SB2464 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 13705 JAM 28469 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2464

Introduced 10/14/2009, by Sen. Christine Radogno

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/9-1.4	from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.4
10 ILCS 5/9-1.5	from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.5
10 ILCS 5/9-1.6	from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.6
10 ILCS 5/9-1.7	from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.7
10 ILCS 5/9-1.8	from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.8
10 ILCS 5/9-1.14
10 ILCS 5/9-3	from Ch. 46, par. 9-3
10 ILCS 5/9-4	from Ch. 46, par. 9-4
10 ILCS 5/9-7.5
10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-8.6 new
10 ILCS 5/9-10	from Ch. 46, par. 9-10
10 ILCS 5/9-13	from Ch. 46, par. 9-13
10 ILCS 5/9-14	from Ch. 46, par. 9-14
10 ILCS 5/9-21	from Ch. 46, par. 9-21
10 ILCS 5/9-23	from Ch. 46, par. 9-23
10 ILCS 5/9-23.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-28
10 ILCS 5/9-28.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-30
10 ILCS 5/9-40 new

Amends the Election Code. Makes various changes concerning campaign finance, including, without limitation, the imposition of campaign contribution limits beginning November 3, 2010. Effective immediately in part and January 1, 2011 in part.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Sections 9-1.4, 9-1.5, 9-1.6, 9-1.7, 9-1.8, 9-1.14, 9-3, 9-4, 9-7.5, 9-10, 9-13, 9-14, 9-21, 9-23, 9-28, and 9-30 and by adding Sections 9-8.5, 9-8.6, 9-23.5, 9-28.5, and 9-40 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.4) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.4)

Sec. 9-1.4. Contribution.

(A) "Contribution" means-

(1) a gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value, knowingly received in connection with the nomination for election, or election, or retention of any person to or in public office, in connection with the election of any person as ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population, or in connection with any question of public policy;

(1.5) a gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan, advance, deposit of money, or anything of value that constitutes an electioneering communication regardless of whether the communication is made in concert or cooperation with or at the request, suggestion, or knowledge of a candidate, a candidate's authorized local political committee, a State political committee, a political committee in support of or opposition to a question of public policy, or any of their agents;

(2) the purchase of tickets for fund-raising events, including but not limited to dinners, luncheons, cocktail parties, and rallies made in connection with the nomination for election, or election, or retention of any person to or in public office, in connection with the election of any person as ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population, or in connection with any question of public policy;

(3) a transfer of funds between political committees; and

(4) the services of an employee donated by an employer, in which case the contribution shall be listed in the name of the employer, except that any individual services provided voluntarily and without promise or expectation of compensation from any source shall not be deemed a contribution; and

(5) any expenditure made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with the committee. An expenditure by one committee that benefits another committee constitutes a contribution to the other committee if the expenditure is made in cooperation, consultation, or concert with the other committee. but

(B) "Contribution" (5) does not include--

(a) the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities; provided the value of the service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150 in a reporting period;

(b) the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in a candidate's campaign is at least equal to the cost of such food or beverage to the vendor; .

(c) communications on any subject by a corporation to its stockholders and executive or administrative personnel and their families, by a labor organization to its members and executive or administrative personnel and their families, or by an association to its members and executive or administrative personnel and their families;

(d) voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns that make no mention of any clearly identified candidate, public question, or political party, or group or combination thereof;

(e) a secured loan of money by a national or State bank or credit union made in accordance with the applicable banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business; however, the use, ownership, or control of any security for such a loan, if provided by a person other than the candidate or his or her committee, qualifies as a contribution; or

(f) an independent expenditure.

(C) Interest or other investment income, earnings or proceeds, and refunds or returns of all or part of a committee's previous expenditures shall not be considered contributions for the purposes of Section 9-8.5 but shall be listed with contributions on disclosure reports required by this Article.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.5) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.5)

Sec. 9-1.5. Expenditure defined.

(A) "Expenditure" means-

(1) a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, in connection with the nomination for election, or election, or retention of any person to or in public office, in connection with the election of any person as ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population, or in connection with any question of public policy. "Expenditure" also includes a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value that constitutes an electioneering communication regardless of whether the communication is made in concert or cooperation with or at the request, suggestion, or knowledge of a candidate, a candidate's authorized local political committee, a State political committee, a political committee in support of or opposition to a question of public policy, or any of their agents.

(2) a transfer of funds between political committees.

(B) "Expenditure" However, expenditure does not include -

(a) the use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual in rendering voluntary personal services on the individual's residential premises for candidate-related activities; provided the value of the service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150 in a reporting period;

(b) the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in a candidate's campaign is at least equal to the cost of such food or beverage to the vendor.

(2) a transfer of funds between political committees.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.6) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.6)

Sec. 9-1.6. Person. "Person" or "whoever" means a natural person an individual, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons.

(Source: P.A. 78-1183.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.7) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.7)

Sec. 9-1.7. "Local political committee" means the candidate himself or any individual, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or other organization or group of persons which:

(a) accepts contributions or grants or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate or candidates for public office who are required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to file statements of economic interests with the county clerk, or on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate or candidates for election to the office of ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population;

(b) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 in support of or in opposition to any question of public policy to be submitted to the electors of an area encompassing no more than one county. The $3,000 threshold established in this paragraph (b) applies to any receipts or expenditures received or made with the purpose of securing a place on the ballot for, advocating the defeat or passage of, or engaging in electioneering communication regarding the question of public policy regardless of the method of initiation of the question of public policy and regardless of whether petitions have been circulated or filed with the appropriate office or whether the question has been adopted and certified by the governing body;

(c) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 and has as its primary purpose the furtherance of governmental, political or social values, is organized on a not-for-profit basis, and which publicly endorses or publicly opposes a candidate or candidates for public office who are required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to file statements of economic interest with the County Clerk or a candidate or candidates for the office of ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more population; or

(d) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for electioneering communications relating to any candidate or candidates described in paragraph (a) or any question of public policy described in paragraph (b); or

(e) makes expenditures for electioneering communications during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 relating to any candidate or candidates described in paragraph (a) or any question of public policy described in paragraph (b).

