Public Act 1528 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB3965 Enrolled LRB096 24159 RLJ 43594 b

Public Act 096-1528

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The State Officials and Employees Ethics Act is amended by changing Sections 1-5, 20-5, 20-10, 20-23, 20-90, and 20-95 and by adding the heading of Article 75 and Sections 75-5 and 75-10 as follows:

(5 ILCS 430/1-5)

Sec. 1-5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Appointee" means a person appointed to a position in or with a State agency, regardless of whether the position is compensated.

"Board members of Regional Transit Boards" means any person appointed to serve on the governing board of a Regional Transit Board.

"Campaign for elective office" means any activity in furtherance of an effort to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, State, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the selection, nomination, or election of Presidential or Vice-Presidential electors, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action (as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act), (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official State duties.

"Candidate" means a person who has filed nominating papers or petitions for nomination or election to an elected State office, or who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination, and who remains eligible for placement on the ballot at either a general primary election or general election.

"Collective bargaining" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 3 of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.

"Commission" means an ethics commission created by this Act.

"Compensated time" means any time worked by or credited to a State employee that counts toward any minimum work time requirement imposed as a condition of employment with a State agency, but does not include any designated State holidays or any period when the employee is on a leave of absence.

"Compensatory time off" means authorized time off earned by or awarded to a State employee to compensate in whole or in part for time worked in excess of the minimum work time required of that employee as a condition of employment with a State agency.

"Contribution" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 9-1.4 of the Election Code.

"Employee" means (i) any person employed full-time, part-time, or pursuant to a contract and whose employment duties are subject to the direction and control of an employer with regard to the material details of how the work is to be performed or (ii) any appointed or elected commissioner, trustee, director, or board member of a board of a State agency, including any retirement system or investment board subject to the Illinois Pension Code or (iii) any other appointee.

"Employment benefits" include but are not limited to the following: modified compensation or benefit terms; compensated time off; or change of title, job duties, or location of office or employment. An employment benefit may also include favorable treatment in determining whether to bring any disciplinary or similar action or favorable treatment during the course of any disciplinary or similar action or other performance review.

"Executive branch constitutional officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

"Gift" means any gratuity, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other tangible or intangible item having monetary value including, but not limited to, cash, food and drink, and honoraria for speaking engagements related to or attributable to government employment or the official position of an employee, member, or officer.

"Governmental entity" means a unit of local government (including a community college district) or a school district but not a State agency or a Regional Transit Board.

"Leave of absence" means any period during which a State employee does not receive (i) compensation for State employment, (ii) service credit towards State pension benefits, and (iii) health insurance benefits paid for by the State.

"Legislative branch constitutional officer" means a member of the General Assembly and the Auditor General.

"Legislative leader" means the President and Minority Leader of the Senate and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

"Member" means a member of the General Assembly.

"Officer" means an executive branch constitutional officer or a legislative branch constitutional officer.

"Political" means any activity in support of or in connection with any campaign for elective office or any political organization, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action (as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act), (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official State duties or governmental and public service functions.

"Political organization" means a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that is required to file a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk under Section 9-3 of the Election Code, but only with regard to those activities that require filing with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk.

"Prohibited political activity" means:

(1) Preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.

(2) Soliciting contributions, including but not limited to the purchase of, selling, distributing, or receiving payment for tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting, or other political event.

(3) Soliciting, planning the solicitation of, or preparing any document or report regarding any thing of value intended as a campaign contribution.

(4) Planning, conducting, or participating in a public opinion poll in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(5) Surveying or gathering information from potential or actual voters in an election to determine probable vote outcome in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(6) Assisting at the polls on election day on behalf of any political organization or candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(7) Soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective office or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls.

(8) Initiating for circulation, preparing, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(9) Making contributions on behalf of any candidate for elective office in that capacity or in connection with a campaign for elective office.

(10) Preparing or reviewing responses to candidate questionnaires in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes.

(11) Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(12) Campaigning for any elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(13) Managing or working on a campaign for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(14) Serving as a delegate, alternate, or proxy to a political party convention.

(15) Participating in any recount or challenge to the outcome of any election, except to the extent that under subsection (d) of Section 6 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution each house of the General Assembly shall judge the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.

