SB3879 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18317 RTM 31757 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3879

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Julie A. Morrison

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

60 ILCS 1/55-65
60 ILCS 1/55-70 new

Amends the Township Code. Provides that, in addition to all townships, all road district officers shall be subject to the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act. Provides that, in addition to all requirements of specified provisions of the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act and specified provisions of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, all townships shall adopt ordinances or resolutions that include the appointment or designation of an individual, commission, or committee to serve as the auditing entity that is responsible for receiving, hearing, investigating, adjudicating, and disposing of all complaints and allegations of improper governmental action, ethical misconduct, either under State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or policies by any official or employee of the township or any official or employee of a road district within the township. Provides that, if the township does not appoint an auditing entity, then the auditing entity shall be the State's Attorney of the county in which the unit of local government is located. Provides that the township's auditing entity shall have jurisdiction over any township assessor's or road district's offices, including all officials and employees of the township assessor's or road district's offices. Provides that, beginning in 2026, each officer, member, and employee of each township and road district must complete, at least annually, an ethics training program that equals or exceeds the minimum ethics training set forth in the model ethics training program developed by the Attorney General. Provides that, instead of enacting an ordinance, resolution, or policy, a township or road district, may, with the consent of the county board in which the township or road district is located, subject itself to the jurisdiction of that county's ethics officer or inspector general and all ethics laws applicable thereto, including all ethics policies, rules, regulations, and ordinances adopted by the county. Effective Immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Township Code is amended by changing Section 55-65 and by adding Section 55-70 as follows:

(60 ILCS 1/55-65)

Sec. 55-65. Prohibited activities. All township and road district officers shall be subject to the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act.

(Source: P.A. 88-62.)

(60 ILCS 1/55-70 new)

Sec. 55-70. Township ethics officers and training.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c), in addition to the requirements of Article 70 of the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act and Sections 4.1 and 4.5 of the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, each township shall adopt ordinances or resolutions that provide for the appointment or designation of an individual, commission, or committee to serve as the auditing entity that is responsible for receiving, hearing, investigating, adjudicating, and disposing of all complaints and allegations of improper governmental action or ethical misconduct under State or local laws, rules, ordinances, or policies by any official or employee of the township or any official or employee of a road district within the township. The auditing entity may not be an elected township or road district official. If the auditing official is a commission or committee, then no member of the commission or committee may be an elected township or road district official. If the township does not appoint an auditing entity, then the auditing entity shall be the State's Attorney of the county in which the unit of local government is located. The township's auditing entity shall have jurisdiction over any township assessor's or road district's offices, including all officials and employees of the township assessor's or road district's offices.

(b) Beginning in 2026, each officer, member, and employee of each township and road district must complete, at least annually, an ethics training program that equals or exceeds the minimum ethics training set forth in the model ethics training program developed by the Attorney General. Any organization listed in Section 85-15 is authorized to administer annual ethics training if the trainings meet the requirements provided by the Attorney General. Any person who fills a vacancy in an elective or appointed office in a township or road district and any person newly employed in a position at a township or road district must complete the initial ethics training program required under this Section within 30 days after commencement of the person's office or employment. Each township and road district shall maintain certificates of completion for the ethics training program required under this Section, and each officer, member, and employee must certify in writing that they completed the ethics training program. The certificate developed under this Section must be filed with the office of the township clerk on or before the deadline to complete the training. Failure to complete the ethics training program in a timely manner shall be grounds for disciplinary action, which may include a financial penalty, to be determined by the auditing entity.

(c) Instead of enacting an ordinance, resolution, or policy under subsection (a), a township or road district, may, with the consent of the county board in which the township or road district is located, subject itself to the jurisdiction of that county's ethics officer or inspector general and all ethics laws applicable thereto, including all ethics policies, rules, regulations, and ordinances adopted by the county.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.