(Source: P.A. 95-963, eff. 1-1-09.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.8) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.8)

Sec. 9-1.8. "State political committee" means the candidate himself or any individual, trust, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons which--

(a) accepts contributions or grants or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate or candidates for public office who are required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to file statements of economic interests with the Secretary of State,

(b) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 in support of or in opposition to any question of public policy to be submitted to the electors of an area encompassing more than one county. The $3,000 threshold established in this paragraph (b) applies to any receipts or expenditures received or made with the purpose of securing a place on the ballot for, advocating the defeat or passage of, or engaging in electioneering communication regarding the question of public policy regardless of the method of initiation of the question of public policy and regardless of whether petitions have been circulated or filed with the appropriate office or whether the question has been adopted and certified by the governing body,

(c) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 and has as its primary purpose the furtherance of governmental, political or social values, is organized on a not-for-profit basis, and which publicly endorses or publicly opposes a candidate or candidates for public office who are required by the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to file statements of economic interest with the Secretary of State, or

(d) accepts contributions or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 for electioneering communications relating to any candidate or candidates described in paragraph (a) or any question of public policy described in paragraph (b), or .

(e) makes expenditures for electioneering communications during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 relating to any candidate or candidates described in paragraph (a) or any question of public policy described in paragraph (b).

(Source: P.A. 95-963, eff. 1-1-09.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-1.14)

Sec. 9-1.14. Electioneering communication defined.

(a) "Electioneering communication" means, for the purposes of this Article, any broadcast form of communication, in whatever medium, including but not limited to a newspaper, radio, television, or Internet communication, that (1) refers to a clearly identified candidate or candidates who will appear on the ballot for nomination, election, or retention, refers to a clearly identified political party, or refers to a clearly identified question of public policy that will appear on the ballot; and (2) is made within (i) 60 days before a general election or consolidated election or (ii) 30 days before a primary election; (3) is targeted to the relevant electorate; and (4) is susceptible to no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a clearly identified candidate for nomination, election, or retention, political party, or question of public policy.

(b) "Electioneering communication" does not include:

(1) A communication, other than an advertisement, appearing in a news story, commentary, or editorial distributed through the facilities of any legitimate news organization, unless the facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, or candidate.

(2) A communication made solely to promote a candidate debate or forum that is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate or forum.

(3) A communication made as part of a non-partisan activity designed to encourage individuals to vote or to register to vote.

(4) A communication by an organization operating and remaining in good standing under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(5) A communication exclusively between a labor organization, as defined under federal or State law, and its members.

(6) A communication exclusively between an organization formed under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code and its members.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 93-847, eff. 7-30-04; 94-461, eff. 8-4-05; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-3) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-3)

Sec. 9-3. Every state political committee and every local political committee shall file with the State Board of Elections, and every local political committee shall file with the county clerk, a statement of organization within 10 business days of the creation of such committee, except any political committee created within the 30 days before an election shall file a statement of organization within 5 business days. A political committee that acts as both a state political committee and a local political committee shall file a copy of each statement of organization with the State Board of Elections and the county clerk. The Board shall impose a civil penalty of $25 per business day upon political committees for failing to file or late filing of a statement of organization, except that for committees formed to support candidates for statewide office, the civil penalty shall be $50 per business day. Such penalties shall not exceed $5,000, and shall not exceed $10,000 for statewide office political committees. There shall be no fine if the statement is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the filing deadline.

In addition to the civil penalties authorized by this Section, the State Board of Elections or any other affected political committee may apply to the circuit court for a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction against the political committee to cease the expenditure of funds and to cease operations until the statement of organization is filed.

For the purpose of this Section, "statewide office" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller.

The statement of organization shall include -

(a) the name and address of the political committee (the name of the political committee must include the name of any sponsoring entity);

(b) the scope, area of activity, party affiliation, candidate affiliation and his county of residence, and purposes of the political committee;

(c) the name, address, and position of each custodian of the committee's books and accounts;

(d) the name, address, and position of the committee's principal officers, including the chairman, treasurer, and officers and members of its finance committee, if any;

(e) any additional information required by Section 9-8.5 (Blank);

(f) a statement of what specific disposition of residual fund will be made in the event of the dissolution or termination of the committee;

(g) a listing of all banks or other financial institutions, safety deposit boxes, and any other repositories or custodians of funds used by the committee;

(h) the amount of funds available for campaign expenditures as of the filing date of the committee's statement of organization.

For purposes of this Section, a "sponsoring entity" is (i) any person, political committee, organization, corporation, or association that contributes at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee or (ii) any person or other entity that is registered or is required to register under the Lobbyist Registration Act and contributes at least 33% of the total funding of the political committee; except that a political committee is not a "sponsoring entity" for purposes of this Section if it is a political committee organized by (i) an established political party as defined in Section 10-2, (ii) a partisan caucus of either house of the General Assembly, or (iii) the Speaker or Minority Leader of the House of Representatives or the President or Minority Leader of the Senate, in his or her capacity as a legislative leader of the House of Representatives or Senate and not as a candidate for Representative or Senator.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-4) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-4)

Sec. 9-4. The statement of organization required by this Article to be filed in accordance with Section 9-3 shall be verified, dated, and signed by either the treasurer of the political committee making the statement or the candidate on whose behalf the statement is made, and shall contain substantially the following:

STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION

(a) name and address of the political committee:

.............................................................

(b) scope, area of activity, party affiliation, candidate affiliation and his county of residence, and purposes of the political committee:

.............................................................

.............................................................

.............................................................

.............................................................

(c) name, address, and position of each custodian of the committee's books and accounts:

.............................................................

