SB1029sam006 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Sen. Michael Noland

Filed: 5/22/2008

09500SB1029sam006 LRB095 05914 LCT 51338 a

AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1029

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1029 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Plain Language Task Force Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The mission of the Illinois Plain Language Task Force is to conduct a study on, and to propose legislative measures designed to realize:

(1) the potential benefits of incorporating plain language in State government documents, statutes, and contracts into which the State enters; and

(2) how plain language principles might be incorporated into the statutes governing contracts among private parties so as to provide additional protections to Illinois consumer, to reduce litigation between private parties over the meaning of contractual terms, and to foster judicial economy.

Section 10. Definition. As used in this Act:

"Plain language" has the same meaning ascribed to it in the Executive Memorandum of President William J. Clinton, mandating that Federal Agencies and Federal Administrative Rules employ plain language, issued June 1, 1998, namely that "plain language" documents have logical organization, easy-to-read design features, and use: (i) common, everyday words, except for necessary technical terms; (ii) "you" and other pronouns; (iii) the active voice; and (iv) short sentences.

Section 15. Task Force.

(a) The Illinois Plain Language Task Force is hereby created. The Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall be chaired by the Lieutenant Governor or his or her designee and shall consist of the following members: one member appointed by the Illinois Attorney General; one member appointed by the Senate President; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; one member appointed by the Speaker of the House; one member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House; and one member who specializes in consumer protection appointed by the Governor.

(b) Members of the Task Force must be appointed no later than 90 days after the effective date of this Act.

(c) If a vacancy occurs on the Task Force, it shall be filled according to the guidelines of the initial appointment.

(d) At the discretion of the chair, additional individuals may participate as non-voting members in the meetings of the Task Force.

(e) Members of the Illinois Plain Language Task Force shall serve without compensation. The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall provide staff and administrative services to the Task Force.

Section 20. Duties. Once all members have been appointed, the Task Force shall meet not less than once every 2-month period in a 12-month period following the effective date of this Act to carry out the duties prescribed in this Act. A final report delineating the Task Force's findings, conclusions, and recommendations shall be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly no later than 15 months after the effective date of this Act.

Section 25. Guidance. The Task Force shall be guided in its discussions on the subject of plain language by the "Guidelines" for plain language drafting promulgated by President William J. Clinton on June 1, 1998, which accompanied his plain language Executive Memorandum issued on the same day.

Section 80. Repeal. This Act is repealed 2 years after its effective date.

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