SB1680eng 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1680 Engrossed LRB098 08832 OMW 38959 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Local Governmental Employees Political Rights Act is amended by changing Section 12 as follows:

(50 ILCS 135/12)

Sec. 12. Elective and appointed office.

(a) A member of any fire department or fire protection district may:

(1) be a candidate for elective public office and serve in that public office if elected;

(2) be appointed to any public office and serve in that public office if appointed; and

(3) as long as the member is not in uniform and not on duty, solicit votes and campaign funds and challenge voters for the public office for which the member is a candidate.

(b) A firefighter who is elected to the Illinois General Assembly shall, upon written application to the employer, be granted a leave of absence without compensation during his or her term of office.

(c) A police officer or Sheriff's deputy may be a candidate for or appointed to serve in, and if elected or appointed serve in, the Illinois General Assembly. A police officer or Sheriff's deputy who is elected to the General Assembly shall, upon written application to the employer, be granted a leave of absence without compensation during his or her term of office. As long as the police officer or Sheriff's deputy is not in uniform and not on duty, he or she may solicit votes and campaign funds and challenge voters for the General Assembly office for which he or she is a candidate.

(Source: P.A. 94-316, eff. 7-25-05; 95-142, eff. 8-13-07.)