House Republicans honor Judy Baar Topinka with Judy's Law

On the eve of what would have been Judy Baar Topinka's birthday and a month after her death, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has introduced HJRCA3,  Judy’s Law, legislation that would amend the state constitution to combine the state's Comptroller and Treasurer positions.

Every member of the House Republican Caucus joined Leader Durkin in cosponsoring the constitutional amendment, something that Topinka advocated for during her tenure as Comptroller.  Judy’s Law would eliminate the offices of the Comptroller and Treasurer and instead create the new position of Comptroller of the Treasury.

The Comptroller of the Treasury would maintain the State's central fiscal accounts and order payments into and out of the funds. The Comptroller of the Treasury would also be responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and securities as well as for their disbursement.

The constitutional amendment also provides that no Comptroller or Treasurer shall be elected in 2018 and thereafter and it would be effective upon conclusion of the terms of the Comptroller and the Treasurer elected in 2014.

The initiative must pass both chambers and be signed by Governor Rauner, after which it will be placed on the ballot for voters to decide.

HJRCA3 was filed yesterday in the House and has been assigned to the House Rules Committee where it awaits a substantive committee assignment.