97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB2884

 

Introduced 2/1/2012, by Sen. Susan Garrett

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 430/20-10
5 ILCS 430/20-20
5 ILCS 430/20-50
5 ILCS 430/20-52
5 ILCS 430/20-65
5 ILCS 430/20-85
5 ILCS 430/20-87 new
15 ILCS 305/14

    Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that a person appointed and serving as an inspector general under the authority of an Act other than the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act shall not investigate alleged violations of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act or rules adopted under the authority of that Act, unless he or she also is appointed and serves as an Executive Inspector General under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Limits the positions that may be held by an Executive Inspector General or employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General during their terms of appointment or employment. Lengthens the period of time during which an Executive Inspector General may commence an investigation and during which a complaint may be filed with the Executive Ethics Commission. Requires certain reports and responses to be made publicly accessible. Requires the Commission to annually report certain information to the General Assembly and Governor. Amends the Secretary of State Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.


LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2884LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 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 10. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is
5amended by changing Sections 20-10, 20-20, 20-50, 20-52, 20-65,
6and 20-85 and adding Section 20-87 as follows:
 
7    (5 ILCS 430/20-10)
8    Sec. 20-10. Offices of Executive Inspectors General.
9    (a) Five independent Offices of the Executive Inspector
10General are created, one each for the Governor, the Attorney
11General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, and the
12Treasurer. Each Office shall be under the direction and
13supervision of an Executive Inspector General and shall be a
14fully independent office with separate appropriations.
15    (b) The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State,
16Comptroller, and Treasurer shall each appoint an Executive
17Inspector General, without regard to political affiliation and
18solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability.
19Appointments shall be made by and with the advice and consent
20of the Senate by three-fifths of the elected members concurring
21by record vote. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate
22within 60 session days of the receipt thereof shall be deemed
23to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. If,

 

 

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1during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office
2of Executive Inspector General, the appointing authority shall
3make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the
4Senate when the appointing authority shall make a nomination to
5fill that office. No person rejected for an office of Executive
6Inspector General shall, except by the Senate's request, be
7nominated again for that office at the same session of the
8Senate or be appointed to that office during a recess of that
9Senate.
10    Nothing in this Article precludes the appointment by the
11Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
12or Treasurer of any other inspector general required or
13permitted by law. The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
14State, Comptroller, and Treasurer each may appoint an existing
15inspector general as the Executive Inspector General required
16by this Article, provided that such an inspector general is not
17prohibited by law, rule, jurisdiction, qualification, or
18interest from serving as the Executive Inspector General
19required by this Article. An appointing authority may not
20appoint a relative as an Executive Inspector General.
21    Each Executive Inspector General shall have the following
22qualifications:
23        (1) has not been convicted of any felony under the laws
24    of this State, another State, or the United States;
25        (2) has earned a baccalaureate degree from an
26    institution of higher education; and

 

 

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1        (3) has 5 or more years of cumulative service (A) with
2    a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, at least
3    2 years of which have been in a progressive investigatory
4    capacity; (B) as a federal, State, or local prosecutor; (C)
5    as a senior manager or executive of a federal, State, or
6    local agency; (D) as a member, an officer, or a State or
7    federal judge; or (E) representing any combination of (A)
8    through (D).
9    The term of each initial Executive Inspector General shall
10commence upon qualification and shall run through June 30,
112008. The initial appointments shall be made within 60 days
12after the effective date of this Act.
13    After the initial term, each Executive Inspector General
14shall serve for 5-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year
15of appointment and running through June 30 of the fifth
16following year. An Executive Inspector General may be
17reappointed to one or more subsequent terms.
18    A vacancy occurring other than at the end of a term shall
19be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of
20the term of the Executive Inspector General whose office is
21vacant.
22    Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is
23filled.
24    (c) The Executive Inspector General appointed by the
25Attorney General shall have jurisdiction over the Attorney
26General and all officers and employees of, and vendors and

 

 

