101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3857

 

Introduced 10/17/2019, by Rep. Allen Skillicorn

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
5 ILCS 120/2  from Ch. 102, par. 42
5 ILCS 140/7.5

    Creates the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Makes legislative findings. Defines terms. Authorizes a local public entity to initiate a neutral evaluation process if that entity is unable to meet its financial obligations. Provides for the selection and qualification of an evaluator, the evaluation process, cessation of an evaluation, declaration of a fiscal emergency, and definition of liabilities. Provides that records prepared for or used in connection with the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act are exempt from disclosure. Amends the Open Meetings Act. Provides that a public body may hold closed meetings related to the Local Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act. Amends the Freedom of Information Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.


LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3857LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local
5Government Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act.
 
6    Section 3. Findings. Filing for Chapter 9 can reduce
7service levels to the taxpayers and residents of a local public
8entity. In some circumstances, it can have major short-term and
9long-term fiscal consequences for the entity, the surrounding
10entities, and the State. Filing for bankruptcy protection under
11Chapter 9 should be considered a last resort, to be instituted
12only after other reasonable efforts have been made to avoid a
13bankruptcy filing or otherwise appropriately plan for it. It is
14in the interest of the State, units of local government, and
15the public that local governmental entities have sufficiently
16sound financial capacity to provide required services to the
17public during any restructuring or financial reorganization
18process. Furthermore, it is in the best interest of the public,
19the State, and local governmental entities that employees,
20trade creditors, bondholders, and other interest-holders be
21included in an appropriate restructuring process and have an
22adequate understanding of the financial capacity of local
23governmental entities and their obligations, as a clear

 

 

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1understanding of both is necessary for any restructuring or
2reorganization process.
3    To the extent financial relief granted through Chapter 9
4can affect debt service payments, the bondholders have a direct
5interest in the Chapter 9 process, particularly prior to
6filing. Therefore, it is important for those parties to be able
7to participate in a prefiling confidential neutral evaluation
8process that could assist parties in reaching a settlement and
9avoiding a bankruptcy filing or otherwise lead to a
10pre-negotiated consensual plan of readjustment as clearly
11contemplated by subsection (c) of Section 109 of Title 11 of
12the United States Code.
13    To the extent financial relief granted through Chapter 9
14could affect public employee compensation, employees have a
15direct interest in the Chapter 9 process, particularly prior to
16filing. Therefore, it is important for those parties to be able
17to participate in a prefiling confidential neutral evaluation
18process that could assist parties in reaching a settlement or
19otherwise lead to a pre-negotiated consensual plan of
20adjustment and avoid a Chapter 9 filing.
21    Given the connection between State allocations and local
22budgets, the State has a role in assisting local public
23entities to address potential insolvency with the goal of
24averting bankruptcy filings where possible and providing a
25process designed to make the debt restructuring process in or
26outside of a Chapter 9 bankruptcy as cost effective and

 

 

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1efficient as possible for all participants.
2    Illinois taxpayers who rely on public safety, senior,
3recreational, health, library, and other public services, as
4well as those who own and operate businesses in our
5communities, deserve every reasonable and appropriate effort
6that State and local government can make to avoid adverse
7consequences of Chapter 9 bankruptcy filings, particularly
8where a neutral evaluation may lead to the avoidance of Chapter
99 filing by an out-of-court resolution of outstanding
10obligations and disputes.
11    Resolving local and State business and financial issues in
12a timely, fair, and cost-effective manner is an integral part
13of a successful government and is in the public interest. It
14has long been recognized that alternative dispute resolution
15proceedings, like a neutral evaluation, offer an economical,
16discreet, and expeditious way to resolve potentially
17devastating situations.
18    Through the neutral evaluation process, the neutral
19evaluator, a specially trained, neutral third party, can assist
20the local public entity and its creditors and stakeholders to
21fully explore alternatives, while allowing the interested
22parties to exchange information in a confidential environment
23with the assistance and supervision of a neutral evaluator to
24determine whether the entity's contractual and financial
25obligations can be renegotiated on a consensual basis.
 

