HB2969 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 28346 HLH 54725 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2969

Introduced 2/16/2023, by Rep. Christopher "C.D" Davidsmeyer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act. Provides for a discretionary spending freeze for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Sets forth requirements to increase discretionary spending beginning in fiscal year 2026. Requires any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations to be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending. Prohibits unfunded mandates. Requires the publishing of certain information before voting on or enacting an appropriations bill. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Taxpayers' Fiscal Charter Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Backlog payment cycle" means the time between a submission of a proper bill or invoice to the State Comptroller for payment and the issuing of that payment.

"Discretionary spending" means any spending not mandated by federal or State law or court order.

"Unfunded mandate" means a law requiring a unit of local government or school district to expend money without accompanying money from the State.

Section 10. Discretionary spending freeze.

(a) The General Assembly shall freeze all discretionary spending during fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The General Assembly shall not expand any existing programs or create new programs requiring the expenditure of additional money.

(b) Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the General Assembly may create new programs or expand existing programs requiring the expenditure of additional money only if the State's backlog payment cycle is 30 days or less and the State has made its full pension payment for the fiscal year, as actuarially determined.

Section 15. Pay as you go. If the provisions of Section 10 of this Act are satisfied, any new spending proposed by the General Assembly in addition to existing obligations shall be accompanied by a proposed source of revenue to pay for the proposed spending or specified cuts necessary to offset the proposed spending.

Section 20. Unfunded mandates; prohibition. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the State shall not impose any unfunded mandates on a school district or other unit of local government. No school district or other unit of local government shall be required to comply with an unfunded mandate until the mandate is no longer unfunded.

Section 25. Appropriations requirements.

(a) Before the General Assembly passes and the Governor signs any appropriations law, the State Comptroller shall publish the State's estimated income, balance sheet, cash flow, and surplus or deficit.

(b) No appropriations bill shall be voted on for third reading unless the bill, as amended, has been available for 72 hours on the General Assembly's website.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.