103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1140 Introduced , by Rep. Blaine Wilhour SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to the county board affiliated with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county clerk's or coroner's full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of relevant documents. Allows injunctive relief, attorney fees, and fines for failure to comply with the provisions. Requires the county clerk to request from the United States Postal Service records of each permanent change of address form submitted related to an address in the county and to update the registration of any person whose address appears to have changed, as indicated by those records. LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1140 Introduced , by Rep. Blaine Wilhour SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to the county board affiliated with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county clerk's or coroner's full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of relevant documents. Allows injunctive relief, attorney fees, and fines for failure to comply with the provisions. Requires the county clerk to request from the United States Postal Service records of each permanent change of address form submitted related to an address in the county and to update the registration of any person whose address appears to have changed, as indicated by those records. LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1140 Introduced , by Rep. Blaine Wilhour SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to the county board affiliated with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county clerk's or coroner's full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of relevant documents. Allows injunctive relief, attorney fees, and fines for failure to comply with the provisions. Requires the county clerk to request from the United States Postal Service records of each permanent change of address form submitted related to an address in the county and to update the registration of any person whose address appears to have changed, as indicated by those records. LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b A BILL FOR HB1140LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b 1 AN ACT concerning elections. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing 5 Section 4-14.1 as follows: 6 (10 ILCS 5/4-14.1) (from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1) 7 Sec. 4-14.1. Cancellation Cancelation of deceased voter's 8 registration. 9 (a) Upon establishment of an electronic reporting system 10 for death registrations as provided in the Vital Records Act, 11 the county clerk of the county where a decedent last resided, 12 as indicated on the decedent's death certificate, shall may 13 issue certifications of death records from that system and 14 shall may use that system to cancel the registration of any 15 person who has died during the preceding month. Regardless of 16 whether or not such a system has been established, it is the 17 duty of the county clerk to examine, monthly, the records 18 deposited in his or her office pursuant to the Vital Records 19 Act that relate to deaths in the county, and to cancel the 20 registration of any person who has died during the preceding 21 month. The county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for 22 a county or any other individual responsible for certification 23 of death under Section 18 of the Vital Records Act shall 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1140 Introduced , by Rep. Blaine Wilhour SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 Amends the Election Code. Provides that the county clerk of a county where a decedent last resided shall (rather than may) issue certifications of death records from the electronic reporting system for death registrations and shall (rather than may) use that system to cancel the registration of any person who has died during the preceding month. Requires a county coroner, medical examiner, or physician for a county or any other individual responsible for certification of death under the Vital Records Act to promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 7 days after the death. Requires the county clerk and coroner to report quarterly to the county board affiliated with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county clerk's or coroner's full compliance with the provisions and accuracy of the voter rolls. Allows an individual to request a copy of relevant documents. Allows injunctive relief, attorney fees, and fines for failure to comply with the provisions. Requires the county clerk to request from the United States Postal Service records of each permanent change of address form submitted related to an address in the county and to update the registration of any person whose address appears to have changed, as indicated by those records. LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b A BILL FOR 10 ILCS 5/4-14.1 from Ch. 46, par. 4-14.1 LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140- 2 -LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 2 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 2 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b 1 promptly transmit certified records to the county clerk within 2 7 days after the death of the decedent. The county clerk and 3 coroner shall report quarterly to the county board affiliated 4 with the county clerk or coroner and certify the county 5 clerk's or coroner's full compliance with this Section and 6 accuracy of the voter rolls. In addition, on a monthly basis, 7 the county clerk shall request from the United States Postal 8 Service records of each permanent change of address form 9 submitted to the Postal Service related to an address in the 10 county and shall update the registration of any person whose 11 address appears to have changed, as indicated by those 12 records. 13 (b) Any person may request a copy of the evidence of 14 deposits of records and required reports under subsection (a). 15 The county shall produce a copy of the evidence of deposits or 16 required reports within 5 business days of receipt of the 17 request or within 48 hours of receipt of the request if the 18 request is received 30 days or less before an election. 19 (c) A person may file a petition for injunction or 20 declaratory relief to enforce subsection (a) or a request for 21 records under subsection (b). The circuit court may order (i) 22 production of evidence of the deposits of records, (ii) 23 production of required reports, or (iii) compliance with any 24 of the requirements of subsection (a). 25 (d) If a person seeking the right to receive a copy of 26 documents under subsection (b) prevails in a proceeding under HB1140 - 2 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140- 3 -LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 3 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 3 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b 1 subsection (c), the court shall award the person reasonable 2 attorney's fees and costs. In determining what amount of 3 attorney's fees is reasonable, the court shall consider the 4 degree to which the relief obtained relates to the relief 5 sought. 6 (e) If the court determines in an action under subsection 7 (c) that an individual required to act under this Section 8 willfully and intentionally failed to comply with this 9 Section, or otherwise acted in bad faith, the court shall 10 impose upon the county in which the individual was responsible 11 to perform duties under this Section a civil penalty of not 12 less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000 for each occurrence. In 13 assessing the civil penalty, the court shall consider in 14 aggravation or mitigation the budget of the county and whether 15 the county has previously been assessed penalties for 16 violations of this Section. The court may impose an additional 17 civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each day that violation of 18 the court's order to disclose documents under this Section 19 continues if: 20 (1) the individual fails to comply with the court's 21 order after 30 days; 22 (2) the court's order is not on appeal or stayed; and 23 (3) the court does not grant the individual additional 24 time to comply with the court's order to disclose public 25 records. 26 A civil penalty imposed under this subsection is in HB1140 - 3 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140- 4 -LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 4 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b HB1140 - 4 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b 1 addition to any fees and costs awarded under subsection (d), 2 if applicable. 3 (f) If this Section conflicts with the Freedom of 4 Information Act relating to a request for production of public 5 records or the actions of a court, the provisions in this 6 Section control. 7 (Source: P.A. 96-1484, eff. 1-1-11.) HB1140 - 4 - LRB103 05324 AWJ 50342 b