Lobbyist Registration Act.

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  2. Illinois Compiled Statutes
  3. LEGISLATURE
  4. Lobbyist Registration Act.

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(25 ILCS 170/1) (from Ch. 63, par. 171)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known as the Lobbyist Registration Act.

(Source: P.A. 76-1848.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/2) (from Ch. 63, par. 172)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, committee, association, corporation, or any other organization or group of persons.

(b) "Expenditure" means a payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, and includes a contract, promise, or agreement, whether or not legally enforceable, to make an expenditure, for the ultimate purpose of influencing executive, legislative, or administrative action, other than compensation as defined in subsection (d).

(c) "Official" means:

  • (1) the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and State Comptroller;
  • (2) Chiefs of Staff for officials described in item (1), the Deputy Governor, the Deputy Secretary of State, the Deputy Attorney General, the Deputy Treasurer, and the Deputy Comptroller;
  • (3) Cabinet members of any elected constitutional officer, including Directors, Assistant Directors and Chief Legal Counsel or General Counsel;
  • (4) Members of the General Assembly;
  • (5) Members of any board, commission, authority, or task force of the State authorized or created by State law or by executive order of the Governor;
  • (6) Mayors, presidents, aldermen, commissioners, and trustees of a city, village, or town;
  • (7) County board members and countywide elected officials;
  • (8) Township board members and township elected officials; and
  • (9) Members of any board, commission, authority, or task force created by a local ordinance or order of a mayor or village or town president.

(d) "Compensation" means any money, thing of value or financial benefits received or to be received in return for services rendered or to be rendered, for lobbying or as a consultant.

Monies paid to members of the General Assembly by the State as remuneration for performance of their Constitutional and statutory duties as members of the General Assembly shall not constitute compensation as defined by this Act.

(e) "Lobby" and "lobbying" means to communicate, including the soliciting of others to communicate, with an official as defined in subsection (c) for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action at the State, municipal, county, or township government level. Soliciting of others to communicate shall not include (i) the making of a grant by an organization recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code made in accordance with Section 4945 and the regulations thereunder or (ii) a communication by an organization recognized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code to the public or a segment thereof or to its members to communicate with legislators, executives, or administrators with respect to a proposed action by the legislature, executive, or administrator.

(f) "Influencing" means any communication, action, reportable expenditure as prescribed in Section 6 or other means used to promote, support, affect, modify, oppose or delay any executive, legislative or administrative action or to promote goodwill with officials as defined in subsection (c).

(g) "Executive action" means the proposal, drafting, development, consideration, amendment, adoption, approval, promulgation, issuance, modification, rejection or postponement by a State, municipal, county, or township government entity of a rule, regulation, order, decision, determination, contractual arrangement, purchasing agreement or other quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial action or proceeding.

(h) "Legislative action" means the development, drafting, introduction, consideration, modification, adoption, rejection, review, enactment, or passage or defeat of any bill, amendment, resolution, ordinance, report, nomination, administrative rule or other matter by either house of the General Assembly or a committee thereof, by a legislator, by the legislative body of a municipality, county, or township, or by an alderman, trustee, or township board member. Legislative action also means the action of the Governor, mayor, or village or township board president, or county executive in approving or vetoing any bill, ordinance, or resolution or portion thereof, and the action of such officials or any agency under their jurisdiction in the development of a legislative proposal.

(i) "Administrative action" means the execution or rejection of any rule, regulation, legislative rule, standard, fee, rate, contractual arrangement, purchasing agreement or other delegated legislative or quasi-legislative action to be taken or withheld by any executive agency, department, board or commission of the State, municipal, county, or township.

(j) "Lobbyist" means any natural person who undertakes to lobby State, municipal, county, or township government as provided in subsection (e).

(k) "Lobbying entity" means any entity that hires, retains, employs, or compensates a natural person to lobby State, municipal, county, or township government as provided in subsection (e).

(l) "Authorized agent" means the person designated by an entity or lobbyist registered under this Act as the person responsible for submission and retention of reports required under this Act.

(m) "Client" means any person or entity that provides compensation to a lobbyist to lobby State, municipal, county, or township government as provided in subsection (e) of this Section.

(n) "Client registrant" means a client who is required to register under this Act.

