HB5837 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 18832 JDS 64070 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB5837

Introduced 2/16/2012, by Rep. Kay Hatcher

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 420/4A-100 new
5 ILCS 420/4A-102	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-102
5 ILCS 420/4A-102.5 new
5 ILCS 420/4A-103	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-103
5 ILCS 420/4A-104	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-104
5 ILCS 420/4A-105	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-105
5 ILCS 420/4A-106	from Ch. 127, par. 604A-106

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. With respect to statements of economic interests, makes changes concerning: interests of spouses and immediate family members living with the person required to file; the development of forms by the Secretary of State that replicate federal forms; supplemental filings by board and commission appointees; electronic filing; posting of statements by the Secretary of State in a searchable database on the Internet; and training by the Secretary of State for ethics officers and persons required to file statements. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning ethics.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 4A-102, 4A-103, 4A-104, 4A-105, and 4A-106 and by adding Sections 4A-100 and 4A-102.5 as follows:

(5 ILCS 420/4A-100 new)

Sec. 4A-100. Definitions. As used in this Article:

(a) "Immediate family member" means a spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of the reporting individual sharing the same household.

(b) "Income" means income derived from any source, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) compensation for services, including fees, commissions, and similar items; (ii) gross income derived from business (and net income if the person elects to include it); (iii) gains received from dealings in property; (iv) interest; (v) rents; (vi) royalties; (vii) dividends; (viii) annuities; (ix) income from life insurance and endowment contracts; (x) pensions; (xi) income from discharge of indebtedness; (xii) distributive share of partnership income; and (xiii) income from an interest in an estate or trust. "Income" does not include campaign receipts reported on financial disclosure reports filed with the State Board of Elections, unless such receipts are claimed for personal use.

(c) "Category of value" means the following classification system: (i) not more than $1,000, (ii) greater than $1,000 but not more than $2,500, (iii) greater than $2,500 but not more than $5,000, (iv) greater than $5,000 but not more than $15,000, (v) greater than $15,000 but not more than $50,000, (vi) greater than $50,000 but not more than $100,000, (vii) greater than $100,000 but not more than $1,000,000, (viii) greater than $1,000,000 but not more than $5,000,000, or (ix) greater than $5,000,000.

(d) "Constructive control". An interest may be said to be constructively controlled by the person filing the report if the person filing the report is a trustee, proxy, guardian, or advisor with regard to decisions to acquire, retain, or divest all or any portion of an interest.

(5 ILCS 420/4A-102) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-102)

Sec. 4A-102. The statement of economic interests required by this Article shall include the economic interests of the person making the statement as provided in this Section. The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse, or any other party, if constructively controlled by the person making the statement, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement. Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement.

(a) The following interests shall be listed by all persons required to file:

(1) The source, type, and amount or value of income (other than income referred to in subdivision (a)(2) of this Section) from any source other than from current employment by the State of Illinois.

(2) The source and type of income from dividends, rents, interest, trusts, and capital gains, received during the preceding calendar year in an amount or value of more than $200, as well as an indication of the appropriate category of value of the item of income.

(3) The source, date, and amount of payments made to charitable organizations in lieu of honoraria with a corresponding list of the recipients of all of those payments, together with the dates and amounts of those payments.

(4) The identity and category of value of any interest in property held during the preceding calendar year in a trade or business or for investment or production of income, if the property has a fair market value in excess of $1,000 at the close of the preceding calendar year. This item (4) does not include any personal liability owed (i) to the person filing the statement by his or her immediate family members or (ii) to the spouse of the person filing the statement. This item (4) also does not include deposits aggregating $5,000 or less in a personal savings account, including certificates of deposit and any other form of deposit in a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or similar financial institution.

