HB1131enr 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1131 Enrolled LRB103 05007 AWJ 50020 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act is amended by changing Section 4A-101 as follows:

(5 ILCS 420/4A-101) (from Ch. 127, par. 604A-101)

Sec. 4A-101. Persons required to file with the Secretary of State. The following persons shall file verified written statements of economic interests with the Secretary of State, as provided in this Article:

(a) Members of the General Assembly and candidates for nomination or election to the General Assembly.

(b) Persons holding an elected office in the Executive Branch of this State, and candidates for nomination or election to these offices.

(c) Members of a Commission or Board created by the Illinois Constitution, and candidates for nomination or election to such Commission or Board.

(d) Persons whose appointment to office is subject to confirmation by the Senate and persons appointed by the Governor to any other position on a board or commission described in subsection (a) of Section 15 of the Gubernatorial Boards and Commissions Act.

(e) Holders of, and candidates for nomination or election to, the office of judge or associate judge of the Circuit Court and the office of judge of the Appellate or Supreme Court.

(f) Persons who are employed by any branch, agency, authority or board of the government of this State, including but not limited to, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Illinois Community College Board, and institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, Board of Trustees of Chicago State University, Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, Board of Trustees of Governors State University, Board of Trustees of Illinois State University, Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University, or Board of Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, and are compensated for services as employees and not as independent contractors and who:

(1) are, or function as, the head of a department, commission, board, division, bureau, authority or other administrative unit within the government of this State, or who exercise similar authority within the government of this State;

(2) have direct supervisory authority over, or direct responsibility for the formulation, negotiation, issuance or execution of contracts entered into by the State in the amount of $5,000 or more;

(3) have authority for the issuance or promulgation of rules and regulations within areas under the authority of the State;

(4) have authority for the approval of professional licenses;

(5) have responsibility with respect to the financial inspection of regulated nongovernmental entities;

(6) adjudicate, arbitrate, or decide any judicial or administrative proceeding, or review the adjudication, arbitration or decision of any judicial or administrative proceeding within the authority of the State;

(7) have supervisory responsibility for 20 or more employees of the State;

(8) negotiate, assign, authorize, or grant naming rights or sponsorship rights regarding any property or asset of the State, whether real, personal, tangible, or intangible; or

(9) have responsibility with respect to the procurement of goods or services.

(f-5) Members of the board of commissioners of any flood prevention district created under the Flood Prevention District Act or the Beardstown Regional Flood Prevention District Act.

(g) (Blank).

(h) (Blank).

(i) (Blank).

(j) Persons on the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

(k) (Blank).

(l) Special government agents. A "special government agent" is a person who is directed, retained, designated, appointed, or employed, with or without compensation, by or on behalf of a statewide executive branch constitutional officer to make an ex parte communication under Section 5-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act or Section 5-165 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(m) (Blank).

(n) Members of the board of any retirement system or investment board established under the Illinois Pension Code, if not required to file under any other provision of this Section.

(o) (Blank).

(p) Members of the investment advisory panel created under Section 20 of the Illinois Prepaid Tuition Act.

(q) Persons serving as Executive Director or otherwise involved with directing the affairs of a Regional Development Authority. As used in this subsection, "Regional Development Authority" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1-5 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

This Section shall not be construed to prevent any unit of local government from enacting financial disclosure requirements that mandate more information than required by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 8-9-19.)

Section 10. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 1-5, 20-5, 20-10, 20-23, and 75-5 and changing the heading of Article 75 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 Development Authorities" means any person appointed to serve on the governing board of a Regional Development Authority.

"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, or a Regional Development Authority.

"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.

"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 Development Authority" means the following regional development authorities:

(1) the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority created by the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority Act;

(2) the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority created by the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act;

(3) the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority created by the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Act;

(4) the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority created by Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority Act, approved September 22, 1987;

(5) the Riverdale Development Authority created by the Riverdale Development Authority Act;

(6) the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority created by the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act;

(7) the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority created by the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act;

(8) the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority created by the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority Act;

(9) the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority created by the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority Law;

(10) the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority created by the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority Act;

(11) the Illinois Urban Development Authority created by the Illinois Urban Development Authority Act;

(12) the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority created by the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority Act; and

(13) the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority created by the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority Law.

"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.

(11) For employees of Regional Development Authorities, the appropriate Regional Development Authority.

(12) For board members of Regional Development Authorities, 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 430/20-5)

Sec. 20-5. Executive Ethics Commission.

(a) The Executive Ethics Commission is created.

(b) The Executive Ethics Commission shall consist of 9 commissioners. The Governor shall appoint 5 commissioners, and the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall each appoint one commissioner. Appointments shall be made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate by three-fifths of the elected members concurring by record vote. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 session days of the receipt thereof shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. If, during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office of commissioner, the appointing authority shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when the appointing authority shall make a nomination to fill that office. No person rejected for an office of commissioner shall, except by the Senate's request, be nominated again for that office at the same session of the Senate or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate. No more than 5 commissioners may be of the same political party.

The terms of the initial commissioners shall commence upon qualification. Four initial appointees of the Governor, as designated by the Governor, shall serve terms running through June 30, 2007. One initial appointee of the Governor, as designated by the Governor, and the initial appointees of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall serve terms running through June 30, 2008. The initial appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this Act.

After the initial terms, commissioners shall serve for 4-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment and running through June 30 of the fourth following year. Commissioners may be reappointed to one or more subsequent terms.

Vacancies occurring other than at the end of a term shall be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of the term of the commissioner whose office is vacant.

Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is filled.

(c) The appointing authorities shall appoint commissioners who have experience holding governmental office or employment and shall appoint commissioners from the general public. A person is not eligible to serve as a commissioner if that person (i) has been convicted of a felony or a crime of dishonesty or moral turpitude, (ii) is, or was within the preceding 12 months, engaged in activities that require registration under the Lobbyist Registration Act, (iii) is related to the appointing authority, or (iv) is a State officer or employee.

(d) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all officers and employees of State agencies other than 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, the legislative support services agencies, and the Office of the Auditor General. The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all board members and employees of Regional Transit Boards and all board members and employees of Regional Development Authorities. The jurisdiction of the Commission is limited to matters arising under this Act, except as provided in subsection (d-5).

A member or legislative branch State employee serving on an executive branch board or commission remains subject to the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics Commission and is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission.

(d-5) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all chief procurement officers and procurement compliance monitors and their respective staffs. The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over any matters arising under the Illinois Procurement Code if the Commission is given explicit authority in that Code.

(d-6) (1) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over the Illinois Power Agency and its staff. The Director of the Agency shall be appointed by a majority of the commissioners of the Executive Ethics Commission, subject to Senate confirmation, for a term of 2 years. The Director is removable for cause by a majority of the Commission upon a finding of neglect, malfeasance, absence, or incompetence.

(2) In case of a vacancy in the office of Director of the Illinois Power Agency during a recess of the Senate, the Executive Ethics Commission may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate, at which time the Executive Ethics Commission shall nominate some person to fill the office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Executive Ethics Commission from removing a temporary appointee or from appointing a temporary appointee as the Director of the Illinois Power Agency.

(3) Prior to June 1, 2012, the Executive Ethics Commission may, until the Director of the Illinois Power Agency is appointed and qualified or a temporary appointment is made pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, designate some person as an acting Director to execute the powers and discharge the duties vested by law in that Director. An acting Director shall serve no later than 60 calendar days, or upon the making of an appointment pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, whichever is earlier. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the Executive Ethics Commission from removing an acting Director or from appointing an acting Director as the Director of the Illinois Power Agency.

(4) No person rejected by the Senate for the office of Director of the Illinois Power Agency shall, except at the Senate's request, be nominated again for that office at the same session or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate.

(d-7) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over complainants and respondents in violation of subsection (d) of Section 20-90.

(e) The Executive Ethics Commission must meet, either in person or by other technological means, at least monthly and as often as necessary. At the first meeting of the Executive Ethics Commission, the commissioners shall choose from their number a chairperson and other officers that they deem appropriate. The terms of officers shall be for 2 years commencing July 1 and running through June 30 of the second following year. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson or any 3 commissioners. Official action by the Commission shall require the affirmative vote of 5 commissioners, and a quorum shall consist of 5 commissioners. Commissioners shall receive compensation in an amount equal to the compensation of members of the State Board of Elections and may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.

(f) No commissioner or employee of the Executive Ethics Commission may during his or her term of appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any other elected or appointed public office except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by law;

(3) be actively involved in the affairs of any political party or political organization; or

(4) advocate for the appointment of another person to an appointed or elected office or position or actively participate in any campaign for any elective office.

(g) An appointing authority may remove a commissioner only for cause.

(h) The Executive Ethics Commission shall appoint an Executive Director. The compensation of the Executive Director shall be as determined by the Commission. The Executive Director of the Executive Ethics Commission may employ and determine the compensation of staff, as appropriations permit.

