Bill Text: IL SB3296 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Secretary of State or the Executive Ethics Commission, after the adjudication of a violation regarding sexual harassment under the Lobbyist Registration Act for which an investigation was initiated by the Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of State, are authorized to temporarily suspend or terminate any person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed, registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Amends the Secretary of State Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State Inspector General to file pleadings with the Executive Ethics Commission, through the Attorney General, if the Attorney General finds that reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation regarding acts of sexual harassment by a lobbyist occurred. Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that failure to cooperate in an investigation initiated by the Secretary of State Inspector General, or a finding by the Inspector General of a violation regarding sexual harassment, shall give the Secretary of State discretion to temporarily suspend or terminate any person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed, registered under the Act. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2019-01-09 - Session Sine Die [SB3296 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SB3296-Introduced.html


100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB3296

Introduced 2/15/2018, by Sen. Melinda Bush

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
5 ILCS 430/50-5
15 ILCS 305/14
25 ILCS 170/11 from Ch. 63, par. 181

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides that the Secretary of State or the Executive Ethics Commission, after the adjudication of a violation regarding sexual harassment under the Lobbyist Registration Act for which an investigation was initiated by the Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of State, are authorized to temporarily suspend or terminate any person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed, registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Amends the Secretary of State Act. Authorizes the Secretary of State Inspector General to file pleadings with the Executive Ethics Commission, through the Attorney General, if the Attorney General finds that reasonable cause exists to believe that a violation regarding acts of sexual harassment by a lobbyist occurred. Amends the Lobbyist Registration Act. Provides that failure to cooperate in an investigation initiated by the Secretary of State Inspector General, or a finding by the Inspector General of a violation regarding sexual harassment, shall give the Secretary of State discretion to temporarily suspend or terminate any person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed, registered under the Act. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR

SB3296LRB100 20682 RJF 36135 b
1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is
5amended by changing Section 50-5 as follows:
6 (5 ILCS 430/50-5)
7 Sec. 50-5. Penalties.
8 (a) A person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if that
9person intentionally violates any provision of Section 5-15,
105-30, 5-40, or 5-45 or Article 15.
11 (a-1) An ethics commission may levy an administrative fine
12for a violation of Section 5-45 of this Act of up to 3 times the
13total annual compensation that would have been obtained in
14violation of Section 5-45.
15 (b) A person who intentionally violates any provision of
16Section 5-20, 5-35, 5-50, or 5-55 is guilty of a business
17offense subject to a fine of at least $1,001 and up to $5,000.
18 (c) A person who intentionally violates any provision of
19Article 10 is guilty of a business offense and subject to a
20fine of at least $1,001 and up to $5,000.
21 (d) Any person who intentionally makes a false report
22alleging a violation of any provision of this Act to an ethics
23commission, an inspector general, the State Police, a State's

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1Attorney, the Attorney General, or any other law enforcement
2official is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
3 (e) An ethics commission may levy an administrative fine of
4up to $5,000 against any person who violates this Act, who
5intentionally obstructs or interferes with an investigation
6conducted under this Act by an inspector general, or who
7intentionally makes a false, frivolous, or bad faith
8allegation.
9 (f) In addition to any other penalty that may apply,
10whether criminal or civil, a State employee who intentionally
11violates any provision of Section 5-5, 5-15, 5-20, 5-30, 5-35,
125-45, or 5-50, Article 10, Article 15, or Section 20-90 or
1325-90 is subject to discipline or discharge by the appropriate
14ultimate jurisdictional authority.
15 (g) Any person who violates Section 5-65 is subject to a
16fine of up to $5,000 per offense, and is subject to discipline
17or discharge by the appropriate ultimate jurisdictional
18authority. Each violation of Section 5-65 is a separate
19offense. Any penalty imposed by an ethics commission shall be
20separate and distinct from any fines or penalties imposed by a
21court of law or a State or federal agency.
22 (h) Any person who violates Section 4.7 or paragraph (d) of
23Section 5 of the Lobbyist Registration Act is guilty of a
24business offense and shall be subject to a fine of up to
25$5,000. The Secretary of State or the Executive Ethics
26Commission, after the adjudication of a violation of Section

