Section 2005.30  Business Hours, Holidays, and Public Access

a)         The public business hours of the Capitol Complex buildings are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise posted, Monday through Friday, except holidays declared by the Governor pursuant to Section 5-635 of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois [20 ILCS 5], and on weekends and holidays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for purposes of public Capitol building tours only.  When the General Assembly is in session, or when the start of a committee meeting or session for either chamber is scheduled to commence before or adjourns after public business hours, the public business hours will begin one hour before the earliest committee meeting or session, and will end one hour after the adjournment of the last committee meeting or session in whatever building the legislative function is held.

b)         The following are observed holidays for the Capitol Complex:  New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday (President's Day), Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and the following day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

c)         Entrance to any building identified in Section 2005.10 during times other than stated in subsection (a) is prohibited, except for the following persons who shall be admitted to office areas assigned to them for their use in carrying out their official duties:

1)         members of the General Assembly;

2)         employees of the General Assembly;

3)         employees of the executive departments whose offices are in the building;

4)         representatives of news media who have offices in the Capitol Building;

5)         any authorized maintenance, repairer, contractor, or other service employee, while performing duties that have been arranged for by the Department of Physical Services or the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (OAC); and

6)         any person who is specifically requested to enter any building or office by an authorized individual listed in subsections (c)(1) to (4).

d)         Proper identification of all persons, such as a press pass, government photo identification card, a driver's license, or other document that shows the identity of the person, may be demanded by security personnel, and employees may be required to sign in and out of a building after 5 p.m. and before 7 a.m.  Only one entrance shall be open after public business hours. 

1)         Factors to be considered in determining that identification will be requested include, but are not limited to:

A)        the security guard or investigator does not recognize the individual;

B)        the behavior of the individual; and

C)        accessibility to office areas, work areas, and restricted-access areas.

2)         All persons entering the buildings of the Capitol Complex will be required to wear their government photo identification card where it can be easily seen at all times when it has been determined by the Director of the Department of Police that security concerns warrant that display.  All visitors to the Capitol Complex who do not possess a government photo identification card will be required to submit themselves to security screening measures prior to entry.  Lobbyists, vendors and their employees, and employees of State agencies that do not issue photo identification cards may be issued photo identification cards by the Secretary of State Department of Police.

e)         All persons and vehicles entering the Capitol Complex and its buildings may be subject to search, including, but not limited to, inspection of vehicles, trunks, parcels and packages, metal detector screening, X-Ray scans, and inspection of bulky personal items brought into the Capitol Complex.

f)         Parking for the public is not available on the Capitol Complex.  Parking in the parking lots of the Capitol Complex is by parking permit only.  All persons are prohibited from parking in assigned parking spaces without the appropriate permit. Employees and members identified as working within the Capitol Complex must park only in the parking spot assigned by their employer, with the parking placard visible in the vehicle. Parking in a spot without the appropriate parking placard clearly visible shall result in a parking citation issued by the Office of the Secretary of State Department of Police prescribed in Section 2005.80(c).  Parking for the public is authorized in the visitor's lot located on Edwards Street between College Street and Pasfield Street.

g)         Firearms, firearm ammunition, knives, razors or other blade instruments, stun guns or tasers, explosive devices, flammable, corrosive or explosive compounds, incendiary devices, irritants or noxious compounds (e.g., tear gas or pepper spray), toy or dummy weapons, all contraband, and any other items considered inappropriate or that could be used as a weapon are prohibited.  The Director of the Department of Police may permit exemptions to these prohibitions for law enforcement, military, and ceremonial personnel who are performing their official duties.

h)         Emergency personnel who are responding to a genuine emergency situation within the Capitol Complex are not subject to screening or searches.

i)          Public access to any building or area of the grounds may be restricted if it is determined by the Director of the Department of Police that a situation has arisen that threatens the security of persons and buildings within the Capitol Complex.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 17881, effective November 16, 2023)