97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1512

 

Introduced 2/14/2011, by Rep. Anthony DeLuca

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Commission on Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State Spending Act. Creates the Commission on Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State Spending. Provides that the Commission shall conduct investigations, review the budget submitted by the Governor in order to make recommendations for reducing expenditures set forth in the budget, review activities of agencies and grant recipients, and consider State and local budgetary reductions by reduction or elimination of mandated expenditures or the consolidation of agencies and instrumentalities to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall conduct at least one public hearing and may issue reports. Provides that the Governor shall respond, in writing, within 30 calendar days after the submission of the reports. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning spending.
 
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
5Commission on Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State
6Spending Act.
 
7    Section 5. Legislative intent. It is the continuing policy
8of the State to provide the citizens of Illinois with a
9government that is accountable to the taxpayers. To carry out
10this policy effectively, it is essential that the General
11Assembly examine expenditures of the State for programs and
12services and make recommendations to reduce spending.
 
13    Section 10. Creation of Commission. The Commission on
14Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State Spending, hereafter
15in this Act referred to as the "Commission", is hereby created
16to examine expenditures of the State and make recommendations
17to the Governor and General Assembly to reduce State spending.
18The Commission shall:
19        (1) Conduct investigations to ascertain facts, review
20    appropriations and expenditures, and make recommendations
21    and reports concerning revenues and expenditures of the
22    State, its departments, subdivisions, and agencies,

 

 

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1    whether created by the Constitution or otherwise.
2        (2) Review the budget submitted by the Governor and
3    make recommendations for reducing expenditures set forth
4    in the budget, provided the Commission shall take into
5    account any specific areas of reductions recommended for
6    the Commission's review by the Governor and the statewide
7    prioritized budgetary goals established by Section 50-25
8    of the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
9    Illinois, as those goals are reflected in the budget
10    submitted by the Governor.
11        (3) Review programs, strategies, and activities
12    conducted by agencies and grant recipients to determine
13    whether they are achieving the prioritized outcomes and
14    meeting the goals established under Section 50-25 of the
15    State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
16    Illinois in an efficient manner and make recommendations to
17    reduce appropriations or expenditures of agencies and
18    grant recipients failing to meet the outcomes and goals.
19        (4) Consider budgetary reductions at the State and
20    local levels of government through the reduction or
21    elimination of statutorily mandated expenditures or the
22    consolidation of government agencies and instrumentalities
23    to eliminate waste and inefficiency in the operation of
24    State and local government.
25    The Commission shall have continuing existence and may
26meet, act, and conduct its business at any place within this

 

 

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1State, during the sessions of the General Assembly or any
2recess thereof, and in the interim periods between sessions.
 
3    Section 15. Composition of Committee. The Commission shall
4consist of 8 members as follows: 2 members of the General
5Assembly appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom
6shall serve as co-chair of the Commission; 2 members of the
7General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the House of
8Representatives, one of whom shall serve as co-chair of the
9Commission; 2 members of the General Assembly appointed by the
10Minority Leader of the Senate; and 2 members of the General
11Assembly appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
12Representatives. The Governor shall appoint 2 additional
13members to serve in a non-voting, advisory capacity. A vacancy
14shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.
 
15    Section 20. Reports of the Commission. The Commission may,
16upon the concurrence of a majority of its members, issue a
17report with recommendations. The Commission shall conduct at
18least one public hearing prior to issuing any report and allow
19interested persons to present their views and comments. The
20Commission may prescribe reasonable rules for the conduct of
21public hearings and issuance of reports. Reports of the
22Commission shall include the following: (i) the expenditure,
23State program, or service examined; (ii) a detailed description
24of the investigation conducted by the Commission; (iii) any

 

 

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1inquiries for the Governor, if applicable, related to the
2expenditure, State program, or service; (iv) specific
3recommendations for change, improvement, reduction, or
4elimination of the State program or service; and (v) a detailed
5formal request for action by the Governor. Any report making a
6recommendation shall be filed with the Governor, Secretary of
7the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives.
 
8    Section 25. Response of the Governor. Upon receipt of a
9report, the Governor shall respond, in writing, within 30
10calendar days. Such response shall be filed with the Secretary
11of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives. The
12Governor's response shall include a response to any inquiries
13made in the report and a specific response to each
14recommendation of the Commission stating whether the Governor
15accepts or rejects the recommendation. If the Governor accepts
16a recommendation of the Commission, the response shall include
17a description of any action that has or will be taken to comply
18with the recommendation. If the Governor rejects the
19recommendation of the Commission, the response shall include
20reasons for the rejection.
 
21    Section 30. Cooperation of State agencies. The Governor's
22Office of Management and Budget shall cooperate with the
23Commission by providing relevant data, documents, and other
24information as requested by the Commission. The Governor's

 

 

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1Office of Management and Budget shall, upon request, provide
2the Commission with an analysis of the costs or savings
3associated with any potential recommendation. At the request of
4the Commission, each State agency shall, without delay, make
5available any record or information requested and shall provide
6for examination and copying of all records, accounts, papers,
7reports, accounts, papers, reports, vouchers, correspondence,
8books and other documentation in the custody of that agency,
9including information stored in electronic data processing
10systems, which is related to or within the scope of an
11investigation conducted by the Commission.
 
12    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
13becoming law.