SB1441 EngrossedLRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 AN ACT concerning employment. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Act 5 is amended by changing Sections 10, 30, 55, 60, and 85 as 6 follows: 7 (820 ILCS 80/10) 8 Sec. 10. Establishment of Illinois Secure Choice Savings 9 Program. 10 (a) A retirement savings program in the form of an 11 automatic enrollment payroll deduction IRA, known as the 12 Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, is hereby established 13 and shall be administered by the Board for the purpose of 14 promoting greater retirement savings for private-sector 15 employees in a convenient, low-cost, and portable manner. 16 (b) The accounts established under this Program shall be 17 IRAs, into which enrollees contribute funds that are invested 18 in investment options established by the Board. A separate 19 account shall be established for each enrollee and the 20 accounts shall be owned by the enrollee. 21 (c) The savings accounts established under the Program 22 shall be portable and allow for an enrollee to make 23 contributions from multiple employers into a single account, SB1441 Engrossed LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 2 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 either simultaneously or separately throughout the enrollee's 2 lifetime. 3 (d) An enrollee in the Program may have both a Roth IRA and 4 a Traditional IRA through the Program. 5 (Source: P.A. 98-1150, eff. 6-1-15.) 6 (820 ILCS 80/30) 7 Sec. 30. Duties of the Board. In addition to the other 8 duties and responsibilities stated in this Act, the Board 9 shall: 10 (a) Cause the Program to be designed, established and 11 operated in a manner that: 12 (1) accords with best practices for retirement 13 savings vehicles; 14 (2) maximizes participation, savings, and sound 15 investment practices; 16 (3) maximizes simplicity, including ease of 17 administration for participating employers and 18 enrollees; 19 (4) provides an efficient product to enrollees by 20 pooling investment funds; 21 (5) ensures the portability of benefits; and 22 (6) provides for the deaccumulation of enrollee 23 assets in a manner that maximizes financial security 24 in retirement. 25 (b) Appoint a trustee to the IRA Fund in compliance SB1441 Engrossed - 2 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 3 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 with Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code. 2 (c) Explore and establish investment options, subject 3 to Section 45 of this Act, that offer employees returns on 4 contributions and the conversion of individual retirement 5 savings account balances to secure retirement income 6 without incurring debt or liabilities to the State. 7 (d) Establish the process by which interest, 8 investment earnings, and investment losses are allocated 9 to individual program accounts on a pro rata basis and are 10 computed at the interest rate on the balance of an 11 individual's account. 12 (e) Make and enter into contracts necessary for the 13 administration of the Program and Fund, including, but not 14 limited to, retaining and contracting with investment 15 managers, private financial institutions, other financial 16 and service providers, consultants, actuaries, counsel, 17 auditors, third-party administrators, and other 18 professionals as necessary. 19 (e-5) Conduct a review of the performance of any 20 investment vendors every 4 years, including, but not 21 limited to, a review of returns, fees, and customer 22 service. A copy of reviews conducted under this subsection 23 (e-5) shall be posted to the Board's Internet website. 24 (f) In collaboration with the State Treasurer, 25 determine the number and duties of staff members needed to 26 administer the Program and assemble such a staff. SB1441 Engrossed - 3 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 4 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 (g) Cause moneys in the Fund to be held and invested as 2 pooled investments described in Section 45 of this Act, 3 with a view to achieving cost savings through efficiencies 4 and economies of scale. 5 (h) Evaluate and establish the process by which an 6 enrollee is able to contribute a portion of his or her 7 wages to the Program for automatic deposit of those 8 contributions and the process by which the participating 9 employer provides a payroll deposit retirement savings 10 arrangement to forward those contributions and related 11 information to the Program, including, but not limited to, 12 contracting with financial service companies and 13 third-party administrators with the capability to receive 14 and process employee information and contributions for 15 payroll deposit retirement savings arrangements or similar 16 arrangements. 17 (i) Design and establish the process for enrollment 18 under Section 60 of this Act, including the process by 19 which an employee can opt not to participate in the 20 Program, select a contribution level, select an investment 21 option, and terminate participation in the Program. 