OLD Statements of Economic Interests

Please go to the NEW FAQ for Statements of Economic Interests

Common Questions and Key Terms:

 

 

 

What criteria determine WHO must complete a Statement?

The criteria applicable to University of Illinois employees can be found in the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A-101(f)):

  • Persons who are or who function as the head of a department or other administrative unit;
  • Those who have supervisory authority over or direct responsibility for the formulation, negotiation, issuance or execution of contracts entered into by the State (BANNER approval authority, TEM approval authority, etc.);
  • Those who are a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on a grant;
  • Those who have supervisory responsibility for 20 or more employees; or
  • Those who have responsibility for the procurement of goods and services (University P-Card, department card, travel card, i-buy).

The above criteria are coded as position descriptors in BANNER, with the exception of the PI's and Co-PI's who are identified through Grants and Contracts. In addition, a list of employees coded in BANNER as meeting the criteria is distributed to Unit Human Resources Contacts for review prior to being submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State.

Please note: Employees of University Related Organizations (i.e. University of Illinois Foundation and Alumni Association) are not required to file a Statement of Economic Interests.

Who should I contact if I received a Statement and don't feel I meet one of the above criteria?

You should contact the University Ethics and Compliance Office via the Ethics Line at: 866-758-2146 or via e-mail at:ethicsofficer@uillinois.edu if you feel you were mistakenly identified in the filing population. You will need to provide your full name and University Identification Number (the violet digits on your i-card that begin with a 65, 66, or 67) to assist the University Ethics and Compliance Office in identifying you on their list.

You can also review the Statement of Economic Interests section of this web site.

Who should I contact with questions on HOW to complete my Statement?

You should first review the form-specific questions  section of this website for detailed instructions related to each question on the form.  If you still have question, please contact the University Ethics and Compliance Office at 866-758-2146 or ethicsofficer@uillinois.edu for additional assistance.

Who should I call with questions about the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act?

Questions related to the law should be directed to the Office of the Secretary of State at: 217-524-0309.

Please note: The only individuals who can change laws are the State Legislators.

What are the FILING PROCEDURES for the Statement of Economic Interests?

The University Ethics and Compliance Office will compile a list of individuals required to file, based on position descriptor coding, BANNER reports, and reports provided by Grants and Contracts. The list will include home addresses for employees and will be provided to the Office of the Secretary of State.

In March, the Office of the Secretary of State will send notification letters and forms to the University of Illinois employees who have been identified as needing to file a Statement under the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act.

Employees will complete their Statements and submit them to the University Ethics and Compliance Office, as required by law, by no later than April 17, 2019 at:

University Ethics and Compliance Office

Human Resources Building, Room 20

One University Plaza, HRB 20

Springfield, IL 62703-5407

Please note that after April 17, 2019, Statements should be sent directly to the Office of the Secretary of State and a copy should be sent (COPY noted on the photocopy) to the University Ethics and Compliance Office. The address for the Office of the Secretary of State is listed at the bottom of the second page of the form.

The University Ethics and Compliance Office will send an e-mail confirmation upon receipt of your ORIGINAL completed Statement. The Statement will then be forwarded to the Office of the Secretary of State for review and filing.

The Office of the Secretary of State will send written confirmation via US mail that your Statement has been filed.

What PENALTIES are in place for late filing or failure to file my Statement?

Penalties are assessed by the Office of the Secretary of State to the late filer as follows:

  • $15 for any form not filed by May 1st - the statutory deadline
  • $100 per day (in addition to the $15 fee) from May 16th until the date the signed original form is received and filed at the Office of the Secretary of State.

Failure to file by May 31st will result in the employee's name being turned over to the Attorney General and may result in forfeiture

What should I do if I work for two separate state entities? Do I need to FILE MORE THAN ONE FORM?

If you work for more than one agency, board, or commission - you are only mandated to complete one Statement. However, you need to make copies of the Statement and place an original signature on each of the copies for the respective agency. For example, if you work for the Illinois Department of Revenue and the University of Illinois, you only complete one Statement. You then make a photocopy of it, sign it (preferably in blue or red ink), and send it back to your University Ethics and Compliance Office on or before the April 16, 2018 deadline.

Please note: County Statement of Economic Interests forms are slightly different than the state agency forms, so employees who are required to complete forms for both a county and a state agency will have to file the two separate forms.

What will happen if I send a PHOTOCOPY or an UNSIGNED Statement to the Office of the Secretary of State?

The Office of the Secretary of State only accepts original signatures on Statements. As such, if you send a copy or forget to sign your Statement, it will be returned to your home address with a letter explaining the problem.

Please note that if the Statement is not back at the Office of the Secretary of State corrected and completed by the May 1st deadline, a late fee will be assessed by the Secretary of State.

If a University employee is OUT OF THE COUNTRY and cannot meet the deadline, what should they do?

Per the Office of the Secretary of State, a letter should be written describing the circumstances and requesting a filing extension for the current year. The letter should be sent, along with the form to the University Ethics and Compliance Office for review and forwarding to the Office of the Secretary of State. This letter must be sent before the May 1st deadline. Please send an e-mail to the University Ethics and Compliance Office at:ethicsofficer@uillinois.edu to discuss your particular situation in further detail.

Please note: Paid sabbaticals are not excused and employees on a paid sabbatical are still required to complete this requirement.

I have always completed a Statement in the past, but did not receive one in the mail this year. I know it is the time of year when the Statement should be completed and do not want to receive a fine. What should I do, or who should I contact?

Please contact the University Ethics and Compliance Office at: 866-758-2146 or via e-mail at: ethicsofficer@uillinois.edu to determine whether or not you need to file this year.  Please have your University Identification Number (UIN) readily available to assist staff in locating your records.