HB1465 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 06873 MJR 26992 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB1465

Introduced 2/21/2007, by Rep. Eddie Washington

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 10/2	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 902
220 ILCS 10/3	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 903
220 ILCS 10/4	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 904
220 ILCS 10/5	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 905
220 ILCS 10/6	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 906
220 ILCS 10/10	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 910
220 ILCS 10/11	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 911
220 ILCS 10/12	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 912
220 ILCS 10/20	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 920
220 ILCS 10/21	from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 921

Amends the Citizens Utility Board Act. Provides that the Citizens Utility Board shall represent and protect the interests of the residential utility and cable television customers (now, just residential utility customers) of this State. Makes corresponding changes.

CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

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

Section 5. The Citizens Utility Board Act is amended by changing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 20, and 21 as follows:

(220 ILCS 10/2) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 902)

Sec. 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of all the citizens of this State by ensuring effective and democratic representation of utility consumers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the courts, and other public bodies and by providing for consumer education on utility service and cable television prices and on benefits and methods of energy conservation. Such purpose shall be deemed a statewide interest and not a private or special concern.

(Source: P.A. 83-945.)

(220 ILCS 10/3) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 903)

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this Act: (1) "Board" means the board of directors of the corporation.

(2) "Campaign contribution" means a gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, a promise or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign contribution; but does not include the value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee, or the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities to the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election.

(3) "Campaign expenditures" means a purchase, payment distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value, made for the purpose of electing a candidate to the board; or a contract, promise, or agreement, express or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any campaign expenditure; but does not include the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities if the cumulative value of the activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $100 for any election.

(4) "Class A utility" means any gas, electric or water public utility with annual total gross operating revenues of $2.5 million or more or any telephone public utility with annual total gross operating revenues of $1,600,000 or more on the effective date of this Act.

(5) "Corporation" means the citizens utility board.

(6) "Director" means any member of the board.

(7) "District" means a corporation district, the boundaries of which are congruent with the boundaries of the Congressional districts in the State.

(8) "Immediate family" of a person means the person's spouse and legal dependents.

(9) "Member" means any person who satisfies the requirements for membership under Section 4.

(10) "Periodic customer billing" means a demand for payment for utility services by a public utility to a residential utility consumer on a monthly or other regular basis.

(11) "Political committee" means any committee, club, association or other group of persons which make campaign expenditures or receive campaign contributions during the year before an election of the board.

(12) "Public utility" means any person who owns, operates, manages or controls any plant or equipment or any part of a plant or equipment, within the State, for the conveyance of telephone messages or for the production, transmission, delivery or furnishing of heat, light, water or power either directly or indirectly to or for the public. "Public utility" includes any person engaged in the transmission or delivery of natural gas for compensation within this State by means of pipes or mains. "Public utility" does not include a cooperative association organized for the purpose of furnishing telephone service to its members only. "Public utility" does not include electric cooperatives as defined in Section 3-119 of the Public Utilities Act. However, "public utility" does not include either public utilities that are owned and operated by a political subdivision, public institution of higher education or municipal corporation of this State or public utilities that are owned by such political subdivision, public institution of higher education, or municipal corporation and operated by any of its lessees or operating agents.

(13) "Utility consumer" means any individual or entity, which is not governmental or a public utility, which is located in this State and which is furnished with a utility service by a public utility.

(14) "Utility service" means electricity, natural gas, water and telephone service supplied by a public utility.

(15) "Cable television consumer" means any individual or non-governmental entity that is located in this State and that is furnished with cable television service by a cable television provider.

(16) "Cable television provider" means any entity providing cable television service to cable television consumers.

(17) "Cable television service" means the transmission of television voice or data information through cable.

(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

(220 ILCS 10/4) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 904)

Sec. 4. Citizens utility board: formation and membership. (1) There is created a nonprofit public body corporate and politic to be known as the "Citizens Utility Board". Any utility or cable television consumer who has submitted a membership form and has contributed membership dues to the corporation in the preceding 12 months shall be a member of the corporation. A member may resign from membership at any time.

(2) The board shall, upon certification of their nominations pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 12 and request by the candidate, within 5 days provide to each candidate for election to the board a current list of members residing in the candidate's district. Such list shall include the names and current addresses of members within such district, and may be used by the candidate only for election purposes.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or any other provisions of law, if the corporation does not receive contributions from at least 10,000 citizens of this State within 3 years of the effective date of this Act, the corporation shall be dissolved.

(Source: P.A. 86-101.)