(o) "Unit of local government" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution and also includes school districts and community college districts.

(p) "Consultant" means any natural person or entity who, for compensation, provides advisory services, including but not limited to, rendering opinions on or developing strategies for lobbying or influencing, to a lobbyist or lobbying entity for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action. "Consultant" does not include (i) an employee of the lobbyist or lobbying entity or (ii) an attorney or law firm providing legal services, including drafting legislation or advising and rendering opinions to clients as to the construction and legal effect of proposed or pending legislation or any executive, legislative, or administrative action.

(Source: P.A. 101-595, eff. 12-5-19; 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/3) (from Ch. 63, par. 173)

Sec. 3. Persons required to register.

(a) Except as provided in Section 9, any natural person who, for compensation or otherwise, undertakes to lobby, or any person or entity who employs or compensates another person for the purposes of lobbying, shall register with the Secretary of State as provided in this Act, unless that person or entity qualifies for one or more of the following exemptions.

  • (1) Persons or entities who, for the purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action and who do not make expenditures that are reportable pursuant to Section 6, appear without compensation or promise thereof only as witnesses before a legislative committee for the purpose of explaining or arguing for or against the passage of or action upon any legislation, ordinance, or regulation then pending before the committee, or who seek without compensation or promise thereof the approval or veto of any legislation or ordinance.
  • (1.4) A unit of local government, State government, or agencies, departments, commissions, boards, or task forces thereof.
  • (1.5) An elected or appointed official or an employee of a unit of local government who, in the scope of his or her public office or employment, seeks to influence executive, legislative, or administrative action exclusively on behalf of that unit of local government.
  • (2) Persons or entities who own, publish, or are employed by a newspaper or other regularly published periodical, or who own or are employed by a radio station, television station, or other bona fide news medium that in the ordinary course of business disseminates news, editorial or other comment, or paid advertisements that directly urge the passage or defeat of legislation. This exemption is not applicable to such an individual insofar as he or she receives additional compensation or expenses from some source other than the bona fide news medium for the purpose of influencing executive, legislative, or administrative action. This exemption does not apply to newspapers and periodicals owned by or published by trade associations and not-for-profit corporations engaged primarily in endeavors other than dissemination of news.
  • (3) Persons or entities performing professional services in drafting bills or in advising and rendering opinions to clients as to the construction and effect of proposed or pending legislation when those professional services are not otherwise, directly or indirectly, connected with executive, legislative, or administrative action.
  • (4) Persons or entities who are employees of departments, divisions, or agencies of State or local government for the purpose of explaining how the executive, legislative, or administrative action will affect those departments, divisions, or agencies of State or local government.
  • (5) Employees of the General Assembly, legislators, legislative agencies, and legislative commissions who, in the course of their official duties only, engage in activities that otherwise qualify as lobbying. Legislators whose activities are limited to occasional communications with an official of a unit of local government on behalf of their employer in the ordinary course of their non-public employment where (1) the primary duties of the employment are not to influence executive, legislative, or administrative action and (2) the legislator does not make any expenditures that are reportable pursuant to Section 6.
  • (6) Persons or entities in possession of technical skills and knowledge relevant to certain areas of executive, legislative, or administrative actions, whose skills and knowledge would be helpful to officials when considering those actions, whose activities are limited to making occasional appearances for or communicating on behalf of a registrant, and who do not make expenditures that are reportable pursuant to Section 6 even though receiving expense reimbursement for those occasional appearances.
  • (7) Any full-time employee of a bona fide church or religious organization who represents that organization solely for the purpose of protecting the right of the members thereof to practice the religious doctrines of that church or religious organization, or any such bona fide church or religious organization.
  • (8) Persons or entities that receive no compensation other than reimbursement for expenses of up to $500 per year while engaged in lobbying, unless those persons make expenditures that are reportable under Section 6.
  • (9) Any attorney or group or firm of attorneys (1) in connection with the practice of law or (2) in the course of representing a client in relation to any administrative, judicial, quasi-judicial proceeding, or any witness providing testimony in any administrative, judicial, or quasi-judicial proceeding, and who does not make expenditures that are reportable pursuant to Section 6.
  • (9.5) Any attorney or group or firm of attorneys in the course of representing a client in an administrative or executive action involving a contractual or purchasing arrangement and who does not make expenditures that are reportable pursuant to Section 6.
  • (10) Persons or entities who, in the scope of their employment as a vendor, offer or solicit an official for the purchase of any goods or services when (1) the solicitation is limited to either an oral inquiry or written advertisements and informative literature; or (2) the goods and services are subject to competitive bidding requirements; or (3) the goods and services are for sale at a cost not to exceed $5,000; and (4) the persons or entities do not make expenditures that are reportable under Section 6.

