Annual Disclosure of Economic Interests

The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requires certain employees of NIU to file a Statement of Economic Interests by May 1, 2002. The forms, which are mailed in mid-March to the homes of those NIU employees, should be completed and returned to Kenneth L. Davidson, university ethics officer, in Lowden Hall 302. After review, the completed forms will be forwarded to the Illinois Secretary of State, and a stamped receipt for filing will be mailed to the employee. Completed forms should not be sent directly to the Secretary of State.

Which employees are required to file?

The criteria that apply to NIU employees are described in Section 4A-101(f) of Public Act 88-187 as amended in August 1993. The criteria include: persons who are or who function as the head of a department or other administrative unit; those who have supervisory authority over, or direct responsibility for the formulation, negotiation, issuance or execution of contracts entered into by the state in the amount of $5,000 or more; and those who have supervisory responsibility for 20 or more employees. The names of employees whose responsibilities may be expected to include one or more of the above criteria are certified to the Secretary of State by the university president, in consultation with Human Resource Services and the university ethics officer.

What are the penalties for late filing/failure to file?

Penalties imposed through the Secretary of State's office for failure to file a Statement of Economic Interests include: a late filing fee of $15 if filed after Wednesday, May 1, and on or before Wednesday, May 15; or penalty of $100 for each day from Thursday, May 16, to the date of filing in addition to the $15 late filing fee. For more information, contact Davidson at 753-8364 or Lissa Richno at (217) 782-7019.