Section 270.154  Willful Interference

a)         No person shall:

1)         intentionally prevent, interfere with, or attempt to impede in any way any representative of the Office in the performance of his or her official duties under the Illinois Act on the Aging and the Older Americans Act of 1965; or

2)         Intentionally retaliate, discriminate against, or effect reprisals against any resident or participant or employee for contacting or providing information to any representative of the Office. (Section 4.04(f) of the Act)

b)         Interference includes, but is not limited to:

1)         The infliction of physical harm;

2)         Threats to inflict physical harm;

3)         Intimidation;

4)         Deception;

5)         Tampering with physical evidence;

6)         Destroying, hiding or altering records;

7)         Making false statements or encouraging others to do so;

8)         Bribery or attempted bribery;

9)         Retaliation; and

10)        Restricting, without legal authority, the personal movements or travel of any individual, when those actions are done for the sole purpose of preventing the Ombudsman from discharging his or her official duties.

c)         The State Ombudsman, in consultation with the Department, upon notice that all attempts to resolve the interference have failed, shall notify the appropriate State's Attorney or the Office of the Attorney General.

(Source:  Added at 43 Ill. Reg. 980, effective January 1, 2019)