.............................................................

(d) name, address, and position of the committee's principal officers, including the chairman, treasurer, and officers and members of its finance committee, if any:

.............................................................

.............................................................

.............................................................

(e) a statement of what specific disposition of residual funds will be made in the event of the dissolution or termination of the committee:

.............................................................

.............................................................

(f) a listing of all banks or other financial institutions, safety deposit boxes, and any other repositories or custodians of funds used by the committee:

.............................................................

.............................................................

(g) the amount of funds available for campaign expenditures as of the filing date of the committee's statement of organization:

.............................................................

(h) any additional information required by Section 9-8.5 of the Election Code: .............................................................

VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this statement of organization (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete statement of organization as required by Article 9 of The Election Code. I understand that willfully filing a false or incomplete statement is a business offense subject to a fine of at least $1,001 and up to $5,000 ."

................ .......................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the statement)

(Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-7.5)

Sec. 9-7.5. Nonprofit organization registration and disclosure.

(a) Each nonprofit organization, except for a labor union, that accepts contributions, makes contributions, or makes expenditures during any 12-month period in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000 (I) on behalf of or in opposition to public officials, candidates for public office, or a question of public policy or (II) for electioneering communications shall register with the State Board of Elections. The Board by rule shall prescribe the registration procedure and form. The registration form shall require the following information:

(1) The registrant's name, address, and purpose.

(2) The name, address, and position of each custodian of the registrant's financial books, accounts, and records.

(3) The name, address, and position of each of the registrant's principal officers.

(b) Each nonprofit organization required to register under subsection (a) shall file contribution and expenditure reports with the Board. The Board by rule shall prescribe the form, which shall require the following information:

(1) The organization's name, address, and purpose.

(2) The amount of funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period.

(3) The full name and address of each person who has made one or more contributions to or for the organization within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amount and date of the contributions, and if a contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of the contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the organization has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information.

(4) The total sum of individual contributions made to or for the organization during the reporting period and not reported in item (3).

(5) The name and address of each organization and political committee from which the reporting organization received, or to which that organization made, any transfer of funds in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amounts and dates of the transfers.

(6) The total sum of transfers made to or from the organization during the reporting period and not reported in item (5).

(7) Each loan to or from any person within the reporting period by or to the organization in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the full names and mailing addresses of the lender and endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of the loans, and if a lender or endorser is an individual who loaned or endorsed a loan of more than $500, the occupation and employer of the individual or, if the occupation and employer of the individual are unknown, a statement that the organization has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information.

(8) The total amount of proceeds received by the organization from (i) the sale of tickets for each dinner, luncheon, cocktail party, rally, and other fundraising event, (ii) mass collections made at those events, and (iii) sales of items such as buttons, badges, flags, emblems, hats, banners, literature, and similar materials.

(9) Each contribution, rebate, refund, or other receipt in excess of $150 received by the organization not otherwise listed under items (3) through (8), and if a contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of the contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the organization has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information.

(10) The total sum of all receipts by or for the organization during the reporting period.

(11) The full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the organization within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, the amount, date, and purpose of each expenditure, and the question of public policy on behalf of which the expenditure was made.

(12) The full name and mailing address of each person to whom an expenditure for personal services, salaries, and reimbursed expenses in excess of $150 has been made and which is not otherwise reported, including the amount, date, and purpose of the expenditure.

(13) The total sum of expenditures made by the organization during the reporting period.

(14) The full name and mailing address of each person to whom the organization owes debts or obligations in excess of $150 and the amount of the debts or obligations.

The State Board by rule shall define a "good faith effort".

(c) The reports required under subsection (b) shall be filed at the same times and for the same reporting periods as reports of campaign contributions and semi-annual reports of campaign contributions and expenditures required by this Article of political committees. The reports required under subsection (b) shall be available for public inspection and copying in the same manner as reports filed by political committees. The Board may charge a fee that covers the costs of copying and distribution, if any.

(d) An organization required to file reports under subsection (b) shall include a statement on all literature and advertisements soliciting funds stating the following:

"A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois".

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new)

Sec. 9-8.5. Limits on contributions received by political committees.

(a) Definitions. For the purposes of this Section:

"Association" means any group, club, meeting, collective, membership organization, collection of persons, any entity organized under Section 501 or 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any other entity other than a natural person, except that an association does not include a political committee organized under this Article or a labor organization as defined in this Section.

"Biannual period" means (i) for a State political committee, the year prior to and the year of a general election or (ii) for a local political committee, the year prior to and the year of a consolidated election.

"Corporation" includes a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, professional practice, cooperative, or sole proprietorship, whether organized on a for-profit or non-profit basis, organized under the laws of Illinois or another state. A corporation does not include (i) a labor organization as defined in this Section or (ii) an incorporated political committee registered pursuant to this Article or corresponding federal laws or laws of another state.

"Labor organization" means any organization of any kind or any agency or employee representation committee or plan in which employees participate and that exists for the purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay, hours of employment, or conditions of work.

"Multi-candidate committee" means a political committee organized by a public official, candidate, or political party to support the nomination, election, or retention of public officials or candidates for multiple, specified offices. "Multi-candidate committee" also includes a political party committee.

"Non-candidate committee" means a political committee organized by a person, persons, or entity other than a public official, candidate, or political party to support or oppose causes, ideas, or interests but not organized to support specific candidates for nomination, election, or retention.

"Political party committee" means a political committee organized to support candidates of a specific political party seeking elective office within a specific jurisdiction.

"Single-candidate committee" means a political committee organized to support or oppose the election of a single, specific candidate or public official or to support or oppose one or more questions of public policy.

"Statewide office" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

(b) Single-candidate committee. Beginning on November 3, 2010, no public official or candidate for public office may establish or maintain more than one political committee. The statement of organization must identify the public official or candidate, the office that the public official or candidate occupies or seeks to occupy, and a statement that the political committee is the only single-candidate committee designated by the public official or candidate to receive contributions and make expenditures on behalf of the public official or candidate for such office.

