HB5892 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 15229 RCE 41211 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB5892

Introduced , by Rep. Jim Durkin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

30 ILCS 105/13.8 new

Amends the State Finance Act. Provides that each appropriation for a legislative member initiative must be by a separate line item appropriation that fully describes the legislative member initiative. Provides that no legislative member initiative may be funded through a lump sum appropriation. Provides that a bill making an appropriation for a legislative member initiative must be heard by a standing committee of each chamber and each initiative must be individually approved by the committee. Defines "legislative member initiative".

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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

Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 13.8 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/13.8 new)

Sec. 13.8. Committee approval of legislative member initiatives.

(a) Each appropriation for a legislative member initiative must be by a separate line item appropriation. That line item must fully describe the legislative member initiative, including without limitation the name of the member of the General Assembly who requested the initiative, the name of the entity that will receive the benefit of the expenditure, the purpose of the expenditure, the specific location of the project, and the Legislative District and Representative District in which the project is located. No legislative member initiative may be funded through a lump sum appropriation.

(b) Prior to its passage in each chamber of the General Assembly, a bill containing a legislative member initiative, in its final form and amount, must be heard by a standing committee of that chamber and that committee must individually approve each such initiative by record vote.

(c) Unless it complies with subsections (a) and (b), a purported appropriation of State funds for a legislative member initiative is not a valid appropriation. No State funds may be expended for a legislative member initiative unless the appropriation for that legislative member initiative complies with subsections (a) and (b).

(d) "Legislative member initiative" means an appropriation for a grant or distribution to a specific unit of local government, specific school district, specific not-for-profit organization, or specific non-governmental entity for infrastructure improvements or operating expenses. Appropriations that are part of a statewide program and are based on generally applicable standards of eligibility are not legislative member initiatives. "Infrastructure improvements" include without limitation capital improvements, capital projects, planning, construction, reconstruction, equipment, utilities, vehicles, and all costs associated with economic development, community programs, educational programs, public health, and public safety.

(e) The purpose of this Section is to require full and complete disclosure during the appropriation process of State expenditures that are primarily for a specific local community within a Legislative District or Representative District. This Section shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purpose.