(i) The Executive Ethics Commission shall appoint, by a majority of the members appointed to the Commission, chief procurement officers and may appoint procurement compliance monitors in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Procurement Code. The compensation of a chief procurement officer and procurement compliance monitor shall be determined by the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 100-43, eff. 8-9-17; 101-221, eff. 8-9-19; 101-617, eff. 12-20-19.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-10)

Sec. 20-10. Offices of Executive Inspectors General.

(a) Five independent Offices of the Executive Inspector General are created, one each for the Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer. Each Office shall be under the direction and supervision of an Executive Inspector General and shall be a fully independent office with separate appropriations.

(b) The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall each appoint an Executive Inspector General, without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability. Appointments shall be made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate by three-fifths of the elected members concurring by record vote. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 session days of the receipt thereof shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. If, during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office of Executive Inspector General, the appointing authority shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when the appointing authority shall make a nomination to fill that office. No person rejected for an office of Executive Inspector General shall, except by the Senate's request, be nominated again for that office at the same session of the Senate or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate.

Nothing in this Article precludes the appointment by the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, or Treasurer of any other inspector general required or permitted by law. The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer each may appoint an existing inspector general as the Executive Inspector General required by this Article, provided that such an inspector general is not prohibited by law, rule, jurisdiction, qualification, or interest from serving as the Executive Inspector General required by this Article. An appointing authority may not appoint a relative as an Executive Inspector General.

Each Executive Inspector General shall have the following qualifications:

(1) has not been convicted of any felony under the laws of this State, another State, or the United States;

(2) has earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education; and

(3) has 5 or more years of cumulative service (A) with a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, at least 2 years of which have been in a progressive investigatory capacity; (B) as a federal, State, or local prosecutor; (C) as a senior manager or executive of a federal, State, or local agency; (D) as a member, an officer, or a State or federal judge; or (E) representing any combination of items (A) through (D).

The term of each initial Executive Inspector General shall commence upon qualification and shall run through June 30, 2008. The initial appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this Act.

After the initial term, each Executive Inspector General shall serve for 5-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment and running through June 30 of the fifth following year. An Executive Inspector General may be reappointed to one or more subsequent terms.

A vacancy occurring other than at the end of a term shall be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of the term of the Executive Inspector General whose office is vacant.

Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is filled.

(c) The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Attorney General shall have jurisdiction over the Attorney General and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of State shall have jurisdiction over the Secretary of State and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Comptroller shall have jurisdiction over the Comptroller and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Comptroller. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Treasurer shall have jurisdiction over the Treasurer and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Treasurer. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall have jurisdiction over (i) the Governor, (ii) the Lieutenant Governor, (iii) all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, executive branch State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and not within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, or the Treasurer, and (iv) all board members and employees of the Regional Transit Boards and all vendors and others doing business with the Regional Transit Boards, and (v) all board members and employees of the Regional Development Authorities and all vendors and others doing business with the Regional Development Authorities.

The jurisdiction of each Executive Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of this Act or violations of other related laws and rules.

Each Executive Inspector General shall have jurisdiction over complainants in violation of subsection (e) of Section 20-63 for disclosing a summary report prepared by the respective Executive Inspector General.

(d) The compensation for each Executive Inspector General shall be determined by the Executive Ethics Commission and shall be provided from appropriations made to the Comptroller for this purpose. For terms of office beginning on or after July 1, 2023, each Executive Inspector General shall receive, on July 1 of each year, beginning on July 1, 2024, an increase in salary based on a cost of living adjustment as authorized by Senate Joint Resolution 192 of the 86th General Assembly. Subject to Section 20-45 of this Act, each Executive Inspector General has full authority to organize his or her Office of the Executive Inspector General, including the employment and determination of the compensation of staff, such as deputies, assistants, and other employees, as appropriations permit. A separate appropriation shall be made for each Office of Executive Inspector General.

(e) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General may, during his or her term of appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any other elected or appointed public office except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by law;

(3) be actively involved in the affairs of any political party or political organization; or

(4) advocate for the appointment of another person to an appointed or elected office or position or actively participate in any campaign for any elective office.

In this subsection an appointed public office means a position authorized by law that is filled by an appointing authority as provided by law and does not include employment by hiring in the ordinary course of business.

(e-1) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General may, for one year after the termination of his or her appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any elected public office; or

(3) hold any appointed State, county, or local judicial office.

(e-2) The requirements of item (3) of subsection (e-1) may be waived by the Executive Ethics Commission.

(f) An Executive Inspector General may be removed only for cause and may be removed only by the appointing constitutional officer. At the time of the removal, the appointing constitutional officer must report to the Executive Ethics Commission the justification for the removal.

(Source: P.A. 101-221, eff. 8-9-19; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-1115, eff. 1-9-23.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-23)

Sec. 20-23. Ethics Officers. Each officer and the head of each State agency under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission shall designate an Ethics Officer for the office or State agency. The board of each Regional Transit Board shall designate an Ethics Officer for the Regional Transit Board, and the board of each Regional Development Authority shall designate an Ethics Officer for the Regional Development Authority. Ethics Officers shall:

(1) act as liaisons between the State agency, or Regional Transit Board , or Regional Development Authority and the appropriate Executive Inspector General and between the State agency, or Regional Transit Board, or Regional Development Authority and the Executive Ethics Commission;

(2) review statements of economic interest and disclosure forms of officers, senior employees, and contract monitors before they are filed with the Secretary of State; and

(3) provide guidance to officers and employees in the interpretation and implementation of this Act, which the officer or employee may in good faith rely upon. Such guidance shall be based, wherever possible, upon legal precedent in court decisions, opinions of the Attorney General, and the findings and opinions of the Executive Ethics Commission.

(Source: P.A. 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11.)

(5 ILCS 430/Art. 75 heading)

ARTICLE 75. REGIONAL TRANSIT BOARDS

AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES

(Source: P.A. 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11.)

(5 ILCS 430/75-5)

Sec. 75-5. Application of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to the Regional Transit Boards and Regional Development Authorities.

(a) The Beginning July 1, 2011, the provisions of Articles 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 of this Act, as well as this Article, shall apply to the Regional Transit Boards and Regional Development Authorities. As used in Articles 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 75, (i) "appointee" and "officer" include a person appointed to serve on the board of a Regional Transit Board or a board of a Regional Development Authority, and (ii) "employee" and "State employee" include: (A) a full-time, part-time, or contractual employee of a Regional Transit Board or a Regional Development Authority; and (B) Authority leaders of a Regional Development Authority. As used in this subsection, "Authority leader" has the meaning given to that term in the various Acts and Laws creating the Regional Development Authorities.

(b) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all board members and employees of the Regional Transit Boards and Regional Development Authorities. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall have jurisdiction over all board members, employees, vendors, and others doing business with the Regional Transit Boards and Regional Development Authorities to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-1528, eff. 7-1-11.)

Section 15. The Central Illinois Economic Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 70 and by adding Sections 21 and 22 as follows:

(70 ILCS 504/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Authority" means the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, or local governmental body and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"City" means any city, village, incorporated town, or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

"Industrial project" means the following:

(1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, ethanol plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, port facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefore whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or

(2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Commercial project" means any project, including, but not limited to, one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment, whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses fall within one of the categories described above. Any project automatically includes all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement in which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use, or cause the project to be used, as a project, upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority, issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement in which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued with respect to a project, to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project, upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other terms deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project, through the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following:

(1) the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for the construction;

(2) financing charges;

(3) interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter;

(4) engineering and legal expenses; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 504/15)

Sec. 15. Creation.

(a) There is created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation named the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of the following counties: Macon, Sangamon, Menard, Logan, Christian, DeWitt, Macoupin, Montgomery, Calhoun, Greene, and Jersey and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 15 members as follows:

(1) Ex officio members. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or a designee of that Department, shall serve as an ex officio member.

(2) Public members. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The county board chairperson of the following counties shall each appoint one member: Macon, Sangamon, Menard, Logan, Christian, DeWitt, Macoupin, Montgomery, Calhoun, Greene, and Jersey. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, state or local government, commercial agriculture, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic or community organization.

(c) 8 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(d) The chairperson of the Authority shall be elected annually by the Board and must be a public member that resides within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority.

(e) The terms of all initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 3 original public members appointed by the Governor, 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009. The initial terms of the original public members appointed by the county board chairpersons shall be determined by lot, according to the following schedule: (i) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007, (ii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008, (iii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009, and (iv) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2010. All successors to these original public members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and all appointments made by the Governor shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to subsection (b), and shall hold office for a term of 6 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority are not entitled to compensation for their services as members but are entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(f) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by the Governor or a predecessor Governor in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The chairperson of a county board may remove any public member appointed by that chairperson or a predecessor county board chairperson in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate, or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members, and receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall pay the compensation of the Executive Director from appropriations received for that purpose. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority. However, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of the Illinois Finance Authority, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants if the Central Illinois Economic Development Authority deems it advisable.

(Source: P.A. 94-995, eff. 7-3-06.)