(1) Each biannual period, a single-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $5,000 from a natural person.

(2) Each biannual period, a single-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $10,000 from another political committee or a corporation, labor organization, or association.

(3) Each biannual period, a single-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $90,000 from more than one multi-candidate political committee that is designated in writing by the single-candidate committee.

(4) A single-candidate committee formed to support a candidate for statewide office may receive contributions of not more than 3 times the limit established from the sources identified in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection.

(c) Multi-candidate committee. Beginning on November 3, 2010, a public official, candidate for public office, or a political party may establish or maintain one political committee to support the election of public officials or candidates for multiple, specified offices. The statement of organization must identify the public official, candidate, or political party forming the committee, the public officials, candidates, or political party the committee is organized to support, and a statement that the political committee is the only multi-candidate committee designated by the public official, candidate, or political party to receive contributions and make expenditures on behalf of the public official, candidate, or political party.

(1) Each biannual period, a multi-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $10,000 from a natural person.

(2) Each biannual period, a multi-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $20,000 from another political committee or a corporation, labor organization, or association.

(d) Non-candidate committee. Beginning on November 3, 2010, a corporation, association, labor organization, or other person may establish or maintain one political committee to support or oppose a cause or interest other than a political committee established to support or oppose a public question but not to support specific candidates for nomination, election, or retention. The statement of organization must identify the entity forming the committee, the cause or interest supported or opposed, and a statement that the political committee is the only non-candidate committee designated to receive contributions and make expenditures on behalf of the entity.

(1) Each biannual period, a non-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $10,000 from a natural person.

(2) Each biannual period, a non-candidate committee may not accept contributions with an aggregate value over $20,000 from another political committee, a corporation, a labor organization, or an association.

(e) Self-funding candidates. If a public official, a candidate, or the public official's or candidate's immediate family contributes or loans to the public official's or candidate's political committee or to other political committees that transfer funds to the public official's or candidate's political committee during the 12 months prior to an election in an aggregate amount of more than (i) $250,000 for statewide office or (ii) $100,000 for all other elective offices, then the public official or candidate shall file with the State Board of Elections, within one day, a Notification of Self-funding that shall detail each contribution or loan made by the public official, the candidate, or the public official's or candidate's immediate family. Within 2 business days after the filing of a Notification of Self-funding, the notification shall be posted on the Board's website and the Board shall give official notice of the filing to each candidate for the same office as the public official or candidate making the filing, including the public official or candidate filing the Notification of Self-funding. Upon receiving notice from the Board, all candidates for that office, including the public official or candidate who filed a Notification of Self-funding, shall be permitted to accept contributions in excess of any contribution limits imposed by this Section. For the purposes of this subsection, "immediate family" means the spouse, parent, or child of a public official or candidate.

(f) Joint fundraising. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit political committees from dividing the proceeds of joint fundraising efforts; provided that no political committee may receive more than the limit from any one contributor, and all contributions shall be reported.

(g) Contributions or transfers in violation of this Section.

(1) A political committee that receives a contribution or transfer in violation of this Section shall dispose of the contribution or transfer by returning the contribution or transfer, or an amount equal to the contribution or transfer, to the contributor or transferor or donating the contribution or transfer, or an amount equal to the contribution or transfer, to a charity. A contribution or transfer received in violation of this Section that is not disposed of as provided in this subsection within 30 days after its receipt shall escheat to the General Revenue Fund.

(2) Any person, corporation, association, labor organization, or political committee that makes a contribution in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense and shall be fined the greater of $2,000 or 3 times the value of the excess contribution.

(3) Any committee that knowingly accepts a contribution in violation of this Section is guilty of a business offense, and the State Board of Elections shall assess a penalty of not less than the value of the excess contribution and not more than the greater of $5,000 or 3 times the value of the excess contribution for each violation. For purposes of this subsection, a committee knows that a contribution is in violation of this Section if the committee chairman or treasurer, any natural person paid to perform regular committee duties, or, for a single-candidate or multi-candidate committee, any candidate supported by the committee knows, or reasonably should know, at the time the excess contribution is made, that the contribution is in violation of this Section.

(h) On January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the State Board of Elections shall adjust the amount of the contribution and transfer limitations established in this Section for inflation as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as issued by the United States Department of Labor and rounded to the nearest $100. The State Board shall publish this information on its official web site.

(i) Nothing in this Section shall limit the amounts that may be transferred between a State and federal committee of a State central committee of a political party.

(10 ILCS 5/9-8.6 new)

Sec. 9-8.6. Independent expenditures.

(a) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure (i) that is made by a natural person for the purpose of making electioneering communications or of expressly advocating for or against the nomination, election, retention, or defeat of a clearly identifiable public official or candidate and (ii) that is not made in connection, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of the public official or candidate, the public official's or candidate's designated political committee or campaign, or the agent or agents of the public official, candidate, or political committee or campaign. An independent expenditure is not considered a contribution to a political committee. An expenditure made by a natural person in connection, consultation, or concert with or at the request or suggestion of the public official or candidate, the public official's or candidate's single-candidate committee, or the agent or agents of the public official, candidate, or political committee or campaign shall be considered a contribution to the public official's or candidate's single-candidate committee.

(b) A person that makes an independent expenditure supporting or opposing a public official or candidate that, alone or in combination with any other independent expenditure made by that person supporting or opposing that public official or candidate during any 12-month period, equals an aggregate value of at least $3,000 must file a written disclosure with that public official or candidate and the State Board of Elections within 2 business days after making any expenditure that results in the person meeting or exceeding the $3,000 threshold. Each disclosure must identify the person, the public official or candidate supported or opposed, the date, amount, and nature of each independent expenditure, and, in the case of a person, his or her occupation and employer.

