97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0309

 

Introduced 01/31/11, by Rep. Michael W. Tryon

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Local Initiative Sunshine Act. Provides that, beginning on July 1, 2011, the Office of the Comptroller shall create and maintain a searchable database website to provide information concerning recipients of gubernatorial or legislative member initiatives. Sets forth the requirements for the website database. Defines "gubernatorial or legislative member initiatives". Effective immediately.


LRB097 05458 RLJ 45517 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0309LRB097 05458 RLJ 45517 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local
5Initiative Sunshine Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Gubernatorial or legislative member initiative" means a
8grant from State funds to a specific unit of local government,
9specific school district, specific not-for-profit
10organization, or specific non-governmental entity for
11infrastructure improvements or operating expenses. Grants that
12are part of a statewide program and are based on generally
13applicable standards of eligibility are not gubernatorial or
14legislative member initiatives, unless the grant has been
15requested or initiated by the Governor or a member of the
16Illinois General Assembly.
17    "Infrastructure improvements" include without limitation
18capital improvements, capital projects, planning,
19construction, reconstruction, equipment, utilities, vehicles,
20and all costs associated with economic development, community
21programs, educational programs, public health, and public
22safety.
23    "Initiative sponsor", with respect to each gubernatorial

 

 

HB0309- 2 -LRB097 05458 RLJ 45517 b

1or legislative member initiative, includes the Governor and
2each member of the General Assembly designated in the grant
3application as having requested or initiated the grant.
4    "Initiative recipient" means an individual or entity that
5is designated to receive or receives a gubernatorial or
6legislative member initiative.
7    "Recoverable grants" means grant money to an initiative
8recipient that has been determined, in accordance with
9applicable State law and rule, to be refundable to the State.
10    "Searchable database website" means a website that allows
11the public to (i) search the database by name of initiative
12recipient, initiative sponsor, funding agency, and location of
13performed and recoverable grants and (ii) download data
14included in item (i), including outcomes from searches.
 
15    Section 10. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to provide
16full and complete disclosure to the public of the recipients of
17gubernatorial and legislative member initiatives. The database
18shall also serve as a warning to initiative recipients that the
19misuse of public funds will not be tolerated by the State.
 
20    Section 15. Initiative recipient database.
21    (a) Beginning on July 1, 2011, the Office of the
22Comptroller shall create and maintain a searchable database
23website containing information concerning initiative
24recipients. The database shall include for each initiative

 

 

HB0309- 3 -LRB097 05458 RLJ 45517 b

1recipient:
2        (1) the name of the initiative recipient and initiative
3    sponsor;
4        (2) the amount of the gubernatorial or legislative
5    member initiative;
6        (3) the funding agency and the funding source;
7        (4) the purpose of each initiative;
8        (5) the location of the initiative recipient and the
9    primary location of the performance of the initiative;
10        (6) any recoverable grants; and
11        (7) any other relevant information.
12    (b) The database website shall also provide an opportunity
13for the public to provide input about the utility of the
14website and recommendations for improvements.
15    (c) The database website shall not be considered in
16compliance with this Act if it relies upon links to other
17existing websites and databases, unless each of those sites has
18information from all agencies and each category of information
19required to be itemized can be searched electronically by field
20in a single search.
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.