SB2536 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 10294 RJF 15621 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
SB2536

Introduced 2/26/2021, by Sen. Melinda Bush

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

5 ILCS 430/1-5
5 ILCS 430/5-45

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that no person who has served as a statewide elected official, the executive or administrative head of a State agency, the deputy executive or administrative head of a State agency, or a member of the General Assembly shall, within 2 years after the termination of service or employment, become a lobbyist. Defines "lobbyist".

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning government.

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

Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 1-5 and 5-45 as follows:

(5 ILCS 430/1-5)

Sec. 1-5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Appointee" means a person appointed to a position in or with a State agency, regardless of whether the position is compensated.

"Board members of Regional Transit Boards" means any person appointed to serve on the governing board of a Regional Transit Board.

"Campaign for elective office" means any activity in furtherance of an effort to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, State, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the selection, nomination, or election of Presidential or Vice-Presidential electors, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action (as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act), (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official State duties.

"Candidate" means a person who has filed nominating papers or petitions for nomination or election to an elected State office, or who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination, and who remains eligible for placement on the ballot at either a general primary election or general election.

"Collective bargaining" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 3 of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

"Commission" means an ethics commission created by this Act.

"Compensated time" means any time worked by or credited to a State employee that counts toward any minimum work time requirement imposed as a condition of employment with a State agency, but does not include any designated State holidays or any period when the employee is on a leave of absence.

"Compensatory time off" means authorized time off earned by or awarded to a State employee to compensate in whole or in part for time worked in excess of the minimum work time required of that employee as a condition of employment with a State agency.

"Contribution" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 9-1.4 of the Election Code.

"Employee" means (i) any person employed full-time, part-time, or pursuant to a contract and whose employment duties are subject to the direction and control of an employer with regard to the material details of how the work is to be performed or (ii) any appointed or elected commissioner, trustee, director, or board member of a board of a State agency, including any retirement system or investment board subject to the Illinois Pension Code or (iii) any other appointee.

"Employment benefits" include but are not limited to the following: modified compensation or benefit terms; compensated time off; or change of title, job duties, or location of office or employment. An employment benefit may also include favorable treatment in determining whether to bring any disciplinary or similar action or favorable treatment during the course of any disciplinary or similar action or other performance review.

"Executive branch constitutional officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

"Gift" means any gratuity, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or intangible item having monetary value including, but not limited to, cash, food and drink, and honoraria for speaking engagements related to or attributable to government employment or the official position of an employee, member, or officer. The value of a gift may be further defined by rules adopted by the appropriate ethics commission or by the Auditor General for the Auditor General and for employees of the office of the Auditor General.

"Governmental entity" means a unit of local government (including a community college district) or a school district but not a State agency or a Regional Transit Board.

"Leave of absence" means any period during which a State employee does not receive (i) compensation for State employment, (ii) service credit towards State pension benefits, and (iii) health insurance benefits paid for by the State.

"Legislative branch constitutional officer" means a member of the General Assembly and the Auditor General.

"Legislative leader" means the President and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

"Member" means a member of the General Assembly.

"Lobbyist" means an individual who, by acting directly, does any of the following:

(1) Receives compensation to encourage the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order by the members of the General Assembly, a State agency, or any statewide elected official.

(2) Is a designated representative of an organization which has as one of its purposes the encouragement of the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order before the General Assembly, a State agency, or any statewide elected official.

(3) Represents the position of a federal, State, or local government agency, in which the person serves or is employed as the designated representative, for purposes of encouraging the passage, defeat, approval, veto, or modification of legislation, a rule, or an executive order by members of the General Assembly, a State agency, or any statewide elected official.

"Lobbyist" does not include:

(1) Officials and employees of a political party organized in the State of Illinois representing more than 2% of the total votes cast for governor in the last preceding general election, but only when representing the political party in an official capacity.

(2) Representatives of the news media only when engaged in the reporting and dissemination of news and editorials.

(3) All federal, State, and local elected officials, while performing the duties and responsibilities of office.

