State Representative David S. Olsen received unanimous House approval today on legislation that provides consistency with regard to residency requirements for elected officials in Illinois.
HB 2222 puts in place a one-year residency requirement for library trustees and disqualifies from service any candidate convicted of a felony or who is delinquent in taxes or fees owed to the library district.
“Today’s Illinois Library Act contains very few qualifications for library trustees,” said Olsen. “Residency requirements and disqualification language for those convicted of felonies is common in other local government codes, and my bill simply provides consistency for those who wish to serve as a library trustee.”
According to Olsen, the idea for the legislation was brought to him by Lisle Library District Trustee Tom Hummel. “This bill closes a loophole in the state statute and strengthens the language on the residency requirement to run for library trustee,” said Hummel. “It’s great we have a representative like Rep. David Olsen, who pays close attention to detail.”
If approved by the Senate and signed into law, the provisions of HB 2222 will apply beginning with candidates in the 2019 consolidated election. The bill now moves to the Senate, where State Senator John F. Curran (R-Downers Grove) will sponsor the bill.
