Bill Text: IL HB0268 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Creates the Local Government Consolidation Commission Act of 2011. Establishes a commission of legislative members appointed by the legislative leaders and local government representatives appointed by the Governor to report to the General Assembly on consolidating local governments. Provides for support of the commission by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Repeals the Local Government Consolidation Commission Act. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-3)

Status: (Passed) 2011-08-12 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-0316 [HB0268 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HB0268-Chaptered.html

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Public Act 097-0316
HB0268 Enrolled LRB097 06005 RLJ 46076 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
WHEREAS, Many of the local governmental units in the State
of Illinois were established under provisions of the Illinois
Constitution of 1870; and
WHEREAS, There have been rapid changes in the population of
Illinois in numbers, in concentration, and in movement, as well
as vast economic, social, and technological changes, that
strain the ability of Illinois local governments adequately to
furnish necessary services; and
WHEREAS, Illinois local governments were conceived to
serve a rural society; in areas not experiencing the impact of
modern changes, they may be adequate, but in areas of great
change, notably the urban areas, they are not sufficiently
flexible, do not have adequate powers and financing, and are
not responsive to present-day needs in transportation, health,
water supply, water pollution, air pollution, recreation,
disposal of sewage, and disposal of refuse; and
WHEREAS, The inadequacies in Illinois local governments
have resulted in the creation of numerous functional local
governments all competing for financial and jurisdictional
support from the same area; therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local
Government Consolidation Commission Act of 2011.
Section 5. Commission; creation; members. There is created
a Local Government Consolidation Commission, to consist of 17
members, 3 to be members of the Senate appointed by the
President of the Senate, 3 to be members of the Senate
appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, 3 to be members of the
House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House,
3 to be members of the House of Representatives appointed by
the House Minority Leader, and 5 to be citizens of the State
appointed by the Governor as follows:
(1) one member selected from recommendations provided by an
association representing counties;
(2) one member selected from recommendations provided by an
association representing municipalities;
(3) one member selected from recommendations provided by an
association representing townships;
(4) one member selected from recommendations provided by an
association representing park districts; and
(5) one member who serves as an elected officer of a local
governmental entity in Illinois other than a county,
municipality, township, or park district.
Section 10. Study; recommendations. The Commission shall
make a survey of the entire structure of local governments and

of their organization, powers, jurisdiction, and functions.
Among other things, and without limiting its activities, the
Commission shall:
(1) Study all laws governing the organization, powers,
jurisdiction, and functions of local governments.
(2) Study the inter-relationships of local governments to
each other and to federal and State governments.
(3) Formulate specific recommendations for legislation or
constitutional amendments to (i) permit effective management
of local affairs, (ii) encourage local policy decision making,
(iii) reduce the multiplicity of local governments, (iv)
eliminate overlapping and duplicating of unnecessary powers,
(v) increase efficiency and economy in local governments, and
(vi) allow optional forms of local governments and increase
their authority for cooperation among the levels of government.
Section 15. Meetings; officers. The members of the
Commission shall meet and the Commission shall be organized
within 90 days after the effective date of this Act, and shall
at that time elect a chair from among the members. The
Commission may adopt its own rules of procedure. The Commission
may employ or use the services of specialists in public
administration and governmental management and any other
trained consultants, analysts, investigators, and assistants
it may consider necessary, on either a full-time or a part-time
basis. The Commission shall fix the compensation for any paid

employees, which shall be paid from moneys appropriated to the
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for that
purpose.
Section 20. Compensation; expenses. The members of the
Commission shall serve without compensation. The Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall provide support for the
Commission, and pay members' actual traveling and other
expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of the
Commission, from moneys appropriated to the Department for
those purposes.
Section 25. Report. The Commission shall render its final
report to the General Assembly not later than December 31,
2012, setting out its findings and recommendations and
proposing those measures it considers necessary to effect
essential changes and improvements in the existing laws
relating to any or all of the matters enumerated in Section 10
of this Act.
(20 ILCS 3986/Act rep.)
Section 30. The Local Government Consolidation Commission
Act is repealed.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.