(20 ILCS 2310/2310-362)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)

Sec. 2310-362. The Autoimmune Disease Research Fund.

(a) The Autoimmune Disease Research Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. From appropriations to the Department from the Fund, the Department shall make grants to public and private entities in the State for the purpose of funding research for the treatment and cure of autoimmune diseases.

(b) For the purposes of this Section:

"Autoimmune disease" means any disease that results from an aberrant immune response, including, without limitation, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and scleroderma.

"Research" includes, without limitation, expenditures to develop and advance the understanding, techniques, and modalities effective in the detection, prevention, screening, and treatment of autoimmune disease and may include clinical trials. "Research" does not include institutional overhead costs, indirect costs, other organizational levies, or costs of community-based support services.

(c) Moneys received for the purposes of this Section, including, without limitation, income tax checkoff receipts and gifts, grants, and awards from any public or private entity, must be deposited into the Fund. Any interest earnings that are attributable to moneys in the Fund must be deposited into the Fund.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in addition to any other transfers that may be provided by law, on July 1, 2025, or as soon thereafter as practical, the State Comptroller shall direct and the State Treasurer shall transfer the remaining balance from the Autoimmune Disease Research Fund into the Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund. Upon completion of the transfers, the Autoimmune Disease Research Fund is dissolved, and any future deposits due to that Fund and any outstanding obligations or liabilities of that Fund pass to the Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund.

(e) This Section is repealed on January 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 104-2, eff. 6-16-25.)