SB2063 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 10902 JAM 21145 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2063

Introduced 2/20/2009, by Sen. Dale A. Righter

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new

Amends the Election Code. Limits a candidate for public office to one political committee, with certain exceptions. Limits annual campaign contributions to any one candidate for public office from an individual, corporation, labor union, association, or other group to an aggregate of $5,000, adjusted annually for inflation.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Sections 9-2.5 and 9-8.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new)

Sec. 9-2.5. Single political committee.

(a) Except as provided by this Section, no public official or candidate for public office may establish more than one political committee for each office that public official or candidate occupies or is seeking.

(b) A public official with one or more pre-existing committees bound by the limits of any subsection of Section 9-8.5 considering a candidacy for any office covered by the limits of any different subsection of Section 9-8.5 must form a new committee, to be termed an exploratory committee. A pre-existing committee created for the primary purpose of aiding that candidate's election to other offices that ceases all fundraising after the creation of an exploratory committee may transfer funds without limit to an exploratory committee. Should the candidate decide against running for the new office, fail to qualify for the ballot at the next election, or lose the next election, any remaining funds held by the exploratory committee shall be returned to contributors or donated to charity, and the committee shall be closed, within 90 days.

(c) The public officials elected President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives may each establish and operate one additional political committee for the purpose of supporting the election of candidates to the General Assembly. The committees provided for in this subsection (c) shall not be considered established by the President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the House of Representatives for purposes of Section 9-8.5.

(10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new)

Sec. 9-8.5. Contribution limit. An individual, corporation, labor union, association, or other group may not make one or more contributions, including cash and in-kind contributions, in excess of $5,000 in the aggregate in one calendar year to any candidate for public office. For the purpose of this Section, "candidate" includes the candidate personally and any one or more political committees established by, on behalf of, or to promote that candidate.

The dollar amount established by this Section shall be adjusted annually by the State Board of Elections in accordance with the federal Consumer Price Index.