(4) Persons whose activities are limited to appearances to give testimony or provide information or assistance at sessions of committees of the General Assembly or at public hearings of State agencies or who are giving testimony or providing information or assistance at the request of public officials or employees.

(5) Members of the staff of the United States Congress or the General Assembly.

(6) State agency officials and employees while they are engaged in activities within the agency in which they serve or are employed or with another agency with which the official's or employee's agency is involved in a collaborative project.

(7) An individual who is a member, director, trustee, officer, or committee member of a business, trade, labor, farm, professional, religious, education, or charitable association, foundation, or organization who is not paid compensation and is not otherwise specifically designated as a lobbyist under this Act.

"Officer" means an executive branch constitutional officer or a legislative branch constitutional officer.

"Political" means any activity in support of or in connection with any campaign for elective office or any political organization, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action (as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act), (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official State duties or governmental and public service functions.

"Political organization" means a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that is required to file a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk under Section 9-3 of the Election Code, but only with regard to those activities that require filing with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk.

"Prohibited political activity" means:

(1) Preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.

(2) Soliciting contributions, including but not limited to the purchase of, selling, distributing, or receiving payment for tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting, or other political event.

(3) Soliciting, planning the solicitation of, or preparing any document or report regarding any thing of value intended as a campaign contribution.

(4) Planning, conducting, or participating in a public opinion poll in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(5) Surveying or gathering information from potential or actual voters in an election to determine probable vote outcome in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(6) Assisting at the polls on election day on behalf of any political organization or candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(7) Soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective office or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls.

(8) Initiating for circulation, preparing, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(9) Making contributions on behalf of any candidate for elective office in that capacity or in connection with a campaign for elective office.

(10) Preparing or reviewing responses to candidate questionnaires in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes.

(11) Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(12) Campaigning for any elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(13) Managing or working on a campaign for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(14) Serving as a delegate, alternate, or proxy to a political party convention.

(15) Participating in any recount or challenge to the outcome of any election, except to the extent that under subsection (d) of Section 6 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution each house of the General Assembly shall judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.

"Prohibited source" means any person or entity who:

(1) is seeking official action (i) by the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, by the employee or by the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(2) does business or seeks to do business (i) with the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, with the employee or with the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(3) conducts activities regulated (i) by the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, by the employee or by the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(4) has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or non-performance of the official duties of the member, officer, or employee;

(5) is registered or required to be registered with the Secretary of State under the Lobbyist Registration Act, except that an entity not otherwise a prohibited source does not become a prohibited source merely because a registered lobbyist is one of its members or serves on its board of directors; or

(6) is an agent of, a spouse of, or an immediate family member who is living with a "prohibited source".

"Regional Transit Boards" means (i) the Regional Transportation Authority created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, (ii) the Suburban Bus Division created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, (iii) the Commuter Rail Division created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, and (iv) the Chicago Transit Authority created by the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act.

"State agency" includes all officers, boards, commissions and agencies created by the Constitution, whether in the executive or legislative branch; all officers, departments, boards, commissions, agencies, institutions, authorities, public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act (except community colleges), and bodies politic and corporate of the State; and administrative units or corporate outgrowths of the State government which are created by or pursuant to statute, other than units of local government (including community college districts) and their officers, school districts, and boards of election commissioners; and all administrative units and corporate outgrowths of the above and as may be created by executive order of the Governor. "State agency" includes the General Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate Operations Commission, and the legislative support services agencies. "State agency" includes the Office of the Auditor General. "State agency" does not include the judicial branch.

"State employee" means any employee of a State agency.

"Ultimate jurisdictional authority" means the following:

(1) For members, legislative partisan staff, and legislative secretaries, the appropriate legislative leader: President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(2) For State employees who are professional staff or employees of the Senate and not covered under item (1), the Senate Operations Commission.

(3) For State employees who are professional staff or employees of the House of Representatives and not covered under item (1), the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) For State employees who are employees of the legislative support services agencies, the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services.

(5) For State employees of the Auditor General, the Auditor General.