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1others doing business with, State agencies within the
2jurisdiction of the Attorney General. The Executive Inspector
3General appointed by the Secretary of State shall have
4jurisdiction over the Secretary of State and all officers and
5employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State
6agencies within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. The
7Executive Inspector General appointed by the Comptroller shall
8have jurisdiction over the Comptroller and all officers and
9employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State
10agencies within the jurisdiction of the Comptroller. The
11Executive Inspector General appointed by the Treasurer shall
12have jurisdiction over the Treasurer and all officers and
13employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State
14agencies within the jurisdiction of the Treasurer. The
15Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall
16have jurisdiction over (i) the Governor, (ii) the Lieutenant
17Governor, (iii) all officers and employees of, and vendors and
18others doing business with, executive branch State agencies
19under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and
20not within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, the
21Secretary of State, the Comptroller, or the Treasurer, and (iv)
22all board members and employees of the Regional Transit Boards
23and all vendors and others doing business with the Regional
24Transit Boards.
25    The jurisdiction of each Executive Inspector General is to
26investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement,

 

 

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1misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or
2violations of this Act or violations of other related laws and
3rules. A person appointed and serving as an inspector general
4under the authority of an Act other than this Act shall not
5investigate alleged violations of this Act or rules adopted
6under the authority of this Act, unless he or she also is
7appointed and serves as an Executive Inspector General under
8this Act. If a person appointed and serving as an inspector
9general under the authority of an Act other than this Act
10becomes aware of an alleged violation of this Act or rules
11adopted under this Act, then he or she shall refer all
12information regarding the alleged violation to the Executive
13Inspector General who has jurisdiction over the officer or
14employee who committed the alleged violation.
15    (d) The compensation for each Executive Inspector General
16shall be determined by the Executive Ethics Commission and
17shall be made from appropriations made to the Comptroller for
18this purpose. Subject to Section 20-45 of this Act, each
19Executive Inspector General has full authority to organize his
20or her Office of the Executive Inspector General, including the
21employment and determination of the compensation of staff, such
22as deputies, assistants, and other employees, as
23appropriations permit. A separate appropriation shall be made
24for each Office of Executive Inspector General.
25    (e) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the
26Office of the Executive Inspector General may, during his or

 

 

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1her term of appointment or employment:
2        (1) become a candidate for any elective office;
3        (2) hold any other elected or appointed public office
4    except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or
5    study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by
6    law;
7        (3) be actively involved in the affairs of any
8    political party or political organization; or
9        (4) advocate for the appointment of another person to
10    an appointed or elected office or position or actively
11    participate in any campaign for any elective office.
12    In this subsection an appointed public office means a
13position authorized by law that is filled by an appointing
14authority as provided by law and does not include employment by
15hiring in the ordinary course of business.
16    Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection (e) or any
17other law to the contrary, no Executive Inspector General or
18employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General may,
19during his or her term of appointment or employment, be
20appointed to, employed in, or otherwise hold a position (i)
21that is within an agency or constitutional office that is under
22the jurisdiction of that Executive Inspector General and (ii)
23that is not within either the Office of the Executive Inspector
24General or the Office of the Inspector General of that agency
25or constitutional office.
26    (e-1) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the

 

 

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1Office of the Executive Inspector General may, for one year
2after the termination of his or her appointment or employment:
3        (1) become a candidate for any elective office;
4        (2) hold any elected public office; or
5        (3) hold any appointed State, county, or local judicial
6    office.
7    (e-2) The requirements of item (3) of subsection (e-1) may
8be waived by the Executive Ethics Commission.
9    (f) An Executive Inspector General may be removed only for
10cause and may be removed only by the appointing constitutional
11officer. At the time of the removal, the appointing
12constitutional officer must report to the Executive Ethics
13Commission the justification for the removal.
14(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09; 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11.)
 
