(20 ILCS 405/405-130) (was 20 ILCS 405/67.28)
Sec. 405-130. State government
suggestion award program.
(a) The Department shall assist in the implementation of a
State Government Suggestion Award Program, to be administered
by the Board
created in subsection (b). The program shall encourage and reward
improvements in the operation of State government that result in
substantial monetary savings. Any Illinois resident, any State employee, including management
personnel as defined by the Department,
any annuitant under Article 14 of the Illinois Pension Code,
and any
annuitant under Article 15 of that Code who receives a retirement or
disability retirement annuity, but not including elected officials and
departmental directors, may submit a cost-saving suggestion
to the Board, which shall
direct the suggestion to the appropriate department or agency without
disclosing the identity of the suggester. A suggester may make a
suggestion or include documentation on matters a department or agency
considers confidential, except where prohibited by federal or State law;
and no disciplinary or other negative action may be taken against the
suggester unless there is a violation of federal or State law.
Suggestions, including documentation, upon receipt, shall be given
confidential treatment and shall not be subject to subpoena or be
made
public until the agency affected by it has had the opportunity to request
continued confidentiality. The agency, if it requests continued
confidentiality, shall attest that disclosure would violate federal or
State law or rules and regulations pursuant to federal or State law or is a matter covered
under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act. The Board shall make its
decision on continued confidentiality
and, if it so classifies the suggestion, shall notify the suggester and
agency. A suggestion classified "continued confidential" shall nevertheless
be evaluated and considered for award. A suggestion that the
Board finds
or the suggester states or implies constitutes a
disclosure of information
that the suggester reasonably believes evidences (1) a violation
of any
law, rule, or regulation or (2) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an
abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific
danger to public health or safety may be referred to the appropriate
investigatory or law enforcement agency for consideration for investigation and
action. The identity of the suggester may not be
disclosed without the consent of the suggester during any
investigation of
the information and any related matters. Such a suggestion shall also be
evaluated and an award made when appropriate. That portion of Board
meetings that involves the consideration of suggestions classified
"continued confidential" or being considered for that
classification shall
be closed meetings.
The Board may at its discretion make awards for those suggestions
certified by agency or department heads as resulting in savings to the
State of Illinois. Management personnel shall be recognized for their
suggestions as the Board considers appropriate but shall not receive any
monetary award. Illinois residents, annuitants, and employees, other than employees
who are management personnel,
shall receive
awards in accordance with the
schedule below. Each award to employees other than management personnel
and awards to residents and annuitants
shall be paid in one lump sum by the Board
created in subsection (b). A monetary award may be increased by
appropriation of
the General Assembly.
The amount of each award to employees other than management personnel
and the award to annuitants and residents shall be determined as follows:
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$1.00 to $5,000 savings............... |
an amount not |
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to exceed |
|
$500.00 or a |
|
certificate |
|
of merit, or |
|
both, as |
|
determined |
|
by the Board |
more than $5,000 up to $20,000 savings..... |
$500 award |
more than $20,000 up to $100,000 savings.... |
$1,000 award |
more than $100,000 up to $200,000 savings... |
$2,000 award |
more than $200,000 up to $300,000 savings... |
$3,000 award |
more than $300,000 up to $400,000 savings... |
$4,000 award |
more than $400,000.................. |
$5,000 award |
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(b) There is created a State Government Suggestion Award Board
to administer the program described in subsection (a). The Board shall consist
of 8 members appointed 2 each by the President of the Senate, the Minority
Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
the Minority Leader of the House of
Representatives and, as ex-officio, non-voting members, the directors of
the
Governor's Office of Management and Budget
and the Department.
Each appointing authority shall designate one initial appointee to serve
one year and one initial appointee to serve 2 years; subsequent terms shall
be 2 years. Any vacancies shall be filled for the
unexpired term by the original appointing authority and any member may be
reappointed. Board members shall serve without compensation but may be
reimbursed for expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. The
Board shall annually elect a chairman from among its number, shall meet
monthly or more frequently at the call of the chairman, and shall
establish necessary procedures, guidelines, and criteria for the
administration of the program. The Board shall annually report to the
General Assembly by January 1 on the operation of the program, including
the nature and cost-savings of implemented suggestions, and any
recommendations for legislative changes it deems appropriate.
The General Assembly shall make an annual appropriation to the Board for
payment of awards and the expenses of the Board, such as,
but not limited to: travel of the members, preparation of publicity
material, printing of forms and other matter, and contractual expenses.
(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06; 95-185, eff. 1-1-08.)
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