HC0034 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 16791 JAM 42828 e

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HC0034

Introduced 1/17/2008, by Rep. Raymond Poe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5

ILCON Art. VIII, Sec. 2

Proposes to amend the Legislature and Finance Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Requires that the General Assembly convene on the second Wednesday of January in each odd-numbered year (now, each year). Requires that the Governor biennially submit a budget to the General Assembly for the 2 ensuing fiscal years (now, annually submit a budget for the ensuing fiscal year). Effective upon being declared adopted and applies beginning in 2009.

A BILL FOR

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to amend the Illinois Constitution by changing Section 5 of Article IV and Section 2 of Article VIII as follows:

ARTICLE IV

THE LEGISLATURE

(ILCON Art. IV, Sec. 5)

SECTION 5. SESSIONS

(a) The General Assembly shall convene each odd-numbered year on the second Wednesday of January. The General Assembly shall be a continuous body during the term for which members of the House of Representatives are elected.

(b) The Governor may convene the General Assembly or the Senate alone in special session by a proclamation stating the purpose of the session; and only business encompassed by such purpose, together with any impeachments or confirmation of appointments shall be transacted. Special sessions of the General Assembly may also be convened by joint proclamation of the presiding officers of both houses, issued as provided by law.

(c) Sessions of each house of the General Assembly and meetings of committees, joint committees and legislative commissions shall be open to the public. Sessions and committee meetings of a house may be closed to the public if two-thirds of the members elected to that house determine that the public interest so requires; and meetings of joint committees and legislative commissions may be so closed if two-thirds of the members elected to each house so determine.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

ARTICLE VIII

FINANCE

(ILCON Art. VIII, Sec. 2)

SECTION 2. STATE FINANCE

(a) The Governor shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly each odd-numbered year, at a time prescribed by law, a State budget for the ensuing two fiscal years year. The budget shall set forth the estimated balance of funds available for appropriation at the beginning of the fiscal biennium year, the estimated receipts, and a plan for expenditures and obligations during the fiscal biennium year of every department, authority, public corporation and quasi-public corporation of the State, every State college and university, and every other public agency created by the State, but not of units of local government or school districts. The budget shall also set forth the indebtedness and contingent liabilities of the State and such other information as may be required by law. Proposed expenditures shall not exceed funds estimated to be available for the fiscal biennium year as shown in the budget.

(b) The General Assembly by law shall make appropriations for all expenditures of public funds by the State. Appropriations for a fiscal biennium year shall not exceed funds estimated by the General Assembly to be available during that biennium year.

(Source: Illinois Constitution.)

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act and applies beginning in 2009.