22 (j) Evaluate and establish the process by which an 23 individual may voluntarily enroll in and make 24 contributions to the Program. 25 (k) Accept any grants, appropriations, or other moneys 26 from the State, any unit of federal, State, or local SB1441 Engrossed - 4 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 5 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 government, or any other person, firm, partnership, or 2 corporation solely for deposit into the Fund, whether for 3 investment or administrative purposes. 4 (l) Evaluate the need for, and procure as needed, 5 insurance against any and all loss in connection with the 6 property, assets, or activities of the Program, and 7 indemnify as needed each member of the Board from personal 8 loss or liability resulting from a member's action or 9 inaction as a member of the Board. 10 (m) Make provisions for the payment of administrative 11 costs and expenses for the creation, management, and 12 operation of the Program, including the costs associated 13 with subsection (b) of Section 20 of this Act, subsections 14 (e), (f), (h), and (l) of this Section, subsection (b) of 15 Section 45 of this Act, subsection (a) of Section 80 of 16 this Act, and subsection (n) of Section 85 of this Act. 17 Subject to appropriation, the State may pay administrative 18 costs associated with the creation and management of the 19 Program until sufficient assets are available in the Fund 20 for that purpose. Thereafter, all administrative costs of 21 the Fund shall be paid only out of moneys on deposit 22 therein. However, private funds or federal funding 23 received under subsection (k) of Section 30 of this Act in 24 order to implement the Program until the Fund is 25 self-sustaining shall not be repaid unless those funds 26 were offered contingent upon the promise of such SB1441 Engrossed - 5 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 6 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 repayment. The Board shall keep investment fees as low as 2 possible, but in no event shall they exceed 0.25% of the 3 total trust balance. The Board may charge administrative 4 fees, established by rule, that shall be consistent with 5 industry standards. 6 (n) Allocate administrative fees to individual 7 retirement accounts in the Program on a pro rata basis. 8 (o) Set minimum and maximum contribution levels in 9 accordance with limits established for IRAs by the 10 Internal Revenue Code. 11 (o-5) Select a default contribution rate for Program 12 participants within the range of 3% to 6% of an enrollee's 13 wages. 14 (o-10) Establish annual, automatic increases to the 15 contribution rates based upon a schedule provided for in 16 rules up to a maximum of 10% of an enrollee's wages. 17 (p) Facilitate education and outreach to employers and 18 employees. 19 (q) Facilitate compliance by the Program with all 20 applicable requirements for the Program under the Internal 21 Revenue Code, including tax qualification requirements or 22 any other applicable law and accounting requirements. 23 (q-5) Verify employee eligibility for auto-enrollment 24 in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and 25 applicable Federal and State laws. The verification shall 26 include the rejection of any enrollee under 18 years of SB1441 Engrossed - 6 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 7 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 age. 2 (r) Carry out the duties and obligations of the 3 Program in an effective, efficient, and low-cost manner. 4 (s) Exercise any and all other powers reasonably 5 necessary for the effectuation of the purposes, 6 objectives, and provisions of this Act pertaining to the 7 Program. 8 (t) Deposit into the Illinois Secure Choice 9 Administrative Fund all grants, gifts, donations, fees, 10 and earnings from investments from the Illinois Secure 11 Choice Savings Program Fund that are used to recover 12 administrative costs. All expenses of the Board shall be 13 paid from the Illinois Secure Choice Administrative Fund. 14 (u) Assess the feasibility of agreements with other 15 governmental entities, including other states and their 16 agencies and instrumentalities, to achieve greater 17 economies of scale through shared resources and to enter 18 into those agreements if determined to be beneficial. 19 The Board may enter into agreements with other 20 governmental entities, including other states or their 21 agencies and instrumentalities, to enable residents of other 22 states to participate in the Program. 23 (Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-43, eff. 6-9-23.) 24 (820 ILCS 80/55) 25 Sec. 55. Employer and employee information packets and SB1441 Engrossed - 7 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 8 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 disclosure forms. 2 (a) Prior to the opening of the Program for enrollment, 3 the Board shall design and disseminate to all employers an 4 employer information packet and an employee information 5 packet, which shall include background information on the 6 Program, appropriate disclosures for employees, and 7 information regarding the vendor Internet website described in 8 subsection (i) of Section 60 of this Act. 9 (b) The Board shall provide for the contents of both the 10 employee information packet and the employer information 11 packet. 