(70 ILCS 504/21 new)

Sec. 21. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(g) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 504/22 new)

Sec. 22. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 504/70)

Sec. 70. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 94-995, eff. 7-3-06.)

Section 20. The Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 70 and by adding Sections 21 and 22 as follows:

(70 ILCS 506/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act:

"Authority" means the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, or local governmental body and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"City" means any city, village, incorporated town, or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

"Industrial project" means the following:

(1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, ethanol plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, port facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefore whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or

(2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of lands, buildings, and community facilities, and to provide non-housing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Commercial project" means any project, including, but not limited to, one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment, whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses fall within one of the categories described above. Any project automatically includes all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement in which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use, or cause the project to be used, as a project, upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority, issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement in which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued with respect to a project, to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project, upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other terms deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project, through the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following:

(1) the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for the construction;

(2) financing charges;

(3) interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter;

(4) engineering and legal expenses; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 506/15)

Sec. 15. Creation.

(a) There is created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation named the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of the following counties: Ford, Iroquois, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby, Coles, and Edgar and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 14 members as follows:

(1) Ex officio members. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or a designee of that Department, shall serve as an ex officio member.

(2) Public members. Three members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The county board chairperson of the following counties shall each appoint one member: Ford, Iroquois, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Douglas, Moultrie, Shelby, Coles, and Edgar. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, state or local government, commercial agriculture, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic or community organization.

(c) A majority of the members appointed under item (2) of subsection (b) of this Section shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(d) The chairperson of the Authority shall be elected annually by the Board and must be a public member that resides within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority.

(e) The terms of all initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 3 original public members appointed by the Governor, 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2006; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008. The initial terms of the original public members appointed by the county board chairpersons shall be determined by lot, according to the following schedule: (i) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2006, (ii) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007, (iii) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008, (iv) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009, and (v) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2010. All successors to these original public members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and all appointments made by the Governor shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to subsection (b), and shall hold office for a term of 6 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority are not entitled to compensation for their services as members but are entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(f) The Governor or a county board chairperson, as the case may be, may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The chairperson of a county board may remove any public member appointed by that chairperson in the case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate, or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members, and receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall pay the compensation of the Executive Director from appropriations received for that purpose. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority. However, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of the Illinois Finance Authority, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants if the Eastern Illinois Economic Development Authority deems it advisable.

(Source: P.A. 94-203, eff. 7-13-05; 95-854, eff. 8-18-08.)

(70 ILCS 506/21 new)

Sec. 21. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 506/22 new)

Sec. 22. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 506/70)

Sec. 70. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 94-203, eff. 7-13-05.)

Section 25. The Joliet Arsenal Development Authority Act is amended by changing Section 50 and by adding Sections 10.75, 10.80, 20, 21, and 22 as follows:

(70 ILCS 508/10.75 new)

Sec. 10.75. Authority leader. "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(70 ILCS 508/10.80 new)

Sec. 10.80. Restricted person. "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(70 ILCS 508/20)

Sec. 20. Actions of the Authority. All official acts of the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of at least 6 members of the Board at a meeting of the Board at which the members casting those affirmative votes are present. It is the duty of the Authority to promote development within its territorial jurisdiction. The Authority shall use the powers conferred on it by this Act to assist in the development, construction, and acquisition of industrial or commercial projects within its territorial jurisdiction.

6 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(Source: P.A. 89-333, eff. 8-17-95.)

(70 ILCS 508/21 new)

Sec. 21. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 508/22 new)

Sec. 22. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 508/50)

Sec. 50. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 89-333, eff. 8-17-95.)

Section 30. The Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority Act, approved September 22, 1987 is amended by changing Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 14 as follows:

(70 ILCS 510/3) (from Ch. 85, par. 6203)

Sec. 3. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

(a) "Authority" means the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority created by this Act.

(a-5) "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(b) "Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

(c) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

(c-5) "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(d) "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

(e) "Board" means the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority Board of Directors.

(f) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

(g) "City" means any city, village, incorporated town or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

(h) "Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

(i) "Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

(j) "Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, velodromes, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities and port facilities.

(k) "Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial or service project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of the categories described above. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways and runways.

(l) "Lease agreement" shall mean an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift or lease is leased to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

(m) "Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

(n) "Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project.

(o) "Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(p) "Terminal" means a public place, station or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on water or land or in the air.

(q) "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing, taking off and navigation of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport.

(r) "Port facilities" means all public structures, except terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over, under or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the widening and deepening of slips, harbors and navigable waters.

(s) "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft or for the location of runways, landing fields, aerodromes, hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways and other facilities.

(Source: P.A. 85-713.)

(70 ILCS 510/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 6204)

Sec. 4. (a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson, Lee, Rock Island, Henry, Knox, and Mercer, Winnebago, and Boone counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 18 16 members including, as an ex officio member, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee. The other members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 6 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Of the 6 members appointed by the Governor, one shall be from a city within the Authority's territory with a population of 25,000 or more and the remainder shall be appointed at large. Of the 6 members appointed by the Governor, 2 members shall have business or finance experience. One member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairmen of Rock Island, Henry, Knox, and Mercer, Winnebago, and Boone Counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, one additional public member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairpersons of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson, and Lee counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Of the public members added by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, one shall serve for a one-year term, 2 shall serve for 2-year terms, and 2 shall serve for 3-year terms, to be determined by lot. Their successors shall serve for 3-year terms. Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, one additional public member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairperson of Winnebago and Boone counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Of the public members added by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, one shall serve for a 2-year term and one shall serve for a 3-year term, to be determined by lot. Their successors shall serve for 3-year terms. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Ten Nine members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be a public member elected by the affirmative vote of not fewer than 10 6 members of the Authority, except that any chairperson elected on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall be elected by the affirmative vote of not fewer than 9 members. The term of the Chairman shall be one year.

(c) The terms of the initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act, except (i) the terms of those members added by this amendatory Act of 1989 shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989 and (ii) the terms of those members added by this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly. Of the 10 public members appointed pursuant to this Act, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1989, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1990, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1991, 2 (both of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1992, and 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and one of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Knox County) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2004. The initial terms of the members appointed by the county board chairmen (other than the county board chairman of Knox County) shall be determined by lot. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by the Governor in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The Chairman of a county board may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by such Chairman in the case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the territory within the jurisdiction of this Act. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 97-278, eff. 8-8-11; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13.)

(70 ILCS 510/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 6205)

Sec. 5. Conflicts of interest; requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests. Interest. Members or employees of authority - conflicting relations or interests - effects.

(a) No member of the Authority or officer, agent or employee thereof other than the representatives of a professional sports team shall, in his or her own name or in the name of a nominee, be an officer, director or hold an ownership interest of more than 7-1/2% in any person, association, trust, corporation, partnership or other entity which is, in its own name or in the name of a nominee, a party to a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote.

(b) With respect to any direct or any indirect interest, other than an interest prohibited in subsection (a), in a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote, a member of the Authority or officer, agent or employee thereof shall disclose the same to the secretary of the Authority prior to the taking of final action by the Authority concerning such contract or agreement and shall so disclose the nature and extent of such interest and his or her acquisition thereof, which disclosures shall be publicly acknowledged by the Authority and entered upon the minutes of the Authority. If a member of the Authority or officer, agent or employee thereof holds such an interest then he or she shall refrain from any further official involvement in regard to such contract or agreement, from voting on any matter pertaining to such contract or agreement, and from communicating with other members of the Authority or its officers, agents and employees concerning said contract or agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any contract or agreement entered into in conformity with this subsection (b) shall not be void or invalid by reason of the interest described in this subsection, nor shall any person so disclosing the interest and refraining from further official involvement as provided in this subsection be guilty of an offense, be removed from office or be subject to any other penalty on account of such interest.

(c) Any contract or agreement made in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this Section shall be null and void and give rise to no action against the Authority. No real estate to which a member or employee of the Authority holds legal title or in which such person has any beneficial interest, including any interest in a land trust, shall be purchased by the Authority or by a nonprofit corporation or limited-profit entity for a development to be financed under this Act. All members and employees of the Authority shall file annually with the Authority a record of all real estate in this State of which such person holds legal title or in which such person has any beneficial interest, including any interest in a land trust. In the event it is later disclosed that the Authority has purchased real estate in which a member or employee had an interest, such purchase shall be voidable by the Authority and the member or employee involved shall be disqualified from membership in or employment by the Authority.

(d) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(e) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(f) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(g) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(Source: P.A. 85-713.)

