093_HB1330
LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 AN ACT concerning ethics.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The State Gift Ban Act is amended by changing
5 Sections 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35, 45, 55, 60, 80, 83, and 85 as
6 follows:
7 (5 ILCS 425/5)
8 Sec. 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
9 "Commission" means an ethics commission created by this
10 Act.
11 "Employee" means the following of the executive and
12 legislative branches of State government: all full-time,
13 part-time, and contractual employees, appointed and elected
14 officials, and directors of a governmental entity.
15 "Gift" means any gratuity, discount, entertainment,
16 hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or
17 intangible item having monetary value including, but not
18 limited to, cash, food and drink, and honoraria for speaking
19 engagements related to or attributable to government
20 employment or the official position of an employee, member,
21 or officer, or judge.
22 "Governmental entity" means each office, board,
23 commission, agency, department, authority, institution,
24 university, body politic and corporate, administrative unit,
25 and corporate outgrowth of the executive and, legislative,
26 and judicial branches of State government, whether created by
27 the Illinois Constitution, by or in accordance with statute,
28 or by executive order of the Governor. "Governmental entity"
29 includes the Health Facilities Planning Board.
30 "Judge" means judges and associate judges of the Supreme
31 Court, Appellate Courts, and Circuit Courts.
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1 "Member" means a member of the General Assembly.
2 "Officer" means a State constitutional officer.
3 "Political organization" means a party, committee,
4 association, fund, or other organization (whether or not
5 incorporated) organized and operated primarily for the
6 purpose of directly or indirectly accepting contributions or
7 making expenditures, or both, for the function of influencing
8 or attempting to influence the selection, nomination,
9 election, or appointment of any individual to any federal,
10 state, or local public office or office in a political
11 organization, or the election of Presidential or
12 Vice-Presidential electors, whether or not the individual or
13 electors are selected, nominated, elected, or appointed. The
14 term includes the making of expenditures relating to an
15 office described in the preceding sentence that, if incurred
16 by the individual, would be allowable as a federal income tax
17 deduction for trade or business expenses.
18 "Prohibited source" means any person or entity who:
19 (1) is seeking official action (i) by the member
20 or, officer, or judge or (ii) in the case of an employee,
21 by the employee or by the member, officer, judge,
22 governmental entity, or other employee directing the
23 employee;
24 (2) does business or seeks to do business (i) with
25 the member or, officer, or judge or (ii) in the case of
26 an employee, with the employee or with the member,
27 officer, judge, governmental entity, or other employee
28 directing the employee;
29 (3) conducts activities regulated (i) by the member
30 or, officer, or judge or (ii) in the case of an employee,
31 by the employee or by the member, officer, judge,
32 governmental entity, or other employee directing the
33 employee;
34 (4) has interests that may be substantially
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1 affected by the performance or non-performance of the
2 official duties of the member, officer, or employee, or
3 judge; or
4 (5) is registered or required to be registered with
5 the Secretary of State under the Lobbyist Registration
6 Act.
7 "Ultimate jurisdictional authority" means the following:
8 (1) For members, partisan staff, and their
9 secretaries, the appropriate legislative leader:
10 President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate,
11 Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority
12 Leader of the House of Representatives.
13 (2) For State employees who are professional staff
14 or employees of the Senate and not covered under item
15 (1), the Senate Operations Commission.
16 (3) For State employees who are professional staff
17 or employees of the House of Representatives and not
18 covered under item (1), the Speaker of the House of
19 Representatives.
20 (4) For State employees who are employees of the
21 legislative support services agencies, the Joint
22 Committee on Legislative Support Services.
23 (5) (Blank). For judges, the Chief Justice of the
24 Supreme Court.
25 (6) (Blank). For State employees of the judicial
26 branch, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
27 (7) For State employees of an executive branch
28 constitutional officer, the appropriate executive branch
29 constitutional officer.
30 (8) For State employees not under the jurisdiction
31 of paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), the
32 Governor.
33 (9) For officers, the General Assembly.
34 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99; 91-782, eff. 6-9-00.)
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1 (5 ILCS 425/10)
2 Sec. 10. Gift ban. Except as otherwise provided in this
3 Act, no member, officer, or employee,or judge shall knowingly
4 solicit or accept any gift of more than $100 per year from
5 any prohibited source or in violation of any federal or State
6 statute, rule, or regulation. This ban applies to and
7 includes spouses of and immediate family living with the
8 member, officer, or employee, or judge. No prohibited source
9 shall offer or make a gift that violates this Section.
10 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
11 (5 ILCS 425/15)
12 Sec. 15. Exceptions. The restriction in Section 10 does
13 not apply to the following:
14 (1) Opportunities and benefits that are available to the
15 general public. Anything for which the member, officer,
16 employee, or judge pays the market value or anything not used
17 and promptly disposed of as provided in Section 25.
18 (2) A contribution, as defined in Article 9 of the
19 Election Code that is lawfully made under that Act or
20 attendance at a fundraising event sponsored by a political
21 organization.
22 (3) Educational materials and missions.
23 (4) Travel expenses for a meeting to discuss State
24 business.
25 (5) A gift from a relative, meaning those people related
26 to the individual as father, mother, son, daughter, brother,
27 sister, uncle, aunt, great aunt, great uncle, first cousin,
28 nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandfather, grandmother,
29 grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law,
30 son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
31 stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother,
32 stepsister, half brother, half sister, and including the
33 father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother of the
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1 individual's spouse and the individual's fiance or fiancee.
