Local Government Law

(Althoff, R-McHenry; Franks, D-Marengo) amends the Counties Code to allow a default in the payment of a fine or penalty or any installment to be collected in any way that any other monetary judgment is collected. Allows the state’s attorney to retain attorneys and private collection agents to collect them and their fees to be charged to the offender. Passed both chambers.

(Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove; Morrison, D-Deerfield) requires a budget to be made available to public inspection and provided to the public at a public meeting at least 15 days prior to final action taken on that budget in all counties not required by law to pass an annual appropriation bill within the first quarter of the fiscal year and required to adopt each year an annual budget for the succeeding fiscal year. Allows a county board to act at a public meeting to amend a budget after notice has been given. Requires notices pertaining to the budget meeting and the proposed budget to be posted on the county’s official website, if it maintains one. If a county does not maintain a website, it requires the county to comply with the Open Meetings Act in giving notice of such agenda items and make the proposed budget available for public inspection. Passed both chambers.

(Thomas Bennett, R-Watseka; Koehler, D-Peoria) provides that a public body may hold closed meetings to consider school building safety and security. Passed both chambers.

(McSweeney, R-Cary; Duffy, R-Barrington) creates what is essentially a statute of repose for requests for review to be filed with the Public Access Counselor. If the facts concerning the violation are not discovered within 60 days of the violation but discovered at a later date by a person using reasonable diligence, the request must be made within two years after the alleged violation. Passed both chambers.

(Nekritz, D-Buffalo Grove; Morrison, D-Deerfield) requires a budget to be made available to public inspection and provided to the public at a public meeting at least 15 days prior to final action taken on that budget in all counties not required by law to pass an annual appropriation bill within the first quarter of the fiscal year and required to adopt each year an annual budget for the succeeding fiscal year. Allows a county board to act at a public meeting to amend a budget after notice has been given. Requires notices pertaining to the budget meeting and the proposed budget to be posted on the county’s official website, if it maintains one. If a county does not maintain a website, it requires the county to comply with the Open Meetings Act in giving notice of such agenda items and make the proposed budget available for public inspection. Passed both chambers.

(Thomas Bennett, R-Watseka; Koehler, D-Peoria) provides that a public body may hold closed meetings to consider school building safety and security. Passed both chambers.

(McSweeney, R-Cary; Duffy, R-Barrington) creates what is essentially a statute of repose for requests for review to be filed with the Public Access Counselor. If the facts concerning the violation are not discovered within 60 days of the violation but discovered at a later date by a person using reasonable diligence, the request must be made within two years after the alleged violation. Passed both chambers.

(Holmes, D-Aurora; Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego) authorizes the Kane County Board, with concurrence of the chief judge of the circuit, to impose a judicial facilities fee not to exceed $30. It will be imposed on civil litigants and defendants in criminal cases. Passed both chambers.

(Hastings, D-Matteson; Kelly Burke, D-Oak Lawn) makes associations organized as limited liability companies subject to the Act. Passed both chambers.

(Haine, D-Alton; Beiser, D-Alton) provides that no action to incorporate a common interest community as a municipality may commence until an instrument agreeing to incorporation has been signed by 51% (instead of two-thirds) of the members. Passed both chambers.