SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State Jesse White announced today that he is introducing legislation that requires Senate confirmation for the position of Inspector General and clearly defines the powers and responsibilities for that position.
"I have taken the responsibility of cleaning up the office of Secretary of State very seriously," said White. "I believe the best deterrent to corruption is a strong Inspector General. Jim Burns has been that person for us. Through this legislation, all future Secretaries of State would also be required to have a person with solid credentials to protect the best interests of the state."
In addition to statutorily mandating the position of Inspector General, White's legislation:
- Requires the Inspector General to report directly to the Secretary of State
- Provides the Inspector General with subpoena powers and access to all records necessary to an investigation
- Creates a Class A misdemeanor for anyone who fails to cooperate with an investigation or provides false testimony
- Provides inspectors in the Inspector General's office with police powers
- Protects employees from any reprisal for disclosing information to the Inspector General
- Requires the Inspector General to adopt rules and regulations establishing minimum requirements for initiating, conducting and completing investigations
"I believe this legislation will provide Jim Burns and all future Inspector Generals with the necessary tools to fight fraud and corruption," said White. "I hope the General Assembly moves swiftly to adopt our proposal."
State Senators Vince Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago) and State Reps. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville) and Mary Kay O'Brien (D-Coal City) attended the announcement with White and have agreed to sponsor the legislation.
White also announced he has hired three new inspectors to serve under his Inspector General Jim Burns.
Larry D. Jones, age 51, has been named Deputy Inspector General. Jones was previously Chief of Police in the South Elgin Police Department where he was responsible for the overall command of a police department consisting of 26 sworn officers and eight civilian employees.
Jeffrey J. DuPilka, age 51 of Naperville, has been hired as the Chief Forensic Auditor. DuPilka has extensive law enforcement and audit experience, having served previously as the Deputy Chief Postal Inspector for the United State Postal Inspection Service and as the Chief Supervisory Investigator for United States Special Counsel John C. Danforth.
Bob Brady, age 57 of Springfield, has been hired as an inspector. Brady also brings extensive law enforcement and audit experience to the office from his previous work as an Analyst with the Illinois State Police Intelligence Bureau and as a Field Agent for Criminal Investigations for the Internal Revenue Service.