(5) The identity and category of value of the total liabilities in excess of $5,000 and that are owed at any time during the preceding calendar year to any creditor other than (i) an immediate family member of the person filing the statement or (ii) an immediate family member of the spouse of the person filing the statement. This item does not include any of the following:

(A) any mortgage secured by real property that is the primary personal residence of the person filing the statement;

(B) any loan secured by a personal motor vehicle, household furniture, appliances, or other similar effect if the loan does not exceed the purchase price of the item or items that secure it; or

(C) any debt owed by a political committee associated with the person filing the statement, provided that the debt is reported as required by Article 9 of the Election Code.

With regard to revolving charge accounts, the person filing the statement need report only his or her outstanding aggregate liability across all accounts, and only if in excess of $10,000 at the close of the preceding calendar year.

(6) A brief description, the date, and the category of value of any purchase, sale, or exchange in excess of $1,000 during the preceding calendar year of (i) real property other than real property used solely for the primary personal residence of the person filing the statement or his or her spouse or (ii) stocks, bonds, commodity futures, and other forms of securities. This item (6) does not apply to transactions solely by and between the person filing the statement and his or her immediate family members.

(7) The identity of all positions held during the preceding calendar year as an officer, director, trustee, partner, proprietor, representative, employee, or consultant of any corporation, company, firm, partnership, other business enterprise, non-profit organization, labor organization, or educational or other institution of the State, a unit of government, a school district, or the United States. This item (7) does not apply to positions in religious, social, fraternal, or political organizations or positions of a solely honorary nature.

(8) The date of, the parties to, and a description of the terms of any agreement or arrangement with respect to: (i) future employment; (ii) a leave of absence from the unit of government in relation to which the person is required to file the statement; (iii) contributions or payments by a former employer other than the unit of government in relation to which the person is required to file the statement; and (iv) continuing participation in an employee welfare or benefit plan with a former employer.

(9) The source, date, and amount of honoraria aggregating $200 or more during the preceding calendar year.

(10) The source, date, and amount or value of any gift or gifts (i) valued singularly or in the aggregate in excess of $500 during the preceding calendar year to the person filing the statement or an immediate family member of the person filing the statement, from any person other than an immediate family member or (ii) from a prohibited source as defined by the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, even if that source is also an immediate family member, and within any of the following captioned items listed in Section 10-15 of that Act, regardless of whether the person filing the statement is otherwise subject to that Act: educational materials and missions and travel expenses for a meeting to discuss State government.

(1) The name, address and type of practice of any professional organization or individual professional practice in which the person making the statement was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor, or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1200 was derived during the preceding calendar year;

(2) The nature of professional services (other than services rendered to the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file) and the nature of the entity to which they were rendered if fees exceeding $5,000 were received during the preceding calendar year from the entity for professional services rendered by the person making the statement.

(3) The identity (including the address or legal description of real estate) of any capital asset from which a capital gain of $5,000 or more was realized in the preceding calendar year.

(11) (4) The name of any unit of government which has employed the person making the statement during the preceding calendar year other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file.

(5) The name of any entity from which a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria, valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $500, was received during the preceding calendar year.

(b) The following interests shall also be listed by persons listed in items (a) through (f), item (l), and item (n) of Section 4A-101:

(1) (Blank). The name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois, in which an ownership interest held by the person at the date of filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which dividends of in excess of $1,200 were derived during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed;

(2) (Blank). Except for professional service entities, the name of any entity and any position held therein from which income of in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year, if the entity does business in the State of Illinois. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(3) The identity of any compensated lobbyist with whom the person making the statement maintains a close economic or personal relationship association, including the name of the lobbyist and specifying the legislative matter or matters which are the object of the lobbying activity, and describing the general type of economic activity of the client or principal on whose behalf that person is lobbying.

(c) The following interests shall also be listed by persons listed in items (g), (h), (i), and (o) of Section 4A-101:

(1) The name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file if the ownership interest of the person filing is greater than $5,000 fair market value as of the date of filing or if dividends in excess of $1,200 were received from the entity during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(2) (Blank). Except for professional service entities, the name of any entity and any position held therein from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year if the entity does business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

(3) The name of any entity and the nature of the governmental action requested by any entity which has applied to a unit of local government in relation to which the person must file for any license, franchise or permit for annexation, zoning or rezoning of real estate during the preceding calendar year if the ownership interest of the person filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value at the time of filing or if income or dividends in excess of $1,200 were received by the person filing from the entity during the preceding calendar year.