(220 ILCS 10/5) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 905)

Sec. 5. Powers and duties.

(1) The corporation shall:

(a) Represent and protect the interests of the residential utility and cable television consumers of this State. All actions by the corporation under this Act shall be directed toward such duty; provided that the corporation may also give due consideration to the interests of business in the State.

(b) Inform, in so far as possible, all utility and cable television consumers about the corporation, including the procedure for obtaining membership in the corporation.

(2) The corporation shall have all the powers necessary or convenient for the effective representation and protection of the interest of utility and cable television consumers and to implement this Act, including the following powers in addition to all other powers granted by this Act.

(a) To make, amend and repeal bylaws and rules for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business; to adopt an official seal and alter it at pleasure; to maintain an office; to sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the corporation.

(b) To employ such agents, employees and special advisors as it finds necessary and to fix their compensation.

(c) To solicit and accept gifts, loans, including loans made by the Illinois Commerce Commission from funds appropriated for that purpose by law, or other aid in order to support activities concerning the interests of utility consumers. Except as provided in Section 5.1, the corporation may not accept gifts, loans or other aid from any public utility or from any director, employee or agent or member of the immediate family of a director, employee or agent of any public utility and, after the first election the corporation, may not accept from any individual, private corporation, association or partnership in any single year a total of more than $1,000 in gifts. Under this paragraph, "aid" does not mean payment of membership dues.

(d) To intervene as a party or otherwise participate on behalf of utility and cable television consumers in any proceeding which affects the interest of utility or cable television consumers.

(e) To represent the interests of utility and cable television consumers before the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the courts, and other public bodies, except that no director, employee or agent of the corporation may engage in lobbying without first complying with any applicable statute, administrative rule or other regulation relating to lobbying.

(f) To establish annual dues which shall be set at a level that provides sufficient funding for the corporation to effectively perform its powers and duties, and is affordable for as many utility and cable television consumers as is possible.

(g) To implement solicitation for corporation funding and membership.

(h) To seek tax exempt status under State and federal law, including 501(c)(3) status under the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(i) To provide information and advice to utility and cable television consumers on any matter with respect to utility or cable television service, including but not limited to information and advice on benefits and methods of energy conservation.

(3) The powers, duties, rights and privileges conferred or imposed upon the corporation by this Act may not be transferred.

(4) The corporation shall refrain from interfering with collective bargaining rights of any employees of a public utility.

(Source: P.A. 91-50, eff. 6-30-99.)

(220 ILCS 10/6) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 906)

Sec. 6. Board. The corporation shall be managed by, and its powers, functions and duties shall be exercised through a board to be composed as follows:

(1) Election and Terms of Directors. The Citizens Utility Board Districts shall be divided into two groups for the purpose of establishing terms for which the Directors shall be elected in each group. One group shall be comprised of the even numbered Congressional Districts. The odd numbered Congressional Districts shall comprise the other group.

(a) The Interim Board, within 60 days after their appointment, shall meet and publicly by lot determine which group shall be the first group and which group shall be the second. The board members or their successors from the first group shall be elected for successive terms of two years, two years and four years; and members or their successors from the second group shall be elected for successive terms of four years, two years and two years.

(b) The first election of directors of the board is to be held no later than April 30, 1985. Subsequent elections of directors of the board shall be held on March 31 of each election year. If March 31 falls on a weekend or holiday, the election shall occur on the next business day following March 31.

(c) Interim and elected board members shall serve until their successors are elected and have qualified.

(d) In the year following each decennial census and within 45 days after the redistricted Congressional Districts are enacted, the board shall allocate terms between the 2 groups of districts publicly by lot as provided in paragraph (a). Board members or their successors from the first group shall be elected for successive terms of two years, four years and four years; and members or their successors from the second group shall be elected for successive terms of four years, four years, and two years.

(2) Qualifications. A director shall be a resident of the district he or she represents and member of the corporation. No person who is an employee in any managerial or supervisory capacity, director, officer or agent or who is a member of the immediate family of any such employee, director, officer or agent of any public utility or any cable television provider is eligible to be a director. No director may hold any elective position, be a candidate for any elective position, be a State public official, be employed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, or be employed in a governmental position exempt from the Personnel Code.

(3) Director, Family Member Employment. No director, nor member of his or her immediate family shall, either directly or indirectly, be employed for compensation as a staff member or consultant of the corporation.

