|
|
||||
| Public Act 094-0244 |
||||
| ||||
| ||||
AN ACT creating a commission to study the problems and | ||||
organic laws pertaining to local government.
| ||||
WHEREAS, Many of the local governmental units in the State | ||||
of Illinois were
established under provisions of the Illinois | ||||
Constitution of 1870; and
| ||||
WHEREAS, There have been rapid changes in the population of | ||||
Illinois in
numbers, in concentration, and in movement, as well | ||||
as vast economic, social,
and technological changes, that | ||||
strain the ability of Illinois local
governments adequately to | ||||
furnish necessary services; and
| ||||
WHEREAS, Illinois local governments were conceived to | ||||
serve a rural society;
in areas not experiencing the impact of | ||||
modern changes, they may be adequate,
but in areas of great | ||||
change, notably the urban areas, they are not
sufficiently | ||||
flexible, do not have adequate powers and financing, and are | ||||
not
responsive to present-day needs in transportation, health, | ||||
water supply, water
pollution, air pollution, recreation, | ||||
disposal of sewage, and disposal of
refuse; and
| ||||
WHEREAS, The inadequacies in Illinois local governments | ||||
have resulted in the
creation of numerous functional local | ||||
governments all competing for financial
and jurisdictional | ||||
support from the same area; therefore,
| ||||
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 Local | ||||
Government
Consolidation Commission Act.
| ||||
Section 5. Commission; creation; members. There is created | ||||
a Commission on
Local Government, to consist of
17 members, 3 | ||||
to be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the
| ||||
Senate, 3 to
be members of the Senate appointed by the Senate | ||||
Minority Leader, 3 to be
members of
the House of | ||||
Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, 3 to be
| ||||
members of
the House of Representatives appointed by the House | ||
Minority Leader, and 5 to
be
citizens of the State appointed by | ||
the Governor as follows: | ||
(1) One member selected from recommendations provided by an | ||
association representing counties; | ||
(2) One member selected from recommendations provided by an | ||
association representing municipalities; | ||
(3) One member selected from recommendations provided by an | ||
association representing townships; | ||
(4) One member selected from recommendations provided by an | ||
association representing park districts; and | ||
(5) One member who serves as an elected officer of a local | ||
governmental entity in Illinois other than a county, | ||
municipality, township, or park district.
| ||
Section 10. Study; recommendations. The Commission shall | ||
make a survey of
the entire structure of
local governments and | ||
of their organization, powers, jurisdiction, and functions.
| ||
Among other things, and without limiting its activities, the | ||
Commission shall:
| ||
(1) Study all laws governing the organization, powers, | ||
jurisdiction,
and functions of local governments.
| ||
(2) Study the inter-relationships of local governments to | ||
each other and to
federal and State governments.
| ||
(3) Formulate specific recommendations for legislation or | ||
constitutional
amendments to (i) permit effective management | ||
of local affairs, (ii) encourage
local policy decision making, | ||
(iii) reduce the multiplicity of local
governments,
(iv) | ||
eliminate overlapping and duplicating of unnecessary powers, | ||
(v) increase
efficiency and economy in local governments, and | ||
(vi) allow optional forms of
local governments and increase | ||
their authority for cooperation among the levels
of government.
| ||
Section 15. Meetings; officers. The members of the | ||
Commission shall meet and
the Commission
shall be organized | ||
within 90 days after the effective date of this
Act, and shall | ||
at that time elect a chair from among the members. The
| ||
Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure. The Commission | ||
may employ or
use the services of specialists in public | ||
administration and governmental
management and any other | ||
trained consultants, analysts, investigators, and
assistants | ||
it may consider necessary, on either a full-time or a part-time
| ||
basis.
The Commission shall fix the compensation for any paid | ||
employees, which shall
be paid from moneys appropriated for | ||
that purpose.
| ||
Section 20. Compensation; expenses. The members of the | ||
Commission shall
serve without compensation,
but their actual | ||
traveling and other expenses while engaged in performance of
| ||
the duties of the commission shall be paid from moneys | ||
appropriated
for that purpose.
| ||
Section 25. Report. The Commission shall render its final | ||
report to the
General
Assembly not later than December 31, | ||
2006, setting out its findings and
recommendations and | ||
proposing those measures it considers necessary to effect
| ||
essential changes and improvements in the existing laws | ||
relating to any or
all of the matters enumerated in Section 10 | ||
of this Act.
| ||
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
| ||