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14.7 of the Lobbyist Registration Act for which an investigation
2was initiated by the Inspector General appointed by the
3Secretary of State under Section 14 of the Secretary of State
4Act, are authorized to temporarily suspend or terminate any
5person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed,
6registered under the Lobbyist Registration Act. Any penalty
7imposed by an ethics commission shall be separate and distinct
8from any fines or penalties imposed by a court of law or by the
9Secretary of State under the Lobbyist Registration Act.
10(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17.)
11 Section 10. The Secretary of State Act is amended by
12changing Section 14 as follows:
13 (15 ILCS 305/14)
14 Sec. 14. Inspector General.
15 (a) The Secretary of State must, with the advice and
16consent of the Senate, appoint an Inspector General for the
17purpose of detection, deterrence, and prevention of fraud,
18corruption, mismanagement, gross or aggravated misconduct, or
19misconduct that may be criminal in nature in the Office of the
20Secretary of State. The Inspector General shall serve a 5-year
21term. If no successor is appointed and qualified upon the
22expiration of the Inspector General's term, the Office of
23Inspector General is deemed vacant and the powers and duties
24under this Section may be exercised only by an appointed and

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1qualified interim Inspector General until a successor
2Inspector General is appointed and qualified. If the General
3Assembly is not in session when a vacancy in the Office of
4Inspector General occurs, the Secretary of State may appoint an
5interim Inspector General whose term shall expire 2 weeks after
6the next regularly scheduled session day of the Senate.
7 (b) The Inspector General shall have the following
8qualifications:
9 (1) has not been convicted of any felony under the laws
10 of this State, another State, or the United States;
11 (2) has earned a baccalaureate degree from an
12 institution of higher education; and
13 (3) has either (A) 5 or more years of service with a
14 federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, at least 2
15 years of which have been in a progressive investigatory
16 capacity; (B) 5 or more years of service as a federal,
17 State, or local prosecutor; or (C) 5 or more years of
18 service as a senior manager or executive of a federal,
19 State, or local agency.
20 (c) The Inspector General may review, coordinate, and
21recommend methods and procedures to increase the integrity of
22the Office of the Secretary of State. The duties of the
23Inspector General shall supplement and not supplant the duties
24of the Chief Auditor for the Secretary of State's Office or any
25other Inspector General that may be authorized by law. The
26Inspector General must report directly to the Secretary of

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1State.
2 (d) In addition to the authority otherwise provided by this
3Section, but only when investigating the Office of the
4Secretary of State, its employees, or their actions for fraud,
5corruption, mismanagement, gross or aggravated misconduct, or
6misconduct that may be criminal in nature, the Inspector
7General is authorized:
8 (1) To have access to all records, reports, audits,
9 reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other
10 materials available that relate to programs and operations
11 with respect to which the Inspector General has
12 responsibilities under this Section.
13 (2) To make any investigations and reports relating to
14 the administration of the programs and operations of the
15 Office of the Secretary of State that are, in the judgment
16 of the Inspector General, necessary or desirable.
17 (3) To request any information or assistance that may
18 be necessary for carrying out the duties and
19 responsibilities provided by this Section from any local,
20 State, or federal governmental agency or unit thereof.
21 (4) To require by subpoena the appearance of witnesses
22 and the production of all information, documents, reports,
23 answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and
24 documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the
25 functions assigned by this Section, with the exception of
26 subsection (c) and with the exception of records of a labor