(70 ILCS 510/6) (from Ch. 85, par. 6206)

Sec. 6. Records, and reports, and notices of the Authority. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Authority. The treasurer of the Authority shall be custodian of all Authority funds, and shall be bonded in such amount as the other members of the Authority may designate. The accounts and bonds of the Authority shall be set up and maintained in a manner approved by the Auditor General, and the Authority shall file with the Auditor General a certified annual report within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year. The Authority shall also file with the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, by March 1 of each year, a written report covering its activities and any activities of any instrumentality corporation established pursuant to this Act for the previous fiscal year. In its report to be filed by March 1, 1988, the Authority shall present an economic development strategy for the Quad Cities region for the year beginning July 1, 1988 and for the 4 years next ensuing. In each annual report thereafter, the Authority shall make modifications in such economic development strategy for the 4 years beginning on the next ensuing July 1, to reflect changes in economic conditions or other factors, including the policies of the Authority and the State of Illinois. It also shall present an economic development strategy for the fifth year beginning after the next ensuing July 1. The strategy shall recommend specific legislative and administrative action by the State, the Authority, units of local government or other governmental agencies. Such recommendations may include, but are not limited to, new programs, modifications to existing programs, credit enhancements for bonds issued by the Authority, and amendments to this Act. When filed, such report shall be a public record and open for inspection at the offices of the Authority during normal business hours.

The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

(70 ILCS 510/14) (from Ch. 85, par. 6214)

Sec. 14. Additional powers and duties.

(a) The Authority may, but need not, acquire title to any project with respect to which it exercises its authority.

(b) The Authority shall have the power to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the State of Illinois, the counties of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson, Lee, Knox, Winnebago, Boone, Rock Island, Henry, or Mercer, the State of Iowa or any authority established by the State of Iowa, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the United States government and any agency or instrumentality of the United States, any unit of local government located within the territory of the Authority or any other unit of government to the extent allowed by Article VII, Section 10 of the Illinois Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act.

(c) The Authority shall have the power to share employees with other units of government, including agencies of the United States, agencies of the State of Illinois and agencies or personnel of any unit of local government.

(d) The Authority shall have the power to exercise powers and issue bonds as if it were a municipality so authorized in Divisions 12.1, 74, 74.1, 74.3 and 74.5 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)"; and

Section 35. The Riverdale Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 10, 15, and 45 and by adding Sections 21 and 22 as follows:

(70 ILCS 516/10)

Sec. 10. Definitions. In this Act words and phrases have the meanings set forth in this Section.

"Authority" means the Riverdale Development Authority created by this Act.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Authority.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition, or improvement of a project" means: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and related improvements, together with the equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired that are deemed necessary for the construction; the costs of environmental suits, studies and analyses and subsequent clean-up activities necessary to qualify the area as needing no further remediation; financing charges; interest costs with respect to revenue bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 36 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the project in operation.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition, or improvement of a project.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, county or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement under which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or governmental agency that will use or cause the project to be used as a project upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due the lessee's pro rata share of all principal and interest and premium, if any, on any revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority, and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement by which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or governmental agency that will use or cause the project to be used as a project upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due the borrower's pro rata share of all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority, and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Person" includes without limitation an individual, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association, and any other legal entity, including a trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative of the entity.

"Project" means an industrial, commercial, freight-oriented or residential project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of those categories, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or any land, buildings, machinery, or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation, or improvement of any existing capital project. Any project shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking, and similar facilities, parking facilities, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, intermodal facilities, switching and signaling equipment, or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment, and disposal facilities, open spaces, streets, highways, and runways.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" or "bond" means any bond issued by the Authority under the supervision of the Illinois Finance Authority, the principal and interest of which are payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Terminal" means a public place, station, or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight, or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on land.

"Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment, and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage, and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing, or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by land.

(Source: P.A. 94-1093, eff. 1-26-07.)

(70 ILCS 516/15)

Sec. 15. Creation of Authority; Board members; officers.

(a) The Riverdale Development Authority is created as a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation.

(b) The jurisdiction of the Authority shall extend over the approximately 1,200 acres (1.87 sq. miles), more or less, of largely industrial, commercial and residential property located between and adjacent to the CSX's Barr Yard and IHB's Blue Island Yard, exclusive of those yards and other rail lines and utility property, but including: the property generally bounded by I-57 on the west; east along Jackson Street and Indian Boundary Line to Halsted Avenue; south on Halsted to Forestview Avenue continuing east to the Norfolk Southern Railway; north along the Norfolk Southern Railway to the Little Calumet River, east along the River to the northeastern tip of the peninsula crossing the River at the height of 130th Street to the Canadian National-Illinois Central Railroad property line continuing south along the rail line and crossing the River again; east along the River to Indiana Avenue; south to 136th Street; west on 136th Street to the Norfolk Southern Railway then northwest to the northern boundary of Mohawk Park at the height of Blue Island-Riverdale Road and thence west on Blue Island-Riverdale Road to the eastern edge of the Commonwealth Edison easement at the height of Stewart Avenue and then south on Stewart Avenue to 142nd Street; west on 142nd Street continuing along the southern boundary of the IHB Blue Island Yard following this boundary line west to I-57.

(c) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in its Board of Directors consisting of 5 members, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor of Riverdale and 2 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. All persons appointed as members of the Board shall have recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, business management, real estate, community development, organized labor, or civic, community, or neighborhood organization.

(d) The terms of the 5 initial appointees to the Authority shall commence 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 5 appointees initially appointed (i) one of Riverdale's appointees and one of the Governor's appointees shall be appointed to serve terms expiring on the third Monday in January, 2009; (ii) one of Riverdale's appointees shall be appointed to serve a term expiring on the third Monday in January, 2010; and (iii) one of Riverdale's appointees and 1 of the Governor's appointees shall be appointed to serve terms expiring on the third Monday in January, 2011. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 4 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies shall be filled for the remainder of the term. Each member appointed to the Board shall serve until his or her successor is appointed and qualified.

(e) The Chairperson of the Board shall be elected by the Board annually from among its members.

(f) The appointing authority may remove any member of the Board in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) Members of the Board shall serve without compensation for their services as members but may be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(h) The Board may appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in administration, planning, real estate, economic development, finance, or law. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board, and shall receive compensation fixed by the Board. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Board; however, no action of the Board or the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Board may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including planners, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(i) The Board shall meet on the call of its Chairperson or upon written notice of 3 members of the Board. 3 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(j) All official acts of the Authority shall require the affirmative vote of at least 3 of the members of the Board present and voting at a meeting of the Board.

(Source: P.A. 94-1093, eff. 1-26-07.)

(70 ILCS 516/21 new)

Sec. 21. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 516/22 new)

Sec. 22. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 516/45)

Sec. 45. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall, annually, submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall, annually, submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 94-1093, eff. 1-26-07.)

Section 40. The Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, and 70 and by adding Sections 26 and 27 as follows:

(70 ILCS 518/15)

Sec. 15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Authority" means the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, or local governmental body and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"City" means any city, village, incorporated town, or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

"Industrial project" means the following:

(1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, ethanol plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, power generation facility, mining operation, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, tourism-related facilities, including hotels, theaters, water parks, and amusement parks, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefore whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or

(2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Commercial project" means any project, including, but not limited to, one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment, whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency, or health facility or retirement facility.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses fall within one of the categories described above. Any project automatically includes all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement in which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use, or cause the project to be used, as a project, upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority, issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement in which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued with respect to a project, to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project, upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other terms deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project, through the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following:

(1) the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for the construction;

(2) financing charges;

(3) interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter;

(4) engineering and legal expenses; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 518/20)

Sec. 20. Creation.

(a) There is created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation named the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of the following counties: Fayette, Cumberland, Clark, Effingham, Jasper, Crawford, Marion, Clay, Richland, Lawrence, Jefferson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Hamilton, and White; Irvington Township in Washington County; and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 27 members as follows:

(1) Public members. Nine members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The county board chairmen of the following counties shall each appoint one member: Clark, Clay, Crawford, Cumberland, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Hamilton, Jasper, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marion, Richland, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, and White.

(2) One member shall be appointed by the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, state or local government, commercial agriculture, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic or community organization.

(c) Fourteen members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(d) The chairman of the Authority shall be elected annually by the Board.

(e) The terms of the initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 10 original members appointed by the Governor and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity pursuant to subsection (b), one shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2005; one shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2006; 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007; 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008; 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009; and 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2010. The terms of the initial public members of the Authority appointed by the county board chairmen shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. The terms of the initial public members appointed by the county board chairmen shall be determined by lot, according to the following schedule: (i) 4 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2013, (ii) 4 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2014, (iii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2015, (iv) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2016, and (v) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2017. All successors to these initial members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority pursuant to subsection (b), and shall hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of a vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority are not entitled to compensation for their services as members but are entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members. Members of the Board may participate in Board meetings by teleconference or video conference.

(f) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by the Governor, and the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may remove any member appointed by the Director, in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The chairman of a county board, with the approval of a majority vote of the county board, may remove any public member appointed by that chairman in the case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate, or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members, and receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority. However, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of the Illinois Finance Authority, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants, if the Southeastern Illinois Economic Development Authority deems it advisable.

(Source: P.A. 97-717, eff. 6-29-12.)

(70 ILCS 518/26 new)

Sec. 26. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 518/27 new)

Sec. 27. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 518/70)

Sec. 70. Reports; commitment notice and audit.

