee registered with the Federal Election Commission. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

5. If you maintain an economic relationship with a lobbyist or if your spouse (including a registered domestic partner or party to a civil union), child, step-child, parent, step-parent, or sibling is a lobbyist registered with any unit of government in the State of Illinois, list the name of the lobbyist below and identify the nature of your relationship with the lobbyist. If you do not have an economic association with a lobbyist, list "none" below.

6. Excluding any gift or gifts received from a family member or from an individual given on the basis of personal friendship, list below any gift or gifts you received in the preceding calendar year from a single source having an aggregate value of $500 or more.

List the name of any person, organization, or business from which you received an applicable gift or gifts. You do not need to report any gift received from friends, family members, or those made through bequests or other forms of inheritance. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF OTHER ECONOMIC INTERESTS:

If you or your family have additional financial information or other economic interests and relationships whose disclosure you believe would aid the public, you may list that information here. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this statement of economic interests (including any attachments) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement is a fine not to exceed $2,500 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment." Printed Name................................................. Date......................................................... Signature....................................................

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST

(TYPE OR HAND PRINT) ............................................................. (name) ............................................................. (each office or position of employment for which this statement is filed) ............................................................. (full mailing address) GENERAL DIRECTIONS:

The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement.

Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement.

If additional space is needed, please attach supplemental listing.

1. List the name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois, in which the ownership interest held by the person at the date of filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which dividends in excess of $1,200 were derived during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description.) No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

2. List the name, address and type of practice of any professional organization in which the person making the statement was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year.

3. List the nature of professional services rendered (other than to the State of Illinois) to each entity from which income exceeding $5,000 was received for professional services rendered during the preceding calendar year by the person making the statement. ............................................................. .............................................................

4. List the identity (including the address or legal description of real estate) of any capital asset from which a capital gain of $5,000 or more was realized during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. .............................................................

5. List the identity of any compensated lobbyist with whom the person making the statement maintains a close economic association, including the name of the lobbyist and specifying the legislative matter or matters which are the object of the lobbying activity, and describing the general type of economic activity of the client or principal on whose behalf that person is lobbying.

6. List the name of any entity doing business in the State of Illinois from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year other than for professional services and the title or description of any position held in that entity. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution nor any debt instrument need be listed.

7. List the name of any unit of government which employed the person making the statement during the preceding calendar year other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file. ............................................................. .............................................................

8. List the name of any entity from which a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria, valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $500, was received during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this statement of economic interests (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment." ................ .......................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the statement)

(Source: P.A. 95-173, eff. 1-1-08.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-108)

Sec. 4A-108. Internet-based systems of filing.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other law, the Secretary of State and county clerks are a county clerk is authorized to institute an Internet-based system for the filing of statements of economic interests in their offices his or her office. With respect to county clerk systems, the The determination to institute such a system shall be in the sole discretion of the county clerk and shall meet the requirements set out in this Section. With respect to a Secretary of State system, the determination to institute such a system shall be in the sole discretion of the Secretary of State and shall meet the requirements set out in this Section. When this Section does not modify or remove the requirements set forth elsewhere in this Article, those requirements shall apply to any system of Internet-based filing authorized by this Section. When this Section does modify or remove the requirements set forth elsewhere in this Article, the provisions of this Section shall apply to any system of Internet-based filing authorized by this Section.

(b) In any system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests instituted by the Secretary of State or a county clerk:

(1) Any filing of an Internet-based statement of economic interests shall be the equivalent of the filing of a verified, written statement of economic interests as required by Section 4A-101 and the equivalent of the filing of a verified, dated, and signed statement of economic interests as required by Section 4A-103 4A-104.

(2) The Secretary of State and county clerks who institute A county clerk who institutes a system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests shall establish a password-protected website web site to receive the filings of such statements. A website established under this Section shall set forth and provide a means of responding to the questions items set forth in Section 4A-103 4A-102 that are required of a person who files a statement of economic interests with that officer.

(3) The times for the filing of statements of economic interests set forth in Section 4A-105 shall be followed in any system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests; provided that a candidate for elective office who is required to file a statement of economic interests in relation to his or her candidacy pursuant to Section 4A-105(a) shall not use the Internet to file his or her statement of economic interests but shall file his or her statement of economic interests in a written or printed form and shall receive a written or printed receipt for his or her filing.

(4) In the first year of the implementation of a system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests, each person required to file such a statement is to be notified in writing of his or her obligation to file his or her statement of economic interests and the option to file by way of the Internet-based system or by way of standardized form. If access to the web site requires a code or password, this information shall be included in the notice prescribed by this paragraph.

(5) When a person required to file a statement of economic interests has supplied the Secretary of State or a county clerk, as applicable, with an email address for the purpose of receiving notices under this Article by email, a notice sent by email to the supplied email address shall be the equivalent of a notice sent by first class mail, as set forth in Section 4A-106. A person who has supplied such an email address shall notify the Secretary of State or county clerk, as applicable, when his or her email address changes or if he or she no longer wishes to receive notices by email.

(6) If any person who is required to file a statement of economic interests and who has chosen to receive notices by email fails to file his or her statement by May 10, then the Secretary of State or county clerk, as applicable, shall send an additional email notice on that date, informing the person that he or she has not filed and describing the penalties for late filing and failing to file. This notice shall be in addition to other notices provided for in this Article.

(7) Each county clerk who institutes a system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests may also institute an Internet-based process for the filing of the list of names and addresses of persons required to file statements of economic interests by the chief administrative officers of units of local government that must file such information with that county clerk pursuant to Section 4A-106. Whenever a county clerk institutes such a system under this paragraph, every unit of local government must use the system to file this information.

(8) The Secretary of State and any Any county clerk who institutes a system of Internet-based filing of statements of economic interests shall post the contents of such statements filed with him or her available for inspection and copying on a publicly accessible website. Such postings shall not include the addresses of the filers.

(Source: P.A. 96-1336, eff. 1-1-11; 97-212, eff. 7-28-11.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-104 rep.)

Section 10. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is amended by repealing Sections 4A-104.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.