(6) For State employees of public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act (except community colleges), the board of trustees of the appropriate public institution of higher learning.

(7) For State employees of an executive branch constitutional officer other than those described in paragraph (6), the appropriate executive branch constitutional officer.

(8) For State employees not under the jurisdiction of paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), the Governor.

(9) For employees of Regional Transit Boards, the appropriate Regional Transit Board.

(10) For board members of Regional Transit Boards, the Governor.

(Source: P.A. 96-6, eff. 4-3-09; 96-555, eff. 8-18-09; 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11; 96-1533, eff. 3-4-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(5 ILCS 430/5-45)

Sec. 5-45. Procurement; revolving door prohibition.

(a) No former officer, member, or State employee, or spouse or immediate family member living with such person, shall, within a period of one year immediately after termination of State employment, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from a person or entity if the officer, member, or State employee, during the year immediately preceding termination of State employment, participated personally and substantially in the award of State contracts, or the issuance of State contract change orders, with a cumulative value of $25,000 or more to the person or entity, or its parent or subsidiary.

(a-5) No officer, member, or spouse or immediate family member living with such person shall, during the officer or member's term in office or within a period of 2 years immediately leaving office, hold an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any gaming license under the Illinois Gambling Act, the Video Gaming Act, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, or the Sports Wagering Act. Any member of the General Assembly or spouse or immediate family member living with such person who has an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any gaming license under the Illinois Gambling Act, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, the Video Gaming Act, or the Sports Wagering Act at the time of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly shall divest himself or herself of such ownership within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly. No State employee who works for the Illinois Gaming Board or Illinois Racing Board or spouse or immediate family member living with such person shall, during State employment or within a period of 2 years immediately after termination of State employment, hold an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any gaming license under the Illinois Gambling Act, the Video Gaming Act, the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975, or the Sports Wagering Act.

(a-10) This subsection (a-10) applies on and after June 25, 2021. No officer, member, or spouse or immediate family member living with such person, shall, during the officer or member's term in office or within a period of 2 years immediately after leaving office, hold an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any cannabis business establishment which is licensed under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Any member of the General Assembly or spouse or immediate family member living with such person who has an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any cannabis business establishment which is licensed under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act at the time of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly shall divest himself or herself of such ownership within one year after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly.

No State employee who works for any State agency that regulates cannabis business establishment license holders who participated personally and substantially in the award of licenses under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act or a spouse or immediate family member living with such person shall, during State employment or within a period of 2 years immediately after termination of State employment, hold an ownership interest, other than a passive interest in a publicly traded company, in any cannabis license under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

(a-15) No person who has served as a statewide elected official, the executive or administrative head of a State agency, the deputy executive or administrative head of a State agency, or a member of the General Assembly shall, within 2 years after the termination of service or employment, become a lobbyist.

(b) No former officer of the executive branch or State employee of the executive branch with regulatory or licensing authority, or spouse or immediate family member living with such person, shall, within a period of one year immediately after termination of State employment, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from a person or entity if the officer or State employee, during the year immediately preceding termination of State employment, participated personally and substantially in making a regulatory or licensing decision that directly applied to the person or entity, or its parent or subsidiary.

(c) Within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, each executive branch constitutional officer and legislative leader, the Auditor General, and the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services shall adopt a policy delineating which State positions under his or her jurisdiction and control, by the nature of their duties, may have the authority to participate personally and substantially in the award of State contracts or in regulatory or licensing decisions. The Governor shall adopt such a policy for all State employees of the executive branch not under the jurisdiction and control of any other executive branch constitutional officer.

The policies required under subsection (c) of this Section shall be filed with the appropriate ethics commission established under this Act or, for the Auditor General, with the Office of the Auditor General.

(d) Each Inspector General shall have the authority to determine that additional State positions under his or her jurisdiction, not otherwise subject to the policies required by subsection (c) of this Section, are nonetheless subject to the notification requirement of subsection (f) below due to their involvement in the award of State contracts or in regulatory or licensing decisions.