(a) The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

(b) (Blank).

(c) The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

Section 45. The Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 5-15, 5-20, and 5-75 and by adding Sections 5-26 and 5-27 as follows:

(70 ILCS 519/5-15)

Sec. 5-15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Authority" means the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, or local governmental body and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"City" means any city, village, incorporated town, or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

"Industrial project" means the following:

(1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, ethanol plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, port facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefore whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or

(2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Commercial project" means any project, including, but not limited to, one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment, whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses fall within one of the categories described above. Any project automatically includes all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement in which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use, or cause the project to be used, as a project, upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority, issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement in which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued with respect to a project, to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project, upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other terms deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project, through the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following:

(1) the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for the construction;

(2) financing charges;

(3) interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter;

(4) engineering and legal expenses; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 519/5-20)

Sec. 5-20. Creation.

(a) There is created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation named the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of the following counties: Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 21 members as follows:

(1) Ex officio member. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or a designee of that Department, shall serve as an ex officio member.

(2) Public members. Six members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The county board chairmen of the following counties shall each appoint one member: Franklin, Perry, Randolph, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin, Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski, and Massac. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, state or local government, commercial agriculture, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic or community organization.

(c) 11 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(d) The chairman of the Authority shall be elected annually by the Board and must be a public member that resides within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority.

(e) The terms of all initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 6 original public members appointed by the Governor, 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2010; and 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2011. The initial terms of the original public members appointed by the county board chairmen shall be determined by lot, according to the following schedule: (i) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007, (ii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008, (iii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009, (iv) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2010, and (v) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2011. All successors to these original public members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and all appointments made by the Governor shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to subsection (b), and shall hold office for a term of 6 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority are not entitled to compensation for their services as members but are entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(f) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The chairman of a county board may remove any public member appointed by that chairman in the case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate, or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members, and receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs shall pay the compensation of the Executive Director from appropriations received for that purpose. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority. However, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of the Illinois Finance Authority, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants if the Southern Illinois Economic Development Authority deems it advisable.

(Source: P.A. 94-1021, eff. 7-12-06.)

(70 ILCS 519/5-26 new)

Sec. 5-26. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 519/5-27 new)

Sec. 5-27. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 519/5-75)

Sec. 5-75. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 94-1021, eff. 7-12-06.)

Section 50. The Southwestern Illinois Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11.1 and by adding Sections 5.1 and 6.1 as follows:

(70 ILCS 520/3) (from Ch. 85, par. 6153)

Sec. 3. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

(a) "Authority" means the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority created by this Act.

(a-5) "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(b) "Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

(c) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

(c-5) "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(d) "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

(e) "Board" means the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority Board of Directors.

(f) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

(g) "City" means any city, village, incorporated town or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

(h) "Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

(i) "Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

(j) "Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, velodromes, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities and port facilities.

(k) "Unit of local government" means a unit of local government, as defined in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution, and any local public entity as that term is defined in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act and such unit of local government or local public entity is located within the geographical territory of the Authority or, for the purposes of the Flood Prevention District Act, is located within Monroe County, Illinois.

(l) "Local government project" means a project or other undertaking that is authorized or required by law to be acquired, constructed, reconstructed, equipped, improved, rehabilitated, replaced, maintained, or otherwise undertaken in any manner by a unit of local government.

(m) "Local government security" means a bond, note, or other evidence of indebtedness that a unit of local government is legally authorized to issue for the purpose of financing a public purpose project or to issue for any other lawful public purpose under any provision of the Illinois Constitution or laws of this State, whether the obligation is payable from taxes or revenues, rates, charges, assessments, appropriations, grants, or any other lawful source or combination thereof, and specifically includes, without limitation, obligations under any lease or lease purchase agreement lawfully entered into by the unit of local government for the acquisition or use of facilities or equipment.

(n) "Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, local government, or service project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of the categories described above. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways and runways.

(o) "Lease agreement" shall mean an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift or lease is leased to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

(p) "Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

(q) "Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project.

(r) "Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(s) "Terminal" means a public place, station or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on water or land or in the air.

(t) "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing, taking off and navigation of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport.

(u) "Port facilities" means all public structures, except terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over, under or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the widening and deepening of slips, harbors and navigable waters.

(v) "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft or for the location of runways, landing fields, aerodromes, hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways and other facilities.

(Source: P.A. 95-723, eff. 6-23-08.)

(70 ILCS 520/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 6154)

Sec. 4. (a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Southwestern Illinois Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of Madison, St. Clair, Bond, and Clinton, and Monroe counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 15 voting 14 members including, as ex officio members, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee. The other 13 voting 12 members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 6 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Madison County, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of St. Clair County, one of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Bond County, and one of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Clinton County, and one of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Monroe County. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Eight voting members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be elected by the Board annually from the voting members appointed by the county board chairmen.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the The terms of all members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 8 public members initially appointed pursuant to this Act, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1988, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1989, and 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1990. The public members initially appointed under this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008. The member initially appointed pursuant to this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly by the county board chairman of Monroe County shall serve until the third Monday in January 2026. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority; however, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board may, by majority vote, nominate up to 4 non-voting members for appointment by the Governor. Non-voting members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic, community, or neighborhood organization. Non-voting members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All non-voting members may attend meetings of the Board and shall be reimbursed as provided in subsection (c).

(g) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the city of East St. Louis and on the economic development of the riverfront within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. The members of the task force shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 96-443, eff. 8-14-09.)

(70 ILCS 520/5) (from Ch. 85, par. 6155)

Sec. 5. All official acts of the Authority shall require the approval of at least 8 voting members. It shall be the duty of the Authority to promote development within the geographic confines of Madison, Bond, Clinton, and St. Clair, and Monroe counties. The Authority shall use the powers herein conferred upon it to assist in the development, construction and acquisition of industrial, commercial, housing or residential projects within Madison, Bond, Clinton, and St. Clair, and Monroe counties.

(Source: P.A. 94-1096, eff. 6-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 520/5.1 new)

Sec. 5.1. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 520/6.1 new)

Sec. 6.1. Commitment notice. The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(70 ILCS 520/8) (from Ch. 85, par. 6158)

Sec. 8. (a) The Authority may, but need not, acquire title to any project with respect to which it exercises its authority.

(b) The Authority shall have power to acquire by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise any property or rights therein from any person or persons, the State of Illinois, any municipal corporation, any local unit of government, the government of the United States and any agency or instrumentality of the United States, any body politic or any county useful for its purposes, whether improved for the purposes of any prospective project or unimproved. The Authority may also accept any donation of funds for its purposes from any such source. The Authority may acquire any real property, or rights therein, upon condemnation. The acquisition by eminent domain of such real property or any interest therein by the Authority shall be in the manner provided by the Eminent Domain Act, including Article 20 thereof (quick-take power).

The Authority shall not exercise any quick-take eminent domain powers granted by State law within the corporate limits of a municipality unless the governing authority of the municipality authorizes the Authority to do so. The Authority shall not exercise any quick-take eminent domain powers granted by State law within the unincorporated areas of a county unless the county board authorizes the Authority to do so.

(c) The Authority shall have power to develop, construct and improve, either under its own direction or through collaboration with any approved applicant, or to acquire through purchase or otherwise any project, using for such purpose the proceeds derived from its sale of revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness or governmental loans or grants and to hold title in the name of the Authority to such projects.

(d) The Authority shall have the power to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the State of Illinois, the counties of Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, and or St. Clair, the Southwest Regional Port District, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the United States government and any agency or instrumentality of the United States, the city of East St. Louis, any unit of local government located within the territory of the Authority or any other unit of government to the extent allowed by Article VII, Section 10 of the Illinois Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act.

(e) The Authority shall have the power to share employees with other units of government, including agencies of the United States, agencies of the State of Illinois and agencies or personnel of any unit of local government.

(f) The Authority shall have the power to exercise powers and issue bonds as if it were a municipality so authorized in Divisions 12.1, 74, 74.1, 74.3 and 74.5 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04; 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 520/11.1) (from Ch. 85, par. 6161.1)

Sec. 11.1. (a) No member of the Authority or officer, agent, or employee of the Authority shall, in his or her own name or in the name of a nominee, be an officer or director of or hold an ownership of more than 7.5% in any person, association, trust, corporation, partnership, or other entity that is, in its own name or in the name of a nominee, a party to a contract or agreement upon which the member, officer, agent, or employee may be called upon to act or vote.

(b) With respect to any direct or any indirect interest, other than an interest prohibited in subsection (a), in a contract or agreement upon which the member, officer, agent, or employee may be called upon to act or vote, the member, officer, agent, or employee shall disclose that interest to the secretary of the Authority before the taking of final action by the Authority concerning that contract or agreement and shall also disclose the nature and extent of that interest and his or her acquisition of that interest, which disclosures shall be publicly acknowledged by the Authority and entered upon the minutes of the Authority. If a member of the Authority or an officer, agent, or employee of the Authority holds such an interest, then he or she shall refrain from any further official involvement in regard to the contract or agreement, from voting on any matter pertaining to the contract or agreement, and from communicating with other members of the Authority or its officers, agents, and employees concerning the contract or agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any contract or agreement entered into in conformity with this subsection (b) shall not be void or invalid by reason of an interest described in this subsection, nor shall any person so disclosing the interest and refraining from further official involvement as provided in this subsection be guilty of an offense, be removed from office, or be subject to any other penalty on account of that interest.