(a-5) If, in the course of providing services as a consultant, the consultant communicates with an official on behalf of the lobbyist or lobbying entity for the ultimate purpose of influencing any executive, legislative, or administrative action, or makes an expenditure on behalf of or benefiting an official, the consultant shall register as a lobbyist within 2 business days of engaging in the communication with the official or making the expenditure benefiting the official.

(b) It is a violation of this Act to engage in lobbying or to employ any person for the purpose of lobbying who is not registered with the Office of the Secretary of State, except upon condition that the person register and the person does in fact register within 2 business days after being employed or retained for lobbying services.

(c) The Secretary shall promulgate a rule establishing a list of the entities required to register under this Act, including the name of each board, commission, authority, or task force. The Secretary may require a person or entity claiming an exemption under this Section to certify the person or entity is not required to register under this Act. Nothing prohibits the Secretary from rejecting a certification and requiring a person or entity to register.

(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/3.1)

Sec. 3.1. Prohibition on serving on boards and commissions. Notwithstanding any other law of this State, on and after February 1, 2004, but not before that date, a person required to be registered under this Act, his or her spouse, and his or her immediate family members living with that person may not serve on a board, commission, authority, or task force authorized or created by State law or by executive order of the Governor; except that this restriction does not apply to any of the following:

  • (1) a registered lobbyist, his or her spouse, or any immediate family member living with the registered lobbyist, who is serving in an elective public office, whether elected or appointed to fill a vacancy; and
  • (2) a registered lobbyist, his or her spouse, or any immediate family member living with the registered lobbyist, who is serving on a State advisory body that makes nonbinding recommendations to an agency of State government but does not make binding recommendations or determinations or take any other substantive action. (Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 1-1-10; 96-1358, eff. 7-28-10.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/4)

Sec. 4. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 88-187. Repealed by P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/4.5)

Sec. 4.5. Ethics training. Each natural person required to register as a lobbyist under this Act must complete a program of ethics training provided by the Secretary of State. A natural person registered under this Act must complete the training program before registration or renewal is deemed complete under this Act. If the Secretary of State uses the ethics training developed in accordance with Section 5-10 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, that training must be expanded to include appropriate information about the requirements, responsibilities, and opportunities imposed by or arising under this Act, including reporting requirements.

The Secretary of State shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/4.7)

Sec. 4.7. Prohibition on sexual harassment.

(a) All persons have the right to work in an environment free from sexual harassment. All persons subject to this Act shall refrain from sexual harassment of any person.

(b) (Blank).

(b-5) Each natural person required to register as a lobbyist under this Act must complete, at least annually, a harassment and discrimination prevention training program provided by the Secretary of State. A natural person registered under this Act must complete the training program before registration or renewal is deemed complete under this Act. This requirement does not apply to a lobbying entity or a client that hires a lobbyist that (i) does not have employees of the lobbying entity or client registered as lobbyists, or (ii) does not have an actual presence in Illinois. For the purposes of this subsection, "unlawful discrimination" and "harassment" mean unlawful discrimination and harassment prohibited under Section 2-102 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.

(c) Before registration or renewal is deemed complete under this Act, each natural person and any entity required to register under this Act shall have a written sexual harassment policy that shall include, at a minimum: (i) a prohibition on sexual harassment; (ii) details on how an individual can report an allegation of sexual harassment, including options for making a confidential report to a supervisor, ethics officer, Inspector General, or the Department of Human Rights; (iii) a prohibition on retaliation for reporting sexual harassment allegations, including availability of whistleblower protections under the State Officials and Employee Ethics Act, the Whistleblower Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act; and (iv) the consequences of a violation of the prohibition on sexual harassment and the consequences for knowingly making a false report.

