96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1548

 

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Sen. Christine Radogno

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new

    Amends the Election Code. Limits a candidate for public office to one political committee, with certain exceptions. Limits annual campaign contributions to any one candidate for public office from an individual, corporation, labor union, association, or other group to an aggregate of $10,000, adjusted annually for inflation.


LRB096 10898 JAM 21141 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1548 LRB096 10898 JAM 21141 b

1     AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Sections
5 9-2.5 and 9-8.5 as follows:
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new)
7     Sec. 9-2.5. Single political committee.
8     (a) Except as provided by this Section, no public official
9 or candidate for public office may establish more than one
10 political committee for each office that public official or
11 candidate occupies or is seeking.
12     (b) A public official with one or more pre-existing
13 committees bound by the limits of any subsection of Section
14 9-8.5 considering a candidacy for any office covered by the
15 limits of any different subsection of Section 9-8.5 must form a
16 new committee, to be termed an exploratory committee. A
17 pre-existing committee created for the primary purpose of
18 aiding that candidate's election to other offices that ceases
19 all fundraising after the creation of an exploratory committee
20 may transfer funds without limit to an exploratory committee.
21 Should the candidate decide against running for the new office,
22 fail to qualify for the ballot at the next election, or lose
23 the next election, any remaining funds held by the exploratory

 

 

SB1548 - 2 - LRB096 10898 JAM 21141 b

1 committee shall be returned to contributors or donated to
2 charity, and the committee shall be closed, within 90 days.
3     (c) The public officials elected President of the Senate,
4 Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of
5 Representatives, and Minority Leader of the House of
6 Representatives may each establish and operate one additional
7 political committee for the purpose of supporting the election
8 of candidates to the General Assembly. The committees provided
9 for in this subsection (c) shall not be considered established
10 by the President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate,
11 Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of
12 the House of Representatives for purposes of Section 9-8.5.
 
13     (10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new)
14     Sec. 9-8.5. Contribution limit. An individual,
15 corporation, labor union, association, or other group may not
16 make one or more contributions, including cash and in-kind
17 contributions, in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate in one
18 calendar year to any candidate for public office. For the
19 purpose of this Section, "candidate" includes the candidate
20 personally and any one or more political committees established
21 by, on behalf of, or to promote that candidate.
22     The dollar amount established by this Section shall be
23 adjusted annually by the State Board of Elections in accordance
24 with the federal Consumer Price Index.