SPRINGFIELD - Lt. Governor Simon will testify in support of legislation that will improve the disclosures made by elected and high-ranking government officials. Senate Bill 1361, sponsored by Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) will be heard in the Senate's Executive Committee today.
"This legislation will improve disclosure forms that are confusing to filers and do not give Illinois residents adequate information about whether state leaders hold conflicts of interest," Simon said. "I encourage the committee to help us continue to increase government transparency by passing this bill."
SB 1361 proposes a revised disclosure form, known as a Statement of Economic Interests, which must be filed with the secretary of state's office or county clerk's office, or postmarked annually by May 1. The current forms, which are filed by elected officials, high-ranking government employees and candidates, have not been updated since being introduced 40 years ago.
The revised form would require filers to list outside sources of income, lobbyist relationships and loans made or accepted on terms not available to the general public, for the first time. Simon, who served on the Illinois Reform Commission, worked with government watchdog groups to draft Senate Bill 1361. The legislation is Simon's top transparency initiative of 2013.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8
TIME: 2 p.m. - committee begins
PLACE: Room 212, State Capitol, Springfield
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