2 (6)(4) Anything provided by an individual on the basis
3 of a personal friendship unless the member, officer,
4 employee, or judge has reason to believe that, under the
5 circumstances, the gift was provided because of the official
6 position or employment of the member, officer, or employee,
7 or judge and not because of the personal friendship.
8 In determining whether a gift is provided on the basis of
9 personal friendship, the member, officer, or employee, or
10 judge shall consider the circumstances under which the gift
11 was offered, such as:
12 (i) the history of the relationship between the
13 individual giving the gift and the recipient of the gift,
14 including any previous exchange of gifts between those
15 individuals;
16 (ii) whether to the actual knowledge of the member,
17 officer, or employee, or judge the individual who gave
18 the gift personally paid for the gift or sought a tax
19 deduction or business reimbursement for the gift; and
20 (iii) whether to the actual knowledge of the
21 member, officer, or employee, or judge the individual who
22 gave the gift also at the same time gave the same or
23 similar gifts to other members, officers, or employees,
24 or judges.
25 (7) Food or refreshments not exceeding $75 per person in
26 value; provided that the food or refreshments are (i)
27 consumed on the premesis from which they were purchased or
28 prepared or (ii) catered. For the purposes of this Section,
29 "catered" means food or refreshments that are purchased ready
30 to eat and delivered by any means. (5) A commercially
31 reasonable loan evidenced in writing with repayment due by a
32 date certain made in the ordinary course of the lender's
33 business.
34 (6) A contribution or other payments to a legal defense
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1 fund established for the benefit of a member, officer,
2 employee, or judge that is otherwise lawfully made.
3 (8)(7) Intra-office and inter-office gifts. For the
4 purpose of this Act, "intra-office gifts" means:
5 (i) any gift given to a member or employee of the
6 legislative branch from another member or employee of the
7 legislative branch;
8 (ii) (Blank). any gift given to a judge or employee
9 of the judicial branch from another judge or employee of
10 the judicial branch;
11 (iii) any gift given to an officer or employee of
12 the executive branch from another officer or employee of
13 the executive branch;
14 (iv) (Blank). any gift given to an officer or
15 employee of a unit of local government, home rule unit,
16 or school district, from another employee of that unit of
17 local government, home rule unit, or school district;
18 (v) any gift given to an officer or employee of any
19 other governmental entity not included in item (i) or,
20 (ii), (iii), or (iv), from another employee of that
21 governmental entity; or
22 (vi) any gift given to a member or employee of the
23 legislative branch, a judge or employee of the judicial
24 branch, an officer or employee of the executive branch,
25 an officer or employee of a unit of local government,
26 home rule unit, or school district, or an officer or
27 employee of any other governmental entity not included in
28 item (i) or, (ii), (iii), or (iv) from a member or
29 employee of the legislative branch, a judge or employee
30 of the judicial branch, an officer or employee of the
31 executive branch, an officer or employee of a unit of
32 local government, home rule unit, or school district, or
33 an officer or employee of any other governmental entity.
34 (8) Food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and
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1 other benefits:
2 (i) resulting from the outside business or
3 employment activities (or outside activities that are not
4 connected to the duties of the member, officer, employee,
5 or judge, as an office holder or employee) of the member,
6 officer, employee, judge, or the spouse of the member,
7 officer, employee, or judge, if the benefits have not
8 been offered or enhanced because of the official position
9 or employment of the member, officer, employee, or judge
10 and are customarily provided to others in similar
11 circumstances;
12 (ii) customarily provided by a prospective employer
13 in connection with bona fide employment discussions; or
14 (iii) provided by a political organization in
15 connection with a fundraising or campaign event sponsored
16 by that organization.
17 (9) Pension and other benefits resulting from continued
18 participation in an employee welfare and benefits plan
19 maintained by a former employer.
20 (10) Informational materials that are sent to the office
21 of the member, officer, employee, or judge in the form of
22 books, articles, periodicals, other written materials,
23 audiotapes, videotapes, or other forms of communication.
24 (11) Awards or prizes that are given to competitors in
25 contests or events open to the public, including random
26 drawings.
27 (12) Honorary degrees (and associated travel, food,
28 refreshments, and entertainment provided in the presentation
29 of degrees and awards).
30 (13) Training (including food and refreshments furnished
31 to all attendees as an integral part of the training)
32 provided to a member, officer, employee, or judge, if the
33 training is in the interest of the governmental entity.
34 (14) Educational missions, including meetings with
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1 government officials either foreign or domestic, intended to
2 educate public officials on matters of public policy, to
3 which the member, officer, employee, or judge may be invited
4 to participate along with other federal, state, or local
5 public officials and community leaders.
6 (9)(15) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at
7 death.
8 (16) Anything that is paid for by the federal
9 government, the State, or a governmental entity, or secured
10 by the government or governmental entity under a government
11 contract.
12 (17) A gift of personal hospitality of an individual
13 other than a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign
14 principal, including hospitality extended for a nonbusiness
15 purpose by an individual, not a corporation or organization,
16 at the personal residence of that individual or the
17 individual's family or on property or facilities owned by
18 that individual or the individual's family.
19 (18) Free attendance at a widely attended event
20 permitted under Section 20.