(d) For purposes of this Act, "sexual harassment" means any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature when: (i) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment; (ii) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or (iii) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. For the purposes of this definition, the phrase "working environment" is not limited to a physical location an employee is assigned to perform his or her duties and does not require an employment relationship.

(e) The Secretary of State shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Section. In order to provide for the expeditious and timely implementation of this Section, the Secretary of State shall adopt emergency rules under subsection (z) of Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act for the implementation of this Section no later than 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly.

(Source: P.A. 101-221, eff. 8-9-19; 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/5)

Sec. 5. Lobbyist registration and disclosure. Every natural person and every entity required to register under this Act shall before any service is performed which requires the natural person or entity to register, but in any event not later than 2 business days after being employed or retained, file in the Office of the Secretary of State a statement in a format prescribed by the Secretary of State containing the following information with respect to each person or entity employing, retaining, or benefitting from the services of the natural person or entity required to register:

  • (a) The registrant's name, permanent address, e-mail address, if any, fax number, if any, business telephone number, and temporary address, if the registrant has a temporary address while lobbying.
  • (a-5) If the registrant is an entity, the information required under subsection (a) for each natural person associated with the registrant who will be lobbying, regardless of whether lobbying is a significant part of his or her duties.
  • (b) The name and address of the client or clients employing or retaining the registrant to perform such services or on whose behalf the registrant appears. If the client employing or retaining the registrant is a client registrant, the statement shall also include the name and address of the client or clients of the client registrant on whose behalf the registrant will be or anticipates performing services.
  • (b-5) If the registrant employs or retains a sub-registrant, the statement shall include the name and address of the sub-registrant and identify the client or clients of the registrant on whose behalf the sub-registrant will be or is anticipated to be performing services.
  • (b-7) If the registrant retains a consultant, the statement shall include the name and address of the consultant and identify the client or clients and each executive and legislative branch agency for which the consultant is to provide advisory services.
  • (c) For those identified under subsections (b), (b-5), and (b-7), a brief description of the executive, legislative, or administrative action in reference to which such service is to be rendered.
  • (c-5) Each executive and legislative branch agency of the State and each unit of local government the registrant expects to lobby during the registration period.
  • (c-6) The nature of the client's business, by indicating all of the following categories that apply: (1) banking and financial services, (2) manufacturing, (3) education, (4) environment, (5) healthcare, (6) insurance, (7) community interests, (8) labor, (9) public relations or advertising, (10) marketing or sales, (11) hospitality, (12) engineering, (13) information or technology products or services, (14) social services, (15) public utilities, (16) racing or wagering, (17) real estate or construction, (18) telecommunications, (19) trade or professional association, (20) travel or tourism, (21) transportation, (22) agriculture, and (23) other (setting forth the nature of that other business).
  • (d) A confirmation that the registrant has a sexual harassment policy as required by Section 4.7, that such policy shall be made available to any individual within 2 business days upon written request (including electronic requests), that any person may contact the authorized agent of the registrant to report allegations of sexual harassment, and that the registrant recognizes the Inspector General has jurisdiction to review any allegations of sexual harassment alleged against the registrant or lobbyists hired by the registrant.
  • (e) (Blank).
  • (f) Each elected or appointed public office in this State to be held by the registrant at any time during the registration period.

Every natural person and every entity required to register under this Act shall annually submit the registration required by this Section on or before each January 31. The registrant has a continuing duty to report any substantial change or addition to the information contained in the registration. A registrant who retains a consultant shall file an amended registration before any consulting services are performed, but in any event not later than 2 business days after the consultant is retained, setting forth the information required in subsections (b-7) and (c) of this Section.

The Secretary of State shall make all filed statements and amendments to statements publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through the World Wide Web. The Secretary of State shall provide all software necessary to comply with this provision to all natural persons and entities required to file. The Secretary of State shall implement a plan to provide computer access and assistance to natural persons and entities required to file electronically.

All natural persons and entities required to register under this Act shall remit a single, annual, and nonrefundable $300 registration fee. Each natural person required to register under this Act shall submit, on an annual basis, a picture of the registrant. A registrant may, in lieu of submitting a picture on an annual basis, authorize the Secretary of State to use any photo identification available in any database maintained by the Secretary of State for other purposes. Each registration fee collected for registrations shall be deposited into the Lobbyist Registration Administration Fund for administration and enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 101-595, eff. 12-5-19; 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/6) (from Ch. 63, par. 176)

Sec. 6. Reports.

