96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
SC0027

 

Introduced 2/19/2009, by Sen. Matt Murphy

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1
ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3
ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7
ILCON Art. V, Sec. 18.5 new
ILCON Art. VIII, Sec. 3

    Proposes to amend the Executive and Finance Articles of the Illinois Constitution. Adds an elected Auditor General as an officer of the executive branch of State government. Eliminates the position of Auditor General appointed by the General Assembly. Specifies the same powers and duties for the elected officer as for the appointed officer, with the addition of (i) the power of subpoena and (ii) the power to investigate all matters relating to government operations, financial or otherwise. Provides that the Auditor General is subject to oversight and audit as the General Assembly may provide by law. Effective upon being declared adopted and applies to the office of Auditor General first filled by election in 2014.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
4 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
5 CONCURRING HEREIN, that there shall be submitted to the
6 electors of the State for adoption or rejection at the general
7 election next occurring at least 6 months after the adoption of
8 this resolution a proposition to amend the Illinois
9 Constitution in Article V by changing Sections 1, 3, and 7 and
10 by adding Section 18.5 and in Article VIII by changing Section
11 3 as follows:
 
12
ARTICLE V
13
THE EXECUTIVE

14     (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 1)
15 SECTION 1. OFFICERS
16     The Executive Branch shall include a Governor, Lieutenant
17 Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
18 and Treasurer, and Auditor General elected by the electors of
19 the State. The Auditor General shall first be elected in 2010.
20 They shall keep the public records and maintain a residence at
21 the seat of government during their terms of office.
22 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 

 

 

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1     (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 3)
2 SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY
3     To be eligible to hold the office of Governor, Lieutenant
4 Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
5 or Treasurer, or Auditor General, a person must be a United
6 States citizen, at least 25 years old, and a resident of this
7 State for the three years preceding his election.
8 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 
9     (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 7)
10 SECTION 7. VACANCIES IN OTHER ELECTIVE OFFICES
11     If the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
12 or Treasurer, Auditor General fails to qualify or if his office
13 becomes vacant, the Governor shall fill the office by
14 appointment. The appointee shall hold office until the elected
15 officer qualifies or until a successor is elected and qualified
16 as may be provided by law and shall not be subject to removal
17 by the Governor. If the Lieutenant Governor fails to qualify or
18 if his office becomes vacant, it shall remain vacant until the
19 end of the term.
20 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 
21     (ILCON Art. V, Sec. 18.5 new)
22 SECTION 18.5. AUDITOR GENERAL
23     The Auditor General shall conduct the audits of public
24 funds of the State. The Auditor General shall also have full

 

 

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1 and complete authority, on his or her own initiative, to
2 investigate all matters relating to government operations,
3 financial or otherwise without limitation. He or she shall make
4 additional reports and investigations as directed by the
5 General Assembly. The Auditor General shall have subpoena
6 power. The Auditor General shall report his or her findings and
7 recommendations to the General Assembly and to the Governor.
8 The Auditor General is subject to oversight and audit as the
9 General Assembly may provide by law.
 
10
ARTICLE VIII
11
FINANCE

12     (ILCON Art. VIII, Sec. 3)
13 SECTION 3. STATE AUDIT AND AUDITOR GENERAL
14     (a) The General Assembly shall provide by law for the audit
15 of the obligation, receipt and use of public funds of the
16 State. The General Assembly, by a vote of three-fifths of the
17 members elected to each house, shall appoint an Auditor General
18 and may remove him for cause by a similar vote. The Auditor
19 General shall serve for a term of ten years. His compensation
20 shall be established by law and shall not be diminished, but
21 may be increased, to take effect during his term.
22     (b) The Auditor General shall conduct the audit of public
23 funds of the State. He shall make additional reports and
24 investigations as directed by the General Assembly. He shall

 

 

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1 report his findings and recommendations to the General Assembly
2 and to the Governor.
3 (Source: Illinois Constitution.)
 
4
SCHEDULE
5     This Constitutional Amendment takes effect upon being
6 declared adopted in accordance with Section 7 of the Illinois
7 Constitutional Amendment Act and applies to the office of
8 Auditor General first filled by election in 2014.