HJ0083eng 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0083 Engrossed LRB096 18060 AJO 33434 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 83

WHEREAS, Illinois is experiencing a budget crisis that is one of the worst in the State's long history; and

WHEREAS, The financial condition of the State is affecting individuals, families, social services providers and their clients, State employees, units of local governments, educational institutions, businesses and other enterprises, large and small, and in some cases the State's financial condition is leaving those impacted without any avenue for relief; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue to the State have been lost due to the recession that has gripped the entire nation; and

WHEREAS, At present Illinois has a budget shortfall that all agree is measured in billions of dollars; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois cannot ignore the talent of experienced Illinois citizen leaders who can assist the Governor and the General Assembly in identifying all appropriate means of effecting savings and gathering more income; and

WHEREAS, The effort made by the officials who share responsibility for governing the State of Illinois in this budget crisis must give a high priority to serving the people of Illinois and allow that important principle to guide all decisions made, in matters temporary or permanent; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the 2010 State Financial Crisis Task Force is established within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to address all appropriate means of cutting State government costs, identifying efficiencies that can be effected in State government and in the other entities that the State funds or serves, and obtaining more revenue and funding for the State of Illinois, all while maintaining as a high priority service to the people of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 8 persons, to be appointed as follows:

(1) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(2) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; and

(3) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall deliver a written report to the General Assembly and the Governor by an early date, jointly established by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate, that makes findings and recommendations, and upon filing this report, the Task Force shall be available to assist the General Assembly as it addresses the budget crisis during 2010; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force and that the members of the Task Force shall be reimbursed for their travel expenses and subject to the rules of the appropriate travel control board; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to the Governor.