(a) Lobbyist reports. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, every lobbyist registered under this Act who is solely employed by a lobbying entity shall file an affirmation, verified under oath pursuant to Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, with the Secretary of State attesting to the accuracy of any reports filed pursuant to subsection (b) as those reports pertain to work performed by the lobbyist. Any lobbyist registered under this Act who is not solely employed by a lobbying entity shall personally file reports required of lobbying entities pursuant to subsection (b). A lobbyist may, if authorized so to do by a lobbying entity by whom he or she is employed or retained, file lobbying entity reports pursuant to subsection (b) provided that the lobbying entity may delegate the filing of the lobbying entity report to only one lobbyist in any reporting period.

(b) Lobbying entity reports. Every lobbying entity registered under this Act shall report expenditures related to lobbying, including any expenditures made by a consultant in performing services for the lobbying entity. The report shall itemize each individual expenditure or transaction and shall include the name of the official on whose behalf the expenditure was made, the name of the client if the expenditure was made on behalf of a client, the total amount of the expenditure, a description of the expenditure, the vendor or purveyor to whom the expenditure was made (including the address or location of the expenditure), the date on which the expenditure occurred and the subject matter of the lobbying activity, if any. For those expenditures made on behalf of a client, if the client is a client registrant, the report shall also include the name and address of the client or clients of the client registrant or the official or officials on whose behalf the expenditure ultimately was made. Each expenditure required to be reported shall include all expenses made for or on behalf of an official or his or her immediate family member living with the official.

(b-1) The report shall include any change or addition to the client list information, required in Section 5 for registration, since the last report, including the names and addresses of all clients who retained the lobbying entity together with an itemized description for each client of the following: (1) lobbying regarding executive action, including the name of any executive agency lobbied and the subject matter; (2) lobbying regarding legislative action, including the General Assembly and any other agencies lobbied and the subject matter; and (3) lobbying regarding administrative action, including the agency lobbied and the subject matter. Registrants who made no reportable expenditures during a reporting period shall file a report stating that no expenditures were incurred.

(b-2) Expenditures attributable to lobbying officials shall be listed and reported according to the following categories:

  • (1) Travel and lodging on behalf of others, including, but not limited to, all travel and living accommodations made for or on behalf of State officials during sessions of the General Assembly.
  • (2) Meals, beverages and other entertainment.
  • (3) Gifts (indicating which, if any, are on the basis of personal friendship).
  • (4) Honoraria.
  • (5) Any other thing or service of value not listed under categories (1) through (4), setting forth a description of the expenditure. The category travel and lodging includes, but is not limited to, all travel and living accommodations made for or on behalf of State officials in the State capital during sessions of the General Assembly.

(b-3) Expenditures incurred for hosting receptions, benefits and other large gatherings held for purposes of goodwill or otherwise to influence executive, legislative or administrative action to which there are 25 or more State officials invited shall be reported listing only the total amount of the expenditure, the date of the event, and the estimated number of officials in attendance.

(b-7) Matters excluded from reports. The following items need not be included in the report:

  • (1) Reasonable and bona fide expenditures made by the registrant who is a member of a legislative or State study commission or committee while attending and participating in meetings and hearings of such commission or committee.
  • (2) Reasonable and bona fide expenditures made by the registrant for personal sustenance, lodging, travel, office expenses and clerical or support staff.
  • (3) Salaries, fees, and other compensation paid to the registrant for the purposes of lobbying.
  • (4) Any contributions required to be reported under Article 9 of the Election Code.
  • (5) Expenditures made by a registrant on behalf of an official that are returned or reimbursed prior to the deadline for submission of the report.

(c) A registrant who terminates employment or duties which required him to register under this Act shall give the Secretary of State, within 30 days after the date of such termination, written notice of such termination and shall include therewith a report of the expenditures described herein, covering the period of time since the filing of his last report to the date of termination of employment. Such notice and report shall be final and relieve such registrant of further reporting under this Act, unless and until he later takes employment or assumes duties requiring him to again register under this Act.

