Our Year of Reform - Quinn For Illinois

February 25, 2009—Governor Quinn ordered all state agencies to make more information available to the public, to apply FOIA exemptions more narrowly, and to make more information about state agencies available online.

April 9, 2009—Governor Quinn signed an executive order creating Appointments.Illinois.gov. By visiting the site, those interested will be able to view all state boards and commissions, get information about their purposes and see lists of the members. In addition, Illinois residents can fill out online applications for those appointments that are made by the Governor. I want to make sure that everyone who is qualified has a fair shot at serving on our states boards and commissions, Governor Quinn said upon signing the order.

August 17, 2009—Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 189, strengthening the Illinois Freedom of Information Act by giving the Attorney Generals Office authority to decide disputes between those requesting information and governmental bodies, creating a permanent public access counselor within the Attorney Generals Office to oversee enforcement of the act, and increasing fines for noncompliance.

The same day, he signed Senate Bill 1602, which established strict ethics requirements and restrictions for current and prospective members of state boards and commissions.

August 18, 2009—Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 54, strengthening the Governmental Ethics Act. The law expanded the duties and investigative powers of the Executive Inspectors General and increased the jurisdiction of the Inspector General of the Secretary of State to include investigations of wrongdoing by any person or entity related to the Lobbyist Registration Act.

Also because of this bill, state employees responsible for procuring goods or services are now required to disclose relationships with outside entities that may create a conflict of interest. It also changed the State Officials Employees Ethics Act (SOEE), shortening the timeframe for new employees to take their initial ethics training to the first 30 days of employment (from six months) and required employees to certify completion of training.

October 15, 2009—The General Assembly passed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 31, enabling Illinois residents to vote on a constitutional amendment for the power to remove a governor from office on the November 2010 ballot. The bills passage came after Governor Quinn pushed for such a measure for more than three decades.

October 29, 2009—Governor Quinn signed Senate Bill 1466, enacting the first ever caps on political contributions in Illinois, and makes disclosure requirements significantly more strict.

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