(35 ILCS 65/77-15)

Sec. 77-15. Powers of the Department. The Department, in addition to those powers granted under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, is granted and shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to administer the program under this Act and to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, the power and authority to:

(1) adopt rules deemed necessary and appropriate for the administration of the program, the designation of projects, and the awarding of credits;

(2) establish forms for applications, notifications, contracts, or any other agreements;

(3) accept applications at any time during the year;

(4) assist taxpayers pursuant to the provisions of this Act and cooperate with taxpayers that are parties to agreements under this Act to promote, foster, and support economic development, capital investment, and job creation or retention within the State;

(5) enter into agreements and memoranda of understanding for the participation of, and engage in cooperation with, agencies of the federal government, units of local government, universities, research foundations or institutions, regional economic development corporations, or other organizations to implement the requirements and purposes of this Act;

(6) gather information and conduct inquiries, in the manner and by the methods it deems desirable, including, without limitation, gathering information with respect to applicants for the purpose of making any designations or certifications necessary or desirable or to gather information to assist the Department with any recommendation or guidance in the furtherance of the purposes of this Act;

(7) establish, negotiate, and effectuate agreements and any term, agreement, or other document with any person, necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act and to consent, subject to the provisions of any agreement with another party, to the modification or restructuring of any agreement to which the Department is a party;

(8) fix, determine, charge, and collect any premiums, fees, charges, costs, and expenses from applicants, including, without limitation, any application fees, commitment fees, program fees, financing charges, or publication fees as deemed appropriate to pay expenses necessary or incident to the administration, staffing, or operation of the Department's activities under this Act, or for preparation, implementation, and enforcement of the terms of the agreement, or for consultation, advisory and legal fees, and other costs; all of those fees and expenses shall be the responsibility of the applicant;

(9) provide for sufficient personnel to permit administration, staffing, operation, and related support required to adequately discharge its duties and responsibilities described in this Act from funds made available through charges to applicants or from funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly for the administration of this Act;

(10) require applicants, upon written request, to issue any necessary authorization to the appropriate federal, State, or local authority for the release of information concerning a project being considered under this Act, including, but not be limited to, financial reports, returns, or records relating to the taxpayer or its project;

(11) require that a taxpayer shall, at all times, keep proper books of record and account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; any books, records, or papers related to the agreement shall be kept in the custody or control of the taxpayer and shall be open for reasonable Department inspection and audit, including, without limitation, the making of copies of the books, records, or papers and the inspection or appraisal of any of the taxpayer's or project's assets; and

(12) take whatever actions are necessary or appropriate to protect the State's interest in the event of bankruptcy, default, foreclosure, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions of financial assistance or participation required under this Act, including the power to sell, dispose, lease, or rent, upon terms and conditions determined by the Director to be appropriate, real or personal property that the Department may receive as a result of these actions.

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