(d) Failure to file any such report within the time designated or the reporting of incomplete information shall constitute a violation of this Act.

A registrant shall preserve for a period of 2 years all receipts and records used in preparing reports under this Act.

(e) Within 30 days after a filing deadline or as provided by rule, the lobbyist shall notify each official on whose behalf an expenditure has been reported. Notification shall include the name of the registrant, the total amount of the expenditure, a description of the expenditure, the date on which the expenditure occurred, and the subject matter of the lobbying activity.

(f) A report for the period beginning January 1, 2010 and ending on June 30, 2010 shall be filed no later than July 15, 2010, and a report for the period beginning July 1, 2010 and ending on December 31, 2010 shall be filed no later than January 15, 2011. Beginning January 1, 2011, reports shall be filed semi-monthly as follows: (i) for the period beginning the first day of the month through the 15th day of the month, the report shall be filed no later than the 20th day of the month and (ii) for the period beginning on the 16th day of the month through the last day of the month, the report shall be filed no later than the 5th day of the following month. A report filed under this Act is due in the Office of the Secretary of State no later than the close of business on the date on which it is required to be filed.

(g) All reports filed under this Act shall be filed in a format or on forms prescribed by the Secretary of State.

(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/6.5)

Sec. 6.5. Expenditures on behalf of officials.

(a) A registrant that makes an expenditure on behalf of an official must inform the official in writing, contemporaneously with receipt of the expenditure, that the expenditure is a reportable expenditure pursuant to this Act and that the official will be included in the report submitted by the registrant in accordance with Section 6.

(b) Any official disclosed in a report submitted pursuant to Section 6 who did not receive the notification of the expenditure required by subsection (a) of this Section or who has returned or reimbursed the expenditure included in a report submitted pursuant to Section 6 may, at any time, contest the disclosure of an expenditure by submitting a letter to the registrant and the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall make the letter available to the public in the same manner as the report.

(Source: P.A. 96-1358, eff. 7-28-10.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/7) (from Ch. 63, par. 177)

Sec. 7. Duties of the Secretary of State.

(a) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to provide appropriate forms for the registration and reporting of information required by this Act and to keep such registrations and reports on file in his office for 3 years from the date of filing. He shall also provide and maintain a register with appropriate blanks and indexes so that the information required in Sections 5 and 6 of this Act may be accordingly entered. Such records shall be considered public information and open to public inspection.

(b) Within 5 business days after a filing deadline, the Secretary of State shall notify persons he determines are required to file but have failed to do so.

(c) The Secretary of State shall provide adequate software to the persons required to file under this Act, and all registrations, reports, statements, and amendments required to be filed shall be filed electronically. The Secretary of State shall promptly make all filed reports publicly available by means of a searchable database that is accessible through the World Wide Web. The Secretary of State shall provide all software necessary to comply with this provision to all persons required to file. The Secretary of State shall implement a plan to provide computer access and assistance to persons required to file electronically.

(d) The Secretary of State shall include registrants' pictures when publishing or posting on his or her website the information required in Section 5.

(d-5) Within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, the Secretary of State shall create a publicly accessible and searchable database bringing together disclosures by registered lobbyists under this Act, contributions by registered lobbyists required to be disclosed under the Election Code, and statements of economic interests required to be filed by State officials and employees under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

(e) The Secretary of State shall receive and investigate allegations of violations of this Act. Any employee of the Secretary of State who receives an allegation shall immediately transmit it to the Secretary of State Inspector General.

(Source: P.A. 101-595, eff. 12-5-19.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/8) (from Ch. 63, par. 178)

Sec. 8. Contingent fees prohibited. No person shall retain or employ another to lobby or provide services as a consultant with respect to any legislative, executive, or administrative action for compensation contingent in whole or in part upon the outcome of the action and no person shall accept any such employment or render any such service for compensation contingent upon the outcome of the legislative, executive, or administrative action.

(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/9) (from Ch. 63, par. 179)

Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to infringe in any way the right of a citizen to lawfully petition a member of the General Assembly or any other public official as guaranteed in the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

(Source: P.A. 76-1848.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/10) (from Ch. 63, par. 180)

Sec. 10. Penalties.

