SC0027 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 21244 JWD 37439 e

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
SC0027

Introduced 3/14/2018, by Sen. Michael Connelly

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

ILCON Art. XV heading new

ILCON Art. XV, Sec. 1 new

ILCON Art. XV, Sec. 2 new

Proposes to create the Ethics Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the creation of the Department of Governmental Ethics. Provides that the Department shall have jurisdiction over the Executive and Legislative Branches of the State government, together with all units of local government, school districts, public colleges, and public universities. Provides that the Department shall be led by a Director. Provides that the Department shall have a State Government Division with the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of the agencies and other bodies, elected and appointed officers, and employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the State government. Provides that the Department shall have a Local Government Division, which shall have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of units of local government and the elected and appointed officers and employees of units of local government. Provides that the Department shall have an Education Division, which shall have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of school districts, public colleges, and public universities, and the elected and appointed officers and employees of school districts, public colleges, and public universities. Provides for the creation of the Governmental Ethics Commission. Provides that the Commission shall have authority over the Department of Governmental Ethics, shall receive reports from audits of the Department conducted by the Auditor General, shall approve the budget of the Department, and shall appoint the Director of the Department and such other officers as it may determine. The commission shall not be composed of a majority of members from any one political party. Directs the General Assembly to provide by law for the implementation of the provisions of the Article.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of this resolution a proposition to add Article XV to the Illinois Constitution as follows:

(ILCON Art. XV heading new)

ARTICLE XV

ETHICS

(ILCON Art. XV, Sec. 1 new) SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS

(a) A Department of Governmental Ethics is created. The Department of Governmental Ethics shall have jurisdiction over the Executive and Legislative Branches of the State government, together with all units of local government, school districts, public colleges, and public universities. The Department shall be led by the Director of Governmental Ethics and shall be under the authority of the Governmental Ethics Commission. The General Assembly shall provide by law for the operation of the Department.

(b) The Department of Governmental Ethics shall have a State Government Division, which shall have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of the agencies and other bodies, elected and appointed officers, and employees of the Executive and Legislative Branches of the State government, including, but not limited to: the preservation of, and the public's access to, information about, created by, or held by those agencies and other bodies, officers, and employees; transparency and accountability in finance and contracting by those agencies and other bodies; ethical standards applicable to those agencies and other bodies, officers, and employees; prohibitions on conflicts of interest applicable to those officers and employees; and prohibitions on employment by former officers and employees.

(c) The Department of Governmental Ethics shall have a Local Government Division, which shall have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of units of local government and the elected and appointed officers and employees of units of local government, including, but not limited to: the preservation of, and the public's access to, information about, created by, or held by those units of local government, officers, and employees; notice of public hearings and other meetings held by units of local government, including their governing bodies and any committees or other subdivisions thereof; transparency and accountability in finance and contracting by units of local government; ethical standards applicable to those officers and employees; prohibitions on conflicts of interest applicable to those officers and employees; and prohibitions on employment by former officers and employees.

(d) The Department of Governmental Ethics shall have an Education Division, which shall have the authority to investigate, prosecute, and ensure compliance with laws relating to the duties and responsibilities of school districts, public colleges, and public universities and the elected and appointed officers and employees of school districts, public colleges, and public universities, including, but not limited to: the preservation of, and the public's access to, information about, created by, or held by those school districts, public colleges, and public universities officers and employees; notice of public hearings and other meetings held by school districts, public colleges, and public universities, including their governing bodies and any committees or other subdivisions thereof; transparency and accountability in finance and contracting by school districts, public colleges, and public universities; ethical standards applicable to those officers and employees; prohibitions on conflicts of interest applicable to those officers and employees; and prohibitions on employment by former officers and employees.

(ILCON Art. XV, Sec. 2 new) SECTION 2. GOVERNMENTAL ETHICS COMMISSION

A Governmental Ethics Commission is created. The Commission shall have authority over the Department of Governmental Ethics, shall receive reports from audits of the Department conducted by the Auditor General, shall approve the budget of the Department, and shall appoint the Director of the Department and such other officers as it may determine. The General Assembly shall by law provide for the operation of the Commission and shall determine the size, manner of selection, and compensation of the Commission. The commission shall not be composed of a majority of members from any one political party.

SCHEDULE

This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois Constitutional Amendment Act.