 

 

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1    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
2    "Chapter 9" means Chapter 9 of Title 11 of the United
3States Code.
4    "Creditor" means either of the following:
5        A person or entity that has a noncontingent claim
6    against a local public entity that arose at the time of or
7    before the commencement of the neutral evaluation process
8    and whose claim represents at least $5,000,000 or comprises
9    more than 5% of the local public entity's debt or
10    obligations, whichever is less.
11        A person or entity that would have a noncontingent
12    claim against the local public entity upon the rejection of
13    an executory contract or unexpired lease in a Chapter 9
14    case and whose claim would represent at least $5,000,000 or
15    comprises more than 5% of the local public entity's debt or
16    obligations, whichever is less.
17    "Debtor" means a local public entity that may file for
18bankruptcy under Chapter 9.
19    "Good faith" means participation by a party in the neutral
20evaluation process with the intent to negotiate toward a
21resolution of the issues that are the subject of the neutral
22evaluation process, including the timely provision of complete
23and accurate information to provide the relevant parties
24through the neutral evaluation process with sufficient
25information, in a confidential manner, to negotiate the
26readjustment of the local public entity's debt.

 

 

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1    "Interested party" means a trustee, a committee of
2creditors, an affected creditor, an indenture trustee, a
3pension fund, a bondholder, a union that, under its collective
4bargaining agreements, has standing to initiate contract or
5debt restructuring negotiations with the local public entity,
6or a representative selected by an association of retired
7employees of the local public entity who receive income from
8the local public entity convening the neutral evaluation. A
9local public entity may invite holders of contingent claims to
10participate as interested parties in the neutral evaluation if
11the local public entity determines that the contingency is
12likely to occur and the claim may represent $5,000,000 or
13comprise more than 5% of the local public entity's debt or
14obligations, whichever is less.
15    "Local public entity" means any county, municipality,
16township, special district, public authority, public agency,
17unit of local government, school district, or any other entity
18that is a political subdivision or public agency or
19instrumentality of the State, or that qualifies as a debtor
20under any other federal bankruptcy law applicable to local
21public entities.
22    "Local public entity representative" means the person or
23persons designated by the local public entity with authority to
24make recommendations and to attend the neutral evaluation on
25behalf of the governing body of the local public entity.
26    "Neutral evaluation" is a form of non-binding alternative

 

 

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1dispute resolution.
 
2    Section 10. Eligibility. A local public entity in this
3State may file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to
4applicable federal bankruptcy law if either of the following
5apply: (i) pursuant to Section 15, a neutral evaluation process
6has been initiated by the local public entity and has ended, or
7(ii) the local public entity declares a fiscal emergency and
8adopts a resolution by a majority vote of the governing board
9pursuant to Section 20.
 
10    Section 15. Neutral evaluation process.
11    (a) A local public entity may initiate the neutral
12evaluation process if the local public entity is or likely will
13become unable to meet its financial obligations as and when
14those obligations are due or become due and owing. The local
15public entity shall initiate the neutral evaluation by
16providing notice by certified mail of a request for neutral
17evaluation to interested parties, as defined in Section 5.
18    (b) Interested parties shall respond within 10 business
19days after receipt of notice of the local public entity's
20request for neutral evaluation.
21    (c) The local public entity and the interested parties
22agreeing to participate in the neutral evaluation shall,
23through a mutually agreed upon process, select the neutral
24evaluator to oversee the neutral evaluation process and

 

 