For the purposes of this Section, the unit of local government in relation to which a person required to file under item (o) of Section 4A-101 shall be the unit of local government that contributes to the pension fund of which such person is a member of the board.

(Source: P.A. 96-6, eff. 4-3-09.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-102.5 new)

Sec. 4A-102.5. Appointee supplemental statement. Persons filing statements of economic interests as a result of their nomination to a board or commission shall also, at the same time and in the same manner, file a supplement to the statement containing all of the following information:

(1) Any contributions in excess of $150 in the aggregate to any political committee organized under the Election Code made since the end of the last preceding semi-annual disclosure period and the date the person files the statement of economic interests, including the amount of the contribution, the date, and the recipient.

(2) Any contribution made to a legal defense fund since the filing of the last previous statement of economic interests or, if the person is filing his or her first statement of economic interests, in the 12 months preceding the filing date.

(3) The name of any immediate family member who is registered as a lobbyist with any State or federal agency or office.

(5 ILCS 420/4A-103) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-103)

Sec. 4A-103. The statement of economic interests required by this Article to be filed with the Secretary of State shall be filled in by typewriting or hand printing, shall be verified, dated, and signed by manual or electronic means as appropriate by the person making the statement, and made in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State that shall, in paper and electronic formats, substantially replicate the design of the 2002 Public Financial Disclosure Report forms employed by the United States Congress for purposes of complying with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. and shall contain substantially the following:

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTEREST

(TYPE OR HAND PRINT) ............................................................. (name) ............................................................. (each office or position of employment for which this statement is filed) ............................................................. (full mailing address) GENERAL DIRECTIONS:

The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement.

Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement.

If additional space is needed, please attach supplemental listing.

1. List the name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business in the State of Illinois, in which the ownership interest held by the person at the date of filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which dividends in excess of $1,200 were derived during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description.) No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument need be listed.

2. List the name, address and type of practice of any professional organization in which the person making the statement was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year.

3. List the nature of professional services rendered (other than to the State of Illinois) to each entity from which income exceeding $5,000 was received for professional services rendered during the preceding calendar year by the person making the statement. ............................................................. .............................................................

4. List the identity (including the address or legal description of real estate) of any capital asset from which a capital gain of $5,000 or more was realized during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. .............................................................

5. List the identity of any compensated lobbyist with whom the person making the statement maintains a close economic association, including the name of the lobbyist and specifying the legislative matter or matters which are the object of the lobbying activity, and describing the general type of economic activity of the client or principal on whose behalf that person is lobbying.

6. List the name of any entity doing business in the State of Illinois from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year other than for professional services and the title or description of any position held in that entity. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description). No time or demand deposit in a financial institution nor any debt instrument need be listed.

7. List the name of any unit of government which employed the person making the statement during the preceding calendar year other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file. ............................................................. .............................................................

8. List the name of any entity from which a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria, valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $500, was received during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this statement of economic interests (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment." ................ .......................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the statement)

(Source: P.A. 95-173, eff. 1-1-08.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-104) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-104)

Sec. 4A-104. The statement of economic interests required by this Article to be filed with the county clerk shall be filled in by typewriting or hand printing, shall be verified, dated, and signed by manual or electronic means as appropriate by the person making the statement, and made on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State that shall substantially replicate the design of the 2002 Public Financial Disclosure Report forms employed by the United States Congress for purposes of complying with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. shall contain substantially the following:

STATEMENT OF ECONOMIC INTERESTS

(TYPE OR HAND PRINT) ............................................................. (Name) ............................................................. (each office or position of employment for which this statement is filed) ................................................... (full mailing address) GENERAL DIRECTIONS:

The interest (if constructively controlled by the person making the statement) of a spouse or any other party, shall be considered to be the same as the interest of the person making the statement.

