title
PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
COB #318989
AMENDMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL TO THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Submitting a Proposed Ordinance Amendment sponsored by John A. Fritchey and Larry Suffredin, County Commissioners.
WHEREAS, during the FY2011 Budget deliberations, an amendment was introduced and approved by the Cook County Board to create two Legislative Counsel positions and one Administrative Support position; and
WHEREAS, the impetus for creating these positions was to assist the Board of Commissioners in creating, analyzing and when called upon, to opine on legislation created by a single or multiple members intended for presentation to the entire County Board; and
WHEREAS, said Legislative Counsel positions were to be completely independent of the Executive branch and of any other elected official, including the Office of the State's Attorney, in order to avoid a conflict of interest when reviewing or opining on legislation as well as to function on behalf of and exclusively in the best interest of the Cook County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, although the three Legislative Counsel positions created during the FY2011 were reduced to one during the FY2012 budget, the underlying need for the Legislative Counsel function persists; and
WHEREAS, despite the remaining Legislative Counsel position being fully funded, it has yet to be filled; and
WHEREAS, it is also prudent to establish the qualifications, mission and duties of said Legislative Counsel.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 50 Libraries, Article I, Legislative Reference Services, of the Cook County Code is hereby amended as follows:
Sec. 50-1. Title.
This article shall be known as the "Legislative Reference Services Act" and may be cited as such.
Sec. 50-2. Recitals.
The President and the Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook find that all of the recitals contained in the preambles to this article are full, true and correct and do incorporate them into this article by this reference.
Sec. 50-3. Public purpose.
It is hereby found, determined and declared that the purpose of this article is to assist the Board and President in the research and drafting of amendments, ordinances and resolutions for consideration before the Board; ensure that ordinances and resolutions prepared are accurate in form, structure and uniformity; maintain a legislative library and make certain that the County's Code is updated accurately.
Sec. 50-4. Director, staff and duties.
(a) The President shall appoint the Legislative Reference Director who shall be responsible for assisting the Board and President in the research and drafting of amendments, ordinances and resolutions for consideration before the Board; ensure that ordinances and resolutions prepared are accurate in form, structure and uniformity; maintain a legislative library and make certain that the County's Code is updated accurately.
(b) The Legislative Reference Director shall serve under the Executive Law Librarian and have access to Cook County Law Library Research Assistants and Staff as needed and directed.
(c) The Executive Law Librarian shall provide assistance, materials and research materials as needed for use by the Legislative Reference Director.
(d) The Legislative Reference Director shall notify the Clerk of the Board that the ordinances and resolutions prepared are accurate in form, structure and uniformity.
Sec. 50-5. Legislative Counsel to the Board of Commissioners, qualifications, mission and duties.
(a) The Legislative Counsel shall be appointed by the President of the Board of Commissioners with the advice and consent of the Board of Commissioners and shall serve until removed by the President with the advice and consent of the Board of Commissioners. In case of a vacancy in the office of the Legislative Counsel, the vacancy shall be filled in the manner set forth aforesaid.
(b) The Legislative Counsel to the Board of Commissioners must be an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and knowledgeable in some or all of the following: political science; parliamentary practice; legislative procedure; and the methods of research, statutory revision and legislative drafting.
(c) The mission of the Legislative Counsel to the Board of Commissioners is to assist the Board in the development of sound public policy, ensure the integrity of the legislative process, and preserve the legislative branch in its proper constitutional role in county government. The duties of the Legislative Counsel shall be as follows:
Provide legal and policy review of current law and proposed legislation.
Prepare legal opinions.
Provide legal advice and research.
Draft and review legislation.
(d) The Legislative Counsel shall have access to Cook County Law Library Research Assistants and Staff as needed and directed.
(e) The Executive Law Librarian shall provide assistance, materials and research materials as needed for use by the Legislative Counsel.
Sec. 50-56. Confidentiality.
Documents, research and ordinance material submitted to the Legislative Reference Director or the Legislative Counsel to the Board of Commissioners shall be confidential and publication shall not be issued without the consent of the requestor.
Sec. 50-67. Rules and regulations.
The Legislative Reference Director shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 50-78. Effective date.
This article shall take effect immediately upon passage.
Effective Date: This Ordinance Amendment shall be effective upon passage.
end