"Prohibited source" means any person or entity who:

(1) is seeking official action (i) by the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, by the employee or by the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(2) does business or seeks to do business (i) with the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, with the employee or with the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(3) conducts activities regulated (i) by the member or officer or (ii) in the case of an employee, by the employee or by the member, officer, State agency, or other employee directing the employee;

(4) has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or non-performance of the official duties of the member, officer, or employee;

(5) is registered or required to be registered with the Secretary of State under the Lobbyist Registration Act, except that an entity not otherwise a prohibited source does not become a prohibited source merely because a registered lobbyist is one of its members or serves on its board of directors; or

(6) is an agent of, a spouse of, or an immediate family member who is living with a "prohibited source".

"Regional Transit Boards" means (i) the Regional Transportation Authority created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, (ii) the Suburban Bus Division created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, (iii) the Commuter Rail Division created by the Regional Transportation Authority Act, and (iv) the Chicago Transit Authority created by the Metropolitan Transit Authority Act.

"State agency" includes all officers, boards, commissions and agencies created by the Constitution, whether in the executive or legislative branch; all officers, departments, boards, commissions, agencies, institutions, authorities, public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act (except community colleges), and bodies politic and corporate of the State; and administrative units or corporate outgrowths of the State government which are created by or pursuant to statute, other than units of local government (including community college districts) and their officers, school districts, and boards of election commissioners; and all administrative units and corporate outgrowths of the above and as may be created by executive order of the Governor. "State agency" includes the General Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate Operations Commission, and the legislative support services agencies. "State agency" includes the Office of the Auditor General. "State agency" does not include the judicial branch.

"State employee" means any employee of a State agency.

"Ultimate jurisdictional authority" means the following:

(1) For members, legislative partisan staff, and legislative secretaries, the appropriate legislative leader: President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(2) For State employees who are professional staff or employees of the Senate and not covered under item (1), the Senate Operations Commission.

(3) For State employees who are professional staff or employees of the House of Representatives and not covered under item (1), the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(4) For State employees who are employees of the legislative support services agencies, the Joint Committee on Legislative Support Services.

(5) For State employees of the Auditor General, the Auditor General.

(6) For State employees of public institutions of higher learning as defined in Section 2 of the Higher Education Cooperation Act (except community colleges), the board of trustees of the appropriate public institution of higher learning.

(7) For State employees of an executive branch constitutional officer other than those described in paragraph (6), the appropriate executive branch constitutional officer.

(8) For State employees not under the jurisdiction of paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), or (7), the Governor.

(9) For employees of Regional Transit Boards, the appropriate Regional Transit Board.

(10) For board members of Regional Transit Boards, the Governor.

(Source: P.A. 95-880, eff. 8-19-08; 96-6, eff. 4-3-09; 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-5)

Sec. 20-5. Executive Ethics Commission.

(a) The Executive Ethics Commission is created.

(b) The Executive Ethics Commission shall consist of 9 commissioners. The Governor shall appoint 5 commissioners, and the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall each appoint one commissioner. Appointments shall be made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate by three-fifths of the elected members concurring by record vote. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 session days of the receipt thereof shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. If, during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office of commissioner, the appointing authority shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when the appointing authority shall make a nomination to fill that office. No person rejected for an office of commissioner shall, except by the Senate's request, be nominated again for that office at the same session of the Senate or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate. No more than 5 commissioners may be of the same political party.

The terms of the initial commissioners shall commence upon qualification. Four initial appointees of the Governor, as designated by the Governor, shall serve terms running through June 30, 2007. One initial appointee of the Governor, as designated by the Governor, and the initial appointees of the Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall serve terms running through June 30, 2008. The initial appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this Act.

After the initial terms, commissioners shall serve for 4-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment and running through June 30 of the fourth following year. Commissioners may be reappointed to one or more subsequent terms.

Vacancies occurring other than at the end of a term shall be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of the term of the commissioner whose office is vacant.

Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is filled.

(c) The appointing authorities shall appoint commissioners who have experience holding governmental office or employment and shall appoint commissioners from the general public. A person is not eligible to serve as a commissioner if that person (i) has been convicted of a felony or a crime of dishonesty or moral turpitude, (ii) is, or was within the preceding 12 months, engaged in activities that require registration under the Lobbyist Registration Act, (iii) is related to the appointing authority, or (iv) is a State officer or employee.

