HB0329 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 03074 RLJ 13089 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0329

Introduced 1/27/2009, by Rep. Jack D. Franks

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/2-3002

from Ch. 34, par. 2-3002

Amends the Counties Code. Provides for binding referenda (instead of advisory referenda) concerning (i) the number of members of the county board to be elected, (ii) whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, (iii) whether voters will have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members, or (iv) any combination of the preceding 3 questions. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT in relation to counties.

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

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by changing Section 2-3002 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/2-3002) (from Ch. 34, par. 2-3002)

Sec. 2-3002. Counties with population of less than 3,000,000 and with township form of government.

(a) Reapportionment required. By July 1, 1971, and each 10 years thereafter, the county board of each county having a population of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and the township form of government shall reapportion its county so that each member of the county board represents the same number of inhabitants. In reapportioning its county, the county board shall first determine the size of the county board to be elected, which may consist of not less than 5 nor more than 29 members and may not exceed the size of the county board in that county on October 2, 1969. The county board shall also determine whether board members shall be elected at large from the county or by county board districts.

If the chairman of the county board is to be elected by the voters in a county of less than 450,000 population as provided in Section 2-3007, such chairman shall not be counted as a member of the county board for the purpose of the limitations on the size of a county board provided in this Section.

(b) Binding Advisory referenda. The voters of a county may advise the county board, through a binding an advisory referendum, on questions concerning (i) the number of members of the county board to be elected, (ii) whether the board members should be elected from single-member districts, multi-member districts, or at-large, (iii) whether voters will have cumulative voting rights in the election of county board members, or (iv) any combination of the preceding 3 questions. The binding advisory referendum may be initiated either by petition or by ordinance of the county board. A written petition for a binding an advisory referendum authorized by this Section must contain the signatures of at least 8% of the votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election by the registered voters of the county and must be filed with the appropriate election authority. An ordinance initiating a binding an advisory referendum authorized by this Section must be approved by a majority of the members of the county board and must be filed with the appropriate election authority. A binding An advisory referendum initiated under this Section shall be placed on the ballot at the general election designated in the petition or ordinance.

(Source: P.A. 93-308, eff. 7-23-03.)

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