(c) Any contract or agreement made in violation of subsection (a) or (b) is void and gives rise to no action against the Authority.

(d) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(e) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(f) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(g) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(Source: P.A. 86-1455.)

Section 55. The Tri-County River Valley Development Authority Law is amended by changing Sections 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2013 and by adding Sections 2005.1 and 2005.2 as follows:

(70 ILCS 525/2003) (from Ch. 85, par. 7503)

Sec. 2003. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Article, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

(a) "Authority" means the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority created by this Article.

(a-5) "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(b) "Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

(c) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

(c-5) "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(d) "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

(e) "Board" means the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority Board of Directors.

(f) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

(g) "City" means any city, village, incorporated town or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

(h) "Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

(i) "Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

(j) "Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, velodromes, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities and port facilities.

(k) "Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial or service project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of the categories described above. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways and runways.

(l) "Lease agreement" shall mean an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift or lease is leased to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

(m) "Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

(n) "Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project.

(o) "Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(p) "Terminal" means a public place, station or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on water or land or in the air.

(q) "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing, taking off and navigation of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport.

(r) "Port facilities" means all public structures, except terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over, under or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the widening and deepening of slips, harbors and navigable waters.

(s) "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft or for the location of runways, landing fields, aerodromes, hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways and other facilities.

(Source: P.A. 86-1489.)

(70 ILCS 525/2004) (from Ch. 85, par. 7504)

Sec. 2004. Establishment.

(a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Tri-County River Valley Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 13 11 members including, as ex officio members, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Director of Natural Resources, or that Director's designee. The other 11 9 members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, 3 of whom shall be appointed one each by the county board chairmen of Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties and 5 3 of whom shall be appointed one each by the city councils of Bloomington, East Peoria, Normal, Pekin, and Peoria. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Seven Six members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be elected by the Board annually from the 8 6 members appointed by the county board chairmen and city councils.

(c) The terms of all members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Article. Of the 9 public members appointed pursuant to this Act, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1992, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1993, and 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1994. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. The initial member appointed by the city council of Bloomington shall serve until the third Monday in January 2025. The initial member appointed by the city council of Normal shall serve until the third Monday in January 2026. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but may be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board may appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority; however, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board may, by majority vote, nominate up to 4 non-voting members for appointment by the Governor. Non-voting members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. Non-voting members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All non-voting members may attend meetings of the Board and may be reimbursed as provided in subsection (c).

(g) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the territory within the jurisdiction of this Act. The members of the task force shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Article, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(70 ILCS 525/2005.1 new)

Sec. 2005.1. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 525/2005.2 new)

Sec. 2005.2. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 525/2008) (from Ch. 85, par. 7508)

Sec. 2008. Acquisition.

(a) The Authority may, but need not, acquire title to any project with respect to which it exercises its authority.

(b) The Authority shall have power to acquire by purchase, lease, gift or otherwise any property or rights therein from any person or persons, the State of Illinois, any municipal corporation, any local unit of government, the government of the United States and any agency or instrumentality of the United States, any body politic or any county useful for its purposes, whether improved for the purposes of any prospective project or unimproved. The Authority may also accept any donation of funds for its purposes from any such source.

(c) The Authority shall have power to develop, construct and improve, either under its own direction or through collaboration with any approved applicant, or to acquire through purchase or otherwise any project, using for such purpose the proceeds derived from its sale of revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness or governmental loans or grants and to hold title in the name of the Authority to such projects.

(d) The Authority shall have the power to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the State of Illinois, the counties of McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, or Woodford, the Illinois Finance Authority, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the United States government and any agency or instrumentality of the United States, any unit of local government located within the territory of the Authority or any other unit of government to the extent allowed by Article VII, Section 10 of the Illinois Constitution and the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act.

(e) The Authority shall have the power to share employees with other units of government, including agencies of the United States, agencies of the State of Illinois and agencies or personnel of any unit of local government.

(f) The Authority shall have the power to exercise powers and issue bonds as if it were a municipality so authorized in Divisions 12.1, 74, 74.1, 74.3 and 74.5 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

(Source: P.A. 93-205, eff. 1-1-04.)

(70 ILCS 525/2013) (from Ch. 85, par. 7513)

Sec. 2013. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 86-1489.)

Section 60. The Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3, 4, and 14 and by adding Sections 5.1 and 5.2 as follows:

(70 ILCS 530/3) (from Ch. 85, par. 7153)

Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

(a) "Authority" means the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority created by this Act.

(a-5) "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(b) "Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

(c) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

(c-5) "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(d) "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

(e) "Board" means the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority Board of Directors.

(f) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

(g) "City" means any city, village, incorporated town or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

(h) "Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

(i) "Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

(j) "Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, velodromes, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities and port facilities.

(k) "Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial or service project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of the categories described above. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways and runways.

(l) "Lease agreement" shall mean an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift or lease is leased to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

(m) "Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

(n) "Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project.

(o) "Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(p) "Terminal" means a public place, station or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on water or land or in the air.

(q) "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing, taking off and navigation of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport.

(r) "Port facilities" means all public structures, except terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over, under or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the widening and deepening of slips, harbors and navigable waters.

(s) "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft or for the location of runways, landing fields, aerodromes, hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways and other facilities.

(Source: P.A. 86-1024.)

(70 ILCS 530/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 7154)

Sec. 4. Establishment.

(a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Upper Illinois River Valley Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Marshall counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 21 members including, as ex officio members, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee, and the Director of the Department of Central Management Services, or his or her designee. The other 19 members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 10 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate and 9 of whom shall be appointed one each by the county board chairmen of Grundy, LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Kendall, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Marshall counties. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Eleven members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be elected by the Board annually from the 9 members appointed by the county board chairmen.

(c) The terms of all initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 14 public members appointed pursuant to this Act, 4 appointed by the Governor shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1992, 4 appointed by the Governor shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1993, one appointed by the Governor shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1994, one appointed by the Governor shall serve until the third Monday in January 1999, the member appointed by the county board chairman of LaSalle County shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1992, the members appointed by the county board chairmen of Grundy County, Bureau County, Putnam County, and Marshall County shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1994, and the member appointed by the county board chairman of Kendall County shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1999. The initial members appointed by the chairmen of the county boards of Kane and McHenry counties shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2003. The initial members appointed by the chairman of the county board of Lake County shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2018. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority; however, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board may, by majority vote, nominate up to 4 non-voting members for appointment by the Governor. Non-voting members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. Non-voting members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All non-voting members may attend meetings of the Board and shall be reimbursed as provided in subsection (c).

(g) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the territory within the jurisdiction of this Act. The members of the task force shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 99-499, eff. 1-29-16.)

(70 ILCS 530/5.1 new)

Sec. 5.1. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 530/5.2 new)

Sec. 5.2. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 530/14) (from Ch. 85, par. 7164)

Sec. 14. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 86-1024.)

Section 65. The Illinois Urban Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 as follows:

(70 ILCS 531/3)

Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

"Authority" means the Illinois Urban Development Authority created by this Act.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Board" means the Illinois Urban Development Authority Board of Directors.

"Bonds" shall include bonds, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness.

"Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities, and port facilities.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition, or improvement of a project" means the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection with a project and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired that are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

"Develop" or "development" means to do one or more of the following: plan, design, develop, lease, acquire, install, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, extend, or expand.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition, or improvement of a project.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction, leasing, or rehabilitation of lands, buildings, and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation, or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching, and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use or cause the project to be used as a project as defined in this Act upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority, and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority. The Authority may, directly or indirectly, lease or otherwise transfer property the Authority owns to another and such leased property shall remain tax exempt.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation that will use or cause the project to be used as a project as defined in this Act upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Maintain" or "maintenance" includes ordinary maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, capital maintenance, maintenance replacement, and any other categories of maintenance that may be designated by the local, regional, or State transportation agency.

"Municipal poverty rate" is the percentage of total population of the municipality having income levels below the poverty level as determined by the Authority based upon the most recent data released by the United States Census Bureau before the beginning of such calendar year.

"Occupational license" means a license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board to a person or entity to perform an occupation which the Illinois Gaming Board has identified as requiring a license to engage in riverboat, dockside, or land-based gambling in Illinois.

"Operate" or "operation" means to do one or more of the following: maintain, improve, equip, modify, or otherwise operate.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association, or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, transportation, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses shall fall within one of those categories. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority under the supervision of the Illinois Finance Authority, the principal and interest of which are payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Transportation facility" means any new or existing road, highway, toll highway, bridge, tunnel, intermodal facility, intercity or high-speed passenger rail, or other transportation facility or infrastructure, excluding airports. The term "transportation facility" may refer to one or more transportation facilities that are proposed to be developed or operated as part of a single transportation project.

