99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB0268

Introduced , by Rep. Natalie A. Manley

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Commission on Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State Spending Act. Provides that the Commission shall conduct investigations, review the budget submitted by the Governor in order to make recommendations for reducing expenditures set forth in the budget, review activities of agencies and grant recipients, and consider State and local budgetary reductions by reduction or elimination of mandated expenditures or the consolidation of agencies and instrumentalities to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Sets forth the membership of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall conduct at least one public hearing and may issue reports. Provides that the Governor shall respond, in writing, within 30 calendar days after the submission of the reports. Provides that the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission. Contains other provisions. Effective immediately

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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

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1 AN ACT concerning State government.

2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3 represented in the General Assembly:

4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the

5 Commission on Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State

6 Spending Act.

7 Section 5. Legislative intent. It is the continuing policy

8 of the State to provide the citizens of Illinois with a

9 government that is accountable to the taxpayers. To carry out

10 this policy effectively, it is essential that the General

11 Assembly examine expenditures of the State for programs and

12 services and make recommendations to reduce spending.

13 Section 10. Creation of Commission. The Commission on

14 Taxpayer Oversight and Reduction of State Spending, hereafter

15 in this Act referred to as the "Commission", is hereby created

16 in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to examine

17 expenditures of the State and make recommendations to the

18 Governor and General Assembly to reduce State spending. The

19 Commission shall:

20 (1) Conduct investigations to ascertain facts, review

21 appropriations and expenditures, and make recommendations

22 and reports concerning revenues and expenditures of the

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1 State, its departments, subdivisions, and agencies,

2 whether created by the Constitution or otherwise.

3 (2) Review the budget submitted by the Governor and

4 make recommendations for reducing expenditures set forth

5 in the budget, provided the Commission shall take into

6 account any specific areas of reductions recommended for

7 the Commission's review by the Governor and the statewide

8 prioritized budgetary goals established by Section 50-25

9 of the State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of

10 Illinois, as those goals are reflected in the budget

11 submitted by the Governor.

12 (3) Review programs, strategies, and activities

13 conducted by agencies and grant recipients to determine

14 whether they are achieving the prioritized outcomes and

15 meeting the goals established under Section 50-25 of the

16 State Budget Law of the Civil Administrative Code of

17 Illinois in an efficient manner and make recommendations to

18 reduce appropriations or expenditures of agencies and

19 grant recipients failing to meet the outcomes and goals.

20 (4) Consider budgetary reductions at the State and

21 local levels of government through the reduction or

22 elimination of statutorily mandated expenditures or the

23 consolidation of government agencies and instrumentalities

24 to eliminate waste and inefficiency in the operation of

25 State and local government.

26 The Commission shall have continuing existence and may

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1 meet, act, and conduct its business at any place within this

2 State, during the sessions of the General Assembly or any

3 recess thereof, and in the interim periods between sessions.

4 Section 15. Composition of Committee. The Commission shall

5 consist of 8 members as follows: 2 members of the General

6 Assembly appointed by the President of the Senate, one of whom

7 shall serve as co-chair of the Commission; 2 members of the

8 General Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the House of

9 Representatives, one of whom shall serve as co-chair of the

10 Commission; 2 members of the General Assembly appointed by the

11 Minority Leader of the Senate; and 2 members of the General

12 Assembly appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of

13 Representatives. The Governor shall appoint 2 additional

14 members to serve in a non-voting, advisory capacity. A vacancy

15 shall be filled in the same manner as the initial appointment.

16 Section 20. Reports of the Commission. The Commission may,

17 upon the concurrence of a majority of its members, issue a

18 report with recommendations. The Commission shall conduct at

19 least one public hearing prior to issuing any report and allow

20 interested persons to present their views and comments. The

21 Commission may prescribe reasonable rules for the conduct of

22 public hearings and issuance of reports. Reports of the

23 Commission shall include the following: (i) the expenditure,

24 State program, or service examined; (ii) a detailed description

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1 of the investigation conducted by the Commission; (iii) any

2 inquiries for the Governor, if applicable, related to the

3 expenditure, State program, or service; (iv) specific

4 recommendations for change, improvement, reduction, or

5 elimination of the State program or service; and (v) a detailed

6 formal request for action by the Governor. Any report making a

7 recommendation shall be filed with the Governor, Secretary of

8 the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives.

9 Section 25. Response of the Governor. Upon receipt of a

10 report, the Governor shall respond, in writing, within 30

11 calendar days. Such response shall be filed with the Secretary

12 of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives. The

13 Governor's response shall include a response to any inquiries

14 made in the report and a specific response to each

15 recommendation of the Commission stating whether the Governor

16 accepts or rejects the recommendation. If the Governor accepts

17 a recommendation of the Commission, the response shall include

18 a description of any action that has or will be taken to comply

19 with the recommendation. If the Governor rejects the

20 recommendation of the Commission, the response shall include

21 reasons for the rejection.

22 Section 30. Cooperation of State agencies. The Governor's

23 Office of Management and Budget shall cooperate with the

24 Commission by providing relevant data, documents, and other

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1 information as requested by the Commission. The Governor's

2 Office of Management and Budget shall, upon request, provide

3 the Commission with an analysis of the costs or savings

4 associated with any potential recommendation. At the request of

5 the Commission, each State agency shall, without delay, make

6 available any record or information requested and shall provide

7 for examination and copying of all records, accounts, papers,

8 reports, vouchers, correspondence, books and other

9 documentation in the custody of that agency, including

10 information stored in electronic data processing systems,

11 which is related to or within the scope of an investigation

12 conducted by the Commission.

13 Section 35. Administrative support. The Governor's Office

14 of Management and Budget shall provide administrative and other

15 support to the Commission.

16 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

17 becoming law.