2008 ILA Update #14

NEWS RELEASE

Update on Fund Sweeps Bill, Restoring Funding for State Constitutional Officers, Pay to Play Ethics Legislation, and Lease of the Illinois State Lottery
The Illinois General Assembly has been in session several days in the last two weeks.  They have considered the governor’s vetoes as well as appropriations issues.  Both chambers have now passed Senate Bill (SB) 790, a “fund sweeps” bill that will generate $221 million in revenue.  We do not think any library funds were subject to this sweep, but will confirm this information after further analysis after the 2008 ILA Annual Conference. 

The Illinois General Assembly also passed Senate Bill (SB) 1103 that is a supplemental appropriations bill restoring funding for state constitutional officers, as well as addiction programs, and front line employees for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other agencies.  If the governor signs this appropriations bill, the proposed closure of state parks and historic sites will not have to go forward.  ILA believes the Illinois Secretary of State would get about $22.7 million in cuts restored under SB 1103, but we will defer to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office for confirmation.

The general assembly also overrode the governor's proposed amendatory veto of House Bill (HB) 824 (the “Pay to Play” ethics legislation).  In doing so, the general assembly rejected the governor's changes, which included a ban on local government officials also serving as members of the general assembly, and would have prohibited local government employees and officials from making campaign contributions to legislators.  However, this language has been revived in Senate Bill (SB) 780, which passed the Illinois Senate yesterday, but has not yet been considered by the Illinois House of Representatives.  At this point, only the original House Bill (HB) 824 provisions will be effective.  That legislation prohibits state contractors from making political contributions to State Constitutional Officers.

As mentioned in a previous update, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill to allow lease of the Illinois State Lottery and provided an outline for a capital projects plan (SB 2595).  However, the Illinois Senate did not consider this bill, and it is not clear when, or if, the Illinois General Assembly will return to once again consider a capital bill.

2008 ILA Annual Conference Opening Session Is Just Hours Away
Exhibits are open today --- Wednesday, September 24, 12:30 to 5:00 P.M., and Thursday, September 25, 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. To obtain a pass, please visit the ILA Registration Desk at Navy Pier. Exhibit passes cannot be used to attend conference programs. Please note that exhibits will not be open on Friday, 26 September.