(4) Meetings. The board shall hold regular meetings at least once every 3 months on such dates and at such places as it may determine. Special meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the directors upon at least 7 days' advance written notice. Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, a majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum; provided, that in no event shall a quorum consist of less than one-third of the board of directors. The act of the majority of the directors, present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, shall be the act of the board of directors unless the act of a greater number is required by this Act or bylaws. A summary of the minutes of every board meeting shall be made available to each public library in the State upon request and to individuals upon request.

(5) Expenses. A director may not receive any compensation for his or her services but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, including travel expenses incurred in the discharge of duties. The board shall establish standard allowances for mileage, room and meals and the purposes for which such allowances may be made and shall determine the reasonableness and necessity for such reimbursements. The board shall include the schedule of such standard allowances in the annual report under subsection (4) (d) of Section 7.

(6) Bonding. Directors and employees eligible to disburse funds shall be bonded. The costs of such bonds shall be paid by the corporation.

(Source: P.A. 84-1093.)

(220 ILCS 10/10) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 910)

Sec. 10. Prohibited Acts. (1) No person may interfere or threaten to interfere with or cause any interference with utility service or cable television service or with the utility service or cable television service of or penalize any person who contributes to the corporation or participates in any of its activities, in retribution for such contribution or participation.

(2) No person may act with intent to prevent, interfere with or hinder the activities permitted under this Act.

(3) A person who violates this Section may be fined not more than $1,000. Each such violation shall constitute a separate and continuing violation of this Act. A person who knowingly and wilfully violates this Section may be imprisoned not more than 6 months.

(Source: P.A. 83-945.)

(220 ILCS 10/11) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 911)

Sec. 11. Appointment of Interim Board of Directors. (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, an interim board of directors shall be appointed. The Board shall consist of 11 members. The Governor shall appoint 3 members. The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the House shall each appoint 2 members. The appointees shall reflect the geographical diversity of this State and shall include representation from minority groups, low-income persons, labor organizations, business, women and senior citizens. No interim director appointed under this Section may hold an elective position, be a candidate for any elective position, or be a State public official.

(2) The interim board appointed under this Section shall:

(a) As soon as possible after appointment, organize for the transaction of business.

(b) Inform the utility and cable television consumers of this State of the existence, nature and purposes of the corporation, and encourage utility and cable television consumers to join the corporation, to participate in the corporation's activities and to contribute to the corporation.

(c) Establish annual dues to be in effect until such time as an elected board assumes the duty as provided in paragraph (2) (f) of Section 5.

(d) Elect officers as provided under Section 12.

(e) Employ such staff as the interim directors deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section. The interim board appointed under this Section shall follow the procedures required under Section 7.2 if it hires an executive director of the corporation.

(f) Make all necessary preparations for the first election of directors, oversee the election campaign and tally the votes under Section 12.

(g) Solicit funds for the corporation.

(h) Carry out all other duties and exercise all other powers accorded to the board under this Act including the powers given to the corporation under Section 9.

(Source: P.A. 83-945.)

(220 ILCS 10/12) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 912)

Sec. 12. (1) Eligibility. To be eligible for election to the board, a candidate must:

(a) Meet the qualifications for directors under subsection (2) of Section 6.

(b) Have his or her nomination certified by the board under subsection (2) of this Section.

(c) Submit to the board a statement of financial interests under subsection (3) and a statement of personal background and positions under subsection (4).

(d) Make the affirmation under subsection (3) (e).

(2) Nomination. A candidate for election to the board shall circulate or have a member of the corporation circulate a petition for nomination on the candidate's behalf not sooner than 120 days preceding the election and shall file the petition with the corporation not later than 60 days prior to the election. The petition for nomination shall be signed by at least 5% or 30, whichever is less, of the members residing in his or her district. The board shall verify the validity of the signatures by comparing them to the signatures on the membership applications and the current list of members maintained by the Board. Within 14 days after the petition is due, the board shall determine whether a sufficient number of signatures are valid. If the board determines a sufficient number are valid, it shall certify the nomination of the candidate.

(3) Statement of financial interests. A candidate for election to the board whose nomination is certified under subsection (2) shall submit to the board, not later than 60 days prior to the election, a statement of financial interests upon a form provided by the board. The statement of financial interests shall include the following information:

(a) The occupation, employer and position at place of employment of the candidate and of his or her immediate family members.

(b) A list of all corporate directorships or other offices, and of all fiduciary relationships, held in the past 3 years by the candidate and by his or her immediate family members.

(c) The name of any creditor to whom the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family owes $10,000 or more.

