Illinois 2023-2024 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB5107

Introduced

2/8/24

Introduced

2/8/24

Refer

2/8/24

Caption

GENERAL ASSEMBLY-NONATTENDANCE

Impact

The implementation of this bill represents a significant change in the compensation structure for lawmakers in Illinois. It directly ties salary eligibility to attendance, which advocates argue will promote higher participation and responsibility among elected officials. The provisions also impact the Illinois Pension Code, wherein members who don't meet the attendance standard will lose service credit for that calendar year, thus affecting their long-term pension benefits. This could potentially incentivize legislators to prioritize attendance and engagement in the legislative process.

Summary

House Bill 5107 amends the General Assembly Compensation Act to establish a minimum attendance requirement for members of the General Assembly. Specifically, it mandates that members must attend at least 60% of the days in the spring legislative session to be eligible for their annual salary. This requirement applies to both current members and those who join after the session has commenced, adjusting their minimum requirement accordingly. Failure to meet this attendance threshold will result in the member forfeiting their salary for the remainder of the calendar year and necessitate reimbursement of any payments received in that year to the State as determined by the Comptroller.

Contention

The introduction of HB 5107 may lead to debates surrounding its implications for legislative duty and the nature of public service. Supporters believe that setting a minimum attendance requirement is a necessary step to ensure accountability among legislators, arguing that representatives should be present to fulfill their roles effectively. However, detractors may raise concerns about the potential for unintended consequences, such as discouraging members from taking necessary leave for critical personal or health-related matters. This balancing act between accountability and compassion for individual circumstances could become a significant point of discussion during legislative hearings.