HB4691 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 16788 AWJ 66181 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4691

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Jeff Keicher

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act
30 ILCS 805/8.44 new

Creates the Decennial Committees on Local Government Consolidation and Efficiency Act. Provides that within one year after the effective date of the Act and at least once every 10 years thereafter, each unit of local government (except municipalities and counties) must form a committee to: study local efficiencies, including an analysis of whether to consolidate with another governmental unit, municipality, or county; and create a report with recommendations regarding efficiencies, increased accountability, and consolidation. Provides that the duties of the committee include, but are not limited to, the study of the unit of local government's governing statutes, ordinances, rules, procedures, powers, jurisdiction, shared services, intergovernmental agreements, and interrelationships with other units of local government and the State. Provides that the committee shall collect data, research, analysis, and public input. Dissolves the committee after completion of its report and oral presentation of the report. Contains provisions about committee membership, meetings, and report requirements. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Decennial Committees on Local Government Consolidation and Efficiency Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Governmental unit" includes all units of local government except municipalities and counties.

"Community college" means a public community college in this State.

"State university" means a public university in this State.

Section 10. Formation of committee; members; vacancy; administrative support.

(a) Within one year after the effective date of this Act and at least once every 10 years thereafter, each governmental unit must form a committee to: study local efficiencies, including an analysis of whether to consolidate with another governmental unit, municipality, or county; and provide a report with recommendations regarding efficiencies, increased accountability, and consolidation.

(b) Each committee's membership shall include the elected or appointed members of the governing board of the governmental unit, at least 2 residents of the governmental unit appointed by the county board chairperson or the president of the board of county commissioners in the county in which the governmental unit lies, any chief executive officer or officer of the governmental unit, and at least one government studies representative from a community college or State university appointed by the county board chairperson or the president of the board of county commissioners in the county in which the governmental unit lies. The committee shall be chaired by the president or chief elected or appointed official of the governing board of the governmental unit, or his or her designee. The chairperson may appoint additional members to the committee as he or she deems appropriate.

Committee members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by the governmental unit for their expenses incurred in performing their duties.

(c) A committee may employ or use the services of specialists in public administration and governmental management and any other trained consultants, analysts, investigators, and assistants it considers appropriate.

(d) If a vacancy occurs in the committee membership, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the appointments under subsection (b).

(e) The governmental unit shall provide administrative and other support to the committee.

Section 15. Duties of a committee. The duties of a committee include, but are not limited to, the study of the governmental unit's governing statutes, ordinances, rules, procedures, powers, jurisdiction, shared services, intergovernmental agreements, and interrelationships with other governmental units and the State. The committee shall collect data, research, and analysis for its purposes and shall allow public input through at least one public survey sent to at least 10% of residents within the governmental unit.

Section 20. Meetings. Each committee shall meet at least 3 times. Each meetings of the committee shall be public and the committee shall provide an opportunity for any person to be heard at the public hearings for at least 3 minutes. The committee may require speakers to register. The committee shall meet in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and the committee shall be a public body to which the Freedom of Information Act applies.

Section 25. Report and oral presentation. Each committee shall summarize its work and findings within a report, including recommendations in respect to consolidation, increased accountability and efficiency, and shall provide both an oral presentation and the written report to the county board in which the governmental unit lies no later than 6 months after the formation of the committee. The report shall be made available to the public.

Section 30. Dissolution of the committee. After a committee has made the report available to the public and presented all oral presentations required under Section 25, the committee is dissolved until it is reestablished with newly appointed members under Section 10.

Section 90. The State Mandates Act is amended by adding Section 8.44 as follows:

(30 ILCS 805/8.44 new)

Sec. 8.44. Exempt mandate. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of this Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.