Section 125.272  Order of Public Hearing

a)         In the event that the Board orders a public hearing more than 60 days before the election in reference to which the complaint is filed, the Board will appoint a Hearing Officer to conduct a public hearing on the complaint and shall immediately serve upon all parties a written Notice of Appointment of the Hearing Officer, stating the name, business address and telephone number of the Hearing Officer, together with a copy of the Board's order after the closed preliminary hearing.

b)         In the event that the Board orders a public hearing within 60 days preceding the date of an election in reference to which the complaint is filed, the Board may appoint a Hearing Officer if time and resources permit. The Director of the Campaign Disclosure Division also shall promptly give notice via telephone, e-mail, or facsimile of the appointment of a Hearing Officer to all parties and that notice shall be deemed supplementary to the written Notice of Appointment.

c)         If a Hearing Officer is appointed, the Hearing Officer shall, in accordance with the time constraints stated in Code Section 9-21, designate a time and place for the public hearing and shall serve a written Notice of Hearing upon all parties, stating the time and place of the hearing. If the complaint is filed within 60 days preceding the date of an election in reference to which the complaint is filed, the Hearing Officer also shall promptly give telephonic notice of the hearing to all parties, which shall be deemed supplementary to the written Notice of Hearings. If the public hearing is scheduled before the Board without appointment of a Hearing Officer, the Notice of Hearing shall be prepared and served by the General Counsel.

d)         The Notice of Hearing shall contain a statement that the respondents have the right to be represented by legal counsel in any proceeding conducted by the State Board of Elections, including public hearing proceedings.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 5503, effective March 30, 2023)