Any person that makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 during a biannual period as defined in Section 9-8.5 shall have a continuing duty to disclose each time the person has an unreported independent expenditure or expenditures supporting or opposing a public official or candidate that exceed an aggregate value of $20,000. In this event, the person shall file a written disclosure with the public official or candidate, any other candidate seeking the office, and the State Board within 2 business days after making any expenditure that results in the person meeting or exceeding the $20,000 in aggregate. Each disclosure must identify the person, his or her occupation, the public official or candidate, and the date, amount, and nature of each independent expenditure.

(c) Any entity other than a natural person that makes expenditures of any kind in an aggregate amount exceeding $3,000 during any 12-month period supporting or opposing a public official or candidate must organize as a political committee in accordance with this Article.

(10 ILCS 5/9-10) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-10)

Sec. 9-10. Financial reports.

(a) The treasurer of every state political committee and the treasurer of every local political committee shall file with the Board, and the treasurer of every local political committee shall file with the county clerk, reports of campaign contributions, and quarterly semi-annual reports of campaign contributions and expenditures on forms to be prescribed or approved by the Board. The treasurer of every political committee that acts as both a state political committee and a local political committee shall file a copy of each report with the State Board of Elections and the county clerk. Entities subject to Section 9-7.5 shall file reports required by that Section at times provided in this Section and are subject to the penalties provided in this Section.

(b) A This subsection does not apply with respect to general primary elections. Reports of campaign contributions shall be filed no later than the 15th day next preceding each election in connection with which the political committee has accepted or is accepting contributions or has made or is making expenditures. Such reports shall be complete as of the 30th day next preceding each election. The Board shall assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation of this subsection, except that for State officers and candidates and political committees formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine, however, shall not exceed $500 for a first filing violation for filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. However, a continuing political committee that does not make an expenditure or expenditures in an aggregate amount of more than $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any (i) candidate or candidates, (ii) public question or questions, or (iii) candidate or candidates and public question or questions on the ballot at an election shall not be required to file the reports prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) (b) and subsection (b-5) but may file in lieu thereof a Statement of Nonparticipation in the Election with the Board or the Board and the county clerk ; except that if the political committee, by the terms of its statement of organization filed in accordance with this Article, is organized to support or oppose a candidate or public question on the ballot at the next election or primary, that committee must file reports required by paragraph (1) of this subsection (c) (b) and by subsection (b-5). If a political committee is not organized to support or oppose a candidate or public question on the ballot at the next election or primary and the political committee does not file a Statement of Nonparticipation, then the committee will be deemed to have filed a Statement of Nonparticipation. If such political committee participates in that election, then the committee will be considered in violation of this subsection as if it had filed a Statement of Nonparticipation, unless the political committee files the required reports within 5 days after the political committee makes such expenditures or within 24 hours in the period 5 days prior to the election.

(c) Real-time reports.

(1) A report of (b-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) and Section 1.25 of the Statute on Statutes, any aggregate contributions contribution of more than $500 received (i) with respect to elections other than the general primary election, in the 60 days interim between the last date of the period covered by the last report filed under subsection (b) prior to the election and the date of the election or (ii) with respect to general primary elections, in the period beginning January 1 of the year of the general primary election and prior to the date of the general primary election shall be filed electronically with and must actually be received by the State Board of Elections within 2 business days after receipt of such contribution.

(2) A report of any contribution received at any other time in the aggregate amount of more than $500, or in the aggregate amount of more than $1,000 in the case of a State officer or a candidate for statewide office, or a political committee formed for a State officer or candidate for statewide office, in the interim between the last date of the period covered by the last report filed under subsection (a) shall be filed electronically with and must actually be received by the State Board of Elections within 5 business days after receipt of the contribution. For the purpose of this subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" mean the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. A continuing political committee that does not support or oppose a candidate or public question on the ballot at a general primary election and does not make expenditures in excess of $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or public question on the ballot at the general primary election shall not be required to file the report prescribed in this subsection unless the committee makes an expenditure in excess of $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or public question on the ballot at the general primary election. The committee shall timely file the report required under this subsection beginning with the date the expenditure that triggered participation was made. The State Board shall allow filings of reports of contributions of more than $500 under this subsection (b-5) by political committees that are not required to file electronically to be made by facsimile transmission.

(d) A single-candidate or multi-candidate committee organized by or in support of a member of the General Assembly also must file the reports required by paragraph (1) of subsection (c) during the period beginning May 1 through the adjournment of the spring legislative session. A single-candidate or multi-candidate committee organized by or in support of the Governor must file the reports required by paragraph (1) of subsection (c) during the 90 days following the adjournment of the spring legislative session.

(e) For the purpose of this Section subsection, a contribution is considered received on the date the public official, candidate, or treasurer of the political committee (or equivalent person in the case of a reporting entity other than a political committee) actually receives it or, in the case of goods or services, 2 business days after the date the public official, candidate, or treasurer of the committee, or other reporting entity receives the certification required under subsection (b) of Section 9-6.

(f) Failure to report each contribution is a separate violation of this subsection. In the final disposition of any matter by the Board on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly, the Board may impose fines for willful or wanton violations of this subsection not to exceed 150% 100% of the total amount of the contributions that were untimely reported, but in no case when a fine is imposed shall it be less than 10% of the total amount of the contributions that were untimely reported. When considering the amount of the fine to be imposed, the Board shall consider, but is not limited to, the following factors:

(1) the amount by which a contribution exceeded the threshold;

(1) whether in the Board's opinion the violation was committed inadvertently, negligently, knowingly, or intentionally;

(2) the number of days the contribution was reported late; and

(3) past violations of Sections 9-3 and 9-10 of this Article by the committee.