Campaign receipts shall not be included in this statement.

If additional space is needed, please attach supplemental listing.

1. List the name and instrument of ownership in any entity doing business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file, in which the ownership interest held by the person at the date of filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value or from which dividends in excess of $1,200 were received during the preceding calendar year. (In the case of real estate, location thereof shall be listed by street address, or if none, then by legal description.) No time or demand deposit in a financial institution, nor any debt instrument shall be listed.

2. List the name, address and type of practice of any professional organization in which the person making the statement was an officer, director, associate, partner or proprietor, or served in any advisory capacity, from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year.

3. List the nature of professional services rendered (other than to the unit or units of local government in relation to which the person is required to file) to each entity from which income exceeding $5,000 was received for professional services rendered during the preceding calendar year by the person making the statement. ............................................................. .............................................................

4. List the identity (including the address or legal description of real estate) of any capital asset from which a capital gain of $5,000 or more was realized during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

5. List the name of any entity and the nature of the governmental action requested by any entity which has applied to a unit of local government in relation to which the person must file for any license, franchise or permit for annexation, zoning or rezoning of real estate during the preceding calendar year if the ownership interest of the person filing is in excess of $5,000 fair market value at the time of filing or if income or dividends in excess of $1200 were received by the person filing from the entity during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. ............................................................. .............................................................

6. List the name of any entity doing business with a unit of local government in relation to which the person is required to file from which income in excess of $1,200 was derived during the preceding calendar year other than for professional services and the title or description of any position held in that entity. No time or demand deposit in a financial institution nor any debt instrument need be listed. ............................................................. .............................................................

7. List the name of any unit of government which employed the person making the statement during the preceding calendar year other than the unit or units of government in relation to which the person is required to file. ............................................................. .............................................................

8. List the name of any entity from which a gift or gifts, or honorarium or honoraria, valued singly or in the aggregate in excess of $500, was received during the preceding calendar year. ............................................................. VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this statement of economic interests (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of my economic interests as required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. I understand that the penalty for willfully filing a false or incomplete statement shall be a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in a penal institution other than the penitentiary not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment." ................ .......................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the statement)

(Source: P.A. 95-173, eff. 1-1-08.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-105) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-105)

Sec. 4A-105. Time for filing. Except as provided in Section 4A-106.1, by May 1 of each year a statement must be filed by each person whose position at that time subjects him to the filing requirements of Section 4A-101 unless he has already filed a statement in relation to the same unit of government in that calendar year.

Statements must also be filed as follows:

(a) A candidate for elective office shall file his statement not later than the end of the period during which he can take the action necessary under the laws of this State to attempt to qualify for nomination, election, or retention to such office if he has not already filed a statement in relation to the same unit of government during that same calendar year within a year preceding such action.

(b) A person whose appointment to office is subject to confirmation by the Senate shall file his statement at the time his name is submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

(b-5) A special government agent, as defined in item (1) of Section 4A-101 of this Act, shall file a statement within 30 days after making the first ex parte communication and each May 1 thereafter if he or she has made an ex parte communication within the previous 12 months.

(c) Any other person required by this Article to file the statement shall file a statement at the time of his or her initial appointment or employment in relation to that unit of government if appointed or employed by May 1.

If any person who is required to file a statement of economic interests fails to file such statement by May 1 of any year, the officer with whom such statement is to be filed under Section 4A-106 of this Act shall, within 7 days after May 1, notify such person by certified mail of his or her failure to file by the specified date. Except as may be prescribed by rule of the Secretary of State, such person shall file his or her statement of economic interests on or before May 15 with the appropriate officer, together with a $15 late filing fee. Any such person who fails to file by May 15 shall be subject to a penalty of $100 for each day from May 16 to the date of filing, which shall be in addition to the $15 late filing fee specified above. Failure to file by May 31 shall result in a forfeiture in accordance with Section 4A-107 of this Act.

