HB6254 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 23544 KMW 72552 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB6254

Introduced , by Rep. Karen May

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/Art. 28A heading new
10 ILCS 5/28A-1 new

Amends the Election Code. Authorizes the voters of any unit of local government to pass, by initiative petition and referendum, a binding ordinance related to veterans. Provides that those ordinances may include measures that provide job training opportunities for veterans, veterans' employment, or other measures that enable veterans to access health services or other services and benefits.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Article 28A and Section 28A-1 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/Art. 28A heading new)

ARTICLE 28A. REFERENDUM FOR HELPING VETERANS

(10 ILCS 5/28A-1 new)

Sec. 28A-1. Local government initiative petition and referendum for helping veterans.

(a) In order to promote the welfare of veterans of our nation's armed forces, the electors of any unit of local government may pass, by initiative petition and referendum in the manner prescribed by this Article, a binding ordinance relating to the subjects set forth in subsection (b) that the corporate authorities of their unit of local government are empowered to pass.

(b) A binding ordinance relating to helping veterans of any branch of service in the armed forces of the United States may be proposed by a petition signed by the number of electors equal to at least 8% of the total votes cast for Governor at the last general election in the unit of local government. The petition shall contain the text of the proposed ordinance and the date of the general or consolidated election at which the proposed ordinance is to be submitted, shall have been signed by petitioning electors not more than 12 months preceding the general or consolidated election, and shall be filed with the clerk of the unit of local government at least 92 days before that election. Ordinances that may be proposed pursuant to this subsection (b) include, but are not limited to, measures that provide job training or employment opportunities for veterans, or other measures that enable veterans to access health services or other services and benefits. Any ordinance proposed pursuant to this subsection (b) that will require the imposition of a tax or fee of any kind, or the expenditure of any public funds, shall specify, in the text of the referendum question, the amount of any such tax, fee, or expenditure, on an annual basis.

(c) If the corporate authorities of the unit of local government, without amendment, pass the binding ordinance proposed by such a petition filed with the clerk of the unit of local government not less than 78 days prior to the regular or unit of local government election at which the petition specifies the proposed binding ordinance is to be submitted, then the proposed binding ordinance shall not be submitted to the electors of the unit of local government.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, petitions filed under this Article shall be governed by Article 28 of this Code.

(e) If no objection to a petition filed under subsection (b) is filed within 5 business days after such petition is filed, or if an objection is filed and the appropriate electoral official or board rules the petition sufficient, then the clerk of the unit of local government shall submit the petition to the election official or board for the unit of local government, and the election official or board shall order the proposed ordinance submitted to the electors of the unit of local government at the election specified in the petition.

(f) If, after the election official or board of the unit of local government orders the proposed ordinance to be submitted to the electors of the unit of local government, it determines that the proposed ordinance is too long to be printed in its entirety on the ballot, it shall ask the clerk of the unit of local government to provide a concise statement of its nature. The election official or board shall then cause either the entire proposed ordinance or the concise statement to be printed on the ballot together with a question permitting the elector to indicate approval or disapproval of adoption of the proposed ordinance.

(g) If a majority of those voting on the proposed ordinance indicate approval of its adoption, it shall be passed and have the same effect as if it had been passed by the corporate authorities of the unit of local government, except as provided in subsection (h).

(h) Ordinances adopted under this Article, either by approval of electors at an election or by passage by the corporate authorities under subsection (c), shall not be repealed or amended within 4 years after adoption except by vote of the electors.

(i) The corporate authorities of a unit of local government may submit to its electorate a proposition to repeal or amend an ordinance adopted under this Article at any election in conformance with Article 28 of this Code.