Bill > SB0176

This bill creates the Procurement Bid Ethics Transparency Act, which aims to prevent conflicts of interest in local government procurement processes. The bill prohibits directors, employees, investors, or their immediate family members from simultaneously submitting and competing for procurement bids in the same local government unit without formal disclosure to the Executive Ethics Commission. To do this, bidders must submit a written disclosure prior to bidding that includes details about their involvement in the procurement process, such as the names of individuals involved, the specific contract being bid on, and any potential conflicts of interest. Violations can result in substantial civil penalties of up to $1,000,000, which will be determined and imposed by the Executive Ethics Commission. The penalty will be deposited into the General Revenue Fund and can be used for procurement ethics enforcement. Additionally, entities found in violation may be barred from participating in local government procurement processes for up to five years. The bill includes specific definitions for terms like "director," "employee," "investor," and "immediate family member" to provide clarity, and offers some exceptions for entities not directly involved in the procurement process. The overall goal is to enhance transparency and accountability in local government contracting by requiring upfront disclosure of potential conflicts of interest.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=176&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104