Section 568.110  Definitions

            "Act" shall mean the State Gift Ban Act [5 ILCS 425].

            "Chairman" or "Chairperson" or "Chair" shall mean the person elected presiding officer of the Commission.

            "Commission" shall mean the Office of Secretary of State Ethics Commission created by the State Gift Ban Act [5 ILCS 425].

            "Complaint" shall mean a written, signed, verified and notarized document that alleges a violation of the State Gift Ban Act by an officer or employee of the executive branch of State government under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. A complaint shall conform to the requirements of the State Gift Ban Act and this Part.

            "Complainant" shall mean the person who submits a complaint to the Commission.

            "Final" shall mean entered as signed by the Chairman and filed with the Commission.

            "Final administrative decision" shall mean a decision subject to judicial review by the Circuit Court under the Administrative Review Law [735 ILCS 5/Art. III] and includes only those cases in which a fine was imposed by the Commission.

            "Hearing on the complaint" shall mean the closed meeting held on the complaint during which the Complainant and Respondent present testimony and evidence, as described in 5 ILCS 425/60(d).

            "Meeting" shall mean a regularly scheduled gathering of the Commission members, in person, by telephone, or by video conference, to discuss the business of the Commission in general.

            "Meeting to determine sufficiency and probable cause" shall mean the closed meeting held on the complaint to decide the sufficiency of the complaint and probable cause, as described in 5 ILCS 425/60(c).

            "Official Receiving Clerk" shall mean the Chairman of the Commission (or designee) whose duties shall include, but are not limited to, receiving complaints on behalf of the Commission. Receipt of a complaint by the Chairman shall be receipt by the Commission.

            "Public hearing on the complaint" shall mean a public hearing demanded by the Respondent, as described in 5 ILCS 425/60(f).

            "Respondent" shall mean the person who is alleged to have violated the State Gift Ban Act as described in the complaint.

            "Secretary of the Commission" shall mean one of the Commission members designated by the Commission, or a staff employee of the Secretary of State's Office designated by the Commission, or an individual with whom the Commission has contracted, to perform the duties of Secretary of the Commission. Duties of the Secretary of the Commission include, but are not limited to, keeping the minutes of the proceedings of the Commission, ensuring proper notifications are made as required by law, maintaining as custodian the Commission's records, and in general performing all duties incident to the position of Secretary of the Commission and such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Chairperson or the Commission.

            "Special meeting" shall mean a gathering of the Commission members called by the Chairman or any two members of the Commission.