Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability
HOUSE
C.D. Davidsmeyer, Co-Chair
SENATE
David Koehler, Co-Chair
Skip Navigation Links
  Topics    Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA)    Monthly Briefings    Revenue Updates    Budget Summary    Special Transfers    Pension Reports    Pension Impact Notes    Bonds/Capital Plan    Debt Responsibility    Facility Closures    University COPs    Gaming    Group Insurance    Internships    Other Reports       CGFA Research Unit    Contact CGFA
Commission Statute
Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Statute

LEGISLATURE

 

(25 ILCS 155/) Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Act.

 

    (25 ILCS 155/1) (from Ch. 63, par. 341)

    Sec. 1. It is the continuing policy of the State in meeting the public needs to establish program priorities and to coordinate available resources to the end that the maximum benefits be produced efficiently and economically in a manner designed to encourage a strong, free enterprise economy in the State. To carry out this policy effectively, it is essential that the General Assembly be furnished with the most reliable and authoritative information available concerning economic developments and trends in this State and the operations of State Government.

(Source: P. A. 77‑2054.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/2) (from Ch. 63, par. 342)

    Sec. 2. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, hereafter in this Act referred to as the Commission, is created and is established as a legislative support services agency subject to the Legislative Commission Reorganization Act of 1984.

    On January 15, 2005 (the effective date of Public Act 93‑1067), the name of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission is changed to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. References in any law, appropriation, rule, form, or other document to the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission are deemed, in appropriate contexts, to be references to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability for all purposes. References in any law, appropriation, rule, form, or other document to the Executive Director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission are deemed, in appropriate contexts, to be references to the Executive Director of the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability for all purposes. For purposes of Section 9b of the State Finance Act, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability is the successor to the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission.

(Source: P.A. 96‑1000, eff. 7‑2‑10.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/3) (from Ch. 63, par. 343)

    Sec. 3. The Commission shall:

        (1) Study from time to time and report to the General Assembly on economic development and trends in the State.

        (2) Make such special economic and fiscal studies as it deems appropriate or desirable or as the General Assembly may request.

        (3) Based on its studies, recommend such State fiscal and economic policies as it deems appropriate or desirable to improve the functioning of State government and the economy of the various regions within the State.

        (4) Prepare annually a State economic report.

        (5) Provide information for all appropriate legislative organizations and personnel on economic trends in relation to long range planning and budgeting.

        (6) Study and make such recommendations as it deems appropriate to the General Assembly on local and regional economic and fiscal policy and on federal fiscal policy as it may affect Illinois.

        (7) Review capital expenditures, appropriations and authorizations for both the State's general obligation and revenue bonding authorities. At the direction of the Commission, specific reviews may include economic feasibility reviews of existing or proposed revenue bond projects to determine the accuracy of the original estimate of useful life of the projects, maintenance requirements and ability to meet debt service requirements through their operating expenses.

        (8) Receive and review all executive agency and revenue bonding authority annual and 3 year plans. The Commission shall prepare a consolidated review of these plans, an updated assessment of current State agency capital plans, a report on the outstanding and unissued bond authorizations, an evaluation of the State's ability to market further bond issues and shall submit them as the "Legislative Capital Plan Analysis" to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees at least once a year. The Commission shall annually submit to the General Assembly on the first Wednesday of April a report on the State's long‑term capital needs, with particular emphasis upon and detail of the 5‑year period in the immediate future.

        (9) Study and make recommendations it deems appropriate to the General Assembly on State bond financing, bondability guidelines, and debt management. At the direction of the Commission, specific studies and reviews may take into consideration short and long‑run implications of State bonding and debt management policy.

        (10) Comply with the provisions of the "State Debt Impact Note Act" as now or hereafter amended.

        (11) Comply with the provisions of the Pension Impact Note Act, as now or hereafter amended.

        (12) By August 1st of each year, the Commission must prepare and cause to be published a summary report of State appropriations for the State fiscal year beginning the previous July 1st. The summary report must discuss major categories of appropriations, the issues the General Assembly faced in allocating appropriations, comparisons with appropriations for previous State fiscal years, and other matters helpful in providing the citizens of Illinois with an overall understanding of appropriations for that fiscal year. The summary report must be written in plain language and designed for readability. Publication must be in newspapers of general circulation in the various areas of the State to ensure distribution statewide. The summary report must also be published on the General Assembly's web site.

        (13) Comply with the provisions of the State Facilities Closure Act.

        (14) For fiscal year 2012 and thereafter, develop a 3‑year budget forecast for the State, including opportunities and threats concerning anticipated revenues and expenditures, with an appropriate level of detail.

 

    The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research Unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 96‑958, eff. 7‑1‑10.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/4) (from Ch. 63, par. 344)

    Sec. 4. (a) The Commission shall publish, at the convening of each regular session of the General Assembly, a report on the estimated income of the State from all applicable revenue sources for the next ensuing fiscal year and of any other funds estimated to be available for such fiscal year. The Commission, in its discretion, may consult with the Governor's Office of Management and Budget in preparing the report. On the third Wednesday in March after the session convenes, the Commission shall issue a revised and updated set of revenue figures reflecting the latest available information. The House and Senate by joint resolution shall adopt or modify such estimates as may be appropriate. The joint resolution shall constitute the General Assembly's estimate, under paragraph (b) of Section 2 of Article VIII of the Constitution, of the funds estimated to be available during the next fiscal year.

 

    (b) On the third Wednesday in March, the Commission shall issue estimated:

        (1) pension funding requirements under P.A. 86‑273; and

        (2) liabilities of the State employee group health insurance program.

 

    These estimated costs shall be for the fiscal year beginning the following July 1.

 

    (c) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report with the Speaker, the Minority Leader and the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the President, the Minority Leader and the Secretary of the Senate and the Legislative Research unit, as required by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act, and filing such additional copies with the State Government Report Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.

(Source: P.A. 96‑958, eff. 7‑1‑10.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/6) (from Ch. 63, par. 346)

    Sec. 6. All State officers and agencies shall render to the Commission any assistance that may be required by the Commission for the purpose of preparing its reports and recommendations.

    The Commission shall, to the fullest extent possible, utilize the services, facilities and information, including statistical information, of other government agencies and of private research agencies in order to avoid duplication of effort and expense.

(Source: P. A. 77‑2054.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/6.1) (from Ch. 63, par. 346.1)

    Sec. 6.1. In addition to its other responsibilities, the Commission shall exercise the powers and duties delegated to the State Employees' Group Insurance Advisory Commission prior to the effective date of this Act under the "State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971".

(Source: P.A. 83‑1257.)

 

    (25 ILCS 155/6.2) (from Ch. 63, par. 346.2)

    Sec. 6.2. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability Act.

(Source: P.A. 93‑632, eff. 2‑1‑04; 93‑1067, eff. 1‑15‑05.)