(d) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all officers and employees of State agencies other than the General Assembly, the Senate, the House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Senate Operations Commission, the legislative support services agencies, and the Office of the Auditor General. The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all board members and employees of Regional Transit Boards. The jurisdiction of the Commission is limited to matters arising under this Act, except as provided in subsection (d-5).

A member or legislative branch State employee serving on an executive branch board or commission remains subject to the jurisdiction of the Legislative Ethics Commission and is not subject to the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission.

(d-5) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all chief procurement officers and procurement compliance monitors and their respective staffs. The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over any matters arising under the Illinois Procurement Code if the Commission is given explicit authority in that Code.

(e) The Executive Ethics Commission must meet, either in person or by other technological means, at least monthly and as often as necessary. At the first meeting of the Executive Ethics Commission, the commissioners shall choose from their number a chairperson and other officers that they deem appropriate. The terms of officers shall be for 2 years commencing July 1 and running through June 30 of the second following year. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chairperson or any 3 commissioners. Official action by the Commission shall require the affirmative vote of 5 commissioners, and a quorum shall consist of 5 commissioners. Commissioners shall receive compensation in an amount equal to the compensation of members of the State Board of Elections and may be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties.

(f) No commissioner or employee of the Executive Ethics Commission may during his or her term of appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any other elected or appointed public office except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by law;

(3) be actively involved in the affairs of any political party or political organization; or

(4) advocate for the appointment of another person to an appointed or elected office or position or actively participate in any campaign for any elective office.

(g) An appointing authority may remove a commissioner only for cause.

(h) The Executive Ethics Commission shall appoint an Executive Director. The compensation of the Executive Director shall be as determined by the Commission. The Executive Director of the Executive Ethics Commission may employ and determine the compensation of staff, as appropriations permit.

(i) The Executive Ethics Commission shall appoint, by a majority of the members appointed to the Commission, chief procurement officers and procurement compliance monitors in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Procurement Code. The compensation of a chief procurement officer and procurement compliance monitor shall be determined by the Commission.

(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-10)

Sec. 20-10. Offices of Executive Inspectors General.

(a) Five independent Offices of the Executive Inspector General are created, one each for the Governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, and the Treasurer. Each Office shall be under the direction and supervision of an Executive Inspector General and shall be a fully independent office with separate appropriations.

(b) The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer shall each appoint an Executive Inspector General, without regard to political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity and demonstrated ability. Appointments shall be made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate by three-fifths of the elected members concurring by record vote. Any nomination not acted upon by the Senate within 60 session days of the receipt thereof shall be deemed to have received the advice and consent of the Senate. If, during a recess of the Senate, there is a vacancy in an office of Executive Inspector General, the appointing authority shall make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when the appointing authority shall make a nomination to fill that office. No person rejected for an office of Executive Inspector General shall, except by the Senate's request, be nominated again for that office at the same session of the Senate or be appointed to that office during a recess of that Senate.

Nothing in this Article precludes the appointment by the Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, or Treasurer of any other inspector general required or permitted by law. The Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer each may appoint an existing inspector general as the Executive Inspector General required by this Article, provided that such an inspector general is not prohibited by law, rule, jurisdiction, qualification, or interest from serving as the Executive Inspector General required by this Article. An appointing authority may not appoint a relative as an Executive Inspector General.

Each Executive Inspector General shall have the following qualifications:

(1) has not been convicted of any felony under the laws of this State, another State, or the United States;

(2) has earned a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education; and

(3) has 5 or more years of cumulative service (A) with a federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, at least 2 years of which have been in a progressive investigatory capacity; (B) as a federal, State, or local prosecutor; (C) as a senior manager or executive of a federal, State, or local agency; (D) as a member, an officer, or a State or federal judge; or (E) representing any combination of (A) through (D).

The term of each initial Executive Inspector General shall commence upon qualification and shall run through June 30, 2008. The initial appointments shall be made within 60 days after the effective date of this Act.

After the initial term, each Executive Inspector General shall serve for 5-year terms commencing on July 1 of the year of appointment and running through June 30 of the fifth following year. An Executive Inspector General may be reappointed to one or more subsequent terms.

A vacancy occurring other than at the end of a term shall be filled by the appointing authority only for the balance of the term of the Executive Inspector General whose office is vacant.

Terms shall run regardless of whether the position is filled.