"Transportation project" means one or more transportation improvement projects including, but not limited to, new or existing roads or highways, new or expanded intermodal projects, and new or expanded transit projects, transit-oriented development, intercity rail, and passenger rail. "Transportation project" does not include airport projects.

(Source: P.A. 98-384, eff. 8-16-13.)

(70 ILCS 531/4)

Sec. 4. Illinois Urban Development Authority. There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and corporate by the name of Illinois Urban Development Authority. The exercise by the Authority of the powers conferred by law shall be an essential public function. The governing powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 11 members appointed as follows: one member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago that has expertise, skill, and experience in economic development; one member appointed by the President of the Cook County Board that has expertise, skill, and experience in economic development; 4 members appointed by the Governor who are residents of a municipality, other than a municipality with a population greater than 1,000,000, whose municipal poverty rate is greater than 3% in excess of the statewide average; 2 members appointed by the Governor that have an expertise, skill, and experience in labor relations; and 3 members appointed by the Governor that have an expertise, skill, and experience operating a business that is certified by the State of Illinois as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Business Enterprise, or Women Business Enterprise.

Six members shall constitute a quorum. However, when a quorum of members of the Authority is physically present at the meeting site, other Authority members may participate in and act at any meeting through the use of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in person at the meeting of the person or persons so participating. The Chairman of the Authority shall be elected by the Authority. All board members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, construction, and labor relations. The Board may not meet or take any action unless the quorum of 6 members are physically present, are present by phone, or are otherwise present as required by this paragraph.

The terms of all members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 11 members first appointed pursuant to this Act, 4 shall serve until the third Monday in January 2011, 4 shall serve until the third Monday in January 2012, and 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 2013. All board members shall hold office for a term of 4 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. In case of vacancy in the office when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when he shall nominate such person to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate, shall hold his office during the remainder of the term and until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. If the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make temporary appointments in the case of vacancies.

Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members. The Governor may remove any member of the Authority in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, after service on the member of a copy of the written charges against the member and an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in the his or her defense upon not less than 10 days' notice.

The members of the Authority shall appoint an Executive Director, who must be a person knowledgeable in the areas of financial markets and instruments and the financing of business enterprises, to hold office at the pleasure of the members. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority and shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director or any committee of the members may carry out any responsibilities of the members as the members by resolution may delegate. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority; however, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

The Authority shall determine the municipal poverty rate and the statewide average municipal poverty rate annually by using the most recent data released by the United States Census Bureau before the beginning of each calendar year. The Authority shall have the sole and exclusive authority to determine the municipal poverty rate and the statewide average municipal poverty rate and to determine whether a municipality's poverty rate is greater than 3% in excess of the statewide average so long as the determination is based on the most recent data released by the United States Census Bureau.

(Source: P.A. 96-234, eff. 1-1-10.)

(70 ILCS 531/5)

Sec. 5. Conflicts of interest; requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) No member of the Authority or officer, agent, or employee thereof shall, in the member's own name or in the name of a nominee, be an officer, director, or hold an ownership interest in any person, association, trust, corporation, partnership, or other entity which is, in its own name or in the name of a nominee, a party to a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote.

(b) With respect to any direct or any indirect interest, other than an interest prohibited in subsection (a), in a contract or agreement upon which the member or officer, agent or employee may be called upon to act or vote, a member of the Authority or officer, agent, or employee thereof must disclose the interest to the secretary of the Authority prior to the taking of final action by the Authority concerning the contract or agreement and shall disclose the nature and extent of the interest and his or her acquisition thereof, which shall be publicly acknowledged by the Authority and entered upon the minutes of the Authority. If a member of the Authority or officer, agent, or employee thereof holds such an interest then the member shall refrain from any further official involvement in regard to the contract or agreement, from voting on any matter pertaining to the contract or agreement, and from communicating with other members of the Authority or its officers, agents, and employees concerning the contract or agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any contract or agreement entered into in conformity with this subsection shall not be void or invalid by reason of the interest described in this subsection, nor shall any person disclosing an interest and refraining from further official involvement as provided in this subsection be guilty of an offense, be removed from office, or be subject to any other penalty on account of the interest.

(c) Any contract or agreement made in violation of subsections (a) or (b) shall be null and void, whether or not the contract performance has been authorized, and shall give rise to no action against the Authority. No real estate to which a member or employee of the Authority holds legal title or in which a member or employee of the Authority has any beneficial interest, including any interest in a land trust, shall be purchased by the Authority or by a nonprofit corporation or limited-profit entity for a development to be financed under this Act.

All members and employees of the Authority shall file annually with the Authority a record of all real estate in this State to which the member or employee holds legal title or in which the member or employee has any beneficial interest, including any interest in a land trust. In the event it is later disclosed that the Authority has purchased real estate in which a member or employee had an interest, that purchase shall be voidable by the Authority and the member or employee involved shall be disqualified from membership in or employment by the Authority.

(d) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(e) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(f) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(g) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(Source: P.A. 96-234, eff. 1-1-10.)

(70 ILCS 531/6)

Sec. 6. Records, and reports, and notices of the Authority. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Authority. The treasurer of the Authority shall be custodian of all Authority funds, and shall be bonded in such amount as the other members of the Authority may designate. The accounts and bonds of the Authority shall be set up and maintained in a manner approved by the Auditor General, and the Authority shall file with the Auditor General a certified annual report within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year. The Authority shall also file with the Governor, the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, by March 1 of each year, a written report covering its activities and any activities of any instrumentality corporation established under this Act for the previous fiscal year. In its report to be filed by March 1, 2010, the Authority shall present an economic development strategy for all municipalities with a municipal poverty rate greater than 3% in excess of the statewide average, the Authority shall make modifications in the economic development strategy for the 4 years beginning on the next ensuing July 1, to reflect changes in economic conditions or other factors, including the policies of the Authority and the State of Illinois. It shall also present an economic development strategy for the fifth year beginning after the next ensuing July 1. The strategy shall recommend specific legislative and administrative action by the State, the Authority, units of local government, or other governmental agencies. These recommendations may include, but are not limited to, new programs, modifications to existing programs, credit enhancements for bonds issued by the Authority, and amendments to this Act. When filed, the report shall be a public record and open for inspection at the offices of the Authority during normal business hours.

The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

Section 70. The Western Illinois Economic Development Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 15, 20, and 75 and by adding Sections 26 and 27 as follows:

(70 ILCS 532/15)

Sec. 15. Definitions. In this Act:

"Authority" means the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

"Governmental agency" means any federal, State, or local governmental body and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

"Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

"Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

"Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority, the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority.

"Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

"City" means any city, village, incorporated town, or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

"Industrial project" means the following:

(1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, ethanol plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, port facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefore whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or

(2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

"Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

"Commercial project" means any project, including, but not limited to, one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery, and equipment, whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship, or agency.

"Project" means an industrial, housing, residential, commercial, or service project, or any combination thereof, provided that all uses fall within one of the categories described above. Any project automatically includes all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways, and runways.

"Lease agreement" means an agreement in which a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift, or lease is leased to any person or corporation that will use, or cause the project to be used, as a project, upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority, issued with respect to the project, providing for the maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

"Loan agreement" means any agreement in which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued with respect to a project, to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project, upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay, when due, all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance, and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other terms deemed advisable by the Authority.

"Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project, through the issuance of revenue bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness.

"Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following:

(1) the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements, and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for the construction;

(2) financing charges;

(3) interest costs with respect to bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter;

(4) engineering and legal expenses; and

(5) the costs of plans, specifications, surveys, and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition, and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 532/20)

Sec. 20. Creation.

(a) There is created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal corporation named the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of the following counties: Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Mason, Cass, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Scott, Morgan, and Pike and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 21 members as follows:

(1) Ex officio members. The Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or a designee of that Department, and the Director of Central Management Services, or a designee of that Department, shall serve as ex officio members.

(2) Public members. Six members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The county board chairmen of the following counties shall each appoint one member: Warren, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Mason, Cass, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Scott, Morgan, and Pike. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, state or local government, commercial agriculture, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor, or civic or community organization.

(c) 11 members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present.

(d) The chairman of the Authority shall be elected annually by the Board and must be a public member that resides within the territorial jurisdiction of the Authority.

(e) The terms of all initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 6 original public members appointed by the Governor, 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2005; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2006; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007; 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008; and 1 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009. The initial terms of the original public members appointed by the county board chairmen shall be determined by lot, according to the following schedule: (i) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2005, (ii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2006, (iii) 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2007, (iv) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2008, and (v) 2 shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2009. All successors to these original public members shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and all appointments made by the Governor shall be made with the advice and consent of the Senate, pursuant to subsection (b), and shall hold office for a term of 6 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill the office and, upon confirmation by the Senate, he or she shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority are not entitled to compensation for their services as members but are entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(f) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The chairman of a county board may remove any public member appointed by that chairman in the case of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(g) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate, or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members, and receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Department of Commerce and Community Affairs shall pay the compensation of the Executive Director from appropriations received for that purpose. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority. However, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of the Illinois Finance Authority, attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts, and other consultants if the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority deems it advisable.