(e) The Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services, the Auditor General, and each of the executive branch constitutional officers and legislative leaders subject to subsection (c) of this Section shall provide written notification to all employees in positions subject to the policies required by subsection (c) or a determination made under subsection (d): (1) upon hiring, promotion, or transfer into the relevant position; and (2) at the time the employee's duties are changed in such a way as to qualify that employee. An employee receiving notification must certify in writing that the person was advised of the prohibition and the requirement to notify the appropriate Inspector General in subsection (f).

(f) Any State employee in a position subject to the policies required by subsection (c) or to a determination under subsection (d), but who does not fall within the prohibition of subsection (h) below, who is offered non-State employment during State employment or within a period of one year immediately after termination of State employment shall, prior to accepting such non-State employment, notify the appropriate Inspector General. Within 10 calendar days after receiving notification from an employee in a position subject to the policies required by subsection (c), such Inspector General shall make a determination as to whether the State employee is restricted from accepting such employment by subsection (a) or (b). In making a determination, in addition to any other relevant information, an Inspector General shall assess the effect of the prospective employment or relationship upon decisions referred to in subsections (a) and (b), based on the totality of the participation by the former officer, member, or State employee in those decisions. A determination by an Inspector General must be in writing, signed and dated by the Inspector General, and delivered to the subject of the determination within 10 calendar days or the person is deemed eligible for the employment opportunity. For purposes of this subsection, "appropriate Inspector General" means (i) for members and employees of the legislative branch, the Legislative Inspector General; (ii) for the Auditor General and employees of the Office of the Auditor General, the Inspector General provided for in Section 30-5 of this Act; and (iii) for executive branch officers and employees, the Inspector General having jurisdiction over the officer or employee. Notice of any determination of an Inspector General and of any such appeal shall be given to the ultimate jurisdictional authority, the Attorney General, and the Executive Ethics Commission.

(g) An Inspector General's determination regarding restrictions under subsection (a) or (b) may be appealed to the appropriate Ethics Commission by the person subject to the decision or the Attorney General no later than the 10th calendar day after the date of the determination.

On appeal, the Ethics Commission or Auditor General shall seek, accept, and consider written public comments regarding a determination. In deciding whether to uphold an Inspector General's determination, the appropriate Ethics Commission or Auditor General shall assess, in addition to any other relevant information, the effect of the prospective employment or relationship upon the decisions referred to in subsections (a) and (b), based on the totality of the participation by the former officer, member, or State employee in those decisions. The Ethics Commission shall decide whether to uphold an Inspector General's determination within 10 calendar days or the person is deemed eligible for the employment opportunity.

(h) The following officers, members, or State employees shall not, within a period of one year immediately after termination of office or State employment, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from a person or entity if the person or entity or its parent or subsidiary, during the year immediately preceding termination of State employment, was a party to a State contract or contracts with a cumulative value of $25,000 or more involving the officer, member, or State employee's State agency, or was the subject of a regulatory or licensing decision involving the officer, member, or State employee's State agency, regardless of whether he or she participated personally and substantially in the award of the State contract or contracts or the making of the regulatory or licensing decision in question:

(1) members or officers;

(2) members of a commission or board created by the Illinois Constitution;

(3) persons whose appointment to office is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate;

(4) the head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority, or other administrative unit within the government of this State;

(5) chief procurement officers, State purchasing officers, and their designees whose duties are directly related to State procurement;

(6) chiefs of staff, deputy chiefs of staff, associate chiefs of staff, assistant chiefs of staff, and deputy governors;

(7) employees of the Illinois Racing Board; and

(8) employees of the Illinois Gaming Board.

(i) For the purposes of this Section, with respect to officers or employees of a regional transit board, as defined in this Act, the phrase "person or entity" does not include: (i) the United States government, (ii) the State, (iii) municipalities, as defined under Article VII, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution, (iv) units of local government, as defined under Article VII, Section 1 of the Illinois Constitution, or (v) school districts.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19; 101-593, eff. 12-4-19.)