21 (19) Opportunities and benefits that are:
22 (i) available to the public or to a class
23 consisting of all employees, officers, members, or
24 judges, whether or not restricted on the basis of
25 geographic consideration;
26 (ii) offered to members of a group or class in
27 which membership is unrelated to employment or official
28 position;
29 (iii) offered to members of an organization such as
30 an employee's association or credit union, in which
31 membership is related to employment or official position
32 and similar opportunities are available to large segments
33 of the public through organizations of similar size;
34 (iv) offered to any group or class that is not
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1 defined in a manner that specifically discriminates among
2 government employees on the basis of branch of government
3 or type of responsibility, or on a basis that favors
4 those of higher rank or rate of pay;
5 (v) in the form of loans from banks and other
6 financial institutions on terms generally available to
7 the public; or
8 (vi) in the form of reduced membership or other
9 fees for participation in organization activities offered
10 to all government employees by professional organizations
11 if the only restrictions on membership relate to
12 professional qualifications.
13 (20) A plaque, trophy, or other item that is
14 substantially commemorative in nature and that is extended
15 for presentation.
16 (21) Golf or tennis; food or refreshments of nominal
17 value and catered food or refreshments; meals or beverages
18 consumed on the premises from which they were purchased.
19 (22) Donations of products from an Illinois company that
20 are intended primarily for promotional purposes, such as
21 display or free distribution, and are of minimal value to any
22 individual recipient.
23 (10) (23) Any item or items from any one prohibited
24 source during any calendar year having a cumulative total
25 value of less than $100.
26 (Source: P.A. 92-853, eff. 8-28-02.)
27 (5 ILCS 425/20)
28 Sec. 20. Attendance at meetings events.
29 (a) A member, officer, or employee, or judge may accept
30 travel expenses in connection with a meeting to discuss State
31 business, as defined by rules adopted by the appropriate
32 ethics commission. an offer of free attendance at a widely
33 attended convention, conference, symposium, forum, panel
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1 discussion, dinner, viewing, reception, or similar event,
2 provided by the sponsor of the event, if:
3 (1) the member, officer, employee, or judge
4 participates in the event as a speaker or a panel
5 participant, by presenting information related to
6 government, or by performing a ceremonial function
7 appropriate to the member's, officer's, employee's, or
8 judge's official position or employment; or
9 (2) attendance at the event is appropriate to the
10 performance of civic affairs in Illinois or the official
11 duties or representative function of the member, officer,
12 employee, or judge.
13 (b) A member, officer, employee, or judge who attends an
14 event described in subsection (a) may accept a sponsor's
15 unsolicited offer of free attendance at the event for an
16 accompanying individual.
17 (c) A member, officer, employee, or judge, or the spouse
18 or dependent thereof, may accept a sponsor's unsolicited
19 offer of free attendance at a charity event, except that
20 reimbursement for transportation and lodging may not be
21 accepted in connection with the event.
22 (d) For purposes of this Section, the term "free
23 attendance" may include waiver of all or part of a conference
24 or other fee, the provision of transportation, or the
25 provision of food, refreshments, entertainment, and
26 instructional materials furnished to all attendees as an
27 integral part of the event. The term does not include
28 entertainment collateral to the event, nor does it include
29 food or refreshments taken other than in a group setting with
30 all or substantially all other attendees, except as
31 authorized under subsection (21) of Section 15.
32 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
33 (5 ILCS 425/30)
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1 Sec. 30. Reimbursement. (Blank).
2 (a) A reimbursement (including payment in kind) to a
3 member, officer, employee, or judge from a private source
4 other than a registered lobbyist or agent of a foreign
5 principal for necessary transportation, lodging, and related
6 expenses for travel to a meeting, speaking engagement, fact
7 finding trip, or similar event in connection with the duties
8 of the member, officer, employee, or judge as an office
9 holder or employee shall be deemed to be a reimbursement to
10 the governmental entity and not a gift prohibited by this Act
11 if the member, officer, employee, or judge:
12 (1) discloses the expenses reimbursed or to be
13 reimbursed and the authorization to the Clerk of the
14 House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Senate,
15 the State Comptroller, fiscal officer, or similar
16 authority as appropriate, within 30 days after the travel
17 is completed; and
18 (2) in the case of an employee, receives advance
19 authorization, from the member, officer, judge, or other
20 employee under whose direct supervision the employee
21 works to accept reimbursement.
22 (b) For purposes of subsection (a), events, the
23 activities of which are substantially recreational in nature,
24 shall not be considered to be in connection with the duties
25 of a member, officer, employee, or judge as an office holder
26 or employee.
27 (c) Each advance authorization to accept reimbursement
28 shall be signed by the member, officer, judge, or other
29 employee under whose direct supervision the employee works
30 and shall include:
31 (1) the name of the employee;
32 (2) the name of the person who will make the
33 reimbursement;
34 (3) the time, place, and purpose of the travel; and
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1 (4) a determination that the travel is in
2 connection with the duties of the employee as an employee
3 and would not create the appearance that the employee is
4 using public employment for private gain.
5 (d) Each disclosure made under subsection (a) of
6 expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed shall be signed by
7 the member, officer, or judge (in the case of travel by the
8 member, officer, or judge) or by the member, officer, judge,
9 or other employee under whose direct supervision the employee
10 works (in the case of travel by an employee) and shall
11 include:
12 (1) a good faith estimate of total transportation
13 expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
14 (2) a good faith estimate of total lodging expenses
15 reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
16 (3) a good faith estimate of total meal expenses
17 reimbursed or to be reimbursed;
18 (4) a good faith estimate of the total of other
19 expenses reimbursed or to be reimbursed; and
20 (5) a determination that all those expenses are
21 necessary transportation, lodging, and related expenses.