12 (c) The employee information packet shall include a 13 disclosure form. The disclosure form shall explain, but not be 14 limited to, all of the following: 15 (1) the benefits and risks associated with making 16 contributions to the Program; 17 (2) the mechanics of how to make contributions to the 18 Program; 19 (3) how to opt out of the Program; 20 (4) how to participate in the Program with a level of 21 employee contributions other than the default contribution 22 rate; 23 (5) the process for withdrawal of retirement savings; 24 (6) how to obtain additional information about the 25 Program; 26 (7) that employees seeking financial advice should SB1441 Engrossed - 8 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 9 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 contact financial advisors, that participating employers 2 are not in a position to provide financial advice, and 3 that participating employers are not liable for decisions 4 employees make pursuant to this Act; 5 (8) that the Program is not an employer-sponsored 6 retirement plan; and 7 (9) that the Program Fund is not guaranteed by the 8 State. 9 (d) The employee information packet shall also include a 10 form for an employee to note his or her decision to opt out of 11 participation in the Program and information on how or elect 12 to participate with a custom level of employee contributions 13 other than the default contribution rate. 14 (e) Participating employers shall supply the employee 15 information packet to employees upon launch of the Program. 16 Participating employers shall supply the employee information 17 packet to new employees at the time of hiring, and new 18 employees may opt out of participation in the Program or elect 19 to participate with a level of employee contributions other 20 than the default contribution rate at that time. 21 (Source: P.A. 100-6, eff. 6-30-17.) 22 (820 ILCS 80/60) 23 Sec. 60. Program implementation and enrollment. Except as 24 otherwise provided in Section 93 of this Act, the Program 25 shall be implemented, and enrollment of employees shall begin SB1441 Engrossed - 9 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 10 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 in 2018. The Board shall establish an implementation timeline 2 under which employers shall initially enroll their employees 3 in the Program. The timeline shall include the date by which an 4 employer must begin enrollment of its employees in the Program 5 and the date by which enrollment must be complete. The Board 6 shall adopt the implementation timeline at a public meeting of 7 the Board and shall publicize the implementation timeline. The 8 Board shall provide advance notice to employers of their 9 enrollment date and the amount of time to complete enrollment. 10 The enrollment deadline for employers with fewer than 25 11 employees and more than 15 employees shall be no sooner than 12 September 1, 2022. The enrollment deadline for employers with 13 at least 5 employees but not more than 15 employees shall be no 14 sooner than September 1, 2023. The provisions of this Section 15 shall be in force after the Board opens the Program for 16 enrollment. 17 (a) Each employer shall establish a payroll deposit 18 retirement savings arrangement to allow each employee to 19 participate in the Program within the timeline set by the 20 Board after the Program opens for enrollment. 21 (b) At the time of initial enrollment, employers Employers 22 shall automatically enroll in the Program each of their 23 employees who have been employed for 120 days or more by the 24 employer has not opted out of participation in the Program in 25 the manner described in subsection (c) of Section 55 of this 26 Act and shall provide payroll deduction retirement savings SB1441 Engrossed - 10 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 11 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 arrangements for such employees and deposit, on behalf of such 2 employees, these funds into the Program. Following initial 3 enrollment, employers shall enroll new employees as soon as 4 practicable, but no later than 120 days after the employee is 5 first employed by the employer. Small employers may, but are 6 not required to, provide payroll deduction retirement savings 7 arrangements for each employee who elects to participate in 8 the Program. Utilization of automatic enrollment by small 9 employers may be allowed only if it does not create employer 10 liability under the federal Employee Retirement Income 11 Security Act. An employee may opt out of participation in the 12 Program in the manner described in Section 55. 