HB5837 Summary

• Amends the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act to require statements of economic interests be filed in electronic format beginning January 1, 2012, with the Secretary of State posting them to a searchable public database on the website.

• Modifies disclosure requirements to include interests of spouses and immediate family members living with the filer only if constructively controlled by the filer, and adds detailed definitions of income, categories of value, and constructive control.

• Requires board and commission appointees to file supplemental statements disclosing political contributions over $150, legal defense fund contributions, and immediate family members registered as lobbyists.

• Changes statement forms to substantially replicate the design of 2002 federal Public Financial Disclosure Report forms used by Congress, allowing manual or electronic signatures.

• Directs the Secretary of State to provide online training for ethics officers and persons required to file statements, and allows county clerks to waive paper filing requirements if they provide electronic access to statements.