The Board of Trustees recognizes that the IMRF staff is ultimately employed by the members of IMRF, the participating units of local government, and the taxpayers of those local governments. It is appropriate therefore that the restrictions against prohibited political activity found in the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act and applicable to units of local governments and school districts are applicable to IMRF staff and trustees.
The following definitions apply to this policy against prohibited political activities:
"Campaign for elective office" means any activity in furtherance of an effort to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual to any federal, State, or local public office or office in a political organization, or the selection, nomination, or election of Presidential or Vice-Presidential electors.
"Candidate" means a person who has filed nominating papers or petitions for nomination or election to an elected public office, or who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in nomination, and who remains eligible for placement on the ballot at a regular election, as defined in section 1-3 of the Election Code.
"Compensated time" means, with respect to an employee, any time worked by or credited to the employee that counts toward any minimum work time requirement imposed as a condition of employment, but, does not include any designated holidays, vacation periods, personal time, or compensatory time off.
"Contribution" has the same meaning as that term is defined in section 9-1.4 of the Election Code.
"Employee" means a person employed by the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, whether on a full-time or part-time basis or pursuant to a contract, whose duties are subject to the direction and control of IMRF with regard to the material details of how the work is to be performed, but does not include an independent contractor.
"Employer" means the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
"Political activity" means any activity in support of or in connection with any campaign for elective public office or any political organization, but does not include activities (i) relating to the support or opposition of any executive, legislative, or administrative action; (ii) relating to collective bargaining; or (iii) that are otherwise in furtherance of the person's official duties.
"Political organization" means a party, committee, association, fund, or other organization (whether or not incorporated) that is required to file a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or a county clerk under Section 9-3 of the Election Code.
"Prohibited political activity" means:
- Preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.
- Soliciting contributions, including but not limited to the purchase of, selling, distributing, or receiving payment for tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting, or other political event.
- Soliciting, planning the solicitation of, or preparing any document or report regarding anything of value intended as a campaign contribution.
- Planning, conducting, or participating in a public opinion poll in connection with a campaign for elective public office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.
- Surveying or gathering information from potential or actual voters in an election to determine probable vote outcome in connection with a campaign for elective public office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.
- Assisting at the polls on election day on behalf of any political organization or candidate for public office or for or against any referendum question.
- Soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective public office or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls.
- Initiating for circulation, preparing, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate for elective public office or for or against any referendum question.
- Making contributions on behalf of any candidate for elective public office in that capacity or in connection with a campaign for elective public office.
- Preparing or reviewing responses to candidate questionnaires.
- Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective public office or for or against any referendum question.
- Campaigning for any elective public office or for or against any referendum or against any referendum question.
- Managing or working on a campaign for elective public office or for or against a referendum question.
- Serving as a delegate, alternate, or proxy to a political party convention.
- Participating in any recount or challenge to the outcome of any public office election.
"Trustee" means a member of the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.
Prohibited Political Activities
- No employee shall intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time, as defined herein. No trustee or employee shall intentionally use any property or resources of IMRF in connection with any prohibited political activity.
- At no time shall any trustee or employee require any employee to perform any prohibited political activity (i) as part of that employee’s duties, (ii) as a condition of employment, or (iii) during any compensated time off (such as holidays, vacation or personal time off).
- No employee shall be required at any time to participate in any prohibited political activity in consideration for additional compensation or any benefit, nor shall any employee be awarded additional compensation or any benefit in consideration for his or her participation in any prohibited political activity.
- Nothing in this Policy prohibits activities that are permissible for a trustee or employee to engage in as part of his or her official duties, including duties or activities related to the election of IMRF trustees, or activities that are undertaken by a trustee or employee on a voluntary basis which are not prohibited by this Policy. Nothing in this Policy shall apply to or restrict the rules regarding IMRF Board elections.
- No person shall be denied or deprived of employment at IMRF solely because he or she is a member or an officer of a political committee, of a political party, or of a political organization or club.
Penalties
An employee who intentionally violates any provision of the IMRF Ethics Policy (including the standard of conduct and conflict of interest provisions, the travel policy, the policy against harassment, and the policy against prohibited political activities) is subject to discipline up to and including discharge.
A trustee who intentionally violates any provision of the IMRF Ethics Policy (including the standards of conduct and conflict of interest provisions, the travel policy, the policy against harassment, and the policy against prohibited political activities) is subject to public censure by the Board of Trustees and/or removal from Board office (i.e. President, Vice-President or Secretary) and/or Board committee membership.