(d) The name of any corporation in which the candidate holds a security, the current market value of which is $5,000 or more.

(e) An affirmation, subject to penalty of perjury, that the information contained in the statement of financial interests is true and complete.

(4) Statement of personal background and positions. A candidate for election to the board whose nomination is certified under subsection (2) shall submit to the board, not later than 60 days prior to the election, on a form to be provided by the board, a statement concerning his or her personal background and positions on issues relating to public utilities or cable television or the operations of the corporation. The statement shall contain an affirmation, subject to penalty of perjury, that the candidate meets the qualifications prescribed for directors in subsection (2) of Section 6.

(5) Restrictions on a reporting of campaign contributions and expenditures. (a) No candidate may accept more than $200 in campaign contributions from any person or political committee from one year before the date of an election through the date of the election.

(b) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep complete records of all contributions to his or her campaign of $25 of more from one year before the date of an election through the date of the election, and, at the board's request, shall make such records available for inspection by the board.

(c) As a condition for receiving the benefits of the board's mailing under subsection (6), a candidate for election to the board shall agree in writing to incur no more than $2,500 in campaign expenditures from the time he or she commences circulation of petitions for nomination or from 4 months prior to the election, whichever is earlier, through the date of the election.

(d) Each candidate for election to the board shall keep complete records of his or her campaign expenditures, and, at the board's request, shall make such records available for inspection by the board.

(e) No earlier than 14 days and no later than 8 days preceding the election and no earlier than 21 days and no later than 30 days after the election, each candidate for election to the board shall submit to the board, on a form provided by the board, an accurate statement of his or her campaign contributions, swearing that he or she has fully complied with the requirements of this subsection.

(f) No candidate for election to the board may use any campaign contribution for any purpose except for campaign expenditures. Any campaign contribution not expended shall be donated no later than 90 days after the election to the corporation or to any charitable organization at the option of the candidate.

(6) Election procedures. (a) The board shall mail or distribute to each member's address on file with the corporation, not sooner than 30 and not later than 10 days before the date fixed for the election:

(i) An official ballot listing all candidates for director from the member's district whose nominations the board has certified and who satisfy the requirements of subsection (1). The board shall include with the ballot each candidate's statement of financial interests submitted under subsection (3).

(ii) The statement by each candidate for election to the board of personal background and positions as required under subsection (4), if the candidate has agreed in writing to limit his or her campaign expenditures under subsection (5) (c).

(b) Each member may vote in the election by returning his or her official ballot in person or by first class mail, properly marked, to the ballot return location designated by the corporation. Ballots returned to the location designated by the corporation must be postmarked on or before the date fixed for the election or must be received at the ballot return location designated by the corporation on or before the date fixed for the election.

(c) Voting shall be by secret ballot.

(d) The board shall tally votes with all reasonable speed and shall inform the membership promptly of the names of the candidates elected.

(e) For each district the board within 30 days of the election shall certify the candidate elected to the board if the candidate has the most votes in the district and if he or she has complied with this Section.

(f) If a vacancy in nomination occurs because no candidate has filed for nomination, the board by a majority of those voting shall appoint a member of the corporation who resides in the district where the vacancy exists to be the candidate.

(g) If the candidate with the most votes dies, declines or resigns from candidacy prior to being certified under paragraph (e), or for any other reason is not certified under paragraph (e), the office for which the candidate ran shall be vacant and shall be filled by the board as provided herein.

(h) If a vacancy on the Board occurs, with more than 12 months remaining in the term, the Board shall set a date for a special election for the district for the purpose of electing a director to serve out the term of the vacant office and shall so notify every member in the district. The election may not be less than 2 months nor more than 4 months after such notification. An election under this Section shall be conducted in the same manner as other elections of directors are conducted. The seat shall remain vacant if there is 8 months or less remaining in the term.

(7) Election rules. The board may prescribe rules for the conduct of elections and election campaigns not inconsistent with this Act.

(Source: P.A. 84-1093.)

(220 ILCS 10/20) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 920)

Sec. 20. Liability of public utility. No public utility or cable television provider shall be liable on any claim based on any action it is required to take to be in compliance with this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-945.)

(220 ILCS 10/21) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 921)

Sec. 21. Home rule preemption. The provisions of this Act are declared to be an exclusive exercise of power by the State of Illinois pursuant to paragraphs (h) or (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. No home rule unit may impose any requirement or regulation on any public utility or cable television provider inconsistent with or in addition to the requirements or regulations set forth in this Act.

(Source: P.A. 83-945.)