HB3755 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09475 RLJ 19632 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB3755

Introduced 2/25/2009, by Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50

Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that "unless otherwise specified" in another provision of the Illinois Municipal Code, an elective office becomes vacant in a municipality with a population of under 500,000 if certain specified events occur.

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 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Section 3.1-10-50 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50)

Sec. 3.1-10-50. Events upon which an elective office becomes vacant in municipality with population under 500,000. Unless otherwise specified in another provision of this Code, an elective office becomes vacant in a municipality with a population of under 500,000 if any of the following events occur.

(a) Vacancy by resignation. A resignation is not effective unless it is in writing, signed by the person holding the elective office, and notarized.

(1) Unconditional resignation. An unconditional resignation by a person holding the elective office may specify a future date, not later than 60 days after the date the resignation is received by the officer authorized to fill the vacancy, at which time it becomes operative, but the resignation may not be withdrawn after it is received by the officer authorized to fill the vacancy. The effective date of a resignation that does not specify a future date at which it becomes operative is the date the resignation is received by the officer authorized to fill the vacancy. The effective date of a resignation that has a specified future effective date is that specified future date or the date the resignation is received by the officer authorized to fill the vacancy, whichever date occurs later.

(2) Conditional resignation. A resignation that does not become effective unless a specified event occurs can be withdrawn at any time prior to the occurrence of the specified event, but if not withdrawn, the effective date of the resignation is the date of the occurrence of the specified event or the date the resignation is received by the officer authorized to fill the vacancy, whichever date occurs later.

(3) Vacancy upon the effective date. For the purpose of determining the time period that would require an election to fill the vacancy by resignation or the commencement of the 60-day time period referred to in subsection (e), the resignation of an elected officer is deemed to have created a vacancy as of the effective date of the resignation.

(4) Duty of the clerk. If a resignation is delivered to the clerk of the municipality, the clerk shall forward a certified copy of the written resignation to the official who is authorized to fill the vacancy within 7 business days after receipt of the resignation.

(b) Vacancy by death or disability. A vacancy occurs in an office by reason of the death of the incumbent. The date of the death may be established by the date shown on the death certificate. A vacancy occurs in an office by permanent physical or mental disability rendering the person incapable of performing the duties of the office. The corporate authorities have the authority to make the determination whether an officer is incapable of performing the duties of the office because of a permanent physical or mental disability. A finding of mental disability shall not be made prior to the appointment by a court of a guardian ad litem for the officer or until a duly licensed doctor certifies, in writing, that the officer is mentally impaired to the extent that the officer is unable to effectively perform the duties of the office. If the corporate authorities find that an officer is incapable of performing the duties of the office due to permanent physical or mental disability, that person is removed from the office and the vacancy of the office occurs on the date of the determination.

(c) Vacancy by other causes.

(1) Abandonment and other causes. A vacancy occurs in an office by reason of abandonment of office; removal from office; or failure to qualify; or more than temporary removal of residence from the municipality; or in the case of an alderman of a ward or councilman or trustee of a district, more than temporary removal of residence from the ward or district, as the case may be. The corporate authorities have the authority to determine whether a vacancy under this subsection has occurred. If the corporate authorities determine that a vacancy exists, the office is deemed vacant as of the date of that determination for all purposes including the calculation under subsections (e), (f), and (g).

(2) Guilty of a criminal offense. An admission of guilt of a criminal offense that upon conviction would disqualify the municipal officer from holding the office, in the form of a written agreement with State or federal prosecutors to plead guilty to a felony, bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime under State or federal law, constitutes a resignation from that office, effective on the date the plea agreement is made. For purposes of this Section, a conviction for an offense that disqualifies a municipal officer from holding that office occurs on the date of the return of a guilty verdict or, in the case of a trial by the court, on the entry of a finding of guilt.

(3) Election declared void. A vacancy occurs on the date of the decision of a competent tribunal declaring the election of the officer void.

(d) Election of an acting mayor or acting president. The election of an acting mayor or acting president pursuant to subsection (f) or (g) does not create a vacancy in the original office of the person on the city council or as a trustee, as the case may be, unless the person resigns from the original office following election as acting mayor or acting president. If the person resigns from the original office following election as acting mayor or acting president, then the original office must be filled pursuant to the terms of this Section and the acting mayor or acting president shall exercise the powers of the mayor or president and shall vote and have veto power in the manner provided by law for a mayor or president. If the person does not resign from the original office following election as acting mayor or acting president, then the acting mayor or acting president shall exercise the powers of the mayor or president but shall be entitled to vote only in the manner provided for as the holder of the original office and shall not have the power to veto. If the person does not resign from the original office following election as acting mayor or acting president, and if that person's original term of office has not expired when a mayor or president is elected and has qualified for office, the acting mayor or acting-president shall return to the original office for the remainder of the term thereof.

