HJ0015 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0015 LRB097 10763 PJG 51172 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State is confronted with an unprecedented fiscal crisis, including a massive structural deficit, which threatens to restrict the State's future ability to maintain essential services for the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents and its present ability to meet its prior obligations with regard to essential services already provided; and

WHEREAS, In order to eliminate the structural deficit and to overcome the present fiscal crisis and continue to provide essential services to residents, the State must, among other measures, investigate and implement strategies to increase State revenues; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that that there is created the Illinois Budget Reform Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be charged with studying various issues related to altering the State's tax base and revenue strategy; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of 10 members appointed as follows:

(1) one member of the House of Representatives and one Illinois resident appointed by the Speaker of the House;

(2) one member of the Senate and one Illinois resident appointed by the President of the Senate;

(3) one member of the House of Representatives and one Illinois resident appointed by the House Minority Leader;

(4) one member of the Senate and one Illinois resident appointed by the Senate Minority Leader; and

(5) two Illinois residents appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall elect two co-chairpersons from their membership, one from each party, and shall meet not less often than once per month at the call of the co-chairs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable and necessary expenses from funds appropriated for that purpose; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall develop a package of proposals that is revenue neutral, as verified by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consider:

(1) how to reduce dependency on the property tax to fund Illinois schools;

(2) recent changes in the revenue strategies enacted by other states;

(3) broadening the sales tax schedule in a manner that balances new goods and services with a reduction in the overall tax rate;

(4) how to reduce dependency on the estate tax; and

(5) the implementation of a progressive income tax; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Revenue shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings to the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2011, and shall cease to exist thereafter.