Illinois Code § 5.3

§ 5.3.

Ethical conduct. (a) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community must carry out their duties and responsibilities in such a manner as to promote and preserve public trust and confidence in the integrity and conduct of gaming. (b) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community shall not use or attempt to use his or her official position to secure or attempt to secure any privilege, advantage, favor, or influence for himself or herself or others. (c) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community may not have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in his or her own name or in the name of any other person, partnership, association, trust, corporation, or other entity in any contract or subcontract for the performance of any work for a riverboat or casino that is located in the host community. This prohibition shall extend to the holding or acquisition of an interest in any entity identified by Board action that, in the Board's judgment, could represent the potential for or the appearance of a financial interest. The holding or acquisition of an interest in such entities through an indirect means, such as through a mutual fund, shall not be prohibited, except that the Board may identify specific investments or funds that, in its judgment, are so influenced by gaming holdings as to represent the potential for or the appearance of a conflict of interest. (d) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community may not accept any gift, gratuity, service, compensation, travel, lodging, or thing of value, with the exception of unsolicited items of an incidental nature, from any person, corporation, or entity doing business with the riverboat or casino that is located in the host community. (e) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community shall not, during the period that the person is an official or employee of the corporate authority or for a period of 2 years immediately after leaving such office, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from a person or entity, or its parent or affiliate, that has engaged in business with the riverboat or casino that is located in the host community that resulted in contracts with an aggregate value of at least $25,000 or if that official or employee has made a decision that directly applied to the person or entity, or its parent or affiliate. (f) A spouse, child, or parent of an official or employee of the corporate authority of a host community may not have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in his or her own name or in the name of any other person, partnership, association, trust, corporation, or other entity in any contract or subcontract for the performance of any work for a riverboat or casino in the host community. This prohibition shall extend to the holding or acquisition of an interest in any entity identified by Board action that, in the judgment of the Board, could represent the potential for or the appearance of a conflict of interest. The holding or acquisition of an interest in such entities through an indirect means, such as through a mutual fund, shall not be prohibited, expect that the Board may identify specific investments or funds that, in its judgment, are so influenced by gaming holdings as to represent the potential for or the appearance of a conflict of interest. (g) A spouse, child, or parent of an official or employee of the corporate authority of a host community may not accept any gift, gratuity, service, compensation, travel, lodging, or thing of value, with the exception of unsolicited items of an incidental nature, from any person, corporation, or entity doing business with the riverboat or casino that is located in the host community. (h) A spouse, child, or parent of an official or employee of the corporate authority of a host community may not, during the period that the person is an official of the corporate authority or for a period of 2 years immediately after leaving such office or employment, knowingly accept employment or receive compensation or fees for services from a person or entity, or its parent or affiliate, that has engaged in business with the riverboat or casino that is located in the host community that resulted in contracts with an aggregate value of at least $25,000 or if that official or employee has made a decision that directly applied to the person or entity, or its parent or affiliate. (i) Officials and employees of the corporate authority of a host community shall not attempt, in any way, to influence any person or entity doing business with the riverboat or casino that is located in the host community or any officer, agent, or employee thereof to hire or contract with any person or entity for any compensated work. (j) Any communication between an official of the corporate authority of a host community and any applicant for an owners license in the host community, or an officer, director, or employee of a riverboat or casino in the host community, concerning any matter relating in any way to gaming shall be disclosed to the Board. Such disclosure shall be in writing by the official within 30 days after the communication and shall be filed with the Board. Disclosure must consist of the date of the communication, the identity and job title of the person with whom the communication was made, a brief summary of the communication, the action requested or recommended, all responses made, the identity and job title of the person making the response, and any other pertinent information. Public disclosure of the written summary provided to the Board and the Gaming Board shall be subject to the exemptions provided under the Freedom of Information Act. This subsection (j) shall not apply to communications regarding traffic, law enforcement, security, environmental issues, city services, transportation, or other routine matters concerning the ordinary operations of the riverboat or casino. For purposes of this subsection (j), "ordinary operations" means operations relating to the casino or riverboat facility other than the conduct of gambling activities, and "routine matters" includes the application for, issuance of, renewal of, and other processes associated with municipal permits and licenses. (k) Any official or employee who violates any provision of this Section is guilty of a Class 4 felony. (l) For purposes of this Section, "host community" or "host municipality" means a unit of local government that contains a riverboat or casino within its borders. (Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)