103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2892 Introduced , by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the appointing authorities of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall (rather than may) appoint at least one commissioner from the general public. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Commission. Provides that within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response without prior approval from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before publishing summary reports. Provides for the redaction of summary reports by the Legislative Inspector General and related requirements. Makes conforming and other changes. LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2892 Introduced , by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the appointing authorities of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall (rather than may) appoint at least one commissioner from the general public. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Commission. Provides that within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response without prior approval from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before publishing summary reports. Provides for the redaction of summary reports by the Legislative Inspector General and related requirements. Makes conforming and other changes. LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2892 Introduced , by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the appointing authorities of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall (rather than may) appoint at least one commissioner from the general public. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Commission. Provides that within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response without prior approval from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before publishing summary reports. Provides for the redaction of summary reports by the Legislative Inspector General and related requirements. Makes conforming and other changes. LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b A BILL FOR HB2892LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 AN ACT concerning government. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is 5 amended by changing Sections 25-5, 25-20, and 25-52 as 6 follows: 7 (5 ILCS 430/25-5) 8 Sec. 25-5. Legislative Ethics Commission. 9 (a) The Legislative Ethics Commission is created. 10 (b) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall consist of 8 11 commissioners appointed 2 each by the President and Minority 12 Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the 13 House of Representatives. 14 The terms of the initial commissioners shall commence upon 15 qualification. Each appointing authority shall designate one 16 appointee who shall serve for a 2-year term running through 17 June 30, 2005. Each appointing authority shall designate one 18 appointee who shall serve for a 4-year term running through 19 June 30, 2007. The initial appointments shall be made within 20 60 days after the effective date of this Act. 21 After the initial terms, commissioners shall serve for 22 4-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment 23 and running through June 30 of the fourth following year. 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB2892 Introduced , by Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the appointing authorities of the Legislative Ethics Commission shall (rather than may) appoint at least one commissioner from the general public. Allows the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without the advance approval of the Commission. Provides that within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General, the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) shall make available to the public the report and response or a redacted version of the report and response. Provides that the Legislative Inspector General (rather than the Commission) may make available to the public any other summary report and response of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a redacted version of the report and response without prior approval from the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall adopt no rule requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's advance approval before publishing summary reports. Provides for the redaction of summary reports by the Legislative Inspector General and related requirements. Makes conforming and other changes. LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b A BILL FOR 5 ILCS 430/25-5 5 ILCS 430/25-20 5 ILCS 430/25-52 LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 2 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 2 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 2 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 Commissioners may be reappointed to one or more subsequent 2 terms. 3 A vacancy shall occur upon a commissioner's death, 4 resignation, removal, disqualification, termination of 5 legislative service in the house or caucus of the appointing 6 authority, or other inability to act. Vacancies occurring 7 other than at the end of a term shall be filled by the 8 appointing authority only for the balance of the term of the 9 commissioner whose office is vacant. 10 Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is 11 filled. 12 (c) The appointing authorities shall appoint commissioners 13 who have experience holding governmental office or employment 14 and may appoint commissioners who are members of the General 15 Assembly, and each appointing authority shall appoint at least 16 one commissioner as well as commissioners from the general 17 public. A commissioner who is a member of the General Assembly 18 must recuse himself or herself from participating in any 19 matter relating to any investigation or proceeding in which he 20 or she is the subject or is a complainant. A person is not 21 eligible to serve as a commissioner if that person (i) has been 22 convicted of a felony or a crime of dishonesty or moral 23 turpitude, (ii) is, or was within the preceding 12 months, 24 engaged in activities that require registration under the 25 Lobbyist Registration Act, (iii) is a relative of the 26 appointing authority, (iv) is a State officer or employee HB2892 - 2 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 3 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 3 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 3 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 other than a member of the General Assembly, or (v) is a 2 candidate for statewide, federal, or judicial office. 