96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB6896

 

Introduced , by Rep. Tom Cross - Jim Durkin - Sidney H. Mathias

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
35 ILCS 200/3-70 new
35 ILCS 200/6-65 new

    Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that the Cook County Assessor and the Cook County Board of Review shall each maintain a public log detailing ex parte communications involving property tax appeals. Provides that any ex parte communications received by the Cook County Board of Review or the Cook County Assessor must be transmitted to the appropriate ethics officer. Provides that the ethics officer must make the communication a part of the record of the appeal or assessment. Defines ex parte communication. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB6896LRB096 23175 HLH 42517 b

1    AN ACT concerning revenue.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by adding
5Sections 3-70 and 6-65 as follows:
 
6    (35 ILCS 200/3-70 new)
7    Sec. 3-70. Cook County Assessor; ex parte communication.
8The Cook County Assessor shall maintain a public log detailing
9all ex parte communications involving the Cook County
10Assessor's office. The log shall indicate (i) the date, nature,
11and substance of all ex parte communications received by the
12office, (ii) the identity and job title of the person in the
13Assessor's office to whom each communication was made, (iii)
14the date and nature of the response made by the Assessor's
15office and the identity and job title of the person making the
16response, (iv) the identity of the party making the
17communication and, if applicable, the identity of the
18individual or entity represented by that person, (v) any action
19requested, and (vi) any other pertinent information. In
20addition, any ex parte communications involving the Cook County
21Assessor's office must be immediately reported to the office's
22ethics officer, and the ethics officer must make the
23communication a part of the record of the appeal or assessment.

 

 

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1    For purposes of this Section, "ex parte communication"
2means any written or oral communication made by any person
3during an appeal to the Cook County Assessor that imparts or
4requests material information related to that appeal or makes a
5material argument regarding potential action of the Assessor
6that is communicated to the Cook County Assessor or to an
7employee of the Cook County Assessor's office. "Ex parte
8communication" does not include (i) statements made in a public
9forum; (ii) statements regarding matters of procedure and
10practice, such as the format of public comments, the number of
11copies required, the manner of filing public comments, or the
12status of an appeal or assessment; or (iii) statements made by
13the Cook County Assessor or an employee of the Cook County
14Assessor's office.
 
15    (35 ILCS 200/6-65 new)
16    Sec. 6-65. Cook County Board of Review; ex parte
17communication. The Cook County Board of Review shall maintain a
18public log detailing all ex parte communications involving the
19Board. The log shall indicate (i) the date, nature, and
20substance of all ex parte communications received by the Board,
21(ii) the identity and job title of the Board member or employee
22to whom each communication was made, (iii) the date and nature
23of the response made by the Board and the identity and job
24title of the person making the response, (iv) the identity of
25the party making the communication and, if applicable, the

 

 

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1identity of the individual or entity represented by that
2person, (v) any action requested, and (vi) any other pertinent
3information. In addition, any ex parte communications
4involving the Cook County Board of Review must be immediately
5reported to the Board's ethics officer, and the ethics officer
6must make the communication a part of the record of the appeal.
7    For purposes of this Section, "ex parte communication"
8means any written or oral communication made by any person
9during an appeal to the Cook County Board of Review that
10imparts or requests material information related to that appeal
11or makes a material argument regarding potential action of the
12Board of Review that is communicated to the Board or to an
13employee of the Board. "Ex parte communication" does not
14include (i) statements made in a public forum; (ii) statements
15regarding matters of procedure and practice, such as the format
16of public comments, the number of copies required, the manner
17of filing public comments, or the status of an appeal or
18assessment; or (iii) statements made by a member of the Cook
19County Board of Review or an employee of the Board.
 
20    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
21becoming law.