Bill Text: IL HB2914 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may not incur legal expenses in excess of $1,000,000 unless the electors of the municipality approve a greater amount of legal expenses after a referendum after adoption of an ordinance requesting the referendum. Limits home rule powers. Exempts full-time and part-time employees.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-29 - House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 19(c) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB2914 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-HB2914-Introduced.html

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101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2019 and 2020 HB2914 Introduced , by Rep. Thaddeus Jones SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
65 ILCS 5/8-1-19 new
Amends the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that a municipality may not incur legal expenses in excess of $1,000,000 unless the electors of the municipality approve a greater amount of legal expenses after a referendum after adoption of an ordinance requesting the referendum. Limits home rule powers. Exempts full-time and part-time employees.
LRB101 09876 AWJ 54978 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB2914 LRB101 09876 AWJ 54978 b
AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding
Section 8-1-19 as follows:
(65 ILCS 5/8-1-19 new)
Sec. 8-1-19. Legal expenses cap.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a
municipality may not incur legal expenses in excess of
$1,000,000 unless the electors of the municipality approve a
greater amount of legal expenses after a referendum under
subsection (b).
(b) Upon the adoption of an ordinance by the city council
of the municipality requesting a referendum to incur additional
legal expenses, a referendum, subject to the requirements of
16-7 of the Election Code, shall be placed on the ballot for
all electors residing in the municipality at the next general
election in substantially the following form:
May the (name of municipality) expend more than the
$1,000,000 statutory cap on legal expenses for the
(current/next) fiscal year?

HB2914 - 2 - LRB101 09876 AWJ 54978 b
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
(c) A home rule municipally may not regulate the incurring
of legal expenses in a manner inconsistent with this Section.
This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6
of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent
exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised
by the State.
(d) This Section does not apply to salaries and benefits
paid to attorneys and paralegals who are full-time or part-time
employees a municipality.