22 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
23 (5 ILCS 425/35)
24 Sec. 35. Ethics Officer. Each officer and the head of
25 each governmental entity shall designate an Ethics Officer
26 for the office or governmental entity. For the legislative
27 branch, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate and
28 the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of
29 Representatives shall each appoint an ethics officer for the
30 legislative members of their political party. Ethics Officers
31 shall:
32 (1) review statements of economic interest and
33 disclosure forms of members, officers, judges, senior
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1 employees, and contract monitors before they are filed
2 with the Secretary of State; and
3 (2) provide guidance to members, officers, and
4 employees, and judges in the interpretation and
5 implementation of this Act. Such guidance shall be based,
6 wherever possible, upon the findings and opinions of the
7 related Ethics Commission.
8 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
9 (5 ILCS 425/45)
10 Sec. 45. Ethics Commissions.
11 (a) Ethics Commissions are created for the branches of
12 government as provided in this Section. The initial
13 appointments to each commission shall be made within 60 days
14 after the effective date of this Act. The appointing
15 authorities shall appoint commissioners who have experience
16 holding governmental office or employment and shall appoint
17 commissioners from the general public or from within the
18 appointing authority's branch of government. No appointing
19 authority shall appoint anyone who has been convicted of a
20 felony or anyone who is actively engaged in activities that
21 qualify him or her as a "prohibited source" under Section 5.
22 An appointing authority shall not appoint more than 2 people
23 who have been engaged in activities that qualify them as a
24 "prohibited source" under Section 5 during the preceeding 12
25 months. With respect to each of the ethics commissions
26 designated in item items (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), no more
27 than 4 of the 7 appointees shall be of the same political
28 party. The appointee shall establish his or her political
29 party affiliation by his or her last record of voting in a
30 party primary election.
31 (1) For the ethics commission of the executive
32 branch, there shall be 8 commissioners, 4 appointed by
33 the Governor and 4 appointed by the next highest ranking
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1 statewide constitutional officer who is not of the same
2 political party as the Governor. If all statewide
3 constitutional officers are of the same political party,
4 then members appointed to represent another political
5 party must be confirmed by a three-fifths majority of the
6 Senate. This ethics commission shall have jurisdiction
7 over all of the executive branch of the State government.
8 For the ethics commission of the Governor there shall be
9 7 commissioners appointed by the Governor. This ethics
10 commission shall have jurisdiction over all of the
11 executive branch of State government except the officers
12 specified in items (2), (3), (4), and (5) and their
13 employees.
14 (2) (Blank). For the ethics commission of the
15 Attorney General there shall be 7 commissioners appointed
16 by the Attorney General.
17 (3) (Blank). For the ethics commission of the
18 Secretary of State there shall be 7 commissioners
19 appointed by the Secretary of State.
20 (4) (Blank). For the ethics commission of the
21 Comptroller there shall be 7 commissioners appointed by
22 the Comptroller.
23 (5) (Blank). For the ethics commission of the
24 Treasurer there shall be 7 commissioners appointed by the
25 Treasurer.
26 (6) For the ethics commission of the legislative
27 branch there shall be 8 commissioners. The Speaker and
28 the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and
29 the President and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall
30 each appoint 2 commissioners.
31 (7) For the ethics commission of the judicial
32 branch there shall be 6 commissioners. The Chief Justice
33 of the Supreme Court shall appoint the commissioners with
34 the concurrence of 3 other Supreme Court Judges.
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1 (b) At the first meeting of each commission, the initial
2 appointees shall draw lots to divide into 2 groups.
3 Commissioners of the first group shall serve 2-year terms,
4 and commissioners of the second group shall serve one-year
5 terms. Thereafter commissioners shall be appointed to 2-year
6 terms. Commissioners may be reappointed to serve subsequent
7 terms.
8 (c) The respective appointing authority or authorities
9 may remove a commissioner appointed by that authority or
10 those authorities in case of incompetency, neglect of duty,
11 or malfeasance in office after service on the commissioner by
12 certified mail, return receipt requested, of a copy of the
13 written charges against the commissioner and an opportunity
14 to be heard in person or by counsel upon not less than 10
15 days' notice. Vacancies shall be filled by the appropriate
16 appointing authority or authorities in accordance with the
17 procedures in subsection (a).
18 (d) Each commission must meet, either in person or by
19 telephone, at least once per month. Each commission shall
20 meet as often as necessary to perform its duties. Except for
21 the ethics commission for the legislative branch, At the
22 first meeting of the executive branch each commission the
23 commissioners shall choose a chairperson from their number.
24 For the ethics commission for the legislative branch, the
25 President of the Senate and whichever of the Speaker or
26 Minority Leader of the House is of the same political party
27 as the President shall jointly designate one member as
28 co-chair; the other 2 legislative leaders shall jointly
29 designate the other co-chair. Meetings shall be held at the
30 call of the chairperson or any 2 commissioners. Official
31 action by the commission shall require the affirmative vote
32 of the number of commissioners provided in this subsection,
33 and a quorum shall consist of the number of commissioners
34 provided in this subsection. The number of commissioners
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1 required for a quorum and the affirmative vote of each ethics
2 commission shall be as follows: for the executive branch, 5
3 Governor, 4; for the Attorney General, 4; for the Secretary
4 of State, 4; for the Treasurer, 4; for the Comptroller, 4;
5 for the legislative branch, 5; for the judicial branch, 4.
