Illinois Code § 16-188

§ 16-188.

Proxy voting. (a) In this Section, "fiduciary" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1-101.2. (b) Notwithstanding the Board's investment authority, and upon the affirmative vote of at least three-fifths of the members of the Board, the State Treasurer shall be authorized to manage the domestic and international proxy voting activity for shares held directly by the System and execute required ballots on behalf of the System. The Board's consent granted under this Section may be revoked at any time upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board. (c) When the State Treasurer is managing any proxy voting activity in accordance with subsection (b), the following shall apply: (1) the State Treasurer shall provide the Board with (i) comprehensive proxy voting reports on a quarterly basis and as requested by the Board and (ii) access to communications with its third-party proxy voting service, if any, used in preparing the comprehensive proxy voting reports requested by the Board; and (2) the Board may provide the State Treasurer with guidance for proxy voting, which, if provided, the State Treasurer shall consider when voting. (d) The State Treasurer shall act as a fiduciary to the System with regard to all aspects of the State Treasurer's management of the proxy voting activity as provided under subsection (b). (e) With respect to this Section, and with respect to the State Treasurer's management of the proxy voting activity as provided for under subsection (b), the Board is exempt from any conflicting statutory or common law obligations, including any fiduciary or co-fiduciary duties under this Article and Article 1. (f) With respect to this Section and with respect to the State Treasurer's management of the proxy voting activity as provided for under subsection (b), the Board, its staff, and the trustees of the Board shall not be liable for any damage or suits where damages are sought for negligent or wrongful acts alleged to have been committed in connection with the management of proxy voting activity as provided for under this Section. (g) In order to facilitate the State Treasurer's proxy voting activities under this Section and before the State Treasurer begins proxy voting activities, the State Treasurer and the Board shall enter into an intergovernmental agreement concerning costs, proxy voting guidance, reports and other documents, and other issues. (h) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2027. (Source: P.A. 103-468, eff. 8-4-23.)