Bomke legislation enacting new requirements for leasing of state buildings heads to Gov. Quinn

[December 03, 2010]  SPRINGFIELD -- House Bill 1450 unanimously passed out of the Senate on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, deals with the way the state of Illinois is able to lease property and is sustainably similar to Senate Bill 2887, which passed the Senate in March.

"The bill that passed both the Senate and the House will make sure that the Illinois Procurement Policy Board has a chance to review any potential major leases," Bomke said. "Under this legislation, any building lease over 10,000 square feet or that will cost more than $100,000 a year will be reviewed by the Procurement Policy Board."

Earlier this year, the Illinois Department on Aging proposed a move from a rent-free building in Springfield to a building that would cost over $500,000 a year to rent. Even though the Department on Aging did not end up moving, after much negative attention, Bomke still views the new hurdles as necessary.

"Having an extra step in the review process will ensure that we have proper oversight on large leases," Bomke said. "Legislation of this type is not only necessary now, but if enacted earlier, Illinois could have potentially avoided many of the headaches caused by the suggested move of the Illinois Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division to southern Illinois."

The bill will now head to Gov. Quinn for approval.

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Larry Bomke by Illinois Senate Republican staff]