96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB4166

 

Introduced 2/27/2009, by Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 430/25-5
5 ILCS 430/25-15
5 ILCS 430/25-50
5 ILCS 430/25-90
5 ILCS 430/25-95

    Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Expands the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics Commission to include matters arising under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and violations of other related laws and rules. Requires the Legislative Inspector General's summary investigation reports to be delivered to the Legislative Ethics Commission. With respect to the confidentiality of the Legislative Inspector General's reports, (i) removes the condition of necessity for the disclosure of reports to law enforcement authorities, ultimate jurisdictional authorities, and the Legislative Ethics Commission and (ii) authorizes the Legislative Ethics Commission to disclose or publish summary investigation reports, based on criteria established by the Commission by rule. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1     AN ACT concerning government.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is
5 amended by changing Sections 25-5, 25-15, 25-50, 25-90, and
6 25-95 as follows:
 
7     (5 ILCS 430/25-5)
8     Sec. 25-5. Legislative Ethics Commission.
9     (a) The Legislative Ethics Commission is created.
10     (b) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall consist of 8
11 commissioners appointed 2 each by the President and Minority
12 Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the
13 House of Representatives.
14     The terms of the initial commissioners shall commence upon
15 qualification. Each appointing authority shall designate one
16 appointee who shall serve for a 2-year term running through
17 June 30, 2005. Each appointing authority shall designate one
18 appointee who shall serve for a 4-year term running through
19 June 30, 2007. The initial appointments shall be made within 60
20 days after the effective date of this Act.
21     After the initial terms, commissioners shall serve for
22 4-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment
23 and running through June 30 of the fourth following year.

 

 

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1 Commissioners may be reappointed to one or more subsequent
2 terms.
3     Vacancies occurring other than at the end of a term shall
4 be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of
5 the term of the commissioner whose office is vacant.
6     Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is
7 filled.
8     (c) The appointing authorities shall appoint commissioners
9 who have experience holding governmental office or employment
10 and may appoint commissioners who are members of the General
11 Assembly as well as commissioners from the general public. A
12 commissioner who is a member of the General Assembly must
13 recuse himself or herself from participating in any matter
14 relating to any investigation or proceeding in which he or she
15 is the subject. A person is not eligible to serve as a
16 commissioner if that person (i) has been convicted of a felony
17 or a crime of dishonesty or moral turpitude, (ii) is, or was
18 within the preceding 12 months, engaged in activities that
19 require registration under the Lobbyist Registration Act,
20 (iii) is a relative of the appointing authority, or (iv) is a
21 State officer or employee other than a member of the General
22 Assembly.
23     (d) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall have
24 jurisdiction over members of the General Assembly and all State
25 employees whose ultimate jurisdictional authority is (i) a
26 legislative leader, (ii) the Senate Operations Commission, or

 

 

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1 (iii) the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services. The
2 jurisdiction of the Commission is limited to matters arising
3 under this Act or the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and
4 violations of other related laws and rules.
5     (e) The Legislative Ethics Commission must meet, either in
6 person or by other technological means, monthly or as often as
7 necessary. At the first meeting of the Legislative Ethics
8 Commission, the commissioners shall choose from their number a
9 chairperson and other officers that they deem appropriate. The
10 terms of officers shall be for 2 years commencing July 1 and
11 running through June 30 of the second following year. Meetings
12 shall be held at the call of the chairperson or any 3
13 commissioners. Official action by the Commission shall require
14 the affirmative vote of 5 commissioners, and a quorum shall
15 consist of 5 commissioners. Commissioners shall receive no
16 compensation but may be reimbursed for their reasonable
17 expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.
18     (f) No commissioner, other than a commissioner who is a
19 member of the General Assembly, or employee of the Legislative
20 Ethics Commission may during his or her term of appointment or
21 employment:
22         (1) become a candidate for any elective office;
23         (2) hold any other elected or appointed public office
24     except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or
25     study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by
26     law;

 

 

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1         (3) be actively involved in the affairs of any
2     political party or political organization; or
3         (4) actively participate in any campaign for any
4     elective office.
5     (g) An appointing authority may remove a commissioner only
6 for cause.
7     (h) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall appoint an
8 Executive Director subject to the approval of at least 3 of the
9 4 legislative leaders. The compensation of the Executive
10 Director shall be as determined by the Commission or by the
11 Compensation Review Board, whichever amount is higher. The
12 Executive Director of the Legislative Ethics Commission may
13 employ, subject to the approval of at least 3 of the 4
14 legislative leaders, and determine the compensation of staff,
15 as appropriations permit.
16 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03; 93-685, eff. 7-8-04.)
 
