State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB1280enr

      65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-90       from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-35-90
          Amends the Illinois Municipal Code.   Provides  that  the
      record  of the proceedings of the corporate authorities shall
      be made available for public inspection  within  7  (now  10)
      days  after  being  approved  or  accepted  by  the corporate
      authorities.
                                                     LRB9008777MWpc
SB1280 Enrolled                                LRB9008777MWpc
 1        AN ACT concerning local government, amending named Acts.
 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section  3.   The  Counties  Code  is amended by changing
 5    Section 6-1001 as follows:
 6        (55 ILCS 5/6-1001) (from Ch. 34, par. 6-1001)
 7        Sec. 6-1001. Annual budget. In all counties not  required
 8    by  law to pass an annual appropriation bill within the first
 9    quarter of the fiscal year, the  county  board  or  board  of
10    county  commissioners,  as  the case may be, shall adopt each
11    year an annual budget under the terms of  this  Division  for
12    the  succeeding fiscal year. Such budget shall be prepared by
13    some person or persons designated by  the  county  board  and
14    such  budget  shall  be made conveniently available to public
15    inspection for at least fifteen days prior  to  final  action
16    thereon.  The  vote on such budget shall be taken by ayes and
17    nays and entered on the record of  the  meeting.  The  annual
18    budget  adopted  under  this  Act  shall  cover such a fiscal
19    period of one year to be determined by the  county  board  of
20    each   county   except   as   hereinafter  provided  and  all
21    appropriations made therein shall terminate with the close of
22    said fiscal period except as hereinafter provided,  provided,
23    however, that any remaining balances shall be available until
24    30  days  after the close of the such fiscal year in counties
25    with a population of less than 100,000,  and  until  90  days
26    after  the  close  of the such fiscal year in counties with a
27    population of more  than  100,000  but  less  than  3,000,000
28    inhabitants  and contiguous to any county with a metropolitan
29    area with more  than  1,000,000  inhabitants,  only  for  the
30    authorization of the payment of obligations incurred prior to
31    the  close of said fiscal period. Any county which determines
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 1    to change its fiscal year may adopt a budget  to  cover  such
 2    period  greater  or  less  than a year as may be necessary to
 3    effect such change  and  appropriations  made  therein  shall
 4    terminate with the close of such period.
 5    (Source: P.A. 86-962.)
 6        Section  5.   The  Illinois  Municipal Code is amended by
 7    changing Section 3.1-35-90 and  by  adding  Division  2.2  to
 8    Article 1  as follows:
 9        (65 ILCS 5/Art. 1, Div. 2.2 heading new)
10               DIVISION 2.2. CODE HEARING DEPARTMENTS
11        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-1 new)
12        Sec.  1-2.2-1.  Applicability.  This Division 2.2 applies
13    only to municipalities that are non-home rule units.  Nothing
14    in this Division 2.2 allows a non-home rule  municipality  to
15    pursue any remedies not otherwise authorized by statute.
16        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-5 new)
17        Sec.  1-2.2-5.  Definitions.   As  used in this Division,
18    unless the context requires otherwise:
19        "Code" means  any  municipal  ordinance  except  for  (i)
20    building code violations that must be adjudicated pursuant to
21    Division  31.1 of Article 11 of this Act and (ii) any offense
22    under the Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar offense that  is
23    a  traffic  regulation governing the movement of vehicles and
24    except for any reportable offense under Section 6-204 of  the
25    Illinois Vehicle Code.
26        "Hearing  officer"  means  a  municipal  employee  or  an
27    officer  or  agent  of  a  municipality,  other  than  a  law
28    enforcement officer, whose duty it is to:
29        (1)  preside  at  an  administrative  hearing  called  to
30    determine whether or not a code violation exists;
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 1        (2)  hear   testimony   and   accept  evidence  from  all
 2    interested parties  relevant  to  the  existence  of  a  code
 3    violation;
 4        (3)  preserve  and authenticate the transcript and record
 5    of the hearing and all exhibits and  evidence  introduced  at
 6    the hearing; and
 7        (4)  issue  and  sign  a  written  finding, decision, and
 8    order stating whether a code violation exists.
 9        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-10 new)
10        Sec. 1-2.2-10. Code hearing  department.   The  corporate
11    authorities  of  any municipality may adopt this Division and
12    establish a code hearing department within an  existing  code
13    enforcement agency or as a separate and independent agency in
14    the   municipal  government.  The  function  of  the  hearing
15    department is to expedite the prosecution and  correction  of
16    code violations in the manner set forth in this Division.