13 (c) Enrollees shall have the ability to select a 14 contribution level into the Fund. This level may be expressed 15 as a percentage of wages or as a dollar amount up to the 16 deductible amount for the enrollee's taxable year under 17 Section 219(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. Enrollees 18 may change their contribution level at any time, subject to 19 rules promulgated by the Board. If an enrollee fails to select 20 a contribution level using the form described in subsection 21 (c) of Section 55 of this Act, then he or she shall contribute 22 the default contribution rate of his or her wages to the 23 Program, provided that such contributions shall not cause the 24 enrollee's total contributions to IRAs for the year to exceed 25 the deductible amount for the enrollee's taxable year under 26 Section 219(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code. SB1441 Engrossed - 11 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 12 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 (d) Enrollees may select an investment option from the 2 permitted investment options listed in Section 45 of this Act. 3 Enrollees may change their investment option at any time, 4 subject to rules promulgated by the Board. In the event that an 5 enrollee fails to select an investment option, that enrollee 6 shall be placed in the investment option selected by the Board 7 as the default under subsection (c) of Section 45 of this Act. 8 If the Board has not selected a default investment option 9 under subsection (c) of Section 45 of this Act, then an 10 enrollee who fails to select an investment option shall be 11 placed in the life-cycle fund investment option. 12 (e) Following initial implementation of the Program 13 pursuant to this Section, participating employers may 14 designate an open enrollment period during which employees who 15 previously opted out of the Program may enroll in the Program. 16 (f) (Blank). 17 (g) Employers shall retain the option at all times to set 18 up a qualified retirement plan, including, but not limited to, 19 a defined benefit plan or a 401(k), a Simplified Employee 20 Pension (SEP) plan, or a Savings Incentive Match Plan for 21 Employees (SIMPLE) plan, instead of facilitating their 22 employees' participation in the Program. 23 (h) An employee may terminate his or her participation in 24 the Program at any time in a manner prescribed by the Board. 25 (i) The Board shall establish and maintain an Internet 26 website designed to assist employers in identifying private SB1441 Engrossed - 12 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 13 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 sector providers of retirement arrangements that can be set up 2 by the employer rather than allowing employee participation in 3 the Program under this Act; however, the Board shall only 4 establish and maintain an Internet website under this 5 subsection if there is sufficient interest in such an Internet 6 website by private sector providers and if the private sector 7 providers furnish the funding necessary to establish and 8 maintain the Internet website. The Board must provide public 9 notice of the availability of and the process for inclusion on 10 the Internet website before it becomes publicly available. 11 This Internet website must be available to the public before 12 the Board opens the Program for enrollment, and the Internet 13 website address must be included on any Internet website 14 posting or other materials regarding the Program offered to 15 the public by the Board. 16 (Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-681, eff. 1-1-25.) 17 (820 ILCS 80/85) 18 Sec. 85. Penalties. 19 (a) An employer who fails without reasonable cause to 20 enroll an employee in the Program within the time prescribed 21 under Section 60 of this Act and fails to remit their 22 contributions shall be subject to a penalty equal to: 23 (1) $250 per employee for the first calendar year the 24 employer is noncompliant; or 25 (2) $500 per employee for each subsequent calendar SB1441 Engrossed - 13 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 14 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 14 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 14 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 year the employer is noncompliant; noncompliance does not 2 need to be consecutive to qualify for the $500 penalty. 3 The Department shall determine total employee count using 4 the annual average from employer-reported quarterly data. 5 (b) After determining that an employer is subject to a 6 penalty under this Section for a calendar year, the Department 7 shall issue a notice of proposed assessment to such employer, 8 stating the number of employees for which the penalty is 9 proposed under item (1) of subsection (a) of this Section or 10 the number of employees for which the penalty is proposed 11 under item (2) of subsection (a) of this Section for such 12 calendar year, and the total amount of penalties proposed. 