Sen. Jil Tracy

Amends the Legislature Article of the Illinois Constitutional. Provides for a referendum to reject any Public Act by a petition signed by a number of electors. Provides signature and content requirements for the petition. Provides requirements for the validity and sufficiency of petitions. Provides that if a petition is valid and sufficient, the proposed referendum shall be submitted to the electors at the general election specified in the petition. Provides that if the voters in a specified election reject a Public Act, it shall cease to be in effect on the date specified in the referendum. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Constitutional Revision Article of the Illinois Constitutional. Provides that amendments to the Illinois Constitution (currently, Article IV of the Constitution only) may be proposed by a petition signed by a number of electors equal in number to at least eight percent of the total votes cast for candidates for Governor in the preceding gubernatorial election. Provides that the initiative process shall not be used for the proposal, modification, or repeal of any portion of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution or to modify the initiative process for proposing amendments to the Constitution. Makes conforming changes. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Illinois Constitution. Provides for the recall of all State Executive Branch officers, legislative leaders, the Auditor General, members of the General Assembly, and local government officials. Makes changes to the procedures for the recall of the Governor. Effective upon being declared adopted.

Amends the Election Code. Prohibits a member of the State Board of Elections from contributing to a political committee, serving as an officer of a political committee, or being a candidate supported by a candidate political committee. Provides options for the person to remedy the violation. Requires a person who is in violation on the effective date of the amendatory Act to come into compliance within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Defines a "limited activity committee" to mean a political committee for which a person who is nominated to a position that is subject to confirmation by the Senate, including a member of the State Board of Elections, or a person registered as a lobbyist under the Lobbyist Registration Act is either an officer or a candidate the committee has designated to support. Prohibits a limited activity committee from accepting contributions, except that the person who is either an officer or a candidate the committee has designated to support may contribute personal funds in order to pay maintenance expenses. Provides that a limited activity committee may only make specified expenditures. Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the Lobbyist Registration Act. Prohibits an appointee subject to Senate confirmation and a registered lobbyist from serving as an officer of a candidate political committee in which the person is the designated candidate or being a candidate supported by a candidate political committee. Provides options for the person to remedy the violation. Requires a person who is in violation on the effective date of the amendatory Act to come into compliance within 30 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Effective immediately.

Amends the Statewide Grand Jury Act. Expands the authority of a Statewide Grand Jury to investigate and indict offenses involving the corruption of a public official, to include theft, fraud, extortion, or a violation of the Official Misconduct and Public Contracts Article of the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that venue for purposes of trial for any offense involving the corruption of a public official may be in any county in which any portion of the offense occurred.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides limitations concerning employment of a member of the General Assembly by a lobbying entity. Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Provides a revolving door prohibition on former members of the General Assembly lobbying the General Assembly within a specified period of time. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Provides limitations concerning lobbying by a member of the General Assembly or his or her spouse or any immediate family member living with that member of the General Assembly. Expands the definition of "lobbying" for purposes of the Act. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. In the Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Law, expands the definition of "predicate activity" to include bribery, official misconduct, solicitation misconduct (State government), solicitation misconduct (local government)), and legislative misconduct. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Expands the authority of the State's Attorney to seek a court order authorizing the interception of a private communication when no party has consented to the interception and the interception may provide evidence of, or may assist in the apprehension of a person who has committed, is committing, or is about to commit an offense to include predicate activity under the Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Law.

Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act. Creates a uniform statement of economic interests form that must be completed by all persons who are required to file that form under the Act. Changes the nature of the required disclosures that must be made. Repeals a provision that established a separate form for persons required to file a statement of economic interests with county clerks. Defines terms. Adds applicability clause. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Modifies requirements concerning the Legislative Ethics Commission and Commissioners thereof. Modifies requirements concerning the jurisdiction of the Legislative Inspector General. Modifies the duties of the Legislative Ethics Commission. Removes a provision requiring the Legislative Inspector General to obtain advance approval of the Commission to issue subpoenas. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.