SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) –
March 4, 2015
Kirk Allen and I made the trip to Springfield this morning to testify at a Legislative “Judiciary-Civil” Committee Hearing on HB-248, an amendment to the Open Meetings Act. We provided oral testimony as a proponent for the Bill sponsored by Rep Dwight Kay, while the Illinois Municipal League and the Illinois Association of Park Districts provided oral testimony in opposition to the Bill.
My testimony included several court interpretations of the statute and recent incidents at the Clark County Park District. Kirk’s testimony included recent events at the College of DuPage, and Rep. Kay provided an example from a public body in his district. The IAPD and IML both were concerned about “when is an action finished”, but that is already addressed in the statute.
HB-248 passed out of committee with a unanimous vote. This Bill was to add the words “and open” in Section 3(c) of the Open Meetings Act to clarify the legislative intent since various courts have made decisions in opposition of each other.
The other proponent to HB-248 was the Better Government Association
Other Opponents were: Cities/Villages of Galva, Belvidere, Wilmette, Cairo, Addison, Downers Grove, Pittsfield, Diamond, Waynesville, Milan, and Charleston, and the Illinois Statewide School Management Alliance, Anderson Legislative Consulting, Capitol Development Board, and another Illinois Municipal League representative.
You can view the Witness Slip information (here).
While in the Capitol we renewed our Media Passes for the House Floor, visited Rep. Jeanne Ives, Rep. Reggie Phillips, Rep. Dwight Kay, Sen. Chapin Rose, and also stopped by the offices of the Gov and Lt Gov.
John Kraft (ECWd), Rep. Dwight Kay, and Kirk Allen (ECWd). Rep. Jeanne Ives (background)
Committee Members present this morning.
5 Comments
Chris M. Gaines
Posted at 20:00h, 04 MarchNice job! Thank you.
Richard Cranium
Posted at 13:34h, 05 Marchtoot your own horn much?
jmkraft
Posted at 14:31h, 05 MarchNo, I’ll post a link to the Chicago Tribune front page article so you can see us toot it some more.
franklin
Posted at 20:12h, 05 MarchJohn when I read the trib I believe it said your citizens arrest was settled by Jerry Parsley. But you said it was handed over to the state police . So which is right ?
jmkraft
Posted at 21:02h, 05 MarchI put the timeline in this article: http://3.133.133.226/2014/05/video-clark-county-parks-district-5-12-2014-meeting/
I went the next day and made an official complaint at the Sheriff’s Department and a day or so later was told by the Sheriff, and I believe the State’s Attorney, that it was being handled by the State Police.
To me, that basically means “it’s going nowhere”…
I just checked my emails and that information was given to me on May 20, 2014 via email.