(e) Appointment to fill alderman or trustee vacancy. An appointment by the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, as the case may be, of a qualified person as described in Section 3.1-10-5 of this Code to fill a vacancy in the office of alderman or trustee must be made within 60 days after the vacancy occurs. Once the appointment of the qualified person has been forwarded to the corporate authorities, the corporate authorities shall act upon the appointment within 30 days. If the appointment fails to receive the advice and consent of the corporate authorities within 30 days, the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president shall appoint and forward to the corporate authorities a second qualified person as described in Section 3.1-10-5. Once the appointment of the second qualified person has been forwarded to the corporate authorities, the corporate authorities shall act upon the appointment within 30 days. If the appointment of the second qualified person also fails to receive the advice and consent of the corporate authorities, then the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, without the advice and consent of the corporate authorities, may make a temporary appointment from those persons who were appointed but whose appointments failed to receive the advice and consent of the corporate authorities. The person receiving the temporary appointment shall serve until an appointment has received the advice and consent and the appointee has qualified or until a person has been elected and has qualified, whichever first occurs.

(f) Election to fill vacancies in municipal offices with 4-year terms. If a vacancy occurs in an elective municipal office with a 4-year term and there remains an unexpired portion of the term of at least 28 months, and the vacancy occurs at least 130 days before the general municipal election next scheduled under the general election law, then the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term at that general municipal election. Whenever an election is held for this purpose, the municipal clerk shall certify the office to be filled and the candidates for the office to the proper election authorities as provided in the general election law. If a vacancy occurs with less than 28 months remaining in the unexpired portion of the term or less than 130 days before the general municipal election, then:

(1) Mayor or president. If the vacancy is in the office of mayor or president, the vacancy must be filled by the corporate authorities electing one of their members as acting mayor or acting president. Except as set forth in subsection (d), the acting mayor or acting president shall perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the mayor or president until a mayor or president is elected at the next general municipal election and has qualified. However, in villages with a population of less than 5,000, if each of the trustees either declines the election as acting president or is not elected by a majority vote of the trustees presently holding office, then the trustees may elect, as acting president, any other village resident who is qualified to hold municipal office, and the acting president shall exercise the powers of the president and shall vote and have veto power in the manner provided by law for a president.

(2) Alderman or trustee. If the vacancy is in the office of alderman or trustee, the vacancy must be filled by the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, as the case may be, in accordance with subsection (e).

(3) Other elective office. If the vacancy is in any elective municipal office other than mayor or president or alderman or trustee, the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, as the case may be, must appoint a qualified person to hold the office until the office is filled by election, subject to the advice and consent of the city council or the board of trustees, as the case may be.

(g) Vacancies in municipal offices with 2-year terms. In the case of an elective municipal office with a 2-year term, if the vacancy occurs at least 130 days before the general municipal election next scheduled under the general election law, the vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term at that general municipal election. If the vacancy occurs less than 130 days before the general municipal election, then:

(1) Mayor or president. If the vacancy is in the office of mayor or president, the vacancy must be filled by the corporate authorities electing one of their members as acting mayor or acting president. Except as set forth in subsection (d), the acting mayor or acting president shall perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the mayor or president until a mayor or president is elected at the next general municipal election and has qualified. However, in villages with a population of less than 5,000, if each of the trustees either declines the election as acting president or is not elected by a majority vote of the trustees presently holding office, then the trustees may elect, as acting president, any other village resident who is qualified to hold municipal office, and the acting president shall exercise the powers of the president and shall vote and have veto power in the manner provided by law for a president.

(2) Alderman or trustee. If the vacancy is in the office of alderman or trustee, the vacancy must be filled by the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, as the case may be, in accordance with subsection (e).

(3) Other elective office. If the vacancy is in any elective municipal office other than mayor or president or alderman or trustee, the mayor or president or acting mayor or acting president, as the case may be, must appoint a qualified person to hold the office until the office is filled by election, subject to the advice and consent of the city council or the board of trustees, as the case may be.

(h) In cases of vacancies arising by reason of an election being declared void pursuant to paragraph (3) of subsection (c), persons holding elective office prior thereto shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or appointed and confirmed by advice and consent, as the case may be.

(i) This Section applies only to municipalities with populations under 500,000.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 95-646, eff. 1-1-08.)