3 (c-5) If a commissioner is required to recuse himself or 4 herself from participating in a matter as provided in 5 subsection (c), the recusal shall create a temporary vacancy 6 for the limited purpose of consideration of the matter for 7 which the commissioner recused himself or herself, and the 8 appointing authority for the recusing commissioner shall make 9 a temporary appointment to fill the vacancy for consideration 10 of the matter for which the commissioner recused himself or 11 herself. 12 (d) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall have 13 jurisdiction over current and former members of the General 14 Assembly regarding events occurring during a member's term of 15 office and current and former State employees regarding events 16 occurring during any period of employment where the State 17 employee's ultimate jurisdictional authority is (i) a 18 legislative leader, (ii) the Senate Operations Commission, or 19 (iii) the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services. The 20 Legislative Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over 21 complainants and respondents in violation of subsection (d) of 22 Section 25-90. The jurisdiction of the Commission is limited 23 to matters arising under this Act. 24 An officer or executive branch State employee serving on a 25 legislative branch board or commission remains subject to the 26 jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and is not HB2892 - 3 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 4 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 4 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 4 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 subject to the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics 2 Commission. 3 (e) The Legislative Ethics Commission must meet, either in 4 person or by other technological means, monthly or as often as 5 necessary. At the first meeting of the Legislative Ethics 6 Commission, the commissioners shall choose from their number a 7 chairperson and other officers that they deem appropriate. The 8 terms of officers shall be for 2 years commencing July 1 and 9 running through June 30 of the second following year. Meetings 10 shall be held at the call of the chairperson or any 3 11 commissioners. Official action by the Commission shall require 12 the affirmative vote of 5 commissioners, and a quorum shall 13 consist of 5 commissioners. Commissioners shall receive no 14 compensation but may be reimbursed for their reasonable 15 expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties. 16 (f) No commissioner, other than a commissioner who is a 17 member of the General Assembly, or employee of the Legislative 18 Ethics Commission may during his or her term of appointment or 19 employment: 20 (1) become a candidate for any elective office; 21 (2) hold any other elected or appointed public office 22 except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or 23 study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by 24 law; 25 (3) be actively involved in the affairs of any 26 political party or political organization; or HB2892 - 4 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 5 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 5 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 5 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 (4) advocate for the appointment of another person to 2 an appointed or elected office or position or actively 3 participate in any campaign for any elective office. 4 (f-5) No commissioner who is a member of the General 5 Assembly may be a candidate for statewide, federal, or 6 judicial office. If a commissioner who is a member of the 7 General Assembly files petitions to be a candidate for a 8 statewide, federal, or judicial office, he or she shall be 9 deemed to have resigned from his or her position as a 10 commissioner on the date his or her name is certified for the 11 ballot by the State Board of Elections or local election 12 authority and his or her position as a commissioner shall be 13 deemed vacant. Such person may not be reappointed to the 14 Commission during any time he or she is a candidate for 15 statewide, federal, or judicial office. 16 (g) An appointing authority may remove a commissioner only 17 for cause. 18 (h) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall appoint an 19 Executive Director subject to the approval of at least 3 of the 20 4 legislative leaders. The compensation of the Executive 21 Director shall be as determined by the Commission. The 22 Executive Director of the Legislative Ethics Commission may 23 employ, subject to the approval of at least 3 of the 4 24 legislative leaders, and determine the compensation of staff, 25 as appropriations permit. 26 (i) In consultation with the Legislative Inspector HB2892 - 5 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 6 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 6 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 6 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 General, the Legislative Ethics Commission may develop 2 comprehensive training for members and employees under its 3 jurisdiction that includes, but is not limited to, sexual 4 harassment, employment discrimination, and workplace civility. 5 The training may be recommended to the ultimate jurisdictional 6 authorities and may be approved by the Commission to satisfy 7 the sexual harassment training required under Section 5-10.5 8 or be provided in addition to the annual sexual harassment 9 training required under Section 5-10.5. The Commission may 10 seek input from governmental agencies or private entities for 11 guidance in developing such training. 12 (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 8-9-19; 13 101-617, eff. 12-20-19; 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.) 14 (5 ILCS 430/25-20) 15 Sec. 25-20. Duties of the Legislative Inspector General. 16 In addition to duties otherwise assigned by law, the 17 Legislative Inspector General shall have the following duties: 18 (1) To receive and investigate, without advance 19 approval of the Legislative Ethics Commission, allegations 20 of violations of this Act and other wrongful acts within 21 his or her jurisdiction based on a complaint. Except as 22 otherwise provided in paragraph (1.5), an investigation 23 may not be initiated more than one year after the alleged 24 wrongful act or the most recent act of a series of alleged 25 wrongful acts based on the same wrongful conduct except if HB2892 - 6 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 7 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 7 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 7 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 there is reasonable cause to believe that fraudulent 2 concealment has occurred. To constitute fraudulent 3 concealment sufficient to toll this limitations period, 4 there must be an affirmative act or representation 5 calculated to prevent discovery of the fact that a 6 violation or other wrongful act has occurred. The 7 Legislative Inspector General shall have the discretion to 8 determine the appropriate means of investigation as 9 permitted by law. 10 (1.5) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the 11 contrary, the Legislative Inspector General, whether 12 appointed by the Legislative Ethics Commission or the 13 General Assembly, may initiate an investigation based on 14 information provided to the Office of the Legislative 15 Inspector General or the Legislative Ethics Commission 16 during the period from December 1, 2014 through November 17 3, 2017. Any investigation initiated under this paragraph 18 (1.5) must be initiated within one year after the 19 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General 20 Assembly. 