13 Upon the expiration of 120 days after the date on which a 14 notice of proposed assessment was issued, the penalties 15 specified therein shall be deemed assessed, unless the 16 employer had filed a protest with the Department under 17 subsection (c) of this Section or come into full compliance 18 with the Program as required under Section 60 of this Act. 19 If, within 120 days after the date on which it was issued, 20 a protest of a notice of proposed assessment is filed under 21 subsection (c) of this Section, the penalties specified 22 therein shall be deemed assessed upon the date when the 23 decision of the Department with respect to the protest becomes 24 final. 25 (c) A written protest against the proposed assessment 26 shall be filed with the Department in such form as the SB1441 Engrossed - 14 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 15 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 15 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 15 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 Department may by rule prescribe, setting forth the grounds on 2 which such protest is based. If such a protest is filed within 3 120 days after the date the notice of proposed assessment is 4 issued, the Department shall reconsider the proposed 5 assessment and shall grant the employer a hearing. As soon as 6 practicable after such reconsideration and hearing, the 7 Department shall issue a notice of decision to the employer, 8 setting forth the Department's findings of fact and the basis 9 of decision. The decision of the Department shall become 10 final: 11 (1) if no action for review of the decision is 12 commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date 13 on which the time for commencement of such review has 14 expired; or 15 (2) if a timely action for review of the decision is 16 commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date 17 all proceedings in court for the review of such assessment 18 have terminated or the time for the taking thereof has 19 expired without such proceedings being instituted. 20 (d) As soon as practicable after the penalties specified 21 in a notice of proposed assessment are deemed assessed, the 22 Department shall give notice to the employer liable for any 23 unpaid portion of such assessment, stating the amount due and 24 demanding payment. If an employer neglects or refuses to pay 25 the entire liability shown on the notice and demand within 10 26 days after the notice and demand is issued, the unpaid amount SB1441 Engrossed - 15 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 16 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 16 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 16 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 of the liability shall be a lien in favor of the State of 2 Illinois upon all property and rights to property, whether 3 real or personal, belonging to the employer, and the 4 provisions in the Illinois Income Tax Act regarding liens, 5 levies and collection actions with regard to assessed and 6 unpaid liabilities under that Act, including the periods for 7 taking any action, shall apply. 8 (e) An employer who has overpaid a penalty assessed under 9 this Section may file a claim for refund with the Department. A 10 claim shall be in writing in such form as the Department may by 11 rule prescribe and shall state the specific grounds upon which 12 it is founded. As soon as practicable after a claim for refund 13 is filed, the Department shall examine it and either issue a 14 refund or issue a notice of denial. If such a protest is filed, 15 the Department shall reconsider the denial and grant the 16 employer a hearing. As soon as practicable after such 17 reconsideration and hearing, the Department shall issue a 18 notice of decision to the employer. The notice shall set forth 19 briefly the Department's findings of fact and the basis of 20 decision in each case decided in whole or in part adversely to 21 the employer. A denial of a claim for refund becomes final 120 22 days after the date of issuance of the notice of the denial 23 except for such amounts denied as to which the employer has 24 filed a protest with the Department. If a protest has been 25 timely filed, the decision of the Department shall become 26 final: SB1441 Engrossed - 16 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 17 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 17 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 17 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 (1) if no action for review of the decision is 2 commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date 3 on which the time for commencement of such review has 4 expired; or 5 (2) if a timely action for review of the decision is 6 commenced under the Administrative Review Law, on the date 7 all proceedings in court for the review of such assessment 8 have terminated or the time for the taking thereof has 9 expired without such proceedings being instituted. 10 (f) No notice of proposed assessment may be issued with 11 respect to a calendar year after June 30 of the fourth 12 subsequent calendar year. No claim for refund may be filed 13 more than 1 year after the date of payment of the amount to be 14 refunded. 