15    (5 ILCS 430/20-20)
16    Sec. 20-20. Duties of the Executive Inspectors General. In
17addition to duties otherwise assigned by law, each Executive
18Inspector General shall have the following duties:
19        (1) To receive and investigate allegations of
20    violations of this Act. An investigation may not be
21    initiated more than 2 years one year after the most recent
22    act of the alleged violation or of a series of alleged
23    violations except where there is reasonable cause to
24    believe that fraudulent concealment has occurred. To
25    constitute fraudulent concealment sufficient to toll this

 

 

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1    limitations period, there must be an affirmative act or
2    representation calculated to prevent discovery of the fact
3    that a violation has occurred. The Executive Inspector
4    General shall have the discretion to determine the
5    appropriate means of investigation as permitted by law.
6        (2) To request information relating to an
7    investigation from any person when the Executive Inspector
8    General deems that information necessary in conducting an
9    investigation.
10        (3) To issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of
11    witnesses for the purposes of testimony and production of
12    documents and other items for inspection and copying and to
13    make service of those subpoenas and subpoenas issued under
14    item (7) of Section 20-15.
15        (4) To submit reports as required by this Act.
16        (5) To file pleadings in the name of the Executive
17    Inspector General with the Executive Ethics Commission,
18    through the Attorney General, as provided in this Article
19    if the Attorney General finds that reasonable cause exists
20    to believe that a violation has occurred.
21        (6) To assist and coordinate the ethics officers for
22    State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Executive
23    Inspector General and to work with those ethics officers.
24        (7) To participate in or conduct, when appropriate,
25    multi-jurisdictional investigations.
26        (8) To request, as the Executive Inspector General

 

 

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1    deems appropriate, from ethics officers of State agencies
2    under his or her jurisdiction, reports or information on
3    (i) the content of a State agency's ethics training program
4    and (ii) the percentage of new officers and employees who
5    have completed ethics training.
6        (9) To review hiring and employment files of each State
7    agency within the Executive Inspector General's
8    jurisdiction to ensure compliance with Rutan v. Republican
9    Party of Illinois, 497 U.S. 62 (1990), and with all
10    applicable employment laws.
11        (10) To establish a policy that ensures the appropriate
12    handling and correct recording of all investigations
13    conducted by the Office, and to ensure that the policy is
14    accessible via the Internet in order that those seeking to
15    report those allegations are familiar with the process and
16    that the subjects of those allegations are treated fairly.
17(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
18    (5 ILCS 430/20-50)
19    Sec. 20-50. Investigation reports.
20    (a) If an Executive Inspector General, upon the conclusion
21of an investigation, determines that reasonable cause exists to
22believe that a violation has occurred, then the Executive
23Inspector General shall issue a summary report of the
24investigation. The report shall be delivered to the appropriate
25ultimate jurisdictional authority and to the head of each State

 

 

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1agency affected by or involved in the investigation, if
2appropriate. The appropriate ultimate jurisdictional authority
3or agency head shall respond to the summary report within 20
4days, in writing, to the Executive Inspector General. The
5response shall include a description of any corrective or
6disciplinary action to be imposed.
7    (b) The summary report of the investigation shall include
8the following:
9        (1) A description of any allegations or other
10    information received by the Executive Inspector General
11    pertinent to the investigation.
12        (2) A description of any alleged misconduct discovered
13    in the course of the investigation.
14        (3) Recommendations for any corrective or disciplinary
15    action to be taken in response to any alleged misconduct
16    described in the report, including but not limited to
17    discharge.
18        (4) Other information the Executive Inspector General
19    deems relevant to the investigation or resulting
20    recommendations.
21    (c) Within 30 days after receiving a response from the
22appropriate ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head
23under subsection (a), the Executive Inspector General shall
24notify the Commission and the Attorney General if the Executive
25Inspector General believes that a complaint should be filed
26with the Commission. If the Executive Inspector General desires

 

 

