HB3947 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 15105 JWD 64277 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3947

Introduced 10/29/2019, by Rep. Tom Demmer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 420/2-101

from Ch. 127, par. 602-101

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides that a member of the General Assembly, his or her spouse, and any immediate family member living with that member of the General Assembly shall not, for compensation, lobby any official of the executive or legislative branch of State government or any official of any unit of local government. Provides that a person who violates these provisions is guilty of official misconduct, a Class 3 felony. Defines terms. Repeals current provisions banning members of the General Assembly from lobbying, a Class A misdemeanor. 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 5. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is amended by changing Section 2-101 as follows:

(5 ILCS 420/2-101) (from Ch. 127, par. 602-101)

Sec. 2-101. Prohibition on lobbying.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, a member of the General Assembly, his or her spouse, and any immediate family member living with that member of the General Assembly shall not, for compensation:

(1) lobby or otherwise act in a capacity that would require that person to register as a lobbyist under the Lobbyist Registration Act or any lobbyist registration ordinance adopted by a unit of local government or school district; or

(2) communicate with any official of the executive or legislative branch of State government or any official of any unit of local government or school district for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action.

(b) A person who violates the provisions of this Section is guilty of official misconduct under Section 33-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(c) For purposes of this Section only:

"Lobbying" includes, but is not limited to, the meaning provided in Section 1-109 of this Act and the meaning provided in subsection (e) of Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act.

"Official of the executive or legislative branch of State government" has the meaning provided in subsection (c) of Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act. No legislator may engage in lobbying, as that term is defined in Section 1-109, if he accepts compensation specifically attributable to such lobbying, other than that provided by law for members of the General Assembly. Nothing in this Section prohibits a legislator from lobbying without compensation.

A violation of this Section shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 77-2830.)

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