(g) The Board may impose fines for negligent, inadvertent, or technical violations of this Section not to exceed 50% of the total amount of the contributions that were untimely reported, or the Board may decline to impose a fine for such violations. When considering the amount of the fine to be imposed, the Board shall consider, but is not limited to, the following factors:

(1) whether the violation was negligent, inadvertent, or technical in nature;

(2) whether the contribution at issue was disclosed but a violation arose because the disclosure was incorrectly characterized or reported inadvertently by another related committee;

(3) whether the violation arose from an apparent discrepancy between the date of the contribution reported by the transferring committee and the date reported by the receiving committee, if there appears to be no attempt to delay disclosure;

(4) whether the disclosure was triggered by an aggregation of contributions or transfers, the unreported contributions or transfers are less than the threshold triggering disclosure requirements, and there appears to be no attempt to delay disclosure;

(5) the amount by which a contribution exceeded the threshold;

(6) the number of days the contribution was reported late; and

(7) past violations of this Section and Section 9-3 by the committee.

(h) (c) In addition to such reports the treasurer of every political committee shall file quarterly semi-annual reports of campaign contributions and expenditures. The reports shall cover the period January 1 through March 31, April 1 through June 30, July 1 through September 30, and October 1 through December 31 of each year. Reports shall be filed no later than 20 days after the close of the reporting period. no later than July 20th, covering the period from January 1st through June 30th immediately preceding, and no later than January 20th, covering the period from July 1st through December 31st of the preceding calendar year. Reports of contributions and expenditures must be filed to cover the prescribed time periods even though no contributions or expenditures may have been received or made during the period. The Board shall assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation of this subsection, except that for State officers and candidates and political committees formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine, however, shall not exceed $500 for a first filing violation for filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall be no fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this subsection, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

(i) Audits.

(1) In addition to any fine imposed under this subsection, the State Board of Elections may order any political committee that has failed to file 2 successive quarterly reports within 5 business days after the date the report was due to conduct an audit of all financial records required to be maintained by the committee at the time the audit is ordered. The committee ordered to conduct an audit shall deliver a certified copy of the audit to the Board within 90 calendar days after the date the audit was ordered. If the committee fails to deliver a certified audit in the time required, the Board shall assess a civil penalty of $250 per day that the audit is late, not to exceed $5,000.

(2) The State Board of Elections shall conduct audits of the finances and disclosure reports of political committees organized under this Article to discover any inconsistency between financial records and disclosure reports, contributions in excess of limits established by law, and any other prohibited acts. The State Board of Elections shall establish policies and procedures necessary to audit political committees in accordance with this subsection.

(a) Four times a year, within 30 days after the filing deadline for quarterly reports, the Board shall divide committees into groups based on the sum total of reported receipts. The groups shall include committees that have (A) less than $3,000; (B) at least $3,000 but not more than $10,000; (C) more than $10,000 but not more than $25,000; (D) more than $25,000 but not more than $100,000; and (E) more than $100,000 or have not filed reports by the 30th day after the filing deadline. The Board shall, by a random method of its choosing, select 1.0% of the committees in Group (A), 2.0% of the committees in Group (B), 3.0% of the committees in Group (C), 4.0% of the committees in Group (D), and 5.0% of the committees in Group (E) and order audits be conducted of those committees.

(b) Audits shall conform to uniform standards established by rule.

(c) Committees ordered to submit records for audits shall transmit all records to the Board within 10 business days after the date of the Board meeting at which the audit was ordered. The Board by affirmative vote of any 5 of its members may grant one 15-business day extension to transmit records to the Board.

(d) After completion of the audit, the Board shall post copies of all audits on its website.

(e) If the committee fails to deliver records in the time required, the Board shall assess a civil penalty of $250 per day that the records are late, not to exceed $5,000.

(f) Any violation discovered in an audit shall be subject to any fines and penalties established for such violation.

(j) (c-5) A political committee that acts as either (i) a State and local political committee or (ii) a local political committee and that files reports electronically under Section 9-28 is not required to file copies of the reports with the appropriate county clerk if the county clerk has a system that permits access to, and duplication of, reports that are filed with the State Board of Elections. A State and local political committee or a local political committee shall file with the county clerk a copy of its statement of organization pursuant to Section 9-3.

(k) (d) A copy of each report or statement filed under this Article shall be preserved by the person filing it for a period of two years from the date of filing. Within 5 business days after the Board imposes or waives fines under this Section, the Board shall publish on its website a summary of fines considered and imposed, identifying the person, candidate, or political committee subject to the determination, the total amount of contributions that were untimely reported, and the amount of penalties assessed in each instance.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 95-6, eff. 6-20-07; 95-957, eff. 1-1-09.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-13) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-13)

Sec. 9-13. Each quarterly semi-annual report of campaign contributions and expenditures under Section 9-10 shall disclose-

(1) the name and address of the political committee;

(2) (Blank);

(3) the amount of funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period;

(4) the full name and mailing address of each person who has made one or more contributions to or for such committee within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amount and date of such contributions, and if the contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of the contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information;

(5) the total sum of individual contributions made to or for such committee during the reporting period and not reported under item (4);

(6) the name and address of each political committee from which the reporting committee received, or to which that committee made, any transfer of funds, in the aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amounts and dates of all transfers;

(7) the total sum of transfers made to or from such committee during the reporting period and not reported under item (6);

(8) each loan to or from any person within the reporting period by or to such committee in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the full names and mailing addresses of the lender and endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of such loans, and if a lender or endorser is an individual who loaned or endorsed a loan of more than $500, the occupation and employer of that individual, or if the occupation and employer of the individual are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information;

(9) the total amount of proceeds received by such committee from (a) the sale of tickets for each dinner, luncheon, cocktail party, rally, and other fund-raising events; (b) mass collections made at such events; and (c) sales of items such as political campaign pins, buttons, badges, flags, emblems, hats, banners, literature, and similar materials;

(10) each contribution, rebate, refund, or other receipt in excess of $150 received by such committee not otherwise listed under items (4) through (9), and if the contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of the contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information;

(11) the total sum of all receipts by or for such committee or candidate during the reporting period;

(12) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by such committee or candidate within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure and the question of public policy or the name and address of, and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf such expenditure was made;

(13) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom an expenditure for personal services, salaries, and reimbursed expenses in excess of $150 has been made, and which is not otherwise reported, including the amount, date, and purpose of such expenditure;

(14) the total sum of expenditures made by such committee during the reporting period;

(15) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom the committee owes debts or obligations in excess of $150, and the amount of such debts or obligations.