21 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, 22 the Legislative Inspector General, through the Attorney 23 General, shall have the authority to file a complaint 24 related to any founded violations that occurred during the 25 period December 1, 2014 through November 3, 2017 to the 26 Legislative Ethics Commission, and the Commission shall HB2892 - 7 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 8 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 8 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 8 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 have jurisdiction to conduct administrative hearings 2 related to any pleadings filed by the Legislative 3 Inspector General, provided the complaint is filed with 4 the Commission no later than 6 months after the summary 5 report is provided to the Attorney General in accordance 6 with subsection (c) of Section 25-50. 7 (2) To request information relating to an 8 investigation from any person when the Legislative 9 Inspector General deems that information necessary in 10 conducting an investigation. 11 (3) To issue subpoenas, with the advance approval of 12 the Commission, to compel the attendance of witnesses for 13 the purposes of testimony and production of documents and 14 other items for inspection and copying, and to make 15 service of those subpoenas and subpoenas issued under item 16 (7) of Section 25-15. 17 (4) To submit reports as required by this Act. 18 (5) To file pleadings in the name of the Legislative 19 Inspector General with the Legislative Ethics Commission, 20 through the Attorney General, as provided in this Article 21 if the Attorney General finds that reasonable cause exists 22 to believe that a violation has occurred. 23 (6) To assist and coordinate the ethics officers for 24 State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Legislative 25 Inspector General and to work with those ethics officers. 26 (7) To participate in or conduct, when appropriate, HB2892 - 8 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 9 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 9 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 9 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 multi-jurisdictional investigations. 2 (8) To request, as the Legislative Inspector General 3 deems appropriate, from ethics officers of State agencies 4 under his or her jurisdiction, reports or information on 5 (i) the content of a State agency's ethics training 6 program and (ii) the percentage of new officers and 7 employees who have completed ethics training. 8 (9) To establish a policy that ensures the appropriate 9 handling and correct recording of all investigations of 10 allegations and to ensure that the policy is accessible 11 via the Internet in order that those seeking to report 12 those allegations are familiar with the process and that 13 the subjects of those allegations are treated fairly. 14 (10) To post information to the Legislative Inspector 15 General's website explaining to complainants and subjects 16 of an investigation the legal limitations on the 17 Legislative Inspector General's ability to provide 18 information to them and a general overview of the 19 investigation process. 20 (Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.) 21 (5 ILCS 430/25-52) 22 Sec. 25-52. Release of summary reports. 23 (a) Within 60 days after the Legislative Ethics 24 Commission's receipt of a summary report and response from the 25 ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head regarding a HB2892 - 9 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 10 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 10 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 10 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 potential violation of this Act or potential wrongful acts 2 within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General 3 that resulted in a suspension of at least 3 days or termination 4 of employment, the Legislative Inspector General Ethics 5 Commission shall make available to the public the report and 6 response or a redacted version of the report and response. The 7 Legislative Inspector General Ethics Commission may make 8 available to the public any other summary report and response 9 of the ultimate jurisdictional authority or agency head or a 10 redacted version of the report and response without prior 11 approval from the Legislative Ethics Commission. The 12 Legislative Ethics Commission shall adopt no rule requiring 13 the Legislative Inspector General to seek the Commission's 14 advance approval before publishing summary reports authorized 15 under this Article. Any commission rule in existence on, the 16 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General 17 Assembly requiring the Legislative Inspector General to seek 18 the Commission's advance approval before commencing any 19 investigation is void. 20 (b) The Legislative Inspector General Ethics Commission 21 shall redact information in the summary report that may reveal 22 the identity of witnesses, complainants, or informants or if 23 the Legislative Inspector General Commission determines it is 24 appropriate to protect the identity of a person before 25 publication. The Commission may also redact any information it 26 believes should not be made public. Prior to publication, the HB2892 - 10 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892- 11 -LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 11 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b HB2892 - 11 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b 1 Legislative Inspector General Commission shall permit the 2 respondents, Legislative Ethics Commission Inspector General, 3 and Attorney General to review documents to be made public and 4 offer suggestions for redaction or provide a response that 5 shall be made public with the summary report. 6 (c) The Legislative Ethics Commission may withhold 7 publication of the report or response if the Legislative 8 Inspector General or Attorney General certifies that 9 publication will interfere with an ongoing investigation. 10 (Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.) HB2892 - 11 - LRB103 25201 DTM 51543 b