SB2896 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 17335 RJF 32499 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB2896

Introduced 2/14/2018, by Sen. Andy Manar

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Illinois Bicentennial Office and Commission Act. Creates the Office of the Illinois Bicentennial. Provides for the duties and functions of the Bicentennial Office. Dissolves the Bicentennial Office on December 31, 2018. Creates the Illinois Bicentennial Commission. Provides for the membership of the Commission. Provides that members of the Commission shall receive no compensation or reimbursement for serving as members. Provides that the chairperson or co-chairpersons of the Commission shall be designated by the Governor. Provides for the functions and meetings of the Commission. Dissolves the Commission on December 31, 2018. Provides for the revocation of a previous Executive Order creating the State Bicentennial Commission, along with transfer provisions. Provides a savings clause. Repeals the Act on January 1, 2020. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Bicentennial Office and Commission Act.

Section 5. Purpose. August 26, 2018 will mark the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the Illinois Constitution of 1818 at the Kaskaskia Convention, and December 3, 2018 will mark the 200th anniversary of the admission of Illinois to the Union as a state. The bicentennial of our statehood is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many cultural, economic, academic, and political contributions that Illinois and its residents have made to the nation and the world. The bicentennial is also an opportunity to invite the world to Illinois and to showcase our core assets, including our community of global leaders; diverse and well-educated workforce; prominent institutions for technology, innovation, and higher education; exceptional quality of life with abundant outdoor recreation, magnificent arts and culture, endless nightlife and entertainment, and world-class dining and hotels; central and modern infrastructure; and fertile farmland and abundant fresh water.

Executive Order 7 (2014) established a 77-member State Bicentennial Commission empowered to hire personnel to plan the State's bicentennial celebration program. Illinoisans should expect that membership on their Bicentennial Commission not be merely symbolic, but should see that commissioners work with and for them to advance their vision of Illinois' past and future. A Bicentennial Commission representing the diversity and ingenuity of our State should play an active role advising the State with the planning of the bicentennial, but a Commission of 77 members is unworkable for achieving that goal. Both the Governor and the General Assembly recognize the importance of the bicentennial celebration as a way to honor the citizens and the history of our great State, and set a course for success over our next 200 years. The Governor and the General Assembly also believe that the various State agencies should work together with the Commission and the State's citizens and businesses to share their vision and projects to mark the 200th anniversary. To that end, the Office of the Illinois Bicentennial and the Bicentennial Commission are needed to properly develop and implement the celebration festivities of Illinois' bicentennial year.

Section 10. Office of the Illinois Bicentennial.

(a) There is hereby created the Governor's Office of the Illinois Bicentennial, or the "Bicentennial Office", which shall be headed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The Office of the Governor shall provide administrative support to the Bicentennial Office as appropriate.

(b) The Bicentennial Office shall have the following duties and functions:

(1) The Bicentennial Office shall develop and implement a Statewide program to celebrate the bicentennial of the adoption of Illinois' first constitution and its admission to the Union as a state and showcase Illinois' hard-working citizens and world-class assets.

(2) The Bicentennial Office shall work collaboratively with members of the public, State agencies, units of local government, and public and private organizations to identify significant achievements in Illinois history to highlight through celebration.

(3) The Bicentennial Office shall seek opportunities to promote the successes to come in Illinois' next 200 years.

(4) The Bicentennial Office shall promote coordination among State agencies involved in the bicentennial celebration; develop partnerships with the non-profit and private sectors to create new funding sources for the celebration; and work with units of local government also developing local bicentennial celebrations. It shall develop strategic goals to ensure the celebration of the bicentennial is successful while using taxpayer funds or funds donated by private individuals or entities in responsible and transparent manner.

(5) The Bicentennial Office shall promote and market the bicentennial celebration to Illinois citizens and also work to attract tourists to Illinois to learn about this State's history and accomplishments.

(6) The Bicentennial Office shall provide periodic reports to the Governor and the public on the strategic goals set by the Bicentennial Office and its progress in meeting its goals.

(7) The Bicentennial Office may solicit and access donations of labor, services, or other things of value from any public or private agency or person, in compliance with all applicable State and federal law, including the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

(8) The Bicentennial Office shall prepare events around the State for each State holiday, except general election day.

(9) The Bicentennial Office may hire staff to facilitate its duties, functions, and goals under this Act.

(c) The Bicentennial Office shall be dissolved on December 31, 2018. Upon such dissolution, all personnel records, documents, books, correspondence, and other property, both real and personal, of the Bicentennial Office shall become property of the Office of the Governor or shall be transferred to the State Archives.

Section 15. Illinois Bicentennial Commission.

(a) There is hereby created the Illinois Bicentennial Commission. The Commission shall advise and assist the Bicentennial Office in planning and implementing the State's bicentennial celebration. The Bicentennial Office and certain State agencies, including the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, and the Historic Preservation Agency, including the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, shall provide administrative and technical assistance to the Commission.

(b) The Commission shall consist of the following members:

(1) no more than 40 members appointed by the Governor, not including non-voting member appointees;

(2) one member appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(4) one member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(5) one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(6) one member appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(7) one member appointed by the Attorney General;

(8) one member appointed by the Secretary of State;

(9) one member appointed by the Comptroller;

(10) one member appointed by the Treasurer;

(11) one member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago;

(12) one member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Springfield; and

(13) non-voting members appointed by the Governor as representatives of public and private agencies and organizations partnering with the Commission.

(c) Members of the Commission shall receive no compensation or reimbursement for serving as members. The chairperson or co-chairpersons of the Commission shall be designated by the Governor, and the Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or co-chairpersons. A majority of the appointed and serving members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Commission is subject to, and shall comply with, the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The Commission shall be an advisory body to the Bicentennial Office that shall not make binding recommendations or determinations.

(d) The Commission may solicit and access donations of labor, services, or other things of value from any public or private agency or person in compliance with all applicable State and federal law, including the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

(e) The Commission shall be dissolved on December 31, 2018. Upon such dissolution, all personnel records, documents, books, correspondence, and other property, both real and personal, of the Commission shall become property of the Office of the Governor or shall be transferred to the State Archives.

Section 20. Revocation of Executive Order 7 (2014); transfer provisions.

(a) Executive Order 7 (2014) is revoked and rescinded.

(b) The State Bicentennial Commission established by Executive Order 7 (2014) is abolished.

(c) All records, property, and other associated items in any way pertaining to the functions of the State Bicentennial Commission shall be delivered and transferred to the Bicentennial Office established under this Act.

(d) The unexpended balances of any appropriations or funds, grants, donations, or other moneys available for use by the State Bicentennial Commission shall be transferred to the Bicentennial Office for use by such office, and shall be expended for similar purposes for which the appropriations, funds, grants, or other moneys were originally made or given to the State Bicentennial Commission.

(e) Any employee of the State Bicentennial Commission is transferred to the Bicentennial Office. The status and rights of any such employee, the State, and its agencies under the Personnel Code shall not be affected by such transfer.

Section 25. Savings clause. This Act does not contravene, and shall not be construed to contravene, any federal or State law or any collective bargaining agreement. This Act shall not affect any act undertaken, ratified, or cancelled, or any right occurring or established or any action or proceeding commenced in an administrative, civil, or criminal case before this Act takes effect, but these actions or proceedings may be prosecuted and continued by the Department.

Section 30. Repeal. This Act is repealed January 1, 2020.

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