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HB 2701

Campaign finance; campaign contribution limits, civil penalty.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by David Bulova

Raises annual stipend for county clerk, county recorder, and chief clerk of county boards of election commissioners to $13k (2025), $14k (2026), $15k+ (2027+), separate from base p

Left in Privileges and Elections
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Bill Summary · HB 2701

Summary — HB 2701 (Counties Code: county officer compensation awards)

Note: the provided document includes text from two different states. This summary focuses on the portion that matches the bill title "CTY CD‑OFFICER COMPENSATION" — the Illinois HB2701 (introduced by Rep. Maurice A. West II) that amends the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/4‑6001).

Main purpose

To increase and set a multi‑year schedule for the annual, lump‑sum state awards (stipends) paid to certain county election‑related officers — specifically the county clerk, county recorder, and the chief clerk of each county board of election commissioners — and to clarify distribution and tax/withholding responsibilities.

Key provisions

  • Amends 55 ILCS 5/4‑6001 (Counties Code).
  • Changes the annual award amounts paid to each eligible county officer as follows:
    • $13,000 for calendar year 2025;
    • $14,000 for calendar year 2026;
    • $15,000 for calendar year 2027 and for each calendar year thereafter.
    • (This replaces a longstanding $6,500 per year amount in prior language.)
  • Clarifies that these awards are in addition to, and separate from, the officers’ base compensation and do not count toward base salary.
  • Requires the General Assembly to appropriate the total annual amount needed; the State Board of Elections (or Department specified elsewhere in the statute) distributes the awards in an annual lump sum to counties.
  • Distribution and administration mechanics (as reflected elsewhere in the text):
    • For specified fiscal years, the State Board of Elections (or Department) remits the stipend funds to each county.
    • Counties must deposit the funds into a dedicated county fund; the county payroll clerk must pay the stipend to recipients within 10 business days of deposit.
    • Beginning July 1, 2024 (as stated in the text), counties are responsible for State and federal tax reporting and withholding and for employer contributions under the Illinois Pension Code on these stipends.
  • The bill includes related (existing) provisions on other county officer compensation schedules and an auditor stipend provision (auditor stipend language remains in the section).

Who is affected

  • Directly: county clerks, county recorders, and chief clerks of county boards of election commissioners across Illinois (they would receive the increased annual award).
  • Indirectly: county governments (administrative role in receipt/processing and payroll tax withholding), the State Board of Elections (or relevant State department) for distribution, and the State budget (which must appropriate the funds).

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Increases state appropriations required to fund the larger awards (from prior historical amounts to the new $13k–$15k schedule).
  • Shifts administrative duties to counties for depositing and paying the stipend, and for payroll tax withholding and pension/employer contributions.
  • The provision that awards are separate from base compensation prevents counties from reducing local pay to offset the state award.

Implementation / Effective date

  • The text states: “This Act takes effect upon becoming law.” (Distribution mechanics include dates referenced to July 1, 2024 for withholding/responsibility; the award schedule applies to calendar years 2025–2027+.)

Procedural status and sponsors (from provided text)

  • Introduced in the Illinois General Assembly: Feb. 6, 2025.
  • Principal sponsor listed in the IL text: Rep. Maurice A. West II.
  • LRB reference: LRB104 10108 RTM 20180 b.
  • Companion/related measures: none specified in the Illinois text excerpt.

If you want, I can:
- Produce an estimated statewide fiscal cost for the increased awards (requires current counts of counties and number of eligible officers), or
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of current vs. proposed stipend payments and administrative flows.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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