(Source: P.A. 93-874, eff. 8-6-04.)

(70 ILCS 532/26 new)

Sec. 26. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 532/27 new)

Sec. 27. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 532/75)

Sec. 75. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and to the General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 93-874, eff. 8-6-04.)

Section 75. The Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority Law is amended by changing Sections 3, 4, and 13 and by adding Sections 5.1 and 5.2 as follows:

(70 ILCS 535/3) (from Ch. 85, par. 7453)

Sec. 3. Definitions. The following terms, whenever used or referred to in this Act, shall have the following meanings, except in such instances where the context may clearly indicate otherwise:

(a) "Authority" means the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority created by this Act.

(a-5) "Authority leader" means the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, or any other person serving in a management, administrative, or leadership role at the Authority.

(b) "Governmental agency" means any federal, State or local governmental body, and any agency or instrumentality thereof, corporate or otherwise.

(c) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association or joint stock association and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof.

(c-5) "Restricted person" means a person who has a familial or business relationship with an Authority leader.

(d) "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the Authority the principal and interest of which is payable solely from revenues or income derived from any project or activity of the Authority.

(e) "Board" means the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority Board of Directors.

(f) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.

(g) "City" means any city, village, incorporated town or township within the geographical territory of the Authority.

(h) "Industrial project" means (1) a capital project, including one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any manufacturing, industrial, research, transportation or commercial enterprise including but not limited to use as a factory, mill, processing plant, assembly plant, packaging plant, fabricating plant, office building, industrial distribution center, warehouse, repair, overhaul or service facility, freight terminal, research facility, test facility, railroad facility, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, and including also the sites thereof and other rights in land therefor whether improved or unimproved, site preparation and landscaping and all appurtenances and facilities incidental thereto such as utilities, access roads, railroad sidings, truck docking and similar facilities, parking facilities, dockage, wharfage, railroad roadbed, track, trestle, depot, terminal, switching and signaling equipment or related equipment and other improvements necessary or convenient thereto; or (2) any land, buildings, machinery or equipment comprising an addition to or renovation, rehabilitation or improvement of any existing capital project.

(h-5) "Housing project" or "residential project" includes a specific work or improvement undertaken to provide dwelling accommodations, including the acquisition, construction or rehabilitation of lands, buildings and community facilities and in connection therewith to provide nonhousing facilities which are an integral part of a planned large-scale project or new community.

(i) "Commercial project" means any project, including but not limited to one or more buildings and other structures, improvements, machinery and equipment whether or not on the same site or sites now existing or hereafter acquired, suitable for use by any retail or wholesale concern, distributorship or agency, any cultural facilities of a for-profit or not-for-profit type including but not limited to educational, theatrical, recreational and entertainment, sports facilities, racetracks, stadiums, convention centers, exhibition halls, arenas, opera houses and theaters, waterfront improvements, swimming pools, boat storage, moorage, docking facilities, restaurants, velodromes, coliseums, sports training facilities, parking facilities, terminals, hotels and motels, gymnasiums, medical facilities and port facilities.

(j) "Project" means an industrial, commercial or service project or any combination thereof provided that all uses shall fall within one of the categories described above. Any project, of any nature whatsoever, shall automatically include all site improvements and new construction involving sidewalks, sewers, solid waste and wastewater treatment and disposal sites and other pollution control facilities, resource or waste reduction, recovery, treatment and disposal facilities, parks, open spaces, wildlife sanctuaries, streets, highways and runways.

(k) "Lease agreement" shall mean an agreement whereby a project acquired by the Authority by purchase, gift or lease is leased to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for lease rental payments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to such project, providing for the maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for disposition of the project upon termination of the lease term, including purchase options or abandonment of the premises, with such other terms as may be deemed desirable by the Authority.

(l) "Loan agreement" means any agreement pursuant to which the Authority agrees to loan the proceeds of its bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued with respect to a project to any person or corporation which will use or cause the project to be used as a project as heretofore defined upon terms providing for loan repayment installments at least sufficient to pay when due all principal of and interest and premium, if any, on any bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority issued with respect to the project, providing for maintenance, insurance and operation of the project on terms satisfactory to the Authority and providing for other matters as may be deemed advisable by the Authority.

(m) "Financial aid" means the expenditure of Authority funds or funds provided by the Authority through the issuance of its revenue bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness for the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project.

(n) "Costs incurred in connection with the development, construction, acquisition or improvement of a project" means the following: the cost of purchase and construction of all lands and improvements in connection therewith and equipment and other property, rights, easements and franchises acquired which are deemed necessary for such construction; financing charges; interest costs with respect to bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness of the Authority prior to and during construction and for a period of 6 months thereafter; engineering and legal expenses; the costs of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates of costs and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of any project, together with such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing, insuring, acquisition and construction of a specific project and the placing of the same in operation.

(o) "Terminal" means a public place, station or depot for receiving and delivering passengers, baggage, mail, freight or express matter and any combination thereof in connection with the transportation of persons and property on water or land or in the air.

(p) "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings, structures, improvements, equipment and appliances useful in the operation of public warehouse, storage and transportation facilities and industrial, manufacturing or commercial activities for the accommodation of or in connection with commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing, taking off and navigation of aircraft or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport.

(q) "Port facilities" means all public structures, except terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over, under or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the widening and deepening of slips, harbors and navigable waters.

(r) "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft or for the location of runways, landing fields, aerodromes, hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways and other facilities.

(Source: P.A. 98-750, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 535/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 7454)

Sec. 4. Establishment.

(a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Will-Kankakee Regional Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of Will and Kankakee counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 10 members including, as an ex officio member, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee. The other 9 members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 3 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor, 3 of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Will County, and 3 of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Kankakee County. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Six members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be elected by the Board annually from the 6 members appointed by the county board chairmen.

(c) The terms of all members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act. Of the 9 public members appointed pursuant to this Act, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1992, 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1993, and 3 shall serve until the third Monday in January 1994. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but may be reimbursed for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board may appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Executive Director shall attend all meetings of the Authority; however, no action of the Authority shall be invalid on account of the absence of the Executive Director from a meeting. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board may, by majority vote, nominate up to 4 non-voting members for appointment by the Governor. Non-voting members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. Non-voting members shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. All non-voting members may attend meetings of the Board and may be reimbursed as provided in subsection (c).

(g) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the territory within the jurisdiction of this Act. The members of the task force shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act, shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(70 ILCS 535/5.1 new)

Sec. 5.1. Requests for assistance; disclosure of economic interests.

(a) The Authority may not hear a request for assistance from a restricted person. This prohibition extends to business relationships between a person who is an Authority leader within one year prior to the request for assistance and to any entity in which a restricted person holds or, within the past 2 years, held an ownership interest of 10% or more.

(b) An Authority leader shall disclose and recuse himself or herself from matters relating to requests for assistance from an entity that is relocating full-time employees from another Authority's counties if (i) both Authorities contract with or employ the same Authority leader or (ii) there is or, within the past 2 years of the request, there was a business relationship between the Authority leaders at the 2 Authorities.

(c) The Board of the Authority shall vote to renew the appointment of the Executive Director and other Authority leaders on an annual basis. All contracts shall be approved on an annual basis and use a public process to solicit applications. This requirement does not apply to full-time employees of the Authority unless otherwise required by applicable State law or local ordinance.

(d) Each Authority leader shall submit a statement of economic interest in accordance with Article 4A of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Additionally, each Authority leader shall disclose to the Board outside sources of income and any business relationships in economic development consulting or lobbying. Reporting shall include the source of income, services provided, and timeline of when services were provided. If the source of income is a firm or organization with multiple clients, the report shall list all of the entities for which the individual provided services.

(70 ILCS 535/5.2 new)

Sec. 5.2. Open meetings; record disclosure.

(a) The Authority is subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Documents subject to the Freedom of Information Act include, but are not limited to, expenses, payroll, origination bonuses, and other financial details of the Authority.

(b) A contract or agreement entered into by the Authority must be posted on the Authority's website. The Authority shall provide a detailed report of the Authority's financial information on the Authority's website, including, but not limited to, a statement of profits and losses, balance sheet, and income statement of the Authority.

(70 ILCS 535/13) (from Ch. 85, par. 7463)

Sec. 13. Reports; commitment notice. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its finances to the Auditor General. The Authority shall annually submit a report of its activities to the Governor and General Assembly.

The Authority shall provide notice to the General Assembly, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Governor once the Authority enters into a commitment to support the financing of a project. The notice to the General Assembly shall be filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate, in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct.

(Source: P.A. 86-1481.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2023.