(35 ILCS 25/15)

Sec. 15. Powers of the Department. The Department, in addition to those powers granted under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, is granted and shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this Act, including, but not limited to, power and authority to:

(1) Promulgate procedures, rules, or regulations deemed necessary and appropriate for the administration of this Act; establish forms for applications, notifications, contracts, or any other agreements; and accept applications at any time during the year and require that all applications be submitted via the Internet. The Department shall require that applications be submitted in electronic form.

(2) Provide guidance and assistance to applicants pursuant to the provisions of this Act, and cooperate with applicants to promote, foster, and support job creation within the State.

(3) Enter into agreements and memoranda of understanding for participation of and engage in cooperation with agencies of the federal government, units of local government, universities, research foundations or institutions, regional economic development corporations, or other organizations for the purposes of this Act.

(4) Gather information and conduct inquiries, in the manner and by the methods it deems desirable, including, without limitation, gathering information with respect to applicants for the purpose of making any designations or certifications necessary or desirable or to gather information in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.

(5) Establish, negotiate, and effectuate any term, agreement, or other document with any person necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this Act; and consent, subject to the provisions of any agreement with another party, to the modification or restructuring of any agreement to which the Department is a party.

(6) Provide for sufficient personnel to permit administration, staffing, operation, and related support required to adequately discharge its duties and responsibilities described in this Act from funds made available through charges to applicants or from funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly for the administration of this Act.

(7) Require applicants, upon written request, to issue any necessary authorization to the appropriate federal, State, or local authority or any other person for the release to the Department of information requested by the Department, with the information requested to include, but not be limited to, financial reports, returns, or records relating to the applicant or to the amount of credit allowable under this Act.

(8) Require that an applicant shall at all times keep proper books of record and account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, with the books, records, or papers related to the agreement in the custody or control of the applicant open for reasonable Department inspection and audits, and including, without limitation, the making of copies of the books, records, or papers.

(9) Take whatever actions are necessary or appropriate to protect the State's interest in the event of bankruptcy, default, foreclosure, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions of financial assistance or participation required under this Act, including the power to sell, dispose of, lease, or rent, upon terms and conditions determined by the Director to be appropriate, real or personal property that the Department may recover as a result of these actions.

(Source: P.A. 96-888, eff. 4-13-10.)