17        The  code hearing department may adjudicate any violation
18    of  a  municipal  ordinance  except  for  (i)  building  code
19    violations that must be adjudicated pursuant to Division 31.1
20    of Article 11 of this Act and  (ii)  any  offense  under  the
21    Illinois  Vehicle  Code  or similar offense that is a traffic
22    regulation governing the movement of vehicles and except  for
23    any  reportable  offense  under Section 6-204 of the Illinois
24    Vehicle Code.
25        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-15 new)
26        Sec. 1-2.2-15. Hearing procedures not exclusive.  In  any
27    municipality  where  this  Division is adopted, this Division
28    does not preclude the municipality from using  other  methods
29    to enforce the provisions of its code.
30        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-20 new)
31        Sec. 1-2.2-20. Instituting code hearing proceedings. When
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 1    a  police  officer  or other individual authorized to issue a
 2    code violation finds a code violation to exist,   he  or  she
 3    shall  note the violation on a multiple copy violation notice
 4    and report form that indicates (i) the name  and  address  of
 5    the  defendant,  (ii)  the  type and nature of the violation,
 6    (iii) the date and time the violation was observed, and  (iv)
 7    the names of witnesses to the violation.
 8        The  violation report form shall be forwarded to the code
 9    hearing department where a docket number shall be stamped  on
10    all copies of the report and a hearing date shall be noted in
11    the  blank spaces provided for that purpose on the form.  The
12    hearing date shall not be less than 30 nor more than 40  days
13    after the violation is reported.
14        One copy of the violation report form shall be maintained
15    in the files of the code hearing department and shall be part
16    of  the  record of hearing, one copy of the report form shall
17    be returned to the individual representing  the  municipality
18    in  the  case  so  that he or she may prepare evidence of the
19    code violation for presentation at the hearing  on  the  date
20    indicated, and one copy of the report form shall be served by
21    first  class  mail  to  the  defendant  along  with a summons
22    commanding the defendant to appear at the hearing.
23        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-25 new)
24        Sec. 1-2.2-25. Subpoenas; defaults.  At any time prior to
25    the hearing date, the hearing officer assigned  to  hear  the
26    case may, at the request of either party, direct witnesses to
27    appear and give testimony at the hearing.  If on the date set
28    for  hearing  the  defendant  or his or her attorney fails to
29    appear, the hearing officer may find the defendant in default
30    and shall  proceed  with  the  hearing  and  accept  evidence
31    relevant to the existence of a code violation.
32        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-30 new)
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 1        Sec.   1-2.2-30.  Continuances;  representation  at  code
 2    hearings.  No continuances shall be authorized by the hearing
 3    officer in proceedings under this Division  except  in  cases
 4    where  a  continuance  is absolutely necessary to protect the
 5    rights of the defendant.  Lack of preparation  shall  not  be
 6    grounds  for  a continuance.  Any continuance authorized by a
 7    hearing officer under this Division shall not exceed 25 days.
 8    The case for the municipality may be presented by an attorney
 9    designated by the municipality  or  by  any  other  municipal
10    employee, except that the case for the municipality shall not
11    be  presented  by an employee of the code hearing department.
12    The case for the defendant may be presented by the defendant,
13    his or her attorney, or any other agent or representative  of
14    the defendant.
15        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-35 new)
16        Sec.  1-2.2-35.  Hearing;  evidence.   At  the  hearing a
17    hearing officer shall  preside,  shall  hear  testimony,  and
18    shall  accept  any  evidence  relevant  to  the  existence or
19    non-existence of a  code  violation.   The  strict  rules  of
20    evidence  applicable  to judicial proceedings shall not apply
21    to hearings authorized by this Division.
22        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-40 new)
23        Sec.  1-2.2-40.   Qualifications  of  hearing   officers.
24    Prior  to conducting proceedings under this Division, hearing
25    officers  shall  successfully  complete  a  formal   training
26    program that includes the following:
27        (1)  instruction on the rules of procedure of the hearing
28    that they will conduct;
29        (2)  orientation   to  each  subject  area  of  the  code
30    violations that they will administer;
31        (3)  observation of administrative hearings; and
32        (4)  participation in hypothetical cases, including rules
SB1280 Enrolled            -6-                 LRB9008777MWpc
 1    on evidence and issuing final orders.
 2        In addition, every hearing officer must  be  an  attorney
 3    licensed  to  practice  law  in  the State of Illinois for at
 4    least 3 years.
 5        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-45 new)
 6        Sec. 1-2.2-45. Findings, decision,  and  order.   At  the
 7    conclusion  of  the hearing, the hearing officer shall make a
 8    determination on the basis of the evidence presented  at  the
 9    hearing  as  to  whether or not a code violation exists.  The
10    determination shall be in writing and shall be designated  as
11    findings,  decision,  and order.  The findings, decision, and
12    order shall include (i) the  hearing  officer's  findings  of
13    fact;  (ii)  a  decision  of  whether or not a code violation
14    exists based upon the findings of fact; and  (iii)  an  order
15    that states the sanction or dismisses the case if a violation
16    is not proved. A monetary sanction for a violation under this
17    Division  shall not exceed the amount provided for in Section
18    1-2-1 of this Act.   A copy of  the findings,  decision,  and
19    order shall be served on the defendant within 5 days after it
20    is  issued.  Service  shall  be  in  the same manner that the
21    report form and summons are served under Section 1-2.2-20  of
22    this  Division.   Payment  of  any  penalty  or  fine and the
23    disposition of fine money shall be in the same manner as  set
24    forth  in the code, unless the corporate authorities adopting
25    this Division provide otherwise.