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1facilitate all discussions in an effort to resolve their
2disputes.
3    If the local public entity and interested parties fail to
4agree on a neutral evaluator within 7 days after the interested
5parties have responded to the notification sent by the local
6public entity, the local public entity shall select 5 qualified
7neutral evaluators and provide their names, references, and
8backgrounds to the participating interested parties. Within 3
9business days, a majority of participating interested parties
10may strike up to 4 names from the list. If a majority of
11participating interested parties strikes 4 names, the
12remaining candidate shall be the neutral evaluator. If the
13majority of participating parties strikes fewer than 4 names,
14the local public entity may choose which of the remaining
15candidates shall be the neutral evaluator.
16    (d) A neutral evaluator shall have experience and training
17in conflict resolution and alternative dispute resolution and
18shall meet at least one of the following qualifications:
19        (1) at least 10 years of high-level business or legal
20    practice involving bankruptcy or service as a United States
21    Bankruptcy Judge; or
22        (2) professional experience or training in local
23    government finance and one or more of the following areas:
24    local government organization, local government debt
25    restructuring, local government finances dispute
26    resolution, Chapter 9 bankruptcy, public finance,

 

 

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1    taxation, Illinois Constitutional law, Illinois labor law,
2    or federal labor law.
3    (e) The neutral evaluator shall be impartial, objective,
4independent, and free from prejudice. The neutral evaluator
5shall not act with partiality or prejudice based on any
6participant's personal characteristics, background, values or
7beliefs, or performance during the neutral evaluation process.
8    (f) The neutral evaluator shall avoid a conflict of
9interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest during the
10neutral evaluation process. The neutral evaluator shall make a
11reasonable inquiry to determine whether there are any facts
12that a reasonable individual would consider likely to create a
13potential or actual conflict of interest. Notwithstanding
14subsection (n) of this Section, if the neutral evaluator is
15informed of the existence of any facts that a reasonable
16individual would consider likely to create a potential or
17actual conflict of interest, the neutral evaluator shall
18disclose these facts in writing to the local public entity and
19all interested parties involved in the neutral evaluation. If
20any party to the neutral evaluation objects to the neutral
21evaluator, that party shall notify all other parties to the
22neutral evaluation, including the neutral evaluator, within 15
23days after receipt of the notice from the neutral evaluator,
24and the neutral evaluator shall withdraw and a new neutral
25evaluator shall be selected pursuant to subsections (c) and (d)
26of this Section.

 

 

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1    (g) Prior to the neutral evaluation process, the neutral
2evaluator shall not establish another relationship with any of
3the parties in a manner that would raise questions about the
4integrity of the neutral evaluation, except that the neutral
5evaluator may conduct further neutral evaluations regarding
6other potential local public entities that may involve some of
7the same or similar constituents to a prior mediation.
8    (h) The neutral evaluator shall conduct the neutral
9evaluation process in a manner that promotes voluntary,
10uncoerced decision-making in which each party makes free and
11informed choices regarding the process and outcome.
12    (i) The neutral evaluator shall not impose a settlement on
13the parties. The neutral evaluator shall use his or her best
14efforts to assist the parties to reach a satisfactory
15resolution of their disputes. Subject to the discretion of the
16neutral evaluator, the neutral evaluator may make oral or
17written recommendations for settlement or plan of readjustment
18to a party privately or to all parties jointly.
19    (j) The neutral evaluator shall inform the local public
20entity and all parties of the provisions of Chapter 9 relative
21to other chapters of the Bankruptcy Code. This instruction
22shall highlight the limited authority of United States
23bankruptcy judges in Chapter 9.
24    (k) The neutral evaluator may request from the parties
25documentation and other information that the neutral evaluator
26believes may be helpful in assisting the parties to address the

 

 

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1obligations between them. This documentation may include the
2status of funds of the local public entity that clearly
3distinguishes between general funds and special funds, and the
4proposed plan of readjustment prepared by the local public
5entity.
6    (l) The neutral evaluator shall provide counsel and
7guidance to all parties, shall not be a legal representative of
8any party, and shall not have a fiduciary duty to any party.
9    (m) In the event of a settlement with all interested
10parties, the neutral evaluator may assist the parties in
11negotiating a pre-petitioned, pre-agreed plan of readjustment
12in connection with a potential Chapter 9 filing.
13    (n) If at any time during the neutral evaluation process
14the local public entity and a majority of the representatives
15of the interested parties participating in the neutral
16evaluation wish to remove the neutral evaluator, the local
17public entity or any interested party may make a request to the
18other interested parties to remove the neutral evaluator. If
19the local public entity and the majority of the interested
20parties agree that the neutral evaluator should be removed, the
21parties shall select a new neutral evaluator.
22    (o) The local public entity and all interested parties
23participating in the neutral evaluation process shall
24negotiate in good faith. Failure to do so is grounds for ending
25the neutral evaluation process and satisfying the eligibility
26requirements of item (i) of Section 10.

