Section 550.10  Public Information

 

a)         All requests for information from the public should be addressed to the Director of the Department that maintains that record.

 

b)         The general fee structure is set forth in Section 5.5 of the Secretary of State Act [15 ILCS 305/5.5], unless otherwise set by a specific statute. Section 2-123 of the Illinois Vehicle Title and Registration Law of the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/2-123] sets fees for drivers abstracts, abstracts of vehicle title and registration searches, microfiche record of all vehicle registration  and other drivers license and motor vehicle information.  The annual list of Illinois Corporations and the daily list are available from the Department of Business Services.  See Section 1.25 of the Business Corporation Act of 1983 [805 ILCS 5/1.25].  The monthly list of financing statements is available from the Department of Business Services (UCC Division, Section 5.10 − List of filed financing statements [15 ILCS 305/5.10]).

 

c)         Comments to the Office

 

1)         Members of the public who desire to make any submission, comment, request, or objection regarding any program, policy, or activity of the Office of the Secretary of State may do so in writing addressed to the Director of the Department administering that program or policy.

 

2)         Verbal comments may be submitted by calling 1-800-252-8980, the general information line for the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

d)         The rules of the Secretary of State are found at:

 

DEPARTMENT	CITATION OF RULE
Accounting Revenue	92 Ill. Adm. Code 1003
Administrative Hearings	92 Ill. Adm. Code 1001
Archives	44 Ill. Adm. Code 4100
Business Services	14 Ill. Adm. Code 150, 160, 165, 170, 171, 178, 180, 200
Court of Claims	74 Ill. Adm. Code 790
Driver Services	92 Ill. Adm. Code 1000, 1002, 1030, 1035, 1040, 1050, 1060, 1100
Index	1 Ill. Adm. Code 100, 210, 220, 245, 255; 2 Ill. Adm. Code 550, 552, 560, 565; 14 Ill. Adm. Code 176
Inspector General	2 Ill. Adm. Code 552
Library	23 Ill. Adm. Code 3010, 3020, 3030
Merit Commission	80 Ill. Adm. Code 410, 420
Personnel	80 Ill. Adm. Code 410, 420
Physical Services	71 Ill. Adm. Code 2005
Police	92 Ill. Adm. Code 1000
Purchasing	44 Ill. Adm. Code 2000
Securities	14 Ill. Adm. Code 130, 135, 140, 145
Vehicle Services	92 Ill. Adm. Code 1000, 1002, 1010, 1019, 1020, 1055, 1070, 1080, 1090, 1100

 

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 15282, effective November 5, 2007)

 

Section 550.110  Rulemaking Procedures

 

a)         All rules, amendments, and repealers shall be initiated by the department which administers the applicable statute.  Any public request to initiate rulemaking or amendments to existing rules shall also be directed to the Director of the appropriate Department which administers the statute applicable.  A request should state specifically which rulemaking is needed and why.

 

b)         Proposed rulemaking of any type shall be prepared by the appropriate Department according to the Rulemaking Procedures for Codification (1 Ill. Adm. Code 100).  They shall then be coordinated with the General Counsel to the Secretary before submission to the Administrative Code Unit of the Illinois State Library.  The General Counsel shall coordinate all rulemaking for the Office of the Secretary of State with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

 

c)         Public hearings may be conducted on proposed rulemaking in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (5 ILCS 100/1-1 et seq.).  If requested by an individual or organization, or at the direction of a Department Director, such hearings will be conducted in Chicago and Springfield by the appropriate Director, and a transcript of the proceedings shall be made by a court reporter or electronic device.  The hearing date, time, and location shall be publicized by the Director at least 24 hours before each hearing, and by a means reasonably calculated to broadly disseminate the conducting of these hearings.  All public comments shall be considered by the Director during the first notice period, as required by the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

 

d)         All rulemaking shall be done in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act and the Rulemaking Procedures for Codification (1 Ill. Adm. Code 100).  Please refer to Table B.

 

Section 550.210  Description of Officers and Departments

 

a)         The Deputy Secretary of State is responsible for the daily operations of the Office of the Secretary of State, which includes the management of all employees and the oversight of all programs and policies.

 

b)         The Chief of Staff is responsible for providing oversight and program policy direction to all cabinet members and executive staff, and advises the Secretary of State, in concert with other specified officials.

