Illinois § 5-165

§ 5-165.

Ex parte communications in rulemaking; special government agents. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, this Section applies to ex parte communications made during the rulemaking process. (b) "Ex parte communication" means any written or oral communication by any person during the rulemaking period that imparts or requests material information or makes a material argument regarding potential action concerning an agency's general, emergency, or peremptory rulemaking under this Act and that is communicated to that agency, the head of that agency, or any other employee of that agency. For purposes of this Section, the rulemaking period begins upon the commencement of the first notice period with respect to general rulemaking under Section 5-40, upon the filing of a notice of emergency rulemaking under Section 5-45, or upon the filing of a notice of rulemaking with respect to peremptory rulemaking under Section 5-50. "Ex parte communication" does not include the following: (i) statements by a person publicly made in a public forum; (ii) statements regarding matters of procedure and practice, such as the format of public comments, the number of copies required, the manner of filing such comments, and the status of a rulemaking proceeding; and (iii) statements made by a State employee of that agency to the agency head or other employee of that agency. (c) An ex parte communication received by any agency, agency head, or other agency employee shall immediately be reported to that agency's ethics officer by the recipient of the communication and by any other employee of that agency who responds to the communication. The ethics officer shall require that the ex parte communication promptly be made a part of the record of the rulemaking proceeding. The ethics officer shall promptly file the ex parte communication with the Executive Ethics Commission, including all written communications, all written responses to the communications, and a memorandum prepared by the ethics officer stating the nature and substance of all oral communications, the identity and job title of the person to whom each communication was made, all responses made, the identity and job title of the person making each response, the identity of each person from whom the written or oral ex parte communication was received, the individual or entity represented by that person, any action the person requested or recommended, and any other pertinent information. The disclosure shall also contain the date of any ex parte communication. (d) Failure to take certain actions under this Section may constitute a violation as provided in Section 5-50 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. (Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 93-617, eff. 12-9-03.)