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1to file a complaint with the Commission, the Executive
2Inspector General shall submit the summary report and
3supporting documents to the Attorney General. If the Attorney
4General concludes that there is insufficient evidence that a
5violation has occurred, the Attorney General shall notify the
6Executive Inspector General and the Executive Inspector
7General shall deliver to the Executive Ethics Commission a copy
8of the summary report and response from the ultimate
9jurisdictional authority or agency head. If the Attorney
10General determines that reasonable cause exists to believe that
11a violation has occurred, then the Executive Inspector General,
12represented by the Attorney General, may file with the
13Executive Ethics Commission a complaint. The complaint shall
14set forth the alleged violation and the grounds that exist to
15support the complaint. The complaint must be filed with the
16Commission within 30 18 months after the most recent act of the
17alleged violation or of a series of alleged violations except
18where there is reasonable cause to believe that fraudulent
19concealment has occurred. To constitute fraudulent concealment
20sufficient to toll this limitations period, there must be an
21affirmative act or representation calculated to prevent
22discovery of the fact that a violation has occurred. If a
23complaint is not filed with the Commission within 6 months
24after notice by the Inspector General to the Commission and the
25Attorney General, then the Commission may set a meeting of the
26Commission at which the Attorney General shall appear and

 

 

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1provide a status report to the Commission.
2    (c-5) Within 30 days after receiving a response from the
3appropriate ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head
4under subsection (a), if the Executive Inspector General does
5not believe that a complaint should be filed, the Executive
6Inspector General shall deliver to the Executive Ethics
7Commission a statement setting forth the basis for the decision
8not to file a complaint and a copy of the summary report and
9response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency
10head. An Inspector General may also submit a redacted version
11of the summary report and response from the ultimate
12jurisdictional authority if the Inspector General believes
13either contains information that, in the opinion of the
14Inspector General, should be redacted prior to releasing the
15report, may interfere with an ongoing investigation, or
16identifies an informant or complainant.
17    (c-10) If, after reviewing the documents, the Commission
18believes that further investigation is warranted, the
19Commission may request that the Executive Inspector General
20provide additional information or conduct further
21investigation. The Commission may also appoint a Special
22Executive Inspector General to investigate or refer the summary
23report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority
24to the Attorney General for further investigation or review. If
25the Commission requests the Attorney General to investigate or
26review, the Commission must notify the Attorney General and the

 

 

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1Inspector General. The Attorney General may not begin an
2investigation or review until receipt of notice from the
3Commission. If, after review, the Attorney General determines
4that reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation has
5occurred, then the Attorney General may file a complaint with
6the Executive Ethics Commission. If the Attorney General
7concludes that there is insufficient evidence that a violation
8has occurred, the Attorney General shall notify the Executive
9Ethics Commission and the appropriate Executive Inspector
10General.
11    (d) A copy of the complaint filed with the Executive Ethics
12Commission must be served on all respondents named in the
13complaint and on each respondent's ultimate jurisdictional
14authority in the same manner as process is served under the
15Code of Civil Procedure.
16    (e) A respondent may file objections to the complaint
17within 30 days after notice of the petition has been served on
18the respondent.
19    (f) The Commission shall meet, either in person or by
20telephone, at least 30 days after the complaint is served on
21all respondents in a closed session to review the sufficiency
22of the complaint. The Commission shall issue notice by
23certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Executive
24Inspector General, Attorney General, and all respondents of the
25Commission's ruling on the sufficiency of the complaint. If the
26complaint is deemed to sufficiently allege a violation of this

 

 

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1Act, then the Commission shall include a hearing date scheduled
2within 4 weeks after the date of the notice, unless all of the
3parties consent to a later date. If the complaint is deemed not
4to sufficiently allege a violation, then the Commission shall
5send by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice to
6the Executive Inspector General, Attorney General, and all
7respondents of the decision to dismiss the complaint.
8    (g) On the scheduled date the Commission shall conduct a
9closed meeting, either in person or, if the parties consent, by
10telephone, on the complaint and allow all parties the
11opportunity to present testimony and evidence. All such
12proceedings shall be transcribed.
13    (h) Within an appropriate time limit set by rules of the
14Executive Ethics Commission, the Commission shall (i) dismiss
15the complaint, (ii) issue a recommendation of discipline to the
16respondent and the respondent's ultimate jurisdictional
17authority, (iii) impose an administrative fine upon the
18respondent, (iv) issue injunctive relief as described in
19Section 50-10, or (v) impose a combination of (ii) through
20(iv).
21    (i) The proceedings on any complaint filed with the
22Commission shall be conducted pursuant to rules promulgated by
23the Commission.
24    (j) The Commission may designate hearing officers to
25conduct proceedings as determined by rule of the Commission.
26    (k) In all proceedings before the Commission, the standard

