10 ILCS 5/9-21
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 10 - ELECTIONS|10 ILCS 5/ - Election Code.|Article 9 - Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures

 (from Ch. 46, par. 9-21)Sec. 9-21.   Upon receipt of a complaint as provided in Section 9-20, the Board shall hold a closed  preliminary hearing to determine whether or not the complaint appears to  have been filed on justifiable grounds. Such closed preliminary hearing  shall be conducted as soon as practicable after affording reasonable  notice, a copy of the complaint, and an opportunity to testify at such  hearing to both the person making the complaint and the person against whom  the complaint is directed. If the Board fails to determine  that the complaint has been filed on justifiable grounds, it shall dismiss the  complaint without further hearing. Any additional hearings shall be open to the public.Whenever the Board, in an open meeting, determines, after affording due notice and an  opportunity for a public hearing, that any person has engaged or is about to  engage in an act or practice which constitutes or will constitute a  violation of any provision of this Article or any regulation or order  issued thereunder, the Board shall issue an order directing such person to  take such action as the Board determines may be necessary in the public  interest to correct the violation.  In addition, if the act or practice  engaged in consists of the failure to file any required report within the  time prescribed by this Article, the Board, as part of its order, shall  further provide that if, within the 12-month period following the issuance  of the order, such person fails to file within the time prescribed by this  Article any subsequent report as may be required, such person may be subject  to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23. The Board shall render its final  judgment within 60 days of the date the complaint is filed; except that  during the 60 days preceding the date of the election in reference to which  the complaint is filed, the Board shall render its final judgment within 7  days of the date the complaint is filed, and during the 7 days preceding  such election, the Board shall render such judgment before the date of such  election, if possible.At any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final judgment, the  parties may dispose of the complaint by a written stipulation, agreed  settlement  or consent order.  Any such stipulation, settlement or order shall, however,  be submitted in writing to the Board and shall become effective only if  approved by the Board in an open meeting.  If the act or practice complained of consists of  the failure to file any required report within the time prescribed by this  Article, such stipulation, settlement or order may provide that if, within  the 12-month period following the approval of such stipulation,  agreement or order, the person complained of fails to file within the time  prescribed by this Article any subsequent reports as may be required, such  person may be subject to a civil penalty pursuant to Section 9-23.Any person filing a complaint pursuant to Section 9-20 may, upon written  notice to the other parties and to the Board, voluntarily withdraw the  complaint  at any time prior to the issuance of the Board's final determination.  (Source: P.A. 96-832, eff. 1-1-11.)