§ 6 — Restrictions on Board members

(a) No person shall be appointed a member of the Board or continue to be a member of the Board if the person or any member of their immediate family is a member of the Board of Directors, employee, or financially interested in any of the following: (i) any licensee or other person who has applied for racing dates to the Board, or the operations thereof including, but not limited to, concessions, data processing, track maintenance, track security, and pari-mutuel operations, located, scheduled or doing business within the State of Illinois, (ii) any race horse competing at a meeting under the Board's jurisdiction, or (iii) any licensee under the Illinois Gambling Act. (b) No person shall be a member of the Board who is not of good moral character or who has been convicted of, or is under indictment for, a felony under the laws of Illinois or any other state, or the United States. (c) No member of the Board or employee shall engage in any political activity. For the purposes of this subsection (c): "Political" means any activity in support of or in connection with any campaign for State or local elective office or any political organization, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action (as those terms are defined in Section 2 of the Lobbyist Registration Act), (ii) relating to collective bargaining, or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official State duties or governmental and public service functions. "Political organization" means a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that is required to file a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or county clerk under Section 9-3 of the Election Code, but only with regard to those activities that require filing with the State Board of Elections or county clerk. (d) Board members and employees may not engage in communications or any activity that may cause or have the appearance of causing a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest exists if a situation influences or creates the appearance that it may influence judgment or performance of regulatory duties and responsibilities. This prohibition shall extend to any act identified by Board action that, in the judgment of the Board, could represent the potential for or the appearance of a conflict of interest. (e) Board members and employees 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, limited liability company, or entity doing business with the Board. (f) A Board member or employee 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. No Board member or employee, within a period of one year immediately preceding nomination by the Governor or employment, shall have been employed or received compensation or fees for services from a person or entity, or its parent or affiliate, that has engaged in business with the Board, a licensee or a licensee under the Illinois Gambling Act. In addition, all Board members and employees are subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 5-45 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)