 

 

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1of proof is by a preponderance of the evidence.
2    (l) Within 30 days after the issuance of a final
3administrative decision that concludes that a violation
4occurred, the Executive Ethics Commission shall make public the
5entire record of proceedings before the Commission, the
6decision, any recommendation, any discipline imposed, and the
7response from the agency head or ultimate jurisdictional
8authority to the Executive Ethics Commission.
9(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
10    (5 ILCS 430/20-52)
11    Sec. 20-52. Release of summary reports.
12    (a) Within 60 days after receipt of a summary report and
13response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency
14head that resulted in a suspension of at least 3 days or
15termination of employment, the Executive Ethics Commission
16shall make available to the public the report and response or a
17redacted version of the report and response. The Executive
18Ethics Commission may make available to the public any other
19summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional
20authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report
21and response. All summary reports and responses made available
22to the public by the Executive Ethics Commission must also be
23made available to the public on the website of the Executive
24Inspector General that conducted the investigation and issued
25the summary report.

 

 

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1    (b) The Commission shall redact information in the summary
2report that may reveal the identity of witnesses, complainants,
3or informants or if the Commission determines it is appropriate
4to protect the identity of a person before the report is made
5public. The Commission may also redact any information it
6believes should not be made public. Prior to publication, the
7Commission shall permit the respondents, Inspector General,
8and Attorney General to review documents to be made public and
9offer suggestions for redaction or provide a response that
10shall be made public with the summary report.
11    (c) The Commission may withhold publication of the report
12or response if the Executive Inspector General or Attorney
13General certifies that releasing the report to the public will
14interfere with an ongoing investigation.
15(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
16    (5 ILCS 430/20-65)
17    Sec. 20-65. Reporting of investigations.
18    (a) Each Executive Inspector General shall file a quarterly
19activity report with the Executive Ethics Commission that
20reflects investigative activity during the previous quarter.
21The Executive Ethics Commission shall establish the reporting
22dates. The activity report shall include at least the
23following:
24        (1) The number of investigations opened during the
25    preceding quarter, the affected offices or agencies, and

 

 

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1    the unique tracking numbers for new investigations.
2        (2) The number of investigations closed during the
3    preceding quarter, the affected offices or agencies, and
4    the unique tracking numbers for closed investigations.
5        (3) The status of each on-going investigation that
6    remained open at the end of the quarter, the affected
7    office, agency or agencies, the investigation's unique
8    tracking number, and a brief statement of the general
9    nature of the investigation.
10    (b) If any investigation is not concluded within 6 months
11after its initiation, the appropriate Executive Inspector
12General shall file a 6-month report with the Executive Ethics
13Commission by the fifteenth day of the month following it being
14open for 6 months. The 6-month report shall disclose:
15        (1) The general nature of the allegation or information
16    giving rise to the investigation, the title or job duties
17    of the subjects of the investigation, and the
18    investigation's unique tracking number.
19        (2) The date of the last alleged violation of this Act
20    or other State law giving rise to the investigation.
21        (3) Whether the Executive Inspector General has found
22    credible the allegations of criminal conduct.
23        (4) Whether the allegation has been referred to an
24    appropriate law enforcement agency and the identity of the
25    law enforcement agency to which those allegations were
26    referred.