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1 organization authorized and recognized under the Illinois
2 Public Labor Relations Act to be the exclusive bargaining
3 representative of employees of the Secretary of State,
4 including, but not limited to, records of representation of
5 employees and the negotiation of collective bargaining
6 agreements. A subpoena may be issued under this paragraph
7 (4) only by the Inspector General and not by members of the
8 Inspector General's staff. A person duly subpoenaed for
9 testimony, documents, or other items who neglects or
10 refuses to testify or produce documents or other items
11 under the requirements of the subpoena shall be subject to
12 punishment as may be determined by a court of competent
13 jurisdiction, unless (i) the testimony, documents, or
14 other items are covered by the attorney-client privilege or
15 any other privilege or right recognized by law or (ii) the
16 testimony, documents, or other items concern the
17 representation of employees and the negotiation of
18 collective bargaining agreements by a labor organization
19 authorized and recognized under the Illinois Public Labor
20 Relations Act to be the exclusive bargaining
21 representative of employees of the Secretary of State.
22 Nothing in this Section limits a person's right to
23 protection against self-incrimination under the Fifth
24 Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article I,
25 Section 10, of the Constitution of the State of Illinois.
26 (5) To have direct and prompt access to the Secretary

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1 of State for any purpose pertaining to the performance of
2 functions and responsibilities under this Section.
3 (d-5) In addition to the authority otherwise provided by
4this Section, the Secretary of State Inspector General shall
5have jurisdiction to investigate complaints and allegations of
6wrongdoing by any person or entity related to the Lobbyist
7Registration Act. When investigating those complaints and
8allegations, the Inspector General is authorized:
9 (1) To have access to all records, reports, audits,
10 reviews, documents, papers, recommendations, or other
11 materials available that relate to programs and operations
12 with respect to which the Inspector General has
13 responsibilities under this Section.
14 (2) To request any information or assistance that may
15 be necessary for carrying out the duties and
16 responsibilities provided by this Section from any local,
17 State, or federal governmental agency or unit thereof.
18 (3) To require by subpoena the appearance of witnesses
19 and the production of all information, documents, reports,
20 answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data and
21 documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the
22 functions assigned by this Section. A subpoena may be
23 issued under this paragraph (3) only by the Inspector
24 General and not by members of the Inspector General's
25 staff. A person duly subpoenaed for testimony, documents,
26 or other items who neglects or refuses to testify or

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1 produce documents or other items under the requirements of
2 the subpoena shall be subject to punishment as may be
3 determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the
4 testimony, documents, or other items are covered by the
5 attorney-client privilege or any other privilege or right
6 recognized by law. Nothing in this Section limits a
7 person's right to protection against self-incrimination
8 under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution
9 or Section 10 of Article I of the Constitution of the State
10 of Illinois.
11 (4) To have direct and prompt access to the Secretary
12 of State for any purpose pertaining to the performance of
13 functions and responsibilities under this Section.
14 (5) As provided in subsection (d) of Section 5 of the
15 Lobbyist Registration Act, to review allegations that an
16 individual required to be registered under the Lobbyist
17 Registration Act has engaged in one or more acts of sexual
18 harassment. Upon completion of that review, the Inspector
19 General shall submit a summary of the review to the
20 Executive Ethics Commission. The Inspector General is
21 authorized to file pleadings with the Executive Ethics
22 Commission, through the Attorney General, if the Attorney
23 General finds that reasonable cause exists to believe that
24 a violation regarding acts of sexual harassment has
25 occurred. The Secretary shall adopt rules setting forth the
26 procedures for the review of such allegations.

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1 (e) The Inspector General may receive and investigate
2complaints or information concerning the possible existence of
3an activity constituting a violation of law, rules, or
4regulations; mismanagement; abuse of authority; or substantial
5and specific danger to the public health and safety. Any person
6who knowingly files a false complaint or files a complaint with
7reckless disregard for the truth or the falsity of the facts
8underlying the complaint may be subject to discipline as set
9forth in the rules of the Department of Personnel of the
10Secretary of State or the Inspector General may refer the
11matter to a State's Attorney or the Attorney General.
12 The Inspector General may not, after receipt of a complaint
13or information, disclose the identity of the source without the
14consent of the source, unless the Inspector General determines
15that disclosure of the identity is reasonable and necessary for
16the furtherance of the investigation.
17 Any employee who has the authority to recommend or approve
18any personnel action or to direct others to recommend or
19approve any personnel action may not, with respect to that
20authority, take or threaten to take any action against any
21employee as a reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing
22information to the Inspector General, unless the complaint was
23made or the information disclosed with the knowledge that it
24was false or with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.
25 (f) The Inspector General must adopt rules, in accordance
26with the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure

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1Act, establishing minimum requirements for initiating,
2conducting, and completing investigations. The rules must
3establish criteria for determining, based upon the nature of
4the allegation, the appropriate method of investigation, which
5may include, but is not limited to, site visits, telephone
6contacts, personal interviews, or requests for written
7responses. The rules must also clarify how the Office of the
8Inspector General shall interact with other local, State, and
9federal law enforcement investigations.
10 Any employee of the Secretary of State subject to
11investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General or any agent
12or representative of the Inspector General concerning
13misconduct that is criminal in nature shall have the right to
14be notified of the right to remain silent during the
15investigation or inquiry and the right to be represented in the
16investigation or inquiry by an attorney or a representative of
17a labor organization that is the exclusive collective
18bargaining representative of employees of the Secretary of
19State. Any investigation or inquiry by the Inspector General or
20any agent or representative of the Inspector General must be
21conducted with an awareness of the provisions of a collective
22bargaining agreement that applies to the employees of the
23Secretary of State and with an awareness of the rights of the
24employees as set forth in State and federal law and applicable
25judicial decisions. Any recommendations for discipline or any
26action taken against any employee by the Inspector General or

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1any representative or agent of the Inspector General must
2comply with the provisions of the collective bargaining
3agreement that applies to the employee.
4 (g) On or before January 1 of each year, the Inspector
5General shall report to the President of the Senate, the
6Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
7Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of
8Representatives on the types of investigations and the
9activities undertaken by the Office of the Inspector General
10during the previous calendar year.
11(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17.)
12 Section 15. The Lobbyist Registration Act is amended by
13changing Section 11 as follows:
14 (25 ILCS 170/11) (from Ch. 63, par. 181)
15 Sec. 11. Enforcement.
16 (a) The Secretary of State Inspector General appointed
17under Section 14 of the Secretary of State Act shall initiate
18investigations of violations of this Act upon receipt of
19credible evidence of a violation. If, upon conclusion of an
20investigation, the Inspector General reasonably believes a
21violation of this Act has occurred, the Inspector General shall
22provide the alleged violator with written notification of the
23alleged violation. Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the
24notification, the alleged violator shall submit a written

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1response to the Inspector General. The response shall indicate
2whether the alleged violator (i) disputes the alleged
3violation, including any facts that reasonably prove the
4alleged violation did not violate the Act, or (ii) agrees to
5take action to correct the alleged violation within 30 calendar
6days, including a description of the action the alleged
7violator has taken or will take to correct the alleged
8violation. If the alleged violator disputes the alleged
9violation or fails to respond to the notification of the
10alleged violation, the Inspector General shall transmit the
11evidence to the appropriate State's Attorney or Attorney
12General. If the alleged violator agrees to take action to
13correct the alleged violation, the Inspector General shall make
14available to the public the notification from the Inspector
15General and the response from the alleged violator and shall
16not transmit the evidence to the appropriate State's Attorney
17or Attorney General. Nothing in this Act requires the Inspector
18General to notify an alleged violator of an ongoing
19investigation or to notify the alleged violator of a referral
20of any evidence to a law enforcement agency, a State's
21Attorney, or the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (c).
22 (a-5) Failure to cooperate in an investigation initiated by
23the Secretary of State Inspector General appointed under
24Section 14 of the Secretary of State Act, or a finding by the
25Inspector General of a violation of Section 4.7, shall give the
26Secretary of State discretion to temporarily suspend or

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1terminate any person, or lobbying entity for which that person
2is employed, registered under this Act.
3 (b) Any violation of this Act may be prosecuted in the
4county where the offense is committed or in Sangamon County. In
5addition to the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, the
6Attorney General of Illinois also is authorized to prosecute
7any violation of this Act.
8 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
9Inspector General may at any time refer evidence of a violation
10of State or federal law, in addition to a violation of this
11Act, to the appropriate law enforcement agency, State's
12Attorney, or Attorney General.
13(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1358, eff. 7-28-10.)
14 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.
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