6 Commissioners may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses
7 actually incurred in the performance of their duties.
8 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
9 (5 ILCS 425/55)
10 Sec. 55. Powers and duties. Each commission shall have
11 the following powers and duties:
12 (1) To promulgate procedures and rules governing the
13 performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers.
14 Rules defining "a meeting to conduct State business", rules
15 concerning the disclosure of reimbursements, and rules
16 concerning where a complaint under Section 60 must be filed
17 must be adopted as soon as possible, but in any case, no
18 later than 120 days after appointment of the initial members.
19 The commissions may adopt emergency rules under Section 5-45
20 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.
21 (2) Upon receipt of a signed, notarized, written
22 complaint, to investigate, conduct research, conduct closed
23 hearings and deliberations, issue recommendations, and impose
24 a fine.
25 (3) To act only upon the receipt of a written complaint
26 alleging a violation of the Acts over which it has
27 jurisdiction of this Act and not upon its own prerogative.
28 (4) To receive information from the public pertaining to
29 its investigations and to require additional information and
30 documents from persons who may have violated the Acts over
31 which it has jurisdiction this Act.
32 (5) To subpoena witnesses and compel the production of
33 books and papers pertinent to an investigation authorized by
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1 the Acts over which it has jurisdiction this Act.
2 (6) To request that the Attorney General provide legal
3 advice without charge to the commission.
4 (7) To prepare and publish manuals and guides explaining
5 the duties of individuals under its jurisdiction covered by
6 this Act.
7 (8) To prepare public information materials to
8 facilitate compliance, implementation, and enforcement of the
9 Acts over which it has jurisdiction this Act.
10 (9) To submit to each commissioner's respective
11 appointing authority or authorities an annual statistical
12 report for each year consisting of (i) the number of
13 complaints filed, (ii) the number of complaints deemed to
14 sufficiently allege a violation of this Act, (iii) the
15 recommendation, fine, or decision issued for each complaint,
16 (iv) the number of complaints resolved, and (v) the status of
17 pending complaints.
18 (10) To make ruling and issue advisory opinions in
19 connection with the implementation and interpretation of the
20 Acts over which it has jurisdiction.
21 The powers and duties of a commission are limited to
22 matters clearly within the purview of the Acts over which it
23 has jurisdiction. The ethics commission may address matters
24 arising under this Act; the State Employees Political
25 Activity Act; those Sections of the Election Code dealing
26 with prohibited solicitations by certain State officials,
27 employees, and appointees, prohibited offer or promise,
28 contributions on State property, and disclosure on political
29 literature; those Sections of the Illinois Procurement Code
30 dealing with revolving door prohibitions; and those Sections
31 of the Criminal Code of 1961 dealing with solicitation
32 misconduct this Act.
33 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
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1 (5 ILCS 425/60)
2 Sec. 60. Complaint procedure.
3 (a) Complaints alleging the violation of this Act shall
4 be filed with the appropriate ethics commission as follows:
5 (1) If the complaint alleges a violation by an
6 officer or employee of the executive branch of State
7 government, then the complaint shall be filed, as
8 provided by rule, with the executive branch appropriate
9 ethics commission within the executive branch.
10 (2) (Blank). If the complaint alleges a violation
11 by a judge or employee of the judicial branch of
12 government, then the complaint shall be filed with the
13 judicial ethics commission.
14 (3) If the complaint alleges a violation by a
15 member or employee of the legislative branch of State
16 government or any employee not included within paragraphs
17 (1) or (2), then the complaint shall be filed, as
18 provided by rule, with the legislative ethics commission.
19 (4) If an ethics commission receives a complaint
20 that raises allegations about people under the
21 jurisdiction of the other ethics commission, it shall
22 transmit that complaint to the other ethics commission.
23 Any complaint received by or incident reported to a
24 member, officer, employee, judge, or governmental entity
25 alleging the violation of this Act shall be forwarded to the
26 appropriate commission. The complaint shall not be properly
27 filed until submitted to the appropriate commission.
28 (b) Within 3 business days after the receipt of an
29 ethics complaint, the commission shall send by certified
30 mail, return receipt requested, a notice to the respondent
31 that a complaint has been filed against him or her and a copy
32 of the complaint. The commission shall send by certified
33 mail, return receipt requested, a confirmation of the receipt
34 of the complaint to the complainant within 3 business days
-19- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 after the submittal to the commission. The notices to the
2 respondent and the complainant shall also advise them of the
3 date, time, and place of the meeting on the sufficiency of
4 the complaint and probable cause.
5 (c) Upon at least 24 hours' public notice of the
6 session, the commission shall meet, either in person or by
7 telephone, in a closed session to review the sufficiency of
8 the complaint and, if the complaint is deemed to sufficiently
9 allege a violation of this Act, to determine if there is
10 probable cause, based on evidence presented by the
11 complainant, to proceed. The commission shall issue notice
12 to the complainant and the respondent of the commission's
13 ruling on the sufficiency of the complaint and, if necessary,
14 on probable cause within 7 business days after receiving the
15 complaint. If the complaint is deemed to sufficiently allege
16 a violation of this Act and there is a determination of
17 probable cause, then the commission's notice to the parties
18 shall include a hearing date scheduled within 4 weeks after
19 the complaint's receipt. If the complaint is deemed not to
20 sufficiently allege a violation or if there is no
21 determination of probable cause, then the commission shall
22 send by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice to
23 the parties of the decision to dismiss the complaint, and
24 that notice shall be made public.