 

 

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1        (5) If an allegation has not been referred to an
2    appropriate law enforcement agency, the reasons for the
3    failure to complete the investigation within 6 months, a
4    summary of the investigative steps taken, additional
5    investigative steps contemplated at the time of the report,
6    and an estimate of additional time necessary to complete
7    the investigation.
8        (6) Any other information deemed necessary by the
9    Executive Ethics Commission in determining whether to
10    appoint a Special Inspector General.
11    (c) If an Executive Inspector General has referred an
12allegation to an appropriate law enforcement agency and
13continues to investigate the matter, the future reporting
14requirements of this Section are suspended.
15    (d) Reports filed under this Section are exempt from the
16Freedom of Information Act. However, data reported under
17subsection (a) of this Section and by the Executive Ethics
18Commission in its annual report under Section 20-87 is not
19exempt from copying and disclosure under the Freedom of
20Information Act and must be made available to the public on the
21website of the Executive Ethics Commission.
22(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
23    (5 ILCS 430/20-85)
24    Sec. 20-85. Monthly reports by Executive Inspector
25General. Each Executive Inspector General shall submit monthly

 

 

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1reports to the appropriate executive branch constitutional
2officer and the Executive Ethics Commission, on dates
3determined by the Executive Ethics Commission executive branch
4constitutional officer, indicating:
5        (1) the number of allegations received since the date
6    of the last report;
7        (2) the number of investigations initiated since the
8    date of the last report;
9        (3) the number of investigations concluded since the
10    date of the last report;
11        (4) the number of investigations pending as of the
12    reporting date;
13        (5) the number of complaints forwarded to the Attorney
14    General since the date of the last report;
15        (6) the number of actions filed with the Executive
16    Ethics Commission since the date of the last report and the
17    number of actions pending before the Executive Ethics
18    Commission as of the reporting date; and
19        (7) the number of allegations referred to any law
20    enforcement agency.
21    The monthly report shall be available on the websites of
22the Executive Inspector General and the constitutional
23officer.
24(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
25    (5 ILCS 430/20-87 new)

 

 

SB2884- 20 -LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 b

1    Sec. 20-87. Annual reports by the Executive Ethics
2Commission.
3    (a) The Executive Ethics Commission shall submit annual
4reports to the General Assembly and each constitutional
5officer, indicating:
6        (1) the amendments that were made to the State
7    Officials and Employees Ethics Act since the date of the
8    last report;
9        (2) the rules that the Executive Ethics Commission
10    adopted or revised since the date of the last report;
11        (3) the number of allegations received by each
12    Executive Inspector General since the date of the last
13    report;
14        (4) the number of investigations initiated by each
15    Executive Inspector General since the date of the last
16    report;
17        (5) the number of investigations concluded by each
18    Executive Inspector General since the date of the last
19    report;
20        (6) the number of investigations that are pending with
21    each Executive Inspector General on the reporting date;
22        (7) the number of complaints forwarded to the Attorney
23    General for consideration for filing with the Executive
24    Ethics Commission, separated by quarter, for each
25    Executive Inspector General since the date of the last
26    report;

 

 

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1        (8) the number of complaints filed with the Executive
2    Ethics Commission since the date of the last report;
3        (9) the number of revolving-door determinations
4    received by the Commission from each Executive Inspector
5    General and decided since the date of the last report; and
6        (10) the number of ex parte communications made to the
7    Executive Ethics Commission since the date of the last
8    report.
9    (b) Reports filed under this Section are public records and
10must be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
 
11    Section 15. The Secretary of State Act is amended by
12changing Section 14 as follows:
 
13    (15 ILCS 305/14)
14    Sec. 14. Inspector General.
15    (a) The Secretary of State must, with the advice and
16consent of the Senate, appoint an Inspector General for the
17purpose of detection, deterrence, and prevention of fraud,
18corruption, mismanagement, gross or aggravated misconduct, or
19misconduct that may be criminal in nature in the Office of the
20Secretary of State. The Inspector General shall serve a 5-year
21term. If no successor is appointed and qualified upon the
22expiration of the Inspector General's term, the Office of
23Inspector General is deemed vacant and the powers and duties
24under this Section may be exercised only by an appointed and

 

 

