SB1529 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 15261 RJF 20616 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB1529

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Melinda Bush

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 430/25-15

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Legislative Ethics Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before commencing any investigation authorized under specified provisions. Provides that any existing rule, as of the effective date of the amendatory Act, requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before commencing any investigation is void. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is amended by changing Section 25-15 as follows:

(5 ILCS 430/25-15)

Sec. 25-15. Duties of the Legislative Ethics Commission.

In addition to duties otherwise assigned by law, the Legislative Ethics Commission shall have the following duties:

(1) To promulgate rules governing the performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers and governing the investigations of the Legislative Inspector General; except that, the Legislative Ethics Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before commencing any investigation authorized under this Article. Any existing rule, as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before commencing any investigation is void. The rules shall be available on the Commission's website and any proposed changes to the rules must be made available to the public on the Commission's website no less than 7 days before the adoption of the changes. Any person shall be given an opportunity to provide written or oral testimony before the Commission in support of or opposition to proposed rules.

(2) To conduct administrative hearings and rule on matters brought before the Commission only upon the receipt of pleadings filed by the Legislative Inspector General and not upon its own prerogative, but may appoint special Legislative Inspectors General as provided in Section 25-21. Any other allegations of misconduct received by the Commission from a person other than the Legislative Inspector General shall be referred to the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.

(3) To prepare and publish manuals and guides and, working with the Office of the Attorney General, oversee training of employees under its jurisdiction that explains their duties.

(4) To prepare public information materials to facilitate compliance, implementation, and enforcement of this Act.

(5) To submit reports as required by this Act.

(6) To the extent authorized by this Act, to make rulings, issue recommendations, and impose administrative fines, if appropriate, in connection with the implementation and interpretation of this Act. The powers and duties of the Commission are limited to matters clearly within the purview of this Act.

(7) To issue subpoenas with respect to matters pending before the Commission, subject to the provisions of this Article and in the discretion of the Commission, to compel the attendance of witnesses for purposes of testimony and the production of documents and other items for inspection and copying.

(8) To appoint special Legislative Inspectors General as provided in Section 25-21.

(9) To conspicuously display on the Commission's website the procedures for reporting a violation of this Act, including how to report violations via email or online.

(10) To conspicuously display on the Commission's website any vacancies within the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.

(11) To appoint an Acting Legislative Inspector General in the event of a vacancy in the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.

(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17; 100-588, eff. 6-8-18.)

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