25 (d) On the scheduled date and upon at least 24 hours'
26 public notice of the meeting, the commission shall conduct a
27 closed meeting, either in person or by telephone, on the
28 complaint and allow both parties the opportunity to present
29 testimony and evidence.
30 (e) Within 6 weeks after the complaint's receipt, the
31 commission shall (i) dismiss the complaint or (ii) issue a
32 preliminary recommendation to the alleged violator and to the
33 violator's ultimate jurisdictional authority or impose a fine
34 upon the violator, or both. The particular findings in the
-20- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 instant case, the preliminary recommendation, and any fine
2 shall be made public.
3 (f) Within 7 business days after the issuance of the
4 preliminary recommendation or imposition of a fine, or both,
5 the respondent may file a written demand for a public hearing
6 on the complaint. The filing of the demand shall stay the
7 enforcement of the preliminary recommendation or fine.
8 Within 2 weeks after receiving the demand, the commission
9 shall conduct a public hearing on the complaint after at
10 least 24 hours' public notice of the hearing and allow both
11 parties the opportunity to present testimony and evidence.
12 Within 5 business days, the commission shall publicly issue a
13 final recommendation to the alleged violator and to the
14 violator's ultimate jurisdictional authority or impose a fine
15 upon the violator, or both.
16 (g) If a complaint is filed during the 60 days preceding
17 the date of any election at which the respondent is a
18 candidate, the commission shall render its decision as
19 required under subsection (e) within 7 days after the
20 complaint is filed, and during the 7 days preceding that
21 election, the commission shall render such decision before
22 the date of that election, if possible.
23 (h) A commission may levy a fine of up to $5,000 against
24 any person who knowingly files a frivolous complaint alleging
25 a violation of this Act.
26 (i) A complaint alleging the violation of this Act must
27 be filed within one year after the alleged violation.
28 (j) The parties to a proceeding under this Section may
29 agree to extend any of the deadlines imposed by this Section.
30 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
31 (5 ILCS 425/80)
32 Sec. 80. Exemption. Documents generated by an ethics
33 officer under this Act are exempt from the provisions of the
-21- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 Freedom of Information Act. Any complaint and related
2 documents filed with an ethics commission under Section 60
3 are exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information
4 Act so long as no finding of probable cause under subsection
5 (c) of Section 60 has been made by the commission with
6 respect to that complaint. The proceedings conducted and
7 documents generated under this Act are exempt from the
8 provisions of the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of
9 Information Act.
10 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
11 (5 ILCS 425/83)
12 Sec. 83. Units of local government; school districts.
13 (Blank). Within 6 months after the effective date of this
14 Act, units of local government, home rule units, and school
15 districts shall prohibit the solicitation and acceptance of
16 gifts, and shall enforce those prohibitions, in a manner
17 substantially in accordance with the requirements of this Act
18 and shall adopt provisions no less restrictive than the
19 provisions of this Act. Non-salaried appointed or elected
20 officials may be exempted.
21 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
22 (5 ILCS 425/85)
23 Sec. 85. Home rule preemption. (Blank). A home rule unit
24 may not regulate the prohibition of gifts to members,
25 officers, employees, or judges or the enforcement of these
26 provisions in a manner inconsistent with this Act. This
27 Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of
28 Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent
29 exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised
30 by the State.
31 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
-22- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 Section 10. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing
2 Section 1.02 as follows:
3 (5 ILCS 120/1.02) (from Ch. 102, par. 41.02)
4 Sec. 1.02. For the purposes of this Act:
5 "Meeting" means any gathering of a majority of a quorum
6 of the members of a public body held for the purpose of
7 discussing public business.
8 "Public body" includes all legislative, executive,
9 administrative or advisory bodies of the State, counties,
10 townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school
11 districts and all other municipal corporations, boards,
12 bureaus, committees or commissions of this State, and any
13 subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing including but not
14 limited to committees and subcommittees which are supported
15 in whole or in part by tax revenue, or which expend tax
16 revenue, except the General Assembly and committees or
17 commissions thereof. "Public body" includes tourism boards
18 and convention or civic center boards located in counties
19 that are contiguous to the Mississippi River with populations
20 of more than 250,000 but less than 300,000. "Public body"
21 includes the Health Facilities Planning Board. "Public body"
22 does not include a child death review team or the Illinois
23 Child Death Review Teams Executive Council established under
24 the Child Death Review Team Act or an ethics commission,
25 ethics officer, or ultimate jurisdictional authority acting
26 under the State Gift Ban Act as provided by Section 80 of
27 that Act.
28 (Source: P.A. 91-782, eff. 6-9-00; 92-468, eff. 8-22-01.)
