Section 420.150  Criminal Investigations

a)         All information received by the Department from returns filed under this Act [Liquor Control Act of 1934], or from any investigation conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for official purposes, and any person who divulges any such information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 235 ILCS 5/8-9.

b)         When the Department is engaged in a joint investigation with a law enforcement authority, including, but not limited to, State agency law enforcement, federal agency law enforcement, county sheriffs or municipal police, to enforce the Liquor Control Act of 1934 or another tax act administered by the Department, it is an official purpose within the meaning of Section 8-9 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934 for the Department to furnish information it receives in administering the Liquor Control Act of 1934 with the law enforcement authority. The information shall be provided subject to all confidentiality provisions of Section 8-9 of the Liquor Control Act of 1934. A person receiving information pursuant to an official purpose who divulges any such information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(Source:  Added at 46 Ill. Reg. 6759, effective April 12, 2022)