(c) The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Attorney General shall have jurisdiction over the Attorney General and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Secretary of State shall have jurisdiction over the Secretary of State and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Comptroller shall have jurisdiction over the Comptroller and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Comptroller. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Treasurer shall have jurisdiction over the Treasurer and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, State agencies within the jurisdiction of the Treasurer. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall have jurisdiction over (i) the Governor, (ii) the Lieutenant Governor, (iii) and all officers and employees of, and vendors and others doing business with, executive branch State agencies under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and not within the jurisdiction of the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Comptroller, or the Treasurer, and (iv) all board members and employees of the Regional Transit Boards and all vendors and others doing business with the Regional Transit Boards.

The jurisdiction of each Executive Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of this Act or violations of other related laws and rules.

(d) The compensation for each Executive Inspector General shall be determined by the Executive Ethics Commission and shall be made from appropriations made to the Comptroller for this purpose. Subject to Section 20-45 of this Act, each Executive Inspector General has full authority to organize his or her Office of the Executive Inspector General, including the employment and determination of the compensation of staff, such as deputies, assistants, and other employees, as appropriations permit. A separate appropriation shall be made for each Office of Executive Inspector General.

(e) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General may, during his or her term of appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any other elected or appointed public office except for appointments on governmental advisory boards or study commissions or as otherwise expressly authorized by law;

(3) be actively involved in the affairs of any political party or political organization; or

(4) advocate for the appointment of another person to an appointed or elected office or position or actively participate in any campaign for any elective office.

In this subsection an appointed public office means a position authorized by law that is filled by an appointing authority as provided by law and does not include employment by hiring in the ordinary course of business.

(e-1) No Executive Inspector General or employee of the Office of the Executive Inspector General may, for one year after the termination of his or her appointment or employment:

(1) become a candidate for any elective office;

(2) hold any elected public office; or

(3) hold any appointed State, county, or local judicial office.

(e-2) The requirements of item (3) of subsection (e-1) may be waived by the Executive Ethics Commission.

(f) An Executive Inspector General may be removed only for cause and may be removed only by the appointing constitutional officer. At the time of the removal, the appointing constitutional officer must report to the Executive Ethics Commission the justification for the removal.

(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-23)

Sec. 20-23. Ethics Officers. Each officer and the head of each State agency under the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission shall designate an Ethics Officer for the office or State agency. The board of each Regional Transit Board shall designate an Ethics Officer. Ethics Officers shall:

(1) act as liaisons between the State agency or Regional Transit Board and the appropriate Executive Inspector General and between the State agency or Regional Transit Board and the Executive Ethics Commission;

(2) review statements of economic interest and disclosure forms of officers, senior employees, and contract monitors before they are filed with the Secretary of State; and

(3) provide guidance to officers and employees in the interpretation and implementation of this Act, which the officer or employee may in good faith rely upon. Such guidance shall be based, wherever possible, upon legal precedent in court decisions, opinions of the Attorney General, and the findings and opinions of the Executive Ethics Commission.

(Source: P.A. 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-90)

Sec. 20-90. Confidentiality.

(a) The identity of any individual providing information or reporting any possible or alleged misconduct to an Executive Inspector General or the Executive Ethics Commission shall be kept confidential and may not be disclosed without the consent of that individual, unless the individual consents to disclosure of his or her name or disclosure of the individual's identity is otherwise required by law. The confidentiality granted by this subsection does not preclude the disclosure of the identity of a person in any capacity other than as the source of an allegation.

(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 20-52, commissioners, employees, and agents of the Executive Ethics Commission, the Executive Inspectors General, and employees and agents of each Office of an Executive Inspector General, the Attorney General, and the employees and agents of the office of the Attorney General shall keep confidential and shall not disclose information exempted from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or by this Act, provided the identity of any individual providing information or reporting any possible or alleged misconduct to the Executive Inspector General for the Governor may be disclosed to an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board in accordance with Section 75-10.

(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

(5 ILCS 430/20-95)

Sec. 20-95. Exemptions.

(a) Documents generated by an ethics officer under this Act, except Section 5-50, are exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

(b) Any allegations and related documents submitted to an Executive Inspector General and any pleadings and related documents brought before the Executive Ethics Commission are exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act so long as the Executive Ethics Commission does not make a finding of a violation of this Act. If the Executive Ethics Commission finds that a violation has occurred, the entire record of proceedings before the Commission, the decision and recommendation, and the response from the agency head or ultimate jurisdictional authority to the Executive Ethics Commission are not exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act but information contained therein that is otherwise exempt from the Freedom of Information Act must be redacted before disclosure as provided in the Freedom of Information Act. A summary report released by the Executive Ethics Commission under Section 20-52 is a public record, but information redacted by the Executive Ethics Commission shall not be part of the public record.