29 Section 15. The Election Code is amended by changing
30 Sections 9-3, 9-8.10, and 9-10 as follows:
31 (10 ILCS 5/9-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-3)
-23- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 Sec. 9-3. Every state political committee and every
2 local political committee shall file with the State Board of
3 Elections, and every local political committee shall file
4 with the county clerk, a statement of organization within 10
5 business days of the creation of such committee, except any
6 political committee created within the 30 days before an
7 election shall file a statement of organization within 5
8 business days. A political committee that acts as both a
9 state political committee and a local political committee
10 shall file a copy of each statement of organization with the
11 State Board of Elections and the county clerk.
12 The statement of organization shall include -
13 (a) the name and address of the political committee (the
14 name of the political committee must include the name of any
15 sponsoring entity);
16 (b) the scope, area of activity, party affiliation,
17 candidate affiliation and his county of residence, and
18 purposes of the political committee;
19 (c) the name, address, and position of each custodian of
20 the committee's books and accounts;
21 (d) the name, address, and position of the committee's
22 principal officers, including the chairman, treasurer, and
23 officers and members of its finance committee, if any;
24 (e) (Blank);
25 (f) a statement of what specific disposition of residual
26 fund will be made in the event of the dissolution or
27 termination of the committee;
28 (g) a listing of all banks or other financial
29 institutions, safety deposit boxes, and any other
30 repositories or custodians of funds used by the committee;
31 (h) the amount of funds available for campaign
32 expenditures as of the filing date of the committee's
33 statement of organization.
34 A political committee that acts as either (i) a state and
-24- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 local political committee or (ii) a local political committee
2 and that files reports electronically under Section 9-28 is
3 not required to file a statement of organization with the
4 appropriate county clerk if the county clerk has a system
5 that permits access to, and duplication of, statements that
6 are filed with the State Board of Elections.
7 For purposes of this Section, a "sponsoring entity" is
8 (i) any person, political committee, organization,
9 corporation, or association that contributes at least 33% of
10 the total funding of the political committee or (ii) any
11 person or other entity that is registered or is required to
12 register under the Lobbyist Registration Act and contributes
13 at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee.
14 (Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 1-1-98; 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
15 (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)
16 Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other
17 reporting organization funds.
18 (a) The funds of (i) a political committee controlled by
19 an officeholder or by a candidate or (ii) an organization
20 subject to Section 9-7.5 may be used only for:
21 (1) Expenditures that would not be included in base
22 income under Section 203 of the Illinois Income Tax Act
23 and the regulations promulgated under that Section.
24 (2) Defraying the ordinary and necessary expenses
25 of an officeholder or candidate. For the purposes of
26 this paragraph (2), "ordinary and necessary expenses"
27 include, but are not limited to, expenses in relation to
28 the operation of the district office of a member of the
29 General Assembly.
30 (3) Donations to organizations exempt from taxation
31 under Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
32 (4) Transfers to any national, State, or local
33 political committee, subject to the laws governing that
-25- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 political committee. A political committee, or
2 organization subject to Section 9-7.5, shall not make
3 expenditures:
4 (1) In violation of any law of the United States or
5 of this State.
6 (2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of
7 the services, materials, facilities, or other things of
8 value received in exchange.
9 (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts
10 other than loans made to the committee or to the public
11 official or candidate on behalf of the committee or
12 repayment of goods and services purchased by the
13 committee under a credit agreement. Nothing in this
14 Section authorizes the use of campaign funds to repay
15 personal loans. The repayments shall be made by check
16 written to the person who made the loan or credit
17 agreement. The terms and conditions of any loan or
18 credit agreement to a committee shall be set forth in a
19 written agreement, including but not limited to the
20 method and amount of repayment, that shall be executed by
21 the chairman or treasurer of the committee at the time of
22 the loan or credit agreement. The loan or agreement
23 shall also set forth the rate of interest for the loan,
24 if any, which may not substantially exceed the prevailing
25 market interest rate at the time the agreement is
26 executed.
27 (4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts
28 or for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal
29 residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral
30 for home mortgages.
31 (5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses,
32 except clothing items rented by the public official or
33 candidate for his or her own use exclusively for a
34 specific campaign-related event, provided that committees
-26- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 may purchase costumes, novelty items, or other
2 accessories worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.
3 (6) For the travel expenses of any person unless
4 the travel is necessary for fulfillment of political,
5 governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or
6 purposes.
7 (7) For membership or club dues charged by
8 organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily
9 engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational
10 services; provided, however, that funds received under
11 this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities
12 for a specific campaign-related event.
13 (8) In payment for anything of value or for
14 reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has
15 been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes
16 of this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a
17 reimbursement.
18 (9) For the purchase of or installment payment for
19 a motor vehicle unless the political committee can
20 demonstrate that purchase of a motor vehicle is more
21 cost-effective than leasing a motor vehicle as permitted
22 under this item (9). A political committee may lease or
23 purchase and insure, maintain, and repair a motor vehicle
24 if the vehicle will be used primarily for campaign
25 purposes or for the performance of governmental duties.
26 A committee shall not make expenditures for use of the
27 vehicle for non-campaign or non-governmental purposes.
28 Persons using vehicles not purchased or leased by a
29 political committee may be reimbursed for actual mileage
30 for the use of the vehicle for campaign purposes or for
31 the performance of governmental duties. The mileage
32 reimbursements shall be made at a rate not to exceed the
33 standard mileage rate method for computation of business
34 expenses under the Internal Revenue Code.
-27- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 (10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other
2 educational expenses, except for governmental or
3 political purposes directly related to a candidate's or
4 public official's duties and responsibilities.
5 (11) For payments to a public official or candidate
6 or his or her family member unless for compensation for
7 services actually rendered by that person.
8 The provisions of this Section item (11) do not apply to
9 expenditures by a political committee in an aggregate amount
10 not exceeding the amount of funds reported to and certified
11 by the State Board or county clerk as available as of June
12 30, 1998, in the semi-annual report of contributions and
13 expenditures filed by the political committee for the period
14 concluding June 30, 1998.
