Bill > SB1347

This bill creates the Citizens Empowerment Act, which provides a new method for registered voters to petition for and potentially dissolve a local government unit through a referendum process. Under this act, voters can initiate a dissolution petition by gathering signatures from at least 5% of voters in the affected local government units, and filing the petition at least 122 days before a general election. The petition must specify the dissolving unit of local government, the receiving unit that will assume its responsibilities, and the proposed date of dissolution. To pass, the referendum requires approval from three-fifths or a majority of voters in both the dissolving and receiving local government units. If approved, all assets, personnel, contractual obligations, and liabilities of the dissolving unit will be transferred to the receiving unit on the specified dissolution date, effectively eliminating the original local government unit. The bill provides an additional method of local government dissolution that supplements existing legal mechanisms and includes specific requirements for notice, petition filing, ballot language, and the transfer of governmental responsibilities. The act also makes a conforming amendment to the Election Code to integrate this new dissolution process into existing electoral procedures.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1347&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104