Section 2005.30  Business Hours and Public Access

a)         The public business hours of the Capitol Complex Buildings are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., unless otherwise posted, Monday through Friday, except holidays declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 5-635 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois [20 ILCS 5/5-635], and on weekends and holidays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for purposes of public Capitol Building tours only.  When the General Assembly is in session, and the start of a committee meeting or session is sooner or later than the limits listed in this subsection, the public hours shall be one hour before the earliest committee meeting or session of either house for the opening time, and one hour after the adjournment of the last committee meeting or session of either house for the closing time in the Capitol Building or in whatever building the legislative function is held.

b)         Entrance to any building during times other than stated in subsection (a) is prohibited, except for the following persons who shall be admitted to office areas assigned to them for their use in carrying out their official duties:

1)         members of the General Assembly;

2)         employees of the General Assembly;

3)         employees of the executive departments whose offices are in the building;

4)         representatives of news media who have offices in the Capitol Building;

5)         any authorized maintenance, repairer, contractor or other service employee, while performing duties that have been arranged for by the Department of Physical Services; and

6)         any person who is specifically requested to enter into any building or office by an authorized individual listed in subsections (b)(1) to (4).

c)         Proper identification of all persons, such as a press pass, government photo identification card, a driver's license or other document that shows the identity of the person, may be demanded by security personnel, and employees may be required to sign in and out of a building after 5 p.m. and before 7 a.m.  Only one entrance shall be open after the public business hours.  Factors to be considered in which identification may be requested include, but are not limited to:  the security guard or investigator does not recognize the individual; the behavior of the individual; and accessibility to office areas, work areas and restricted access areas. All persons entering into the buildings of the Capitol Complex may be required to wear their government photo identification card outside their clothing at all times when it has been determined by the Director of the Department of Police that security concerns warrant that display.  All visitors to the Capitol Complex who do not possess a government photo identification card will be required to submit themselves to security screening measures prior to entry.  Lobbyists, vendors and their employees and employees of State agencies that do not issue photo identification cards may be issued photo identification cards by the Secretary of State Department of Police.

d)         All persons and vehicles entering into the Capitol Complex and its buildings may be subject to search, including, but not limited to, inspection of vehicles, trunks, parcels and packages, metal detector screening, X-Ray scans and inspection of bulky personal items brought into the Capitol Complex.

e)         Firearms, firearm ammunition, knives, razors or other blade instruments, stun guns or tasers, explosive devices, flammable, corrosive or explosive compounds, incendiary devices, irritants or noxious compounds (i.e., tear gas or pepper spray), and toy or dummy weapons, all contraband and any other items deemed to be inappropriate or that could be used as a weapon shall be prohibited.  The Director of the Department of Police may permit exemptions to these prohibitions for law enforcement, military and ceremonial personnel who are performing their official duties.

f)         Emergency responders who are responding to a bonafide emergency situation within the Capitol Complex are not subject to screening or searches.

g)         Public access to any building or area of the grounds may be restricted if it is determined by the Director of the Department of Police that a situation has arisen that threatens the security of persons and buildings within the Capitol Complex.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 188, effective December 19, 2017)