720 ILCS 5/33E-6 – Interference With Contract Submission And Award By Public Official
This law makes it illegal for government officials to unfairly influence who gets public contracts or share secret contract details.
This law says government workers or officials can’t give out secret information about government contracts, tell bidders who to hire, or rig the contract process. People who break this law can be charged with a crime.
(a) A government official or employee who knowingly shares secret or special contract information–like contract details or names of possible subcontractors–outside official meetings or bid requests, commits a Class 4 felony. However, it’s not breaking the law if the official shares general information to help explain the contract plans when that same information is available to everyone.
(b) A government official or employee who tells a bidder that their offer will only be accepted if they hire certain people commits a Class 3 felony.
(c) It is not against the law for a government official or employee:
- To follow special rules made to help businesses owned by minorities or women, or
- To follow approved state purchasing rules.
(d) A bidder or company that gets illegal communication from the government (as described in parts (a) or (b)) and doesn’t report it to the Attorney General or local State’s Attorney commits a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) A public official who knowingly gives a contract to someone based on secret or non-public rules or information commits a Class 3 felony.
(f) It is not illegal for officials to share a copy or summary of what was said in a pre-bid meeting, as long as that information is also made available to everyone.
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