 

 

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1    (p) The local public entity and interested parties shall
2provide a representative of each party to attend all neutral
3evaluation sessions. Each representative shall have the
4authority to settle and resolve disputes or shall be in a
5position to present any proposed settlement or plan of
6readjustment to the parties participating in the neutral
7evaluation.
8    (q) The parties shall maintain the confidentiality of the
9neutral evaluation process and shall not disclose statements
10made, information disclosed, or documents prepared or
11produced, during the neutral evaluation process, at the
12conclusion of the neutral evaluation process or during any
13bankruptcy proceeding unless either of the following occur:
14        (i) all persons that conduct or otherwise participate
15    in the neutral evaluation expressly agree in writing to
16    disclosure of the communication, document, or writing; or
17        (ii) the information is deemed necessary by a judge
18    presiding over a bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to Chapter
19    9 of Title 11 of the United States Code to determine
20    eligibility of a local public entity to proceed with a
21    bankruptcy proceeding pursuant to subsection (c) of
22    Section 109 of Title 11 of the United States Code.
23    (r) The neutral evaluation established by this process
24shall not last for more than 60 days after the date the
25evaluator is selected, unless the local public entity or a
26majority of participating interested parties elect to extend

 

 

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1the process for up to 30 additional days. The neutral
2evaluation process shall not last for more than 90 days after
3the date the evaluator is selected unless the local public
4entity and a majority of the interested parties agree to an
5extension.
6    (s) The local public entity shall pay 50% of the costs of
7neutral evaluation, including but not limited to the fees of
8the evaluator, and the creditors shall pay the balance, unless
9otherwise agreed to by the parties.
10    (t) The neutral evaluation process shall end if any of the
11following occur:
12        (i) the parties execute a settlement agreement;
13        (ii) the parties reach an agreement or proposed plan of
14    readjustment that requires the approval of a bankruptcy
15    judge;
16        (iii) the neutral evaluation process has exceeded the
17    later of (i) 60 days after the date the neutral evaluator
18    was selected, or (ii) 90 days after the initiation of the
19    neutral evaluation process by the local public entity
20    pursuant to subsection (a) of Section 15, the parties have
21    not reached an agreement, and the local public entity and a
22    majority of the interested parties do not agree to extend
23    the neutral evaluation process;
24        (iv) the local public entity initiated the neutral
25    evaluation process pursuant to subsection (a) of this
26    Section and received no responses from interested parties

 

 

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1    within the time specified in subsection (b) of this
2    Section; or
3        (v) the fiscal condition of the local public entity
4    deteriorates to the point that a fiscal emergency is
5    declared pursuant to Section 20 and necessitates the need
6    to file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to
7    applicable federal bankruptcy law.     
 
8    Section 20. Declaration of fiscal emergency.
9Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a local public
10entity may file a petition and exercise powers pursuant to
11applicable federal bankruptcy law, if the local public entity
12declares a fiscal emergency and adopts a resolution by a
13majority vote of the governing board at a noticed public
14hearing that includes findings that the financial state of the
15local public entity jeopardizes the health, safety, or
16well-being of the residents of the local public entity's
17jurisdiction or service area absent the protections of Chapter
189. The resolution shall make findings that the local public
19entity is or will be unable to pay its obligations within the
20next 60 days. Prior to a declaration of fiscal emergency and
21adoption of a resolution, the local public entity shall place
22an item on the agenda of a noticed public hearing on the fiscal
23condition of the local public entity to take public comment.
24The board of supervisors of a county that intends to take
25action pursuant to this Section and places a notice on an

 

 

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1agenda regarding a proposed resolution to declare a fiscal
2emergency may require local agencies with funds invested in the
3county treasury to provide a 5-day notice of withdrawal before
4the county is required to comply with a request for withdrawal
5of funds by that local agency.
 