15 (b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate,
16 upon receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the
17 provisions of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any
18 person who knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this
19 Section and on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and
20 false accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board
21 may act under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote
22 of at least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500
23 for each expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the
24 amount of the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure
25 greater than $500. The Board shall also have the authority
26 to render rulings and issue opinions relating to compliance
27 with this Section.
28 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
29 (10 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-10)
30 Sec. 9-10. Financial reports.
31 (a) The treasurer of every state political committee and
32 the treasurer of every local political committee shall file
33 with the Board, and the treasurer of every local political
-28- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 committee shall file with the county clerk, reports of
2 campaign contributions, and semi-annual reports of campaign
3 contributions and expenditures on forms to be prescribed or
4 approved by the Board. The treasurer of every political
5 committee that acts as both a state political committee and a
6 local political committee shall file a copy of each report
7 with the State Board of Elections and the county clerk.
8 Entities subject to Section 9-7.5 shall file reports required
9 by that Section at times provided in this Section and are
10 subject to the penalties provided in this Section.
11 (b) Reports of campaign contributions shall be filed no
12 later than the 15th day next preceding each election
13 including a primary election in connection with which the
14 political committee has accepted or is accepting
15 contributions or has made or is making expenditures. Such
16 reports shall be complete as of the 30th day next preceding
17 each election including a primary election. The Board shall
18 assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation
19 of this subsection, except that for State officers and
20 candidates and political committees formed for statewide
21 office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine,
22 however, shall not exceed $500 for a first filing violation
23 for filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall
24 be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72
25 hours prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this
26 subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the
27 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
28 State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. However, a continuing
29 political committee that neither accepts contributions nor
30 makes expenditures on behalf of or in opposition to any
31 candidate or public question on the ballot at an election
32 shall not be required to file the reports heretofore
33 prescribed but may file in lieu thereof a Statement of
34 Nonparticipation in the Election with the Board or the Board
-29- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 and the county clerk.
2 (b-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b),
3 any contribution of $500 or more received in the interim
4 between the last date of the period covered by the last
5 report filed under subsection (b) prior to the election and
6 the date of the election shall be reported within 2 business
7 days after its receipt. The State Board shall allow filings
8 under this subsection (b-5) to be made by facsimile
9 transmission. For the purpose of this subsection, a
10 contribution is considered received on the date the public
11 official, candidate, or political committee (or equivalent
12 person in the case of a reporting entity other than a
13 political committee) actually receives it or, in the case of
14 goods or services, 2 days after the date the public official,
15 candidate, committee, or other reporting entity receives the
16 certification required under subsection (b) of Section 9-6.
17 Failure to report each contribution is a separate violation
18 of this subsection. The Board shall impose fines for
19 violations of this subsection as follows:
20 (1) if the political committee's or other reporting
21 entity's total receipts, total expenditures, and balance
22 remaining at the end of the last reporting period were
23 each $5,000 or less, then $100 per business day for the
24 first violation, $200 per business day for the second
25 violation, and $300 per business day for the third and
26 subsequent violations.
27 (2) if the political committee's or other reporting
28 entity's total receipts, total expenditures, and balance
29 remaining at the end of the last reporting period were
30 each more than $5,000, then $200 per business day for the
31 first violation, $400 per business day for the second
32 violation, and $600 per business day for the third and
33 subsequent violations.
34 (c) In addition to such reports the treasurer of every
-30- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 political committee shall file semi-annual reports of
2 campaign contributions and expenditures no later than July
3 31st, covering the period from January 1st through June 30th
4 immediately preceding, and no later than January 31st,
5 covering the period from July 1st through December 31st of
6 the preceding calendar year. Reports of contributions and
7 expenditures must be filed to cover the prescribed time
8 periods even though no contributions or expenditures may have
9 been received or made during the period. The Board shall
10 assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation
11 of this subsection, except that for State officers and
12 candidates and political committees formed for statewide
13 office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine,
14 however, shall not exceed $500 for a first filing violation
15 for filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall
16 be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72
17 hours prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this
18 subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the
19 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
20 State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.
21 (c-5) A political committee that acts as either (i) a
22 state and local political committee or (ii) a local political
23 committee and that files reports electronically under Section
24 9-28 is not required to file copies of the reports with the
25 appropriate county clerk, if the county clerk has a system
26 that permits access to, and duplication of, reports that are
27 filed with the State Board of Elections.
28 (d) A copy of each report or statement filed under this
29 Article shall be preserved by the person filing it for a
30 period of two years from the date of filing.
31 (Source: P.A. 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)
-31- LRB093 10531 RCE 10904 b
1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3 5 ILCS 425/5
4 5 ILCS 425/10
5 5 ILCS 425/15
6 5 ILCS 425/20
7 5 ILCS 425/30
8 5 ILCS 425/35
9 5 ILCS 425/45
10 5 ILCS 425/55
11 5 ILCS 425/60
12 5 ILCS 425/80
13 5 ILCS 425/83
14 5 ILCS 425/85
15 5 ILCS 120/1.02 from Ch. 102, par. 41.02
16 10 ILCS 5/9-3 from Ch. 46, par. 9-3
17 10 ILCS 5/9-8.10
18 10 ILCS 5/9-10 from Ch. 46, par. 9-10