94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB0062


 
Introduced 1/6/2005, by Rep. Lou Lang
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













New Act









    Creates the Local Government Consolidation Commission Act.  Creates a 15
member commission on local government consisting of 5 Senators, 5 Representatives,
and 5 citizens chosen by the Governor.  Directs the Commission to study the
organization and function of local governments within the State and to make
recommendations to reduce the number of local governments and to increase their
efficiency and economy.  Requires the Commission to report its findings to the
General Assembly by December 31, 2006.  Effective immediately.
















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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0062

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    AN ACT creating a commission to study the problems and 
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organic laws pertaining to local government. 

 
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    WHEREAS, Many of the local governmental units in the State 
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of Illinois were
established under provisions of the Illinois 
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Constitution of 1870; and

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    WHEREAS, There have been rapid changes in the population of 
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Illinois in
numbers, in concentration, and in movement, as well 
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as vast economic, social,
and technological changes, that 
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strain the ability of Illinois local
governments adequately to 
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furnish necessary services; and

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    WHEREAS, Illinois local governments were conceived to 
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serve a rural society;
in areas not experiencing the impact of 
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modern changes, they may be adequate,
but in areas of great 
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change, notably the urban areas, they are not
sufficiently 
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flexible, do not have adequate powers and financing, and are 
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not
responsive to present-day needs in transportation, health, 
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water supply, water
pollution, air pollution, recreation, 
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disposal of sewage, and disposal of
refuse; and

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    WHEREAS, The inadequacies in Illinois local governments 
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have resulted in the
creation of numerous functional local 
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governments all competing for financial
and jurisdictional 
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support from the same area; therefore,


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


 
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    Section 1. Short title.   This Act may be cited as the Local 
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Government
Consolidation Commission Act.



 
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    Section 5. Commission; creation; members.   There is created 
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a Commission on
Local Government, to consist of
15
members, 3 
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to be members of the Senate appointed by the President of the

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Senate, 2 to
be members of the Senate appointed by the Senate 
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Minority Leader, 3 to be
members of
the House of 
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Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, 2 to be

 


 






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members of
the House of Representatives appointed by the House 
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Minority Leader, and 5 to
be
citizens of the State appointed by 
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the Governor.  Of the members appointed by
the Governor, not 
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more than 3 shall be
affiliated with the same political party.



 
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    Section 10. Study; recommendations.   The Commission shall 
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make a survey of
the entire structure of
local governments and 
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of their organization, powers, jurisdiction, functions.
 Among 
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other things, and without limiting its activities, the 
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Commission shall:


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    (1) Study all laws governing the organization, powers, 
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jurisdiction,
functions of local governments.


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    (2) Study the inter-relationships of local governments to 
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each other and to
federal and State governments.


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    (3) Formulate specific recommendations for legislation or 
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constitutional
amendments to (i) permit effective management 
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of local affairs, (ii) encourage
local policy decision making, 
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(iii) reduce the multiplicity of local
governments,
(iv) 
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eliminate overlapping and duplicating of unnecessary powers, 
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(v) increase
efficiency and economy in local governments, and 
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(vi) allow optional forms of
local governments and increase 
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their authority for cooperation among the levels
of government.



 
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    Section 15. Meetings; officers.   The members of the 
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Commission shall meet and
the Commission
shall be organized 
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within 90 days after the effective date of this
Act, and shall 
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at that time elect a chair from among the members.  The

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Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure.  The Commission 
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may employ or
use the services of specialists in public 
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administration and governmental
management and any other 
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trained consultants, analysts, investigators, and
assistants 
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it may consider necessary, on either a full-time or a part-time

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basis.
The Commission shall fix the compensation for any paid 
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employees, which shall
be paid from moneys appropriated for 
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that purpose.



 
 


 






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    Section 20. Compensation; expenses.   The members of the 
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Commission shall
serve without compensation,
but their actual 
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traveling and other expenses while engaged in performance of

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the duties of the commission shall be paid from moneys 
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appropriated
for that purpose.



 
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    Section 25. Report.   The Commission shall render its final 
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report to the
General
Assembly not later than December 31, 
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2006, setting out its findings and
recommendations and 
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proposing those measures it considers necessary to effect

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essential changes and improvements in the existing laws 
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relating to any or
all of the matters enumerated in Section 10 
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of this Act.



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