New filing rules a hot topic in Illinois
By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
In a state too well known for political corruption, any law that seeks to curtail those problems is a good one, right?
Perhaps you haven’t met Illinois Public Act 102-0664, an ethics bill designed to increase transparency involving elected officials and government employees. As part of the bill, effective Jan. 1, Illinois elected officials, appointed members of board, some government employees and pension fund board members must fill out a revised Statement of Economic Interests form.
Previously, the form asked officials to disclose relationships with businesses that might also have dealings with the council or board for which they serve or work.
The new form is much more detailed and requires additional details on assets, sources of income, creditors owed and other information. Those who don’t file, or who file incorrectly, face possible penalties of up to one year in prison or a $2,500 fine.
That change has many scrambling in the face of a May 1 deadline for filing. In a letter to Illinois House and Senate leaders, Bill Cole, executive director of the Illinois Municipal League (IML), seeks changes based on feedback from across the state.
“Since the Act’s January 1, 2022, effective date, IML has heard from
hundreds of municipal officials with concerns about accurately and adequately completing the form,” Cole wrote. “In some communities, officials are considering resigning their positions out of fear of legal repercussions for being noncompliant with the new requirements, and out of the belief that some of the required information is too intrusive and personal.”
Among those who agree with that assessment is Farmington Mayor Kent Kowal, who discussed the matter at a recent Farmington City Council meeting.
Kowal said he has since called State Sen. Dave Koehler asking whether thought was given to revising the act.
“Koehler said there was no discussion at the legislative level of revising it in any way,” Kowal said. “I don’t think it is right.”
Kowal said he has no problem disclosing that he is a stockholder in the Bank of Farmington, is chairman of the board and on the bank’s loan committee. But providing detailed investments, income sources and other items required on the form go to far, he said.
Others agree that the requirements could have a “chilling effect” on political participation at a time when interest is already lagging.
Writes Cole in his plea to legislators, “Something must be done, respectfully. IML requests that members of the General Assembly act to modify these requirements, or, at the very least, provide greater clarification on how local officials can complete this or a more simplified form. The unintended consequence of pushing-out good local officials is significant, while bad officials at all levels will still likely ignore the rules and process completely. We need your help.”
To help fill out the form, the Illinois Municipal League created an online fact sheet available at www.iml.org/file.cfm?key=23597.
