SB1689enr 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB1689 Enrolled LRB098 08930 HLH 39062 b

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by adding Section 7-67 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/7-67 new)

Sec. 7-67. Nominations; regional superintendents of schools.

(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, this Section shall apply only to the making of nominations for established party candidates for regional superintendent of schools in the 2014 general primary election.

(b) A candidate's petition for nomination must contain at least 200 signatures or the number of signatures equal to 0.5% of the primary electors of his or her party in the territory comprising the county or counties, whichever is less. For purposes of this subsection, the number of primary electors shall be determined by taking the total votes cast in the applicable district for the candidate for that political party who received the highest number of votes, statewide, at the last general election in the State at which electors for President of the United States were elected.

(c) Petitions for nomination for regional superintendent of schools shall be filed no earlier than December 16, 2013, and no later than December 23, 2013.

(d) Petitions for single-county districts shall be filed with the county election authority. Petitions for multi-county districts shall be filed with the State Board of Elections. Signatures and circulator statements on petitions for nomination filed with the State Board of Elections or county election authority during the filing period for nominations shall not be deemed invalid for the sole reason that the petitions were circulated between 90 and 111 days before the last day for filing petitions.

(e) In the case of a conflict between the provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Code, the provisions of this Section shall control.

Section 10. The School Code is amended by changing Section 3A-4 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/3A-4) (from Ch. 122, par. 3A-4)

Sec. 3A-4. Mandatory consolidation of educational service regions.

(a) After July 1, 2015, each region must contain at least 61,000 inhabitants. Before June 30, 2013, regions may be consolidated voluntarily under Section 3A-3 or by joint resolution of the county boards of regions seeking to join a voluntary consolidation, effective July 1, 2015, to meet these population requirements. The boundaries of regions already meeting these population requirements on the effective date of Public Act 97-703 this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly may not be changed except to consolidate with another region or a whole county portion of another region which does not meet these population requirements. If, before November 1, 2013 January 1, 2014, locally determined consolidation decisions result in more than 35 regions of population greater than 61,000 each, the State Board of Education shall, before November 23, 2013 June 1, 2014, direct further consolidation, beginning with the region of lowest population, until the number of 35 regions is achieved.

(b) (Blank).

(c) If, within 90 days after the most recent certified federal census, a region does not meet the population requirements of this Section, then regions may be consolidated voluntarily under Section 3A-3 of this Code or by joint resolution of the county boards of regions seeking to join a voluntary consolidation to meet these population requirements. If locally determined consolidation decisions result in a region not meeting the population requirements of this Section or result in more than 35 regions, then the State Board of Education shall have the authority to impose further consolidation by order of the State Superintendent of Education. Such an order shall be a final order and is subject to the Administrative Review Law.

(d) All population determinations shall be based on the most recent federal census.

(Source: P.A. 97-703, eff. 6-25-12.)

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