HB4614 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 13941 RCE 39731 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
HB4614

Introduced , by Rep. Constance A. Howard

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

15 ILCS 20/50-11 new
30 ILCS 105/13.6 new

Amends the State Budget Law and the State Finance Act. Provides that, beginning with fiscal year 2009, the General Assembly must make appropriations in each fiscal year sufficient to fund legislative member initiatives. Each member is entitled to designate initiatives totaling up to 1/177th of 1% of the total appropriations for the fiscal year. Designations must be made in writing and filed on or before May 1 immediately before the beginning of the fiscal year with the Speaker by Representatives and with the President by Senators. Requires the Governor to include an amount sufficient for these purposes in the budget submitted by the Governor. Makes a continuing appropriation if the General Assembly fails to make sufficient appropriations. Defines a "legislative member initiative". Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning finance.

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

Section 5. The State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section 50-11 as follows:

(15 ILCS 20/50-11 new)

Sec. 50-11. Legislative member initiatives. Beginning with fiscal year 2009, the budget submitted by the Governor must include amounts sufficient to fund legislative member initiatives under Section 13.6 of the State Finance Act.

Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding Section 13.6 as follows:

(30 ILCS 105/13.6 new)

Sec. 13.6. Legislative member initiatives.

(a) Beginning with fiscal year 2009, the General Assembly must make appropriations in each fiscal year sufficient to fund legislative member initiatives. Each member is entitled to designate legislative member initiatives totaling up to 1/177th of 1% of the total appropriations for that fiscal year. Designations must be made in writing and filed on or before May 1 immediately before the beginning of the fiscal year. Representatives must file designations with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senators must file designations with the President of the Senate. The Speaker and the President may each prescribe the form and required contents of designations filed with him or her.

(b) The Governor must include an amount sufficient for the purposes of this Section in the budget submitted by the Governor under the State Budget Law.

(c) If the General Assembly fails to make appropriations in fiscal year 2009 or in any fiscal year thereafter sufficient to fund legislative member initiatives designated as provided in subsection (a), then this Section constitutes an irrevocable and continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund of all amounts necessary for those purposes.

(d) "Legislative member initiative" means an appropriation for a grant or distribution to a specific unit of local government, specific school district, specific not-for-profit organization, or specific non-governmental entity for infrastructure improvements or operating expenses. Appropriations that are part of a statewide program and are based on generally applicable standards of eligibility are not legislative member initiatives. "Infrastructure improvements" include, without limitation, capital improvements, capital projects, planning, construction, reconstruction, equipment, utilities, vehicles, and all costs associated with economic development, community programs, educational programs, public health, and public safety.

(e) This Section must be liberally construed and mandatorily applied to effectuate its purpose.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.