HB2908 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 06254 JDS 36295 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2908

Introduced , by Rep. Sue Scherer

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

25 ILCS 115/1

from Ch. 63, par. 14

Amends the General Assembly Compensation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2013, a member shall not be entitled to any allowance for lodging and meals but shall, upon providing certain documentary evidence, be entitled to be reimbursed for actual expenses that he or she incurs for lodging and meals on sessions days of the General Assembly up to $111 per session day. Also makes technical changes. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

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

Section 5. The General Assembly Compensation Act is amended by changing Section 1 as follows:

(25 ILCS 115/1) (from Ch. 63, par. 14)

Sec. 1. Salary; travel, food, and lodging reimbursement.

(a) Each member of the General Assembly shall receive an annual salary of $28,000 or as set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is greater. The following named officers, committee chairmen and committee minority spokesmen shall receive additional amounts per year for their services as such officers, committee chairmen and committee minority spokesmen respectively, as set by the Compensation Review Board or, as follows, whichever is greater: Beginning the second Wednesday in January 1989, the Speaker and the minority leader of the House of Representatives and the President and the minority leader of the Senate, $16,000 each; the majority leader in the House of Representatives $13,500; 6 assistant majority leaders and 5 assistant minority leaders in the Senate, $12,000 each; 6 assistant majority leaders and 6 assistant minority leaders in the House of Representatives, $10,500 each; 2 Deputy Majority leaders in the House of Representatives $11,500 each; and 2 Deputy Minority leaders in the House of Representatives, $11,500 each; the majority caucus chairman and minority caucus chairman in the Senate, $12,000 each; and beginning the second Wednesday in January, 1989, the majority conference chairman and the minority conference chairman in the House of Representatives, $10,500 each; beginning the second Wednesday in January, 1989, the chairman and minority spokesman of each standing committee of the Senate, except the Rules Committee, the Committee on Committees, and the Committee on Assignment of Bills, $6,000 each; and beginning the second Wednesday in January, 1989, the chairman and minority spokesman of each standing and select committee of the House of Representatives, $6,000 each. A member who serves in more than one position as an officer, committee chairman, or committee minority spokesman shall receive only one additional amount based on the position paying the highest additional amount. The compensation provided for in this Section to be paid per year to members of the General Assembly, including the additional sums payable per year to officers of the General Assembly shall be paid in 12 equal monthly installments. The first such installment is payable on January 31, 1977. All subsequent equal monthly installments are payable on the last working day of the month. A member who has held office any part of a month is entitled to compensation for an entire month.

(b) Mileage shall be paid at the rate of 20 cents per mile before January 9, 1985, and at the mileage allowance rate in effect under regulations promulgated pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5707(b)(2) beginning January 9, 1985, for the number of actual highway miles necessarily and conveniently traveled by the most feasible route to be present upon convening of the sessions of the General Assembly by such member in each and every trip during each session in going to and returning from the seat of government, to be computed by the Comptroller. A member traveling by public transportation for such purposes, however, shall be paid his actual cost of that transportation instead of on the mileage rate if his cost of public transportation exceeds the amount to which he would be entitled on a mileage basis. No member may be paid, whether on a mileage basis or for actual costs of public transportation, for more than one such trip for each week the General Assembly is actually in session. For fiscal year 2011 and for session days in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 only, mileage for automobile travel shall be reimbursed at a rate of $0.39 per mile. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2012, travel reimbursement for General Assembly members on non-session days shall be calculated using the guidelines set forth by the Legislative Travel Control Board, except that fiscal year 2012 and 2013 mileage reimbursement is set at a rate of $0.39 per mile.

(c) Each member shall also receive an allowance of $36 per day for lodging and meals while in attendance at sessions of the General Assembly before January 9, 1985; beginning January 9, 1985, such food and lodging allowance shall be equal to the amount per day permitted to be deducted for such expenses under the Internal Revenue Code. For fiscal year 2011 and for session days in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 only, the allowance for lodging and meals is $111 per day.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (c), beginning July 1, 2013, a member shall not be entitled to any allowance for lodging and meals but shall, upon providing the documentary evidence required under subsection (d), be entitled to be reimbursed for actual expenses that he or she incurs for lodging and meals on sessions days of the General Assembly up to $111 per session day. ; however, beginning May 31, 1995,

No no allowance for food and lodging while in attendance at sessions or reimbursement for actual expenses incurred by the member for food and lodging on a session day is authorized for periods of time after the last day in May of each calendar year, except (i) if the General Assembly is convened in special session by either the Governor or the presiding officers of both houses, as provided by subsection (b) of Section 5 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution or (ii) if the General Assembly is convened to consider bills vetoed, item vetoed, reduced, or returned with specific recommendations for change by the Governor as provided in Section 9 of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution. For fiscal year 2011 and for session days in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 only (i) the allowance for lodging and meals is $111 per day and (ii) mileage for automobile travel shall be reimbursed at a rate of $0.39 per mile.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, beginning in fiscal year 2012, travel reimbursement for General Assembly members on non-session days shall be calculated using the guidelines set forth by the Legislative Travel Control Board, except that fiscal year 2012 and 2013 mileage reimbursement is set at a rate of $0.39 per mile.

(d) To be reimbursed for a meal, a member shall provide documentary evidence, such as a receipt, establishing that he or she incurred the expense. To be reimbursed for a lodging expense, a member shall provide documentary evidence, such as a copy of a receipt or lease, establishing that he or she incurred the lodging expense in Springfield and shall also sign a written statement under oath attesting that he or she spent the night away from his or her primary residence and in the lodging for which reimbursement is being sought.

(e) If a member dies having received only a portion of the amount payable as compensation, the unpaid balance shall be paid to the surviving spouse of such member, or, if there be none, to the estate of such member.

(Source: P.A. 96-958, eff. 7-1-10; 97-71, eff. 6-30-11; 97-718, eff. 6-29-12.)

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