 

c)         The General Counsel to the Secretary advises the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Chief of Staff, and other management officials on legal questions of broad applicability, supervises all litigation involving the Secretary of State, coordinates that litigation with the Attorney General's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office, and provides oversight of related departments within the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

d)         The Inspector General Department:

 

1)         investigates all allegations of wrongdoing involving personnel of the Office of the Secretary of State and presents reports on its findings to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Chief of Staff, and appropriate Directors for possible disciplinary action;

 

2)         conducts fiscal, efficiency, and compliance reviews of Secretary of State operations for issuance of special reports; and

 

3)         investigates alleged violations of the Lobbyist Registration Act [25 ILCS 170].

 

e)         The Chief Auditor is responsible for all investigatory and compliance audits and reports findings of these audits to the Secretary.

 

f)         The Press Secretary is responsible for handling inquiries from the press, preparing press releases, and the printing of all office publications.

 

g)         The Deputy Chief of Staff is responsible for the development and implementation of plans and programs that affect several departments, as determined by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or Chief of Staff.

 

h)         The Executive Assistant for Programs and Policy assists the Deputy Chief of Staff with the formulation of new and continuing programs from their inception and is responsible for development of those programs by the Program Staff.

 

i)          The Program Staff assists the Executive Assistant for Programs and Policies with the development of ideas and implementation of goals as determined by the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, or Deputy Chief of Staff.

 

j)          The Budget and Fiscal Management Department prepares the annual budget, monitors expenditures of all funds appropriated to the Secretary of State, and prepares the payroll for the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

k)         The Department of Information Technology directs, manages, and supervises data processing operations for the Secretary of State.

 

l)          The Accounting Revenue Department collects all funds received by the Office of the Secretary of State for deposit with the State Treasurer, directs the financial institutions' sales program for vehicle registrations, and performs audits pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code.

 

m)        The Physical Services Department is responsible for the physical maintenance of the Michael J. Howlett Building, the Capitol Building, the Stratton Building, and the surrounding grounds, and has responsibility for other government buildings, as provided by law.

 

n)         The Personnel Department processes all applications for employment with the Office of the Secretary of State, administers all tests for employment, and approves all personnel actions taken pursuant to the Secretary of State Merit Employment Code [15 ILCS 310].

 

o)         The Communications Department is responsible for answering all media inquiries concerning the Office of the Secretary of State and preparation and coordination of all public displays and publications relating to the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

p)         The Department of Police's officers have general police powers.  The Department's special emphasis is in enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code, including investigation of auto theft and regulation of the trucking industry.

 

q)         The Index Department is the custodian of the State Seal, receives all bills signed into law by the Governor, maintains the Illinois Administrative Code, maintains all notary public commissions and ethics statements, maintains lobbyist registrations and expenditure reports, and prepares all Constitutional Amendments for the ballot.

 

r)          The Archives Department maintains all State records and documents required to be kept by law.

 

s)         The Illinois State Library is the central research library for Illinois government.

 

t)          The Driver Services Department issues, revokes, or suspends all Illinois driver's licenses and issues photo identification cards.

 

u)         The Vehicle Services Department issues all license plates, vehicle registration renewals, vehicle titles, and licenses remittance agents, automobile dealers and auto recyclers.

 

v)         The Legislative Affairs Department coordinates the legislative program of the Secretary of State.

 

w)        The Administrative Hearings Department conducts all hearings pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5/2-118].

 

x)         The Business Services Department administers the Business Corporation Act of 1983 [805 ILCS 5], Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code (Secured Transaction) [810 ILCS 5], such other corporate statutes as designated by the General Assembly, and the Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act [805 ILCS 210].

 

y)         The Securities Department administers the Illinois Securities Law of 1953 [815 ILCS 5].

 

z)         The Court of Claims Department exercises the duties of the Secretary of State as Clerk of the Court of Claims.

 

aa)       The Director for Intergovernmental Affairs coordinates the interaction between the Secretary of State's Office and units of local, state, and federal government.  The Director for Intergovernmental Affairs also coordinates the constituent service and program implementation work of the Office of the Secretary of State.

 

bb)       Senior Executive Assistants coordinate efforts between assigned departments and the Executive Office and assist with operations and development of policies and programs with respect to their assigned departments.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 1494, effective January 13, 2023)

Section 550.TABLE A   Organization Chart

 

 

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 15282, effective November 5, 2007)

Section 550.TABLE B   Rulemaking Chart

 

 

(Source:  Amended at 12 Ill. Reg. 7726, effective April 15, 1988)