6    Section 25. Liabilities. This Act shall not impose any
7liability or responsibility, in law or equity, upon the State,
8any department, agency, or other entity of the State, or any
9officer or employee of the State, for any action taken by any
10local public entity pursuant to this Act, for any violation of
11the provisions of this Act by any local public entity, or for
12any failure to comply with the provisions of this Act by any
13local public entity. No action against the State, or any
14department, agency, entity of the State, or any officer or
15employee of the State acting in their official capacity may be
16maintained for any activity authorized by this Act, or for the
17act of a local public entity filing under Chapter 9 of Title 11
18of the United States Code, including any proceeding following a
19local public entity's filing.
 
20    Section 30. Confidential Information. All records,
21including without limitation all reports, writings, letters,
22memoranda, and other documentary materials, that are prepared
23for or used in connection with the neutral evaluation process,
24the filing of a federal bankruptcy petition, or other actions

 

 

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1taken by a local public entity or a neutral evaluator under
2this Act are exempt from disclosure, inspection, and copying
3under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
4    Section 35. Statutory lien for bonds.
5    (a) As used in this Section:
6    "Bond" or "bonds" has the same meaning given to that term
7under Section 3 of the Local Government Debt Reform Act.
8    "Statutory lien" shall have the meaning given to that term
9under 11 Section 101(53) of the federal Bankruptcy Code.
10    (b) All bonds, including general obligation bonds and
11revenue bonds issued and sold under the Local Government Debt
12Reform Act or related laws, including bonds issued under home
13rule powers, issued by a local public entity shall be secured
14by a statutory lien on all revenues received pursuant to the
15levy and collection of tax or the collection or deposit of
16money, funds, or revenues so pledged to the payment of the
17bonds. The statutory lien shall automatically attach from the
18time such pledge is made without further action or
19authorization by the governing authority of the local public
20entity. The statutory lien shall be valid and binding from the
21time the bonds are executed and delivered without any physical
22delivery thereof or further act required, and shall be a first
23priority lien, unless the bonds so otherwise provide.
24    The revenues received pursuant to the levy and collection
25of the taxes or the collection or deposit of revenues, money,

 

 

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1or funds so pledged shall be immediately subject to the
2statutory lien, and the statutory lien shall automatically
3attach to the revenues and be effective, binding, and
4enforceable against the local public entity or its successors,
5transferees, and creditors, and all others asserting rights
6therein or having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or
7otherwise against the local public entity, irrespective of
8whether those parties have notice of the lien and without the
9need for any physical delivery, recordation, filing, or further
10act. In addition, revenue bonds issued by a local public entity
11under the Local Government Debt Reform Act or related laws,
12including bonds issued by a local public entity with home rule
13authority, shall have all of the protection afforded to special
14revenue under Chapter 9, to the extent applicable.
 
15    Section 80. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing
16Section 2 as follows:
 
17    (5 ILCS 120/2)  (from Ch. 102, par. 42)
18    Sec. 2. Open meetings.
19    (a) Openness required. All meetings of public bodies shall
20be open to the public unless excepted in subsection (c) and
21closed in accordance with Section 2a.
22    (b) Construction of exceptions. The exceptions contained
23in subsection (c) are in derogation of the requirement that
24public bodies meet in the open, and therefore, the exceptions

 

 