Any person who takes office or otherwise becomes required to file a statement of economic interests within 30 days prior to May 1 of any year may file his or her statement at any time on or before May 31 without penalty. If such person fails to file such statement by May 31, the officer with whom such statement is to be filed under Section 4A-106 of this Act shall, within 7 days after May 31, notify such person by certified mail of his or her failure to file by the specified date. Such person shall file his or her statement of economic interests on or before June 15 with the appropriate officer, together with a $15 late filing fee. Any such person who fails to file by June 15 shall be subject to a penalty of $100 per day for each day from June 16 to the date of filing, which shall be in addition to the $15 late filing fee specified above. Failure to file by June 30 shall result in a forfeiture in accordance with Section 4A-107 of this Act.

All late filing fees and penalties collected pursuant to this Section shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund in the State treasury, if the Secretary of State receives such statement for filing, or into the general fund in the county treasury, if the county clerk receives such statement for filing. The Attorney General, with respect to the State, and the several State's Attorneys, with respect to counties, shall take appropriate action to collect the prescribed penalties.

Failure to file a statement of economic interests within the time prescribed shall not result in a fine or ineligibility for, or forfeiture of, office or position of employment, as the case may be; provided that the failure to file results from not being included for notification by the appropriate agency, clerk, secretary, officer or unit of government, as the case may be, and that a statement is filed within 30 days of actual notice of the failure to file.

Beginning with statements required to be filed on or after May 1, 2009, the officer with whom a statement is to be filed may, in his or her discretion, waive the late filing fee, the monetary late filing penalty, and the ineligibility for or forfeiture of office or position for failure to file when the person's late filing of a statement or failure to file a statement is due to his or her (i) serious or catastrophic illness that renders the person temporarily incapable of completing the statement or (ii) military service.

(Source: P.A. 96-550, eff. 8-17-09.)

(5 ILCS 420/4A-106) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-106)

Sec. 4A-106. Notification; electronic filing.

(a) The statements of economic interests required of persons listed in items (a) through (f), item (j), item (l), and item (n) of Section 4A-101 shall be filed with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall by rule provide for the electronic filing of statements according to the following schedule:

Beginning January 1, 2012, or as soon thereafter as the Secretary of State has provided adequate software to persons required to file under this Article, all statements filed under this Article shall be filed in electronic format. The Secretary shall promptly, upon verification, make all statements filed under this Article publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through the Secretary of State's website. "Searchable" means, for the purpose of this Section, that any person may query each question for any proper names and addresses. The Secretary of State shall provide all software necessary to comply with this Section and shall implement a plan to provide computer access and assistance to persons required to file by this Article.

(b) The statements of economic interests required of persons listed in items (g), (h), (i), (k), and (o) of Section 4A-101 shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the principal office of the unit of local government with which the person is associated is located. If it is not apparent which county the principal office of a unit of local government is located, the chief administrative officer, or his or her designee, has the authority, for purposes of this Act, to determine the county in which the principal office is located.

(c) On or before February 1 annually, (1) the chief administrative officer of any State agency in the executive, legislative, or judicial branch employing persons required to file under item (f) or item (l) of Section 4A-101 and the chief administrative officer of a board described in item (n) of Section 4A-101 shall certify to the Secretary of State the names and mailing addresses of those persons. The State Board of Elections shall, within 14 days after the proclamation of the results of a general primary pursuant to Section 7-58 of the Election Code, provide the Secretary of State with a true alphabetical listing of the names and related information of candidates who were nominated in a general primary election, including their addresses and the office they are seeking. , and (2)

(d) On or before February 1 annually, the chief administrative officer, or his or her designee, of each unit of local government with persons described in items (h), (i) and (k) and a board described in item (o) of Section 4A-101 shall certify to the appropriate county clerk a list of names and addresses of persons described in items (h), (i), (k), and (o) of Section 4A-101 that are required to file. In preparing the lists, each chief administrative officer, or his or her designee, shall set out the names in alphabetical order. Any local election authority shall, within 14 days after proclamation of the results of a primary election, provide the county clerk with a true alphabetical listing of the names and related information of candidates who nominated in a general primary election, including their addresses and the office they are seeking. Any county clerk who makes available in his or her principal offices terminals by means of which the general public may access statements of economic interest filed with the Secretary of State's office and posted to the Secretary of State's website may waive the requirement that a person file a paper form with that county clerk with respect to persons whose forms have been electronically filed with the Secretary of State's office.