The Board shall by rule define a "good faith effort".

(Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 1-1-98; 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-14) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-14)

Sec. 9-14. Each quarterly semi-annual report of campaign contributions and expenditures required by Section 9-10 of this Article to be filed with the Board or the Board and the county clerk shall be verified, dated, and signed by either the treasurer of the political committee making the report or the candidate on whose behalf the report is made, and shall contain substantially the following:

QUARTERLY SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF CAMPAIGN

CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

(1) name and address of the political committee:

.............................................................

(2) the date of the beginning of the reporting period, and the amount of funds on hand at the beginning of the reporting period;

.............................................................

(3) the full name and mailing address of each person who has made one or more contributions to or for the committee within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amount and date of such contributions, and if a contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of each contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information:

(4) the total sum of individual contributions made to or for the committee during the reporting period and not reported under item--(3):

.............................................................

(5) the name and address of each political committee from which the reporting committee received, or to which that committee made, any transfer of funds, in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the amounts and dates of all transfers:

(6) the total sum of transfers made to or from such committee during the reporting period and not reported under item (5);

(7) each loan to or from any person within the reporting period by or to the committee in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, together with the full names and mailing addresses of the lender and endorsers, if any, and the date and amount of such loans, and if a lender or endorser is an individual who loaned or endorsed a loan of more than $500, the occupation and employer of each person making the loan, or if the occupation and employer of the individual are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information:

(8) the total amount of proceeds received by the committee from (a) the sale of tickets for each dinner, luncheon, cocktail party, rally, and other fund-raising events; (b) mass collections made at such events; and (c) sales of items such as political campaign pins, buttons, badges, flags, emblems, hats, banners, literature, and similar materials:

(a)..........................................................

(b)..........................................................

(c)..........................................................

(9) each contribution, rebate, refund, or other receipt in excess of $150 received by the committee not otherwise listed under items (3) through (8), and if a contributor is an individual who contributed more than $500, the occupation and employer of each contributor or, if the occupation and employer of the contributor are unknown, a statement that the committee has made a good faith effort to ascertain this information:

(10) the total sum of all receipts by or for the committee during the reporting period:

.............................................................

(11) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom expenditures have been made by the committee within the reporting period in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $150, the amount, date, and purpose of each such expenditure, and the question of public policy or the name and address of, and office sought by, each candidate on whose behalf the expenditure was made:

(12) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom an expenditure for personal services, salaries, and reimbursed expenses in excess of $150 has been made, and which is not otherwise reported, including the amount, date, and purpose of such expenditure:

(13) the total sum of expenditures made by the committee during the reporting period;

.............................................................

(14) the full name and mailing address of each person to whom the committee owes debts or obligations in excess of $150, and the amount of such debts or obligations:

.............................................................

.............................................................

VERIFICATION:

"I declare that this quarterly semi-annual report of campaign contributions and expenditures (including any accompanying schedules and statements) has been examined by me and to the best of my knowledge and belief is a true, correct and complete report as required by Article 9 of The Election Code. I understand that willfully filing a false or incomplete report is a business offense subject to a fine of up to $5,000."

................ ....................................... (date of filing) (signature of person making the report)

(Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 1-1-98; 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-21) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-21)

Sec. 9-21. Upon receipt of a such complaint as provided in Section 9-20, the Board shall hold a closed preliminary hearing to determine whether or not the complaint appears to have been filed on justifiable grounds. Such closed preliminary hearing shall be conducted as soon as practicable after affording reasonable notice, a copy of the complaint, and an opportunity to testify at such hearing to both the person making the complaint and the person against whom the complaint is directed. If the Board fails to determine that the complaint has been filed on justifiable grounds, it shall dismiss the complaint without further hearing.

Whenever in the judgment of the Board in an open meeting determines, after affording due notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, any person has engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice which constitutes or will constitute a violation of any provision of this Article or any regulation or order issued thereunder, the Board shall issue an order directing such person to take such action as the Board determines may be necessary in the public interest to correct the violation. In addition, if the act or practice engaged in consists of the failure to file any required report within the time prescribed by this Article, the Board, as part of its order, shall further provide that if, within the 12-month period following the issuance of the order, such person fails to file within the time prescribed by this Article any subsequent report as may be required, such person may be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23. The Board shall render its final judgment within 60 days of the date the complaint is filed; except that during the 60 days preceding the date of the election in reference to which the complaint is filed, the Board shall render its final judgment within 7 days of the date the complaint is filed, and during the 7 days preceding such election, the Board shall render such judgment before the date of such election, if possible.

At any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final judgment, the parties may dispose of the complaint by a written stipulation, agreed settlement or consent order. Any such stipulation, settlement or order shall, however, be submitted in writing to the Board and shall become effective only if approved by the Board in an open meeting. If the act or practice complained of consists of the failure to file any required report within the time prescribed by this Article, such stipulation, settlement or order may provide that if, within the 12-month period following the approval of such stipulation, agreement or order, the person complained of fails to file within the time prescribed by this Article any subsequent reports as may be required, such person may be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23.

Any person filing a complaint pursuant to Section 9-20 may, upon written notice to the other parties and to the Board, voluntarily withdraw the complaint at any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final determination.

(Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-23) (from Ch. 46, par. 9-23)

Sec. 9-23. Whenever the Board, pursuant to Section 9-21, has issued an order, or has approved a written stipulation, agreed settlement or consent order, directing a person determined by the Board to be in violation of any provision of this Article or any regulation adopted thereunder, to cease or correct such violation or otherwise comply with this Article and such person fails or refuses to comply with such order, stipulation, settlement or consent order within the time specified by the Board, the Board in an open meeting, after affording notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, may impose a civil penalty on such person in an amount not to exceed $5,000; except that for State officers and candidates and political committees formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. For the purpose of this Section, "statewide office" and "State officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

Civil penalties imposed on any such person by the Board shall be enforceable in the Circuit Court. The Board shall petition the Court for an order to enforce collection of the penalty and, if the Court finds it has jurisdiction over the person against whom the penalty was imposed, the Court shall issue the appropriate order. Any civil penalties collected by the Court shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer.

In addition to or in lieu of the imposition of a civil penalty, the board may report such violation and the failure or refusal to comply with the order of the Board to the Attorney General and the appropriate State's Attorney.

(Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-23.5 new)

Sec. 9-23.5. Public database of founded complaints. The State Board of Elections shall establish and maintain on its official website a searchable database, freely accessible to the public, of each complaint filed with the Board under this Article on which Board action was taken, including all Board actions and penalties imposed, if any. The Board must update the database within 5 business days after an action taken or a penalty imposed to include that complaint, action, or penalty in the database.

(10 ILCS 5/9-28)

Sec. 9-28. Electronic filing and availability. The Board shall by rule provide for the electronic filing of expenditure and contribution reports as follows:

Beginning July 1, 1999, or as soon thereafter as the Board has provided adequate software to the political committee, electronic filing is required for all political committees that during the reporting period (i) had at any time a balance or an accumulation of contributions of $25,000 or more, (ii) made aggregate expenditures of $25,000 or more, or (iii) received loans of an aggregate of $25,000 or more.

Beginning July 1, 2003, electronic filing is required for all political committees that during the reporting period (i) had at any time a balance or an accumulation of contributions of $10,000 or more, (ii) made aggregate expenditures of $10,000 or more, or (iii) received loans of an aggregate of $10,000 or more.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a political committee filing a report under subsection (c), (d), or (e) of Section 9-10 must file that report electronically.

The Board may provide by rule for the optional electronic filing of expenditure and contribution reports for all other political committees. The Board shall promptly make all reports filed under this Article by all political committees publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through the World Wide Web.

The Board shall provide all software necessary to comply with this Section to candidates, public officials, political committees, and election authorities.

The Board shall implement a plan to provide computer access and assistance to candidates, public officials, political committees, and election authorities with respect to electronic filings required under this Article.

For the purposes of this Section, "political committees" includes entities required to report to the Board under Section 9-7.5.

(Source: P.A. 90-495, eff. 8-18-97; 90-737, eff. 1-1-99.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-28.5 new)

Sec. 9-28.5. Injunctive relief for electioneering communications.

(a) Whenever the Attorney General, or a State's Attorney with jurisdiction over any portion of the relevant electorate, believes that any person, as defined in Section 9-1.6, is making, producing, publishing, republishing, or broadcasting an electioneering communication paid for by any person, as defined in Section 9-1.6, who has not first complied with the registration and disclosure requirements of this Article, he or she may bring an action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois or, in the case of a State's Attorney, the People of the County, against such person or persons to restrain by preliminary or permanent injunction the making, producing, publishing, republishing, or broadcasting of such electioneering communication until the registration and disclosure requirements have been met.

(b) Any person who believes any person, as defined in Section 9-1.6, is making, producing, publishing, republishing, or broadcasting an electioneering communication paid for by any person, as defined in Section 9-1.6, who has not first complied with the registration and disclosure requirements of this Article may bring an action in the circuit court against such person or persons to restrain by preliminary or permanent injunction the making, producing, publishing, republishing, or broadcasting of such electioneering communication until the registration and disclosure requirements have been met.

(10 ILCS 5/9-30)

Sec. 9-30. Ballot forfeiture. The State Board of Elections shall not certify the The name of any a person who has not paid a civil penalty imposed against his or her political committee him or her under this Article to shall not appear upon any ballot for any office in any election while the penalty is unpaid.

The State Board of Elections shall generate a list of all candidates whose political committees have not paid any civil penalty assessed against them under this Article. Such list shall be transmitted to any election authority whose duty it is to place the name of any such candidate on the ballot. The election authority shall not place upon the ballot the name of any candidate appearing on this list for any office in any election while the penalty is unpaid.

(Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03.)

(10 ILCS 5/9-40 new)

Sec. 9-40. Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force.

(a) There is hereby established a Public Financing of Judicial Elections Task Force. The Task Force shall conduct meetings and take testimony to assess the need for developing a system of public financing for judicial elections.

(b) The Task Force shall consist of all of the following voting members:

(1) Four persons appointed by the Governor, with no more than 2 from the same political party.

(2) Four members of the judiciary appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court.

(3) One member appointed by the President of the Senate.

(4) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate.

(5) One member appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(6) One member appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(7) One member appointed by the State Board of Elections.

(c) In the event of a vacancy, the appointment to fill the vacancy shall be made by the appointing authority that made the original appointment. The Task Force may begin to conduct business upon the appointment of a majority of the voting members.

(d) The State Board of Elections shall be the agency responsible for providing staff and administrative support to the Task Force. Members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation for their participation but may be reimbursed for expenses in connection with their participation, if funds are available.

(e) The Task Force shall submit a report to the Governor, General Assembly, and Illinois Supreme Court by January 1, 2012. The State Board of Elections shall make the report available on its website.

(f) The Task Force is abolished on January 10, 2012, and this Section is repealed on January 10, 2012.

Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011, except that Section 9-8.5 of the Election Code takes effect November 3, 2010 and except that this Section, Sections 9-28.5 and 9-40 of the Election Code, and the changes to Sections 9-1.14 and 9-30 of the Election Code take effect upon becoming law.