26        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-50 new)
27        Sec. 1-2.2-50. Review under  Administrative  Review  Law.
28    The  findings,  decision,  and  order  of the hearing officer
29    shall be subject to review in the circuit court of the county
30    in which the municipality is located.  The provisions of  the
31    Administrative  Review  Law,  and  the rules adopted pursuant
32    thereto, shall apply to  and  govern  every  action  for  the
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 1    judicial  review  of  the  findings, decision, and order of a
 2    hearing officer under this Division.
 3        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-55 new)
 4        Sec. 1-2.2-55. Judgment on findings, decision, and order.
 5        (a)  Any fine, other sanction, or costs imposed, or  part
 6    of  any  fine,  other  sanction,  or costs imposed, remaining
 7    unpaid after the exhaustion of, or the  failure  to  exhaust,
 8    judicial  review  procedures  under the Administrative Review
 9    Law shall be a debt due and owing the  municipality  and,  as
10    such, may be collected in accordance with applicable law.
11        (b)  After expiration of the period within which judicial
12    review  under the Administrative Review Law may be sought for
13    a final determination of the code violation, the municipality
14    may commence a proceeding in the circuit court of the  county
15    in which the municipality is located for purpose of obtaining
16    a  judgment on the findings, decision, and order.  Nothing in
17    this Section shall prevent a municipality from  consolidating
18    multiple  findings, decisions, and orders against a person in
19    such a proceeding.  Upon  commencement  of  the  action,  the
20    municipality  shall  file  a  certified copy of the findings,
21    decision,  and  order,  which  shall  be  accompanied  by   a
22    certification  that recites facts sufficient to show that the
23    findings, decision, and order was issued in  accordance  with
24    this Division and the applicable municipal ordinance. Service
25    of  the  summons  and  a  copy  of the petition may be by any
26    method provided for by Section 2-203 of  the  Code  of  Civil
27    Procedure  or  by  certified  mail, return receipt requested,
28    provided that the total amount of fines, other sanctions, and
29    costs imposed by the findings, decision, and order  does  not
30    exceed  $2,500.  If the court is satisfied that the findings,
31    decision, and  order  was  entered  in  accordance  with  the
32    requirements  of  this  Division and the applicable municipal
33    ordinance and that the defendant had  an  opportunity  for  a
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 1    hearing  under  this  Division  and  for  judicial  review as
 2    provided in this Division:
 3             (1)  The court shall render judgment in favor of the
 4        municipality and against the  defendant  for  the  amount
 5        indicated  in  the  findings,  decision  and  order, plus
 6        costs.  The judgment shall have the same effect  and  may
 7        be enforced in the same manner as other judgments for the
 8        recovery of money.
 9             (2)  The  court  may also issue any other orders and
10        injunctions that are requested  by  the  municipality  to
11        enforce  the  order  of  the hearing officer to correct a
12        code violation.
13        (65 ILCS 5/1-2.2-60 new)
14        Sec. 1-2.2-60.  Adoption  of  Division  by  municipality.
15    This  Division may be adopted by a non-home rule municipality
16    by incorporating  the  provisions  of  this  Division  in  an
17    ordinance  and by passing and publishing the ordinance in the
18    manner provided in Division 2 of Article 1 of this Act.
19        (65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-90) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-35-90)
20        Sec. 3.1-35-90.  Clerk; duties.
21        (a)  The municipal clerk shall keep the  corporate  seal,
22    to  be  provided by the corporate authorities, and all papers
23    belonging to the municipality  the  custody  and  control  of
24    which  are  not  given  to  other  officers.  The clerk shall
25    attend all meetings of the corporate authorities and  keep  a
26    full  record  of their proceedings in the journal. The record
27    of those proceedings  shall  be  made  available  for  public
28    inspection  within 7 10 days after being approved or accepted
29    by the corporate authorities as the official minutes of their
30    proceedings.
31        (b)  The  municipal  clerk  shall   have   other   duties
32    prescribed by the corporate authorities.
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 1        (c)  Copies  of  all  papers  duly  filed  in the clerk's
 2    office and transcripts from the journals  and  other  records
 3    and files of the clerk's office, certified by the clerk under
 4    the  corporate  seal, shall be evidence in all courts in like
 5    manner as if the originals were produced.
 6    (Source: P.A. 87-1119.)

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