HB0736 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 07146 MJR 27273 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB0736

Introduced 2/7/2007, by Rep. Robert F. Flider

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

220 ILCS 5/2-107

from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 2-107

Amends the Public Utilities Act. Requires the Illinois Commerce Commission to afford members of the public time to make comments to or to ask questions of the Commission at each regular and special meeting. Requires the Commission to provide a web site and a toll-free telephone number to accept comments from Illinois residents regarding any matter under the auspices of the Commission or before the Commission. Requires the Commission staff to report to the full Commission comments and suggestions received through both venues before all relevant votes of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall establish procedures for accepting testimony from Illinois residents on matters pending before the Commission. Effective immediately.

FISCAL 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 Public Utilities Act is amended by changing Section 2-107 as follows:

(220 ILCS 5/2-107) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 2-107)

Sec. 2-107. The office of the Commission shall be in Springfield, but the Commission may, with the approval of the Governor, establish and maintain branch offices at places other than the seat of government. Such office shall be open for business between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. throughout the year, and one or more responsible persons to be designated by the executive director shall be on duty at all times in immediate charge thereof.

The Commission shall hold stated meetings at least once a month and may hold such special meetings as it may deem necessary at any place within the State. At each regular and special meeting that is open to the public, members of the public shall be afforded time, subject to reasonable constraints, to make comments to or to ask questions of the Commission.

The Commission shall provide a web site and a toll-free telephone number to accept comments from Illinois residents regarding any matter under the auspices of the Commission or before the Commission. The Commission staff shall report to the full Commission comments and suggestions received through both venues before all relevant votes of the Commission.

The Commission may, for the authentication of its records, process and proceedings, adopt, keep and use a common seal, of which seal judicial notice shall be taken in all courts of this State; and any process, notice, order or other paper which the Commission may be authorized by law to issue shall be deemed sufficient if signed and certified by the Chairman of the Commission or his or her designee, either by hand or by facsimile, and with such seal attached; and all acts, orders, proceedings, rules, entries, minutes, schedules and records of the Commission, and all reports and documents filed with the Commission, may be proved in any court of this State by a copy thereof, certified to by the Chairman of the Commission, with the seal of the Commission attached.

The Commission shall establish procedures for accepting testimony from Illinois residents on matters pending before the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 84-617.)

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