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1are to be strictly construed, extending only to subjects
2clearly within their scope. The exceptions authorize but do not
3require the holding of a closed meeting to discuss a subject
4included within an enumerated exception.
5    (c) Exceptions. A public body may hold closed meetings to
6consider the following subjects:
7        (1) The appointment, employment, compensation,
8    discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific
9    employees of the public body or legal counsel for the
10    public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint
11    lodged against an employee of the public body or against
12    legal counsel for the public body to determine its
13    validity. However, a meeting to consider an increase in
14    compensation to a specific employee of a public body that
15    is subject to the Local Government Wage Increase
16    Transparency Act may not be closed and shall be open to the
17    public and posted and held in accordance with this Act.
18        (2) Collective negotiating matters between the public
19    body and its employees or their representatives, or
20    deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more
21    classes of employees.
22        (3) The selection of a person to fill a public office,
23    as defined in this Act, including a vacancy in a public
24    office, when the public body is given power to appoint
25    under law or ordinance, or the discipline, performance or
26    removal of the occupant of a public office, when the public

 

 

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1    body is given power to remove the occupant under law or
2    ordinance.
3        (4) Evidence or testimony presented in open hearing, or
4    in closed hearing where specifically authorized by law, to
5    a quasi-adjudicative body, as defined in this Act, provided
6    that the body prepares and makes available for public
7    inspection a written decision setting forth its
8    determinative reasoning.
9        (5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use
10    of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose
11    of discussing whether a particular parcel should be
12    acquired.
13        (6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of
14    property owned by the public body.
15        (7) The sale or purchase of securities, investments, or
16    investment contracts. This exception shall not apply to the
17    investment of assets or income of funds deposited into the
18    Illinois Prepaid Tuition Trust Fund.
19        (8) Security procedures, school building safety and
20    security, and the use of personnel and equipment to respond
21    to an actual, a threatened, or a reasonably potential
22    danger to the safety of employees, students, staff, the
23    public, or public property.
24        (9) Student disciplinary cases.
25        (10) The placement of individual students in special
26    education programs and other matters relating to

 

 

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1    individual students.
2        (11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or
3    on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and
4    is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or
5    when the public body finds that an action is probable or
6    imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be
7    recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed
8    meeting.
9        (12) The establishment of reserves or settlement of
10    claims as provided in the Local Governmental and
11    Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the
12    disposition of a claim or potential claim might be
13    prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or
14    risk management information, records, data, advice or
15    communications from or with respect to any insurer of the
16    public body or any intergovernmental risk management
17    association or self insurance pool of which the public body
18    is a member.
19        (13) Conciliation of complaints of discrimination in
20    the sale or rental of housing, when closed meetings are
21    authorized by the law or ordinance prescribing fair housing
22    practices and creating a commission or administrative
23    agency for their enforcement.
24        (14) Informant sources, the hiring or assignment of
25    undercover personnel or equipment, or ongoing, prior or
26    future criminal investigations, when discussed by a public

 

 

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1    body with criminal investigatory responsibilities.
2        (15) Professional ethics or performance when
3    considered by an advisory body appointed to advise a
4    licensing or regulatory agency on matters germane to the
5    advisory body's field of competence.
6        (16) Self evaluation, practices and procedures or
7    professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of
8    a statewide association of which the public body is a
9    member.
10        (17) The recruitment, credentialing, discipline or
11    formal peer review of physicians or other health care
12    professionals, or for the discussion of matters protected
13    under the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
14    Act of 2005, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
15    including 42 C.F.R. Part 3 (73 FR 70732), or the federal
16    Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
17    1996, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
18    including 45 C.F.R. Parts 160, 162, and 164, by a hospital,
19    or other institution providing medical care, that is
20    operated by the public body.
21        (18) Deliberations for decisions of the Prisoner
22    Review Board.
23        (19) Review or discussion of applications received
24    under the Experimental Organ Transplantation Procedures
25    Act.
26        (20) The classification and discussion of matters

 

 