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1qualified interim Inspector General until a successor
2Inspector General is appointed and qualified. If the General
3Assembly is not in session when a vacancy in the Office of
4Inspector General occurs, the Secretary of State may appoint an
5interim Inspector General whose term shall expire 2 weeks after
6the next regularly scheduled session day of the Senate.
7    (b) The Inspector General shall have the following
8qualifications:
9        (1) has not been convicted of any felony under the laws
10    of this State, another State, or the United States;
11        (2) has earned a baccalaureate degree from an
12    institution of higher education; and
13        (3) has either (A) 5 or more years of service with a
14    federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, at least 2
15    years of which have been in a progressive investigatory
16    capacity; (B) 5 or more years of service as a federal,
17    State, or local prosecutor; or (C) 5 or more years of
18    service as a senior manager or executive of a federal,
19    State, or local agency.
20    (c) The Inspector General may review, coordinate, and
21recommend methods and procedures to increase the integrity of
22the Office of the Secretary of State. The duties of the
23Inspector General shall supplement and not supplant the duties
24of the Chief Auditor for the Secretary of State's Office or any
25other Inspector General that may be authorized by law. The
26Inspector General must report directly to the Secretary of

 

 

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1State.
2    (d) In addition to the authority otherwise provided by this
3Section, but only when investigating the Office of the
4Secretary of State, its employees, or their actions for fraud,
5corruption, mismanagement, gross or aggravated misconduct, or
6misconduct that may be criminal in nature, the Inspector
7General is authorized:
8        (1) To have access to all records, reports, audits,
9    reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other
10    materials available that relate to programs and operations
11    with respect to which the Inspector General has
12    responsibilities under this Section.
13        (2) To make any investigations and reports relating to
14    the administration of the programs and operations of the
15    Office of the Secretary of State that are, in the judgment
16    of the Inspector General, necessary or desirable.
17        (3) To request any information or assistance that may
18    be necessary for carrying out the duties and
19    responsibilities provided by this Section from any local,
20    State, or federal governmental agency or unit thereof.
21        (4) To require by subpoena the appearance of witnesses
22    and the production of all information, documents, reports,
23    answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and
24    documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the
25    functions assigned by this Section, with the exception of
26    subsection (c) and with the exception of records of a labor

 

 

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1    organization authorized and recognized under the Illinois
2    Public Labor Relations Act to be the exclusive bargaining
3    representative of employees of the Secretary of State,
4    including, but not limited to, records of representation of
5    employees and the negotiation of collective bargaining
6    agreements. A subpoena may be issued under this paragraph
7    (4) only by the Inspector General and not by members of the
8    Inspector General's staff. A person duly subpoenaed for
9    testimony, documents, or other items who neglects or
10    refuses to testify or produce documents or other items
11    under the requirements of the subpoena shall be subject to
12    punishment as may be determined by a court of competent
13    jurisdiction, unless (i) the testimony, documents, or
14    other items are covered by the attorney-client privilege or
15    any other privilege or right recognized by law or (ii) the
16    testimony, documents, or other items concern the
17    representation of employees and the negotiation of
18    collective bargaining agreements by a labor organization
19    authorized and recognized under the Illinois Public Labor
20    Relations Act to be the exclusive bargaining
21    representative of employees of the Secretary of State.
22    Nothing in this Section limits a person's right to
23    protection against self-incrimination under the Fifth
24    Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article I,
25    Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
26        (5) To have direct and prompt access to the Secretary

 

 

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1    of State for any purpose pertaining to the performance of
2    functions and responsibilities under this Section.
3    (d-5) In addition to the authority otherwise provided by
4this Section, the Secretary of State Inspector General shall
5have jurisdiction to investigate complaints and allegations of
6wrongdoing by any person or entity related to the Lobbyist
7Registration Act. When investigating those complaints and
8allegations, the Inspector General is authorized:
9        (1) To have access to all records, reports, audits,
10    reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other
11    materials available that relate to programs and operations
12    with respect to which the Inspector General has
13    responsibilities under this Section.
14        (2) To request any information or assistance that may
15    be necessary for carrying out the duties and
16    responsibilities provided by this Section from any local,
17    State, or federal governmental agency or unit thereof.
18        (3) To require by subpoena the appearance of witnesses
19    and the production of all information, documents, reports,
20    answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and
21    documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the
22    functions assigned by this Section. A subpoena may be
23    issued under this paragraph (3) only by the Inspector
24    General and not by members of the Inspector General's
25    staff. A person duly subpoenaed for testimony, documents,
26    or other items who neglects or refuses to testify or