(c) Meetings of the Commission are exempt from the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.

(d) Unless otherwise provided in this Act, all investigatory files and reports of the Office of an Executive Inspector General, other than monthly reports required under Section 20-85, are confidential, are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and shall not be divulged to any person or agency, except as necessary (i) to a law enforcement authority, (ii) to the ultimate jurisdictional authority, (iii) to the Executive Ethics Commission, ; or (iv) to another Inspector General appointed pursuant to this Act, or (v) to an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board in accordance with Section 75-10.

(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

(5 ILCS 430/Art. 75 heading new)

ARTICLE 75. REGIONAL TRANSIT BOARDS

(5 ILCS 430/75-5 new)

Sec. 75-5. Application of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act to the Regional Transit Boards.

(a) Beginning July 1, 2011, the provisions of Articles 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 of this Act, as well as this Article, shall apply to the Regional Transit Boards. As used in Articles 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 75, (i) "appointee" and "officer" include a person appointed to serve on the board of a Regional Transit Board, and (ii) "employee" and "State employee" include a full-time, part-time, or contractual employee of a Regional Transit Board.

(b) The Executive Ethics Commission shall have jurisdiction over all board members and employees of the Regional Transit Boards. The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall have jurisdiction over all board members, employees, vendors, and others doing business with the Regional Transit Boards to investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of this Act.

(5 ILCS 430/75-10 new)

Sec. 75-10. Coordination between Executive Inspector General and Inspectors General appointed by Regional Transit Boards.

(a) Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly precludes a Regional Transit Board from appointing or employing an Inspector General to serve under the jurisdiction of a Regional Transit Board to receive complaints and conduct investigations in accordance with an ordinance or resolution adopted by that respective Board, provided he or she is approved by the Executive Ethics Commission. A Regional Transit Board shall notify the Executive Ethics Commission within 10 days after employing or appointing a person to serve as Inspector General, and the Executive Ethics Commission shall approve or reject the appointment or employment of the Inspector General. Any notification not acted upon by the Executive Ethics Commission within 60 days after its receipt shall be deemed to have received the approval of the Executive Ethics Commission. Within 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, a Regional Transit Board shall notify the Executive Ethics Commission of any person serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act as an Inspector General for the Regional Transit Board, and the Executive Ethics Commission shall approve or reject the appointment or employment within 30 days after receipt of the notification, provided that any notification not acted upon by the Executive Ethics Commission within 30 days shall be deemed to have received approval. No person rejected by the Executive Ethics Commission shall serve as an Inspector General for a Regional Transit Board for a term of 5 years after being rejected by the Commission. For purposes of this subsection (a), any person appointed or employed by a Transit Board to receive complaints and investigate allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, nonfeasance, misfeasance, malfeasance, or violations of this Act shall be considered an Inspector General and shall be subject to approval of the Executive Ethics Commission.

(b) The Executive Inspector General appointed by the Governor shall have exclusive jurisdiction to investigate complaints or allegations of violations of this Act and, in his or her discretion, may investigate other complaints or allegations. Complaints or allegations of a violation of this Act received by an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board shall be immediately referred to the Executive Inspector General. The Executive Inspector General shall have authority to assume responsibility and investigate any complaint or allegation received by an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board. In the event the Executive Inspector General provides written notification of intent to assume investigatory responsibility for a complaint, allegation, or ongoing investigation, the Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board shall cease review of the complaint, allegation, or ongoing investigation and provide all information to the Executive Inspector General. The Executive Inspector General may delegate responsibility for an investigation to the Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board. In the event the Executive Inspector General provides an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board with written notification of intent to delegate investigatory responsibility for a complaint, allegation, or ongoing investigation, the Executive Inspector General shall provide all information to the Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board.

(c) An Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board shall provide a monthly activity report to the Executive Inspector General indicating:

(1) the total number of complaints or allegations received since the date of the last report and a description of each complaint;

(2) the number of investigations pending as of the reporting date and the status of each investigation;

(3) the number of investigations concluded since the date of the last report and the result of each investigation; and

(4) the status of any investigation delegated by the Executive Inspector General.

An Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board and the Executive Inspector General shall cooperate and share resources or information as necessary to implement the provisions of this Article.

(d) Reports filed under this Section are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and shall be deemed confidential. Investigatory files and reports prepared by the Office of the Executive Inspector General and the Office of an Inspector General appointed or employed by a Regional Transit Board may be disclosed between the Offices as necessary to implement the provisions of this Article.

Section 10. The Metropolitan Transit Authority Act is amended by changing Section 21 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3605/21) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 321)

Sec. 21. Members of the Board shall hold office until their respective successors have been appointed and have qualified. Any member may resign from his or her office, to take effect when his or her successor has been appointed and has qualified. The Governor and the Mayor, respectively, may remove any member of the Board appointed by him or her in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. They may give him or her a copy of the charges against him or her and an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel in his or her own defense upon not less than 10 ten days' notice. The Governor may remove any member in response to a summary report received from the Executive Inspector General in accordance with Section 20-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, provided he or she has an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel prior to removal. In case of failure to qualify within the time required, or of abandonment of his or her office, or in case of death, conviction of a crime or removal from office, his or her office shall become vacant. Each vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment in like manner, and with like regard as to the place of residence of the appointee, as in case of expiration of the term of a member of the Board.

(Source: Laws 1945, p. 1171.)

Section 15. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is amended by changing Sections 3.03, 3A.03, and 3B.03 as follows:

(70 ILCS 3615/3.03) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703.03)

Sec. 3.03. Terms, vacancies. Each Director shall hold office for a term of 5 years, and until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A vacancy shall occur upon resignation, death, conviction of a felony, or removal from office of a Director. Any Director may be removed from office (i) upon concurrence of not less than 11 Directors, on a formal finding of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office or (ii) by the Governor in response to a summary report received from the Executive Inspector General in accordance with Section 20-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, provided he or she has an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel prior to removal. Within 30 days after the office of any member becomes vacant for any reason, the appointing authorities of such member shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.

Whenever a vacancy for a Director, except as to the Chairman or those Directors appointed by the Mayor of the City of Chicago, exists for longer than 4 months, the new Director shall be chosen by election by all legislative members in the General Assembly representing the affected area. In order to qualify as a voting legislative member in this matter, the affected area must be more than 50% of the geographic area of the legislative district.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3A.03) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703A.03)

Sec. 3A.03. Terms, Vacancies. The initial term of the directors appointed pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 3A.02 shall expire on June 30, 1985; the initial term of the directors appointed pursuant to subdivisions (b) through (g) of Section 3A.02 shall expire on June 30, 1986. Thereafter, each director shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, death, conviction of a felony, or removal from office of a director. Any director may be removed from office (i) upon the concurrence of not less than 8 directors, on a formal finding of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office or (ii) by the Governor in response to a summary report received from the Executive Inspector General in accordance with Section 20-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, provided he or she has an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel prior to removal. Within 30 days after the office of any director becomes vacant for any reason, the appointing authorities of such director shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. The initial directors other than the chairman shall be appointed within 180 days of November 9, 1983.

On June 1, 1984 the seat of any Director of the Suburban Bus Board not yet filled shall be deemed vacant and shall be chosen by the election of all the legislative members of the General Assembly representing the affected area. In order to qualify as a voting legislative member in this matter, the affected area must be more than 50% of the geographic area of the legislative district.

(Source: P.A. 83-1156.)

(70 ILCS 3615/3B.03) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 703B.03)

Sec. 3B.03. Terms, Vacancies. Each director shall be appointed for a term of 4 years, and until his successor has been appointed and qualified. A vacancy shall occur upon the resignation, death, conviction of a felony, or removal from office of a director. Any director may be removed from office (i) upon the concurrence of not less than 8 directors, on a formal finding of incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office or (ii) by the Governor in response to a summary report received from the Executive Inspector General in accordance with Section 20-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, provided he or she has an opportunity to be publicly heard in person or by counsel prior to removal. Within 30 days after the office of any director becomes vacant for any reason, the appropriate appointing authorities of such director, as provided in Section 3B.02, shall make an appointment to fill the vacancy. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.

(Source: P.A. 95-708, eff. 1-18-08.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2011.