(e) On or before April 1 annually, the Secretary of State shall notify (1) all persons whose names have been certified to him under items (f), (l), and (n) of Section 4A-101, and (2) all persons described in items (a) through (e) and item (j) of Section 4A-101, together, in even-numbered years, with the names of candidates nominated at the most recent general primary , other than candidates for office who have filed their statements with their nominating petitions, of the requirements for filing statements of economic interests. A person required to file with the Secretary of State by virtue of more than one item among items (a) through (f) and items (j), (l), and (n) shall be notified of and is required to file only one statement of economic interests relating to all items under which the person is required to file with the Secretary of State.

(f) On or before April 1 annually, the county clerk of each county shall notify all persons whose names have been certified to him under items (g), (h), (i), (k), and (o) of Section 4A-101, other than candidates for office who have filed their statements with their nominating petitions, of the requirements for filing statements of economic interests. A person required to file with a county clerk by virtue of more than one item among items (g), (h), (i), (k), and (o) shall be notified of and is required to file only one statement of economic interests relating to all items under which the person is required to file with that county clerk.

(g) Except as provided in Section 4A-106.1, the notices provided for in this Section shall be in writing and deposited in the U.S. Mail, properly addressed, first class postage prepaid, on or before the day required by this Section for the sending of the notice. Alternatively, a county clerk may send the notices electronically to all persons whose names have been thus certified to him under item (h), (i), or (k) of Section 4A-101. A certificate executed by the Secretary of State or county clerk attesting that he or she has sent the notice by the means permitted by this Section constitutes prima facie evidence thereof.

(h) From the lists certified to him under this Section of persons described in items (g), (h), (i), (k), and (o) of Section 4A-101, the clerk of each county shall compile an alphabetical listing of persons required to file statements of economic interests in his office under any of those items. As the statements are filed in his office, the county clerk shall cause the fact of that filing to be indicated on the alphabetical listing of persons who are required to file statements. Within 30 days after the due dates, the county clerk shall mail to the State Board of Elections a true copy of that listing showing those who have filed statements.

(i) The county clerk of each county shall note upon the alphabetical listing the names of all persons required to file a statement of economic interests who failed to file a statement on or before May 1. It shall be the duty of the several county clerks to give notice as provided in Section 4A-105 to any person who has failed to file his or her statement with the clerk on or before May 1.

(j) Any person who files or has filed a statement of economic interest under this Act is entitled to receive from the Secretary of State or county clerk, as the case may be, a receipt indicating that the person has filed such a statement, the date of such filing, and the identity of the governmental unit or units in relation to which the filing is required. A county clerk shall issue such receipt either on proof that the person has filed with the Secretary of State in electronic format or upon receipt of a paper form.

(k) The Secretary of State may employ such employees and consultants as he considers necessary to carry out his duties hereunder, and may prescribe their duties, fix their compensation, and provide for reimbursement of their expenses.

(l) The Secretary of State shall, through the Secretary of State's website, provide training related to this Act for ethics officers appointed under the State Officers and Employees Ethics Act and for persons required to file statements of economic interests.

(m) All statements of economic interests filed under this Section shall be available for examination and copying by the public at all reasonable times. Not later than 12 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, beginning with statements filed in calendar year 2004, the Secretary of State shall make statements of economic interests filed with the Secretary available for inspection and copying via the Secretary's website.

(Source: P.A. 96-6, eff. 4-3-09; 96-1336, eff. 1-1-11.)

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