17     (5 ILCS 430/25-15)
18     Sec. 25-15. Duties of the Legislative Ethics Commission. In
19 addition to duties otherwise assigned by law, the Legislative
20 Ethics Commission shall have the following duties:
21         (1) To promulgate rules governing the performance of
22     its duties and the exercise of its powers and governing the
23     investigations of the Legislative Inspector General.
24         (2) To conduct administrative hearings and rule on
25     matters brought before the Commission only upon the receipt

 

 

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1     of pleadings filed by the Legislative Inspector General and
2     not upon its own prerogative, but may appoint special
3     Legislative Inspectors General as provided in Section
4     25-21. Any other allegations of misconduct received by the
5     Commission from a person other than the Legislative
6     Inspector General shall be referred to the Office of the
7     Legislative Inspector General.
8         (3) To prepare and publish manuals and guides and,
9     working with the Office of the Attorney General, oversee
10     training of employees under its jurisdiction that explains
11     their duties.
12         (4) To prepare public information materials to
13     facilitate compliance, implementation, and enforcement of
14     this Act.
15         (5) To submit reports as required by this Act.
16         (6) To the extent authorized by this Act, to make
17     rulings, issue recommendations, and impose administrative
18     fines, if appropriate, in connection with the
19     implementation and interpretation of this Act. The powers
20     and duties of the Commission are limited to matters clearly
21     within the purview of this Act.
22         (7) To issue subpoenas with respect to matters pending
23     before the Commission, subject to the provisions of this
24     Article and in the discretion of the Commission, to compel
25     the attendance of witnesses for purposes of testimony and
26     the production of documents and other items for inspection

 

 

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1     and copying.
2         (8) To appoint special Legislative Inspectors General
3     as provided in Section 25-21.
4         (9) To determine whether and under what circumstances
5     to disclose or publish reports pursuant to subsection (e)
6     of Section 25-95.
7 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.)
 
8     (5 ILCS 430/25-50)
9     Sec. 25-50. Investigation reports; complaint procedure.
10     (a) If the Legislative Inspector General, upon the
11 conclusion of an investigation, determines that reasonable
12 cause exists to believe that a violation has occurred, then the
13 Legislative Inspector General shall issue a summary report of
14 the investigation. The report shall be delivered to the
15 appropriate ultimate jurisdictional authority, and to the head
16 of each State agency affected by or involved in the
17 investigation, if appropriate, and to the Legislative Ethics
18 Commission.
19     (b) The summary report of the investigation shall include
20 the following:
21         (1) A description of any allegations or other
22     information received by the Legislative Inspector General
23     pertinent to the investigation.
24         (2) A description of any alleged misconduct discovered
25     in the course of the investigation.

 

 

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1         (3) Recommendations for any corrective or disciplinary
2     action to be taken in response to any alleged misconduct
3     described in the report, including but not limited to
4     discharge.
5         (4) Other information the Legislative Inspector
6     General deems relevant to the investigation or resulting
7     recommendations.
8     (c) Not less than 30 days after delivery of the summary
9 report of an investigation under subsection (a), if the
10 Legislative Inspector General desires to file a petition for
11 leave to file a complaint, the Legislative Inspector General
12 shall notify the Commission and the Attorney General. If the
13 Attorney General determines that reasonable cause exists to
14 believe that a violation has occurred, then the Legislative
15 Inspector General, represented by the Attorney General, may
16 file with the Legislative Ethics Commission a petition for
17 leave to file a complaint. The petition shall set forth the
18 alleged violation and the grounds that exist to support the
19 petition. The petition for leave to file a complaint must be
20 filed with the Commission within 18 months after the most
21 recent act of the alleged violation or of a series of alleged
22 violations except where there is reasonable cause to believe
23 that fraudulent concealment has occurred. To constitute
24 fraudulent concealment sufficient to toll this limitations
25 period, there must be an affirmative act or representation
26 calculated to prevent discovery of the fact that a violation

 

 

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1 has occurred. If a petition for leave to file a complaint is
2 not filed with the Commission within 6 months after notice by
3 the Inspector General to the Commission and the Attorney
4 General, then the Commission may set a meeting of the
5 Commission at which the Attorney General shall appear and
6 provide a status report to the Commission.
7     (d) A copy of the petition must be served on all
8 respondents named in the complaint and on each respondent's
9 ultimate jurisdictional authority in the same manner as process
10 is served under the Code of Civil Procedure.
11     (e) A respondent may file objections to the petition for
12 leave to file a complaint within 30 days after notice of the
13 petition has been served on the respondent.
14     (f) The Commission shall meet, either in person or by
15 telephone, in a closed session to review the sufficiency of the
16 complaint. If the Commission finds that complaint is
17 sufficient, the Commission shall grant the petition for leave
18 to file the complaint. The Commission shall issue notice to the
19 Legislative Inspector General and all respondents of the
20 Commission's ruling on the sufficiency of the complaint. If the
21 complaint is deemed to sufficiently allege a violation of this
22 Act, then the Commission shall notify the parties and shall
23 include a hearing date scheduled within 4 weeks after the date
24 of the notice, unless all of the parties consent to a later
25 date. If the complaint is deemed not to sufficiently allege a
26 violation, then the Commission shall send by certified mail,

 

 