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1    classified as confidential or continued confidential by
2    the State Government Suggestion Award Board.
3        (21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed
4    under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the
5    body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as
6    mandated by Section 2.06.
7        (22) Deliberations for decisions of the State
8    Emergency Medical Services Disciplinary Review Board.
9        (23) The operation by a municipality of a municipal
10    utility or the operation of a municipal power agency or
11    municipal natural gas agency when the discussion involves
12    (i) contracts relating to the purchase, sale, or delivery
13    of electricity or natural gas or (ii) the results or
14    conclusions of load forecast studies.
15        (24) Meetings of a residential health care facility
16    resident sexual assault and death review team or the
17    Executive Council under the Abuse Prevention Review Team
18    Act.
19        (25) Meetings of an independent team of experts under
20    Brian's Law.
21        (26) Meetings of a mortality review team appointed
22    under the Department of Juvenile Justice Mortality Review
23    Team Act.
24        (27) (Blank).
25        (28) Correspondence and records (i) that may not be
26    disclosed under Section 11-9 of the Illinois Public Aid

 

 

HB3857- 22 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    Code or (ii) that pertain to appeals under Section 11-8 of
2    the Illinois Public Aid Code.
3        (29) Meetings between internal or external auditors
4    and governmental audit committees, finance committees, and
5    their equivalents, when the discussion involves internal
6    control weaknesses, identification of potential fraud risk
7    areas, known or suspected frauds, and fraud interviews
8    conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing
9    standards of the United States of America.
10        (30) Those meetings or portions of meetings of a
11    fatality review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team
12    Advisory Council during which a review of the death of an
13    eligible adult in which abuse or neglect is suspected,
14    alleged, or substantiated is conducted pursuant to Section
15    15 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
16        (31) Meetings and deliberations for decisions of the
17    Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm
18    Concealed Carry Act.
19        (32) Meetings between the Regional Transportation
20    Authority Board and its Service Boards when the discussion
21    involves review by the Regional Transportation Authority
22    Board of employment contracts under Section 28d of the
23    Metropolitan Transit Authority Act and Sections 3A.18 and
24    3B.26 of the Regional Transportation Authority Act.
25        (33) Those meetings or portions of meetings of the
26    advisory committee and peer review subcommittee created

 

 

HB3857- 23 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    under Section 320 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act
2    during which specific controlled substance prescriber,
3    dispenser, or patient information is discussed.
4        (34) Meetings of the Tax Increment Financing Reform
5    Task Force under Section 2505-800 of the Department of
6    Revenue Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
7        (35) Meetings of the group established to discuss
8    Medicaid capitation rates under Section 5-30.8 of the
9    Illinois Public Aid Code.
10        (36) Deliberations about action taken, or which could
11    be taken, pursuant to the Local Government Bankruptcy
12    Neutral Evaluation Act.
13    (d) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:
14    "Employee" means a person employed by a public body whose
15relationship with the public body constitutes an
16employer-employee relationship under the usual common law
17rules, and who is not an independent contractor.
18    "Public office" means a position created by or under the
19Constitution or laws of this State, the occupant of which is
20charged with the exercise of some portion of the sovereign
21power of this State. The term "public office" shall include
22members of the public body, but it shall not include
23organizational positions filled by members thereof, whether
24established by law or by a public body itself, that exist to
25assist the body in the conduct of its business.
26    "Quasi-adjudicative body" means an administrative body

 

 

HB3857- 24 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1charged by law or ordinance with the responsibility to conduct
2hearings, receive evidence or testimony and make
3determinations based thereon, but does not include local
4electoral boards when such bodies are considering petition
5challenges.
6    (e) Final action. No final action may be taken at a closed
7meeting. Final action shall be preceded by a public recital of
8the nature of the matter being considered and other information
9that will inform the public of the business being conducted.
10(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-235, eff. 1-1-16; 99-480,
11eff. 9-9-15; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-646, eff. 7-28-16;
1299-687, eff. 1-1-17; 100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-465, eff.
138-31-17; 100-646, eff. 7-27-18.)
 