 

 

SB2884- 26 -LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 b

1    produce documents or other items under the requirements of
2    the subpoena shall be subject to punishment as may be
3    determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the
4    testimony, documents, or other items are covered by the
5    attorney-client privilege or any other privilege or right
6    recognized by law. Nothing in this Section limits a
7    person's right to protection against self-incrimination
8    under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution
9    or Section 10 of Article I of the Constitution of the State
10    of Illinois.
11        (4) To have direct and prompt access to the Secretary
12    of State for any purpose pertaining to the performance of
13    functions and responsibilities under this Section.
14    (e) The Inspector General may receive and investigate
15complaints or information concerning the possible existence of
16an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or
17regulations; mismanagement; abuse of authority; or substantial
18and specific danger to the public health and safety. Any person
19who knowingly files a false complaint or files a complaint with
20reckless disregard for the truth or the falsity of the facts
21underlying the complaint may be subject to discipline as set
22forth in the rules of the Department of Personnel of the
23Secretary of State or the Inspector General may refer the
24matter to a State's Attorney or the Attorney General.
25    The Inspector General may not, after receipt of a complaint
26or information, disclose the identity of the source without the

 

 

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1consent of the source, unless the Inspector General determines
2that disclosure of the identity is reasonable and necessary for
3the furtherance of the investigation.
4    Any employee who has the authority to recommend or approve
5any personnel action or to direct others to recommend or
6approve any personnel action may not, with respect to that
7authority, take or threaten to take any action against any
8employee as a reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing
9information to the Inspector General, unless the complaint was
10made or the information disclosed with the knowledge that it
11was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.
12    (f) The Inspector General must adopt rules, in accordance
13with the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure
14Act, establishing minimum requirements for initiating,
15conducting, and completing investigations. The rules must
16establish criteria for determining, based upon the nature of
17the allegation, the appropriate method of investigation, which
18may include, but is not limited to, site visits, telephone
19contacts, personal interviews, or requests for written
20responses. The rules must also clarify how the Office of the
21Inspector General shall interact with other local, State, and
22federal law enforcement investigations.
23    Any employee of the Secretary of State subject to
24investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General or any agent
25or representative of the Inspector General concerning
26misconduct that is criminal in nature shall have the right to

 

 

SB2884- 28 -LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 b

1be notified of the right to remain silent during the
2investigation or inquiry and the right to be represented in the
3investigation or inquiry by an attorney or a representative of
4a labor organization that is the exclusive collective
5bargaining representative of employees of the Secretary of
6State. Any investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General or
7any agent or representative of the Inspector General must be
8conducted with an awareness of the provisions of a collective
9bargaining agreement that applies to the employees of the
10Secretary of State and with an awareness of the rights of the
11employees as set forth in State and federal law and applicable
12judicial decisions. Any recommendations for discipline or any
13action taken against any employee by the Inspector General or
14any representative or agent of the Inspector General must
15comply with the provisions of the collective bargaining
16agreement that applies to the employee.
17    (g) On or before January 1 of each year, the Inspector
18General shall report to the President of the Senate, the
19Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
20Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of
21Representatives on the types of investigations and the
22activities undertaken by the Office of the Inspector General
23during the previous calendar year.
24    (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any
25other law to the contrary, the Inspector General appointed
26under this Act shall not investigate alleged violations of the

 

 

SB2884- 29 -LRB097 17634 JDS 62841 b

1State Officials and Employees Ethics Act or rules adopted under
2that Act, unless he or she also serves as the Executive
3Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of State. If the
4Inspector General appointed under this Act becomes aware of an
5alleged violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics
6Act or rules adopted under that Act and does not serve as the
7Executive Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of
8State, then he or she shall refer all information regarding the
9alleged violation to the Executive Inspector General appointed
10by the Secretary of State.
11(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1358, eff. 7-28-10.)
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.