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1 return receipt requested, a notice to the parties of the
2 decision to dismiss the complaint.
3     (g) On the scheduled date the Commission shall conduct a
4 closed meeting, either in person or, if the parties consent, by
5 telephone, on the complaint and allow all parties the
6 opportunity to present testimony and evidence. All such
7 proceedings shall be transcribed.
8     (h) Within an appropriate time limit set by rules of the
9 Legislative Ethics Commission, the Commission shall (i)
10 dismiss the complaint or (ii) issue a recommendation of
11 discipline to the respondent and the respondent's ultimate
12 jurisdictional authority or impose an administrative fine upon
13 the respondent, or both.
14     (i) The proceedings on any complaint filed with the
15 Commission shall be conducted pursuant to rules promulgated by
16 the Commission.
17     (j) The Commission may designate hearing officers to
18 conduct proceedings as determined by rule of the Commission.
19     (k) In all proceedings before the Commission, the standard
20 of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence.
21     (l) When the Inspector General concludes that there is
22 insufficient evidence that a violation has occurred, the
23 Inspector General shall close the investigation. At the request
24 of the subject of the investigation, the Inspector General
25 shall provide a written statement to the subject of the
26 investigation and to the Commission of the Inspector General's

 

 

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1 decision to close the investigation. Closure by the Inspector
2 General does not bar the Inspector General from resuming the
3 investigation if circumstances warrant.
4 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.)
 
5     (5 ILCS 430/25-90)
6     Sec. 25-90. Confidentiality.
7     (a) The identity of any individual providing information or
8 reporting any possible or alleged misconduct to the Legislative
9 Inspector General or the Legislative Ethics Commission shall be
10 kept confidential and may not be disclosed without the consent
11 of that individual, unless the individual consents to
12 disclosure of his or her name or disclosure of the individual's
13 identity is otherwise required by law. The confidentiality
14 granted by this subsection does not preclude the disclosure of
15 the identity of a person in any capacity other than as the
16 source of an allegation.
17     (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 25-50(c),
18 commissioners, employees, and agents of the Legislative Ethics
19 Commission, the Legislative Inspector General, and employees
20 and agents of the Office of the Legislative Inspector General
21 shall keep confidential and shall not disclose information
22 exempted from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
23 or by this Act, except as necessary to inform a complainant of
24 the status of an investigation.
25 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.)
 

 

 

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1     (5 ILCS 430/25-95)
2     Sec. 25-95. Exemptions.
3     (a) Documents generated by an ethics officer under this
4 Act, except Section 5-50, are exempt from the provisions of the
5 Freedom of Information Act.
6     (a-5) Requests from ethics officers, members, and State
7 employees to the Office of the Legislative Inspector General, a
8 Special Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Ethics
9 Commission, an ethics officer, or a person designated by a
10 legislative leader for guidance on matters involving the
11 interpretation or application of this Act or rules promulgated
12 under this Act are exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of
13 Information Act. Guidance provided to an ethics officer,
14 member, or State employee at the request of an ethics officer,
15 member, or State employee by the Office of the Legislative
16 Inspector General, a Special Legislative Inspector General,
17 the Legislative Ethics Commission, an ethics officer, or a
18 person designated by a legislative leader on matters involving
19 the interpretation or application of this Act or rules
20 promulgated under this Act is exempt from the provisions of the
21 Freedom of Information Act.
22     (b) Any allegations and related documents submitted to the
23 Legislative Inspector General and any pleadings and related
24 documents brought before the Legislative Ethics Commission are
25 exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act so

 

 

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1 long as the Legislative Ethics Commission does not make a
2 finding of a violation of this Act. If the Legislative Ethics
3 Commission finds that a violation has occurred, the entire
4 record of proceedings before the Commission, the decision and
5 recommendation, and the mandatory report from the agency head
6 or ultimate jurisdictional authority to the Legislative Ethics
7 Commission are not exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of
8 Information Act but information contained therein that is
9 exempt from the Freedom of Information Act must be redacted
10 before disclosure as provided in Section 8 of the Freedom of
11 Information Act.
12     (c) Meetings of the Commission under Sections 25-5 and
13 25-15 of this Act are exempt from the provisions of the Open
14 Meetings Act.
15     (d) Unless otherwise provided in this Act, all
16 investigatory files and reports of the Office of the
17 Legislative Inspector General, other than quarterly reports,
18 are confidential, are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom
19 of Information Act, and shall not be divulged to any person or
20 agency, except as necessary (i) to the appropriate law
21 enforcement authority if the matter is referred pursuant to
22 this Act, (ii) to the ultimate jurisdictional authority, or
23 (iii) to the Legislative Ethics Commission.
24     (e) The Legislative Ethics Commission may disclose or
25 publish a summary report issued by the Legislative Inspector
26 General pursuant to Section 25-50. The Commission's

 

 

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1 determination whether to disclose or publish shall be based on
2 criteria, established by the Commission by rule, that balance
3 the privacy interest of individual subjects of a report and the
4 informational needs of the public.
5 (Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03; 93-685, eff. 7-8-04.)
 
6     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
7 becoming law.