103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2840

 

Introduced 1/19/2024, by Sen. Mike Simmons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/1-23.5 new

    Amends the Election Code. Creates the Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of Holding Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force. Provides that the purpose of the Task Force is to analyze the financial barriers that exist for non-wealthy candidates who seek to hold public office in this State and for non-wealthy elected officials in the State. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2025, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. Sets forth provisions concerning duties, membership, and administrative support. Repeals the provision that creates the Task Force and dissolves the Task Force on July 1, 2026.


LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2840LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

1    AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section
51-23.5 as follows:
 
6    (10 ILCS 5/1-23.5 new)
7    Sec. 1-23.5. Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of
8Holding Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force.
9    (a) As used in this Section, "non-wealthy" includes
10low-income and moderate-income candidates or public officials
11in this State.
12    (b) The Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of Holding
13Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force is created.
14The purpose of the Task Force is to analyze the financial
15barriers that exist for non-wealthy candidates who seek to
16hold public office in this State and for non-wealthy elected
17officials in this State. The Task Force shall have the
18following duties:
19        (1) The Task Force shall engage public officials and
20    candidates for public office at various levels of State
21    and local government for the purpose of assessing whether
22    a candidate or public official's income status and overall
23    wealth gap poses a barrier to running for or holding

 

 

SB2840- 2 -LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

1    public office in this State. The Task Force shall consider
2    the lived experiences of a candidate or public official in
3    its analysis of barriers for non-wealthy persons.
4        (2) The Task Force shall review the Election Code and
5    rules adopted under the Code relating to running for and
6    holding public office to determine how the provisions
7    relate to the lived experiences of non-wealthy candidates
8    and public officials.
9        (3) The Task Force shall provide evidence of the
10    effect the Election Code or rules adopted under the Code
11    have on non-wealthy candidates or public officials during
12    candidacy or while holding public office.
13        (4) The Task Force shall make recommendations or
14    suggestions for changes to the Election Code or rules
15    adopted under the Code to ease the burdens on non-wealthy
16    candidates running for public office in this State and
17    non-wealthy elected officials in this State.
18    (c) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:
19        (1) 2 members appointed by the President of the
20    Senate, including one member of the Senate who identifies
21    as non-wealthy and one member of the public;
22        (2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
23    Representatives, including one member of the House of
24    Representatives who identifies as non-wealthy and one
25    member of the public;
26        (3) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the

 

 

SB2840- 3 -LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

1    Senate, including one member of the Senate who identifies
2    as non-wealthy and one member of the public;
3        (4) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
4    House of Representatives, including one member of the
5    House of Representatives who identifies as non-wealthy and
6    one member of the public;
7        (5) one member with experience in county government,
8    appointed by the Governor;
9        (6) one member with experience in municipal
10    government, appointed by the Governor;
11        (7) 2 members with expertise in campaign finance,
12    appointed by the Governor;
13        (8) one member with expertise in accounting, appointed
14    by the Governor; and
15        (9) 3 members who understand the constraints a
16    candidate or public official's personal finances have on
17    an individual while running for and holding office,
18    appointed by the Governor.
19    (d) On or before June 30, 2025, the Task Force shall
20publish a final report of its findings and recommendations.
21The report shall, at a minimum, detail findings and
22recommendations related to the duties of the Task Force.
23    (e) Appointments to the Task Force shall be made within 30
24days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
25103rd General Assembly. Members shall serve without
26compensation.

 

 

SB2840- 4 -LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

1    (f) The Task Force shall meet at the call of a
2co-chairperson at least quarterly to fulfill its duties. At
3the first meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall elect
4one co-chairperson from the members appointed by the Senate
5President and one co-chairperson from the members appointed by
6the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
7    (g) The State Board of Elections shall provide
8administrative support for the Task Force.
9    (h) This Section is repealed, and the Task Force is
10dissolved, on July 1, 2026.