14    Section 85. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
15changing Section 7.5 as follows:
 
16    (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
17    Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
18by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt
19from inspection and copying:
20        (a) All information determined to be confidential
21    under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
22    Development Act.
23        (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
24    library users with specific materials under the Library

 

 

HB3857- 25 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    Records Confidentiality Act.
2        (c) Applications, related documents, and medical
3    records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
4    Procedures Board and any and all documents or other records
5    prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
6    Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
7    has received.
8        (d) Information and records held by the Department of
9    Public Health and its authorized representatives relating
10    to known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible
11    disease or any information the disclosure of which is
12    restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmissible
13    Disease Control Act.
14        (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
15    under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
16        (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of
17    the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
18    Qualifications Based Selection Act.
19        (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
20    and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
21    Tuition Act.
22        (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
23    under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
24    records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
25    general's office that would be exempt if created or
26    obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under

 

 

HB3857- 26 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    that Act.
2        (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
3    plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local
4    emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under
5    Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
6        (j) Information and data concerning the distribution
7    of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
8    under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
9        (k) Law enforcement officer identification information
10    or driver identification information compiled by a law
11    enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
12    under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
13        (l) Records and information provided to a residential
14    health care facility resident sexual assault and death
15    review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
16    Prevention Review Team Act.
17        (m) Information provided to the predatory lending
18    database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
19    Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
20    authorized under that Article.
21        (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
22    compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
23    counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital
24    Crimes Litigation Act. This subsection (n) shall apply
25    until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the
26    prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior

 

 

HB3857- 27 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    to trial or sentencing.
2        (o) Information that is prohibited from being
3    disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
4    Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
5        (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
6    investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
7    information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
8    Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of
9    the Regional Transportation Authority Act or the St. Clair
10    County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
11    Act.
12        (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
13    Personnel Record Records Review Act.
14        (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
15    Illinois School Student Records Act.
16        (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
17    under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
18        (t) All identified or deidentified health information
19    in the form of health data or medical records contained in,
20    stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released from
21    the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and identified
22    or deidentified health information in the form of health
23    data and medical records of the Illinois Health Information
24    Exchange in the possession of the Illinois Health
25    Information Exchange Authority due to its administration
26    of the Illinois Health Information Exchange. The terms

 

 

HB3857- 28 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    "identified" and "deidentified" shall be given the same
2    meaning as in the Health Insurance Portability and
3    Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191, or any
4    subsequent amendments thereto, and any regulations
5    promulgated thereunder.
6        (u) Records and information provided to an independent
7    team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
8    Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
9        (v) Names and information of people who have applied
10    for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
11    the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
12    or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
13    Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
14    Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
15    Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed Carry
16    Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry
17    Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
18    Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
19        (w) Personally identifiable information which is
20    exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
21    19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
22        (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
23    under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
24    8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
25        (y) Confidential information under the Adult
26    Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling

 

 

HB3857- 29 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
2    information about the identity and administrative finding
3    against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
4    decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an
5    eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
6    under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
7        (z) Records and information provided to a fatality
8    review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
9    Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
10    Act.
11        (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
12    under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
13        (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
14    disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
15        (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
16    Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
17    authorized under that Act.
18        (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
19    disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
20    Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
21        (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
22    under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
23        (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
24    under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
25        (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
26    disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle

 

 

HB3857- 30 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

1    Code.
2        (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
3    Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
4        (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
5    under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
6    the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
7        (jj) Information and reports that are required to be
8    submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day and
9    temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
10    disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
11    and Temporary Labor Services Act.
12        (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
13    Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
14        (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
15    and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
16    Aid Code.
17        (mm) (ll) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
18    Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
19        (nn) (ll) Information that is exempt from disclosure
20    under Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance
21    Act.
22        (oo) All records and information prohibited from being
23    disclosed, inspected, or copied by the Local Government
24    Bankruptcy Neutral Evaluation Act.
25(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-298, eff. 8-6-15; 99-352,
26eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-776, eff. 8-12-16;

 

 

HB3857- 31 -LRB101 13100 AWJ 61936 b

199-863, eff. 8-19-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17; 100-22, eff. 1-1-18;
2100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-373, eff. 1-1-18; 100-464, eff.
38-28-17; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 100-512, eff. 7-1-18; 100-517,
4eff. 6-1-18; 100-646, eff. 7-27-18; 100-690, eff. 1-1-19;
5100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 100-887, eff. 8-14-18; revised
610-12-18.)
 
7    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.