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act, except for a violation of Section 4.7 or paragraph (d) of Section 5, shall be guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not more than $10,000 for each violation. Every day that a report or registration is late shall constitute a separate violation. In determining the appropriate fine for each violation, the trier of fact shall consider the scope of the entire lobbying project, the nature of activities conducted during the time the person was in violation of this Act, and whether or not the violation was intentional or unreasonable.

(a-5) A violation of Section 4.7 or paragraph (d) of Section 5 shall be considered a violation of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, subject to the jurisdiction of the Executive Ethics Commission and to all penalties under Section 50-5 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

(b) In addition to the penalties provided for in subsections (a) and (a-5) of this Section, any person convicted of any violation of any provision of this Act is prohibited for a period of three years from the date of such conviction from lobbying.

(c) There is created in the State treasury a special fund to be known as the Lobbyist Registration Administration Fund. All fines collected in the enforcement of this Section shall be deposited into the Fund. These funds shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Office of the Secretary of State for implementation and administration of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-554, eff. 11-16-17.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/11) (from Ch. 63, par. 181)

Sec. 11. Enforcement.

(a) The Secretary of State Inspector General appointed under Section 14 of the Secretary of State Act shall initiate investigations of violations of this Act upon receipt of credible evidence of a violation. If, upon conclusion of an investigation, the Inspector General reasonably believes a violation of this Act has occurred, the Inspector General shall provide the alleged violator with written notification of the alleged violation. Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the notification, the alleged violator shall submit a written response to the Inspector General. The response shall indicate whether the alleged violator (i) disputes the alleged violation, including any facts that reasonably prove the alleged violation did not violate the Act, or (ii) agrees to take action to correct the alleged violation within 30 calendar days, including a description of the action the alleged violator has taken or will take to correct the alleged violation. If the alleged violator disputes the alleged violation or fails to respond to the notification of the alleged violation, the Inspector General shall transmit the evidence to the appropriate State's Attorney or Attorney General. If the alleged violator agrees to take action to correct the alleged violation, the Inspector General shall make available to the public the notification from the Inspector General and the response from the alleged violator and shall not transmit the evidence to the appropriate State's Attorney or Attorney General. Nothing in this Act requires the Inspector General to notify an alleged violator of an ongoing investigation or to notify the alleged violator of a referral of any evidence to a law enforcement agency, a State's Attorney, or the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (c).

(a-5) Failure to cooperate in an investigation initiated by the Secretary of State Inspector General appointed under Section 14 of the Secretary of State Act is a separate and punishable offense for which the Secretary of State Inspector General, through the Attorney General, shall file pleadings with the Executive Ethics Commission, which has the discretion to strike or suspend the registration of any person, or lobbying entity for which that person is employed, registered under this Act. Nothing in this Section limits or alters a person's existing rights or protections under State or federal law.

(b) Any violation of this Act may be prosecuted in the county where the offense is committed or in Sangamon County. In addition to the State's Attorney of the appropriate county, the Attorney General of Illinois also is authorized to prosecute any violation of this Act.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Inspector General may at any time refer evidence of a violation of State or federal law, in addition to a violation of this Act, to the appropriate law enforcement agency, State's Attorney, or Attorney General.

(Source: P.A. 100-588, eff. 6-8-18.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/11.2)

Sec. 11.2. Preemption. Other than a municipality with a population over 500,000, no unit of local government, including a home rule unit, may regulate lobbying in a manner inconsistent with this Act, and all existing laws and ordinances that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby superseded. This Section is a limitation of home rule powers under subsections (h) and (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution.

(Source: P.A. 102-664, eff. 1-1-22.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/11.3)

Sec. 11.3. Compensation from a State agency. It is a violation of this Act for a person registered or required to be registered under this Act to accept or agree to accept compensation from a State agency for the purpose of lobbying legislative action.

This Section does not apply to compensation (i) that is a portion of the salary of a full-time employee of a State agency whose responsibility or authority includes, but is not limited to, lobbying executive, legislative, or administrative action or (ii) to an individual who is contractually retained by a State agency that is not listed in Section 5-15 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

For the purpose of this Section, "State agency" is defined as in the Illinois State Auditing Act.

(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 1-1-10.)

 

(25 ILCS 170/12) (from Ch. 63, par. 182)

Sec. 12. Severability clause. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 76-1848.)


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