15 (g) The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and 16 the rules adopted pursuant to it shall apply to and govern all 17 proceedings for the judicial review of final decisions of the 18 Department in response to a protest filed by the employer 19 under subsections (c) and (e) of this Section. Final decisions 20 of the Department shall constitute "administrative decisions" 21 as defined in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The 22 Department may adopt any rules necessary to carry out its 23 duties pursuant to this Section. 24 (h) Whenever notice is required by this Section, it may be 25 given or issued by mailing it by first-class mail addressed to 26 the person concerned at his or her last known address or in an SB1441 Engrossed - 17 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 18 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 18 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 18 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 electronic format as determined by the Department. 2 (i) All books and records and other papers and documents 3 relevant to the determination of any penalty due under this 4 Section shall, at all times during business hours of the day, 5 be subject to inspection by the Department or its duly 6 authorized agents and employees. 7 (j) The Department may require employers to report 8 information relevant to their compliance with this Act on 9 returns otherwise due from the employers under Section 704A of 10 the Illinois Income Tax Act and failure to provide the 11 requested information on a return shall cause such return to 12 be treated as unprocessable. 13 (k) For purposes of any provision of State law allowing 14 the Department or any other agency of this State to offset an 15 amount owed to a taxpayer against a tax liability of that 16 taxpayer or allowing the Department to offset an overpayment 17 of tax against any liability owed to the State, a penalty 18 assessed under this Section shall be deemed to be a tax 19 liability of the employer and any refund due to an employer 20 shall be deemed to be an overpayment of tax of the employer. 21 (l) Except as provided in this subsection, all information 22 received by the Department from returns filed by an employer 23 or from any investigation conducted under the provisions of 24 this Act shall be confidential, except for official purposes 25 within the Department or pursuant to official procedures for 26 collection of penalties assessed under this Act. Nothing SB1441 Engrossed - 18 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 19 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 19 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 19 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 contained in this subsection shall prevent the Director from 2 publishing or making available to the public reasonable 3 statistics concerning the operation of this Act wherein the 4 contents of returns are grouped into aggregates in such a way 5 that the specific information of any employer shall not be 6 disclosed. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent 7 the Director from divulging information to an authorized 8 representative of the employer or to any person pursuant to a 9 request or authorization made by the employer or by an 10 authorized representative of the employer. 11 (m) Civil penalties collected under this Act and fees 12 collected pursuant to subsection (n) of this Section shall be 13 deposited into the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund. The 14 Department may, subject to appropriation, use moneys in the 15 fund to cover expenses it incurs in the performance of its 16 duties under this Act. Interest attributable to moneys in the 17 Tax Compliance and Administration Fund shall be credited to 18 the Tax Compliance and Administration Fund. 19 (n) The Department may charge the Board a reasonable fee 20 for its costs in performing its duties under this Section to 21 the extent that such costs have not been recovered from 22 penalties imposed under this Section. 23 (o) The Department shall post on its Internet website a 24 notice stating that this Section is operative and the date 25 that it is first operative. This notice shall include a 26 statement that rather than enrolling employees in the Program SB1441 Engrossed - 19 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed- 20 -LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 20 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b SB1441 Engrossed - 20 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b 1 under this Act, employers may set up a qualified retirement 2 plan, including, but not limited to, a defined benefit plan, 3 401(k) plan, a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan, or a 4 Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) plan. The 5 Board shall provide a link to the vendor Internet website 6 described in subsection (i) of Section 60 of this Act, if 7 applicable. 8 (Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-681, eff. 1-1-25.) 9 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 10 becoming law. SB1441 Engrossed - 20 - LRB104 07365 SPS 17405 b