55 ILCS 5/5-12015
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 55 - COUNTIES|55 ILCS 5/ - Counties Code.|Article 5 - Powers And Duties Of County Boards

 (from Ch. 34, par. 5-12015)Sec. 5-12015.     Hearing officer; duties.     Notwithstanding anything to  the contrary provided for in this Division:(A) The county board of each county may by resolution or ordinance establish  the position of hearing officer and delegate to a hearing officer the authority  to conduct any public hearing otherwise required to be heard in accordance  with this Division by the board of appeals.  When a hearing  officer is designated by the county board to conduct any such hearing:  (i)  notice of hearing shall be given in the same time and manner and the  hearing shall be conducted in the same location provided by this  Division for the giving of such notice and for the location of  such hearing when any such hearing is conducted by the board of appeals;  (ii) the hearing officer in acting upon any matter otherwise within the  jurisdiction of the board of appeals shall be governed by the same  standards and shall exercise and perform all of the powers and duties of  the board of appeals in the same manner and to the same effect as provided  in this Division with respect to the board of appeals  provided that:1. When the hearing officer is acting upon an application or petition  to amend the regulations imposed or the districts created under the authority  of this Division and such amendment is to be made by ordinance  or resolution, the hearing officer shall render a written recommendation to  the county board within such time and in such manner and form as the county  board shall require;2. When the hearing officer is acting upon an application or petition  for a variation and the regulations by this Division authorized  provide that the county board by ordinance or resolution may determine and  vary the application of such regulations as set forth in this Division,  then upon report of the hearing officer the county board may by  ordinance or resolution without further public hearing adopt any proposed  variation or may refer it back to the hearing officer for further  consideration, and any proposed variation which fails to receive the  approval of the hearing officer shall not be passed except by the favorable  vote of 3/4 of all members of the county board, but in counties in which  the county board consists of 3 members only a 2/3 vote is required;3. When the hearing officer is acting upon an application or petition  for  a variation and the regulations by this Division  authorized do not provide that the county board by ordinance or resolution  may determine and vary the application of such regulations as set forth in  this Division, or when the hearing officer is acting upon any  matter otherwise within the jurisdiction of the board of appeals under  Sections 5-12011 and 5-12012 other than a  matter referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above of this subsection (A), the  determination made by the hearing officer with respect to any such  variation or matter shall constitute a final administrative decision which  is subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the  "Administrative Review Law", as now or hereafter amended.(B) The county board may provide general or specific regulations  implementing but not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section,  including regulations relative to the time and manner in which hearing  officers are designated to conduct public hearings and regulations  governing the manner in which such hearings are conducted and matters heard  therein passed upon and determined.(C) Hearing officers shall be appointed on the basis of training and  experience which qualifies them to conduct hearings, make recommendations  or findings of fact and conclusions on the matters heard and otherwise  exercise and perform the powers, duties and functions delegated in  accordance with this Section.  Hearing officers shall receive such  compensation as the county board shall provide, and the county board may  establish a schedule of fees to defray the costs of providing a hearing  officer.(D) This Section is intended to furnish an alternative or supplemental  procedure which a county board in its discretion may provide for hearing,  determining, reviewing and deciding matters which arise under any ordinance,  resolution or regulation adopted pursuant to this Division, but  nothing in this Section shall be deemed to limit or prevent the use of any  existing procedure available pursuant to this Division for  hearing, approving or denying applications or petitions for a variation,  amendment or other revision of any such ordinance, resolution or  regulation, or for hearing and deciding appeals from and reviewing any  order, requirement, decision or determination made by an administrative  official charged with the enforcement of any such ordinance, resolution  or regulation.    (Source: P.A. 86-962.)