99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB3108

 

Introduced 2/19/2016, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
5 ILCS 430/5-50

    Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that "ex parte communication" also includes situations when legislators impart or request material information or make a material argument regarding State university admissions or hiring or other personnel decisions at State agencies or universities. Modifies the term "interested party" to include a person or entity whose rights, privileges, or interests regard matters of university admissions or hiring or other personnel decisions at State agencies or universities. Adds the Illinois Board of Higher Education to the list of agencies required to report ex parte communications.


LRB099 18689 RJF 43072 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3108LRB099 18689 RJF 43072 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is
5amended by changing Section 5-50 as follows:
 
6    (5 ILCS 430/5-50)
7    Sec. 5-50. Ex parte communications; special government
8agents.
9    (a) This Section applies to ex parte communications made to
10any agency listed in subsection (e).
11    (b) "Ex parte communication" means any written or oral
12communication by any person that imparts or requests material
13information or makes a material argument regarding potential
14action concerning regulatory, quasi-adjudicatory, investment,
15or licensing matters pending before or under consideration by
16the agency. "Ex parte communication" also includes situations
17when legislators impart or request material information or make
18a material argument regarding State university admissions or
19hiring or other personnel decisions at State agencies or
20universities. "Ex parte communication" does not include the
21following: (i) statements by a person publicly made in a public
22forum; (ii) statements regarding matters of procedure and
23practice, such as format, the number of copies required, the

 

 

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1manner of filing, and the status of a matter; and (iii)
2statements made by a State employee of the agency to the agency
3head or other employees of that agency.
4    (b-5) An ex parte communication received by an agency,
5agency head, or other agency employee from an interested party
6or his or her official representative or attorney shall
7promptly be memorialized and made a part of the record.
8    (c) An ex parte communication received by any agency,
9agency head, or other agency employee, other than an ex parte
10communication described in subsection (b-5), shall immediately
11be reported to that agency's ethics officer by the recipient of
12the communication and by any other employee of that agency who
13responds to the communication. The ethics officer shall require
14that the ex parte communication be promptly made a part of the
15record. The ethics officer shall promptly file the ex parte
16communication with the Executive Ethics Commission, including
17all written communications, all written responses to the
18communications, and a memorandum prepared by the ethics officer
19stating the nature and substance of all oral communications,
20the identity and job title of the person to whom each
21communication was made, all responses made, the identity and
22job title of the person making each response, the identity of
23each person from whom the written or oral ex parte
24communication was received, the individual or entity
25represented by that person, any action the person requested or
26recommended, and any other pertinent information. The

 

 

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1disclosure shall also contain the date of any ex parte
2communication.
3    (d) "Interested party" means a person or entity whose
4rights, privileges, or interests are the subject of or are
5directly affected by a regulatory, quasi-adjudicatory,
6investment, or licensing matter, or regard matters of State
7university admissions or hiring or other personnel decisions at
8State agencies or universities.
9    (e) This Section applies to the following agencies:
10Executive Ethics Commission
11Illinois Commerce Commission
12Educational Labor Relations Board
13State Board of Elections
14Illinois Gaming Board
15Health Facilities and Services Review Board 
16Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission
17Illinois Labor Relations Board
18Illinois Liquor Control Commission
19Pollution Control Board
20Property Tax Appeal Board
21Illinois Racing Board
22Illinois Purchased Care Review Board
23Department of State Police Merit Board
24Motor Vehicle Review Board
25Prisoner Review Board
26Civil Service Commission

 

 

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1Personnel Review Board for the Treasurer
2Merit Commission for the Secretary of State
3Merit Commission for the Office of the Comptroller
4Court of Claims
5Board of Review of the Department of Employment Security
6Department of Insurance
7Department of Professional Regulation and licensing boards
8  under the Department
9Department of Public Health and licensing boards under the
10  Department
11Office of Banks and Real Estate and licensing boards under
12  the Office
13State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees
14Judges Retirement System Board of Trustees
15General Assembly Retirement System Board of Trustees
16Illinois Board of Investment
17State Universities Retirement System Board of Trustees
18Teachers Retirement System Officers Board of Trustees
19Illinois Board of Higher Education 
20    (f) Any person who fails to (i) report an ex parte
21communication to an ethics officer, (ii) make information part
22of the record, or (iii) make a filing with the Executive Ethics
23Commission as required by this Section or as required by
24Section 5-165 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act
25violates this Act.
26(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-31, eff. 6-30-09.)