SB2840 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 37719 SPS 67846 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2840

Introduced 1/19/2024, by Sen. Mike Simmons

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/1-23.5 new

Amends the Election Code. Creates the Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of Holding Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force. Provides that the purpose of the Task Force is to analyze the financial barriers that exist for non-wealthy candidates who seek to hold public office in this State and for non-wealthy elected officials in the State. Provides that, on or before June 30, 2025, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. Sets forth provisions concerning duties, membership, and administrative support. Repeals the provision that creates the Task Force and dissolves the Task Force on July 1, 2026.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 1-23.5 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/1-23.5 new)

Sec. 1-23.5. Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of Holding Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force.

(a) As used in this Section, "non-wealthy" includes low-income and moderate-income candidates or public officials in this State.

(b) The Access to Candidacy and Feasibility of Holding Public Office for Non-Wealthy Persons Task Force is created. The purpose of the Task Force is to analyze the financial barriers that exist for non-wealthy candidates who seek to hold public office in this State and for non-wealthy elected officials in this State. The Task Force shall have the following duties:

(1) The Task Force shall engage public officials and candidates for public office at various levels of State and local government for the purpose of assessing whether a candidate or public official's income status and overall wealth gap poses a barrier to running for or holding public office in this State. The Task Force shall consider the lived experiences of a candidate or public official in its analysis of barriers for non-wealthy persons.

(2) The Task Force shall review the Election Code and rules adopted under the Code relating to running for and holding public office to determine how the provisions relate to the lived experiences of non-wealthy candidates and public officials.

(3) The Task Force shall provide evidence of the effect the Election Code or rules adopted under the Code have on non-wealthy candidates or public officials during candidacy or while holding public office.

(4) The Task Force shall make recommendations or suggestions for changes to the Election Code or rules adopted under the Code to ease the burdens on non-wealthy candidates running for public office in this State and non-wealthy elected officials in this State.

(c) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(1) 2 members appointed by the President of the Senate, including one member of the Senate who identifies as non-wealthy and one member of the public;

(2) 2 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, including one member of the House of Representatives who identifies as non-wealthy and one member of the public;

(3) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate, including one member of the Senate who identifies as non-wealthy and one member of the public;

(4) 2 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, including one member of the House of Representatives who identifies as non-wealthy and one member of the public;

(5) one member with experience in county government, appointed by the Governor;

(6) one member with experience in municipal government, appointed by the Governor;

(7) 2 members with expertise in campaign finance, appointed by the Governor;

(8) one member with expertise in accounting, appointed by the Governor; and

(9) 3 members who understand the constraints a candidate or public official's personal finances have on an individual while running for and holding office, appointed by the Governor.

(d) On or before June 30, 2025, the Task Force shall publish a final report of its findings and recommendations. The report shall, at a minimum, detail findings and recommendations related to the duties of the Task Force.

(e) Appointments to the Task Force shall be made within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly. Members shall serve without compensation.

(f) The Task Force shall meet at the call of a co-chairperson at least quarterly to fulfill its duties. At the first meeting of the Task Force, the Task Force shall elect one co-chairperson from the members appointed by the Senate President and one co-chairperson from the members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(g) The State Board of Elections shall provide administrative support for the Task Force.

(h) This Section is repealed, and the Task Force is dissolved, on July 1, 2026.