Current through Public Act 103-1052
(a) Except as otherwise provided, every trustee subject to this Act shall, in addition to filing copies of the instruments previously required, file with the Attorney General periodic annual written reports under oath, setting forth information as to the nature of the assets held for charitable purposes and the administration thereof by the trustee, in accordance with rules and regulations of the Attorney General.(b) The Attorney General shall make rules and regulations as to the time for filing reports, the contents thereof, and the manner of executing and filing them. He may classify trusts and other relationships concerning property held for a charitable purpose as to purpose, nature of assets, duration of the trust or other relationship, amount of assets, amounts to be devoted to charitable purposes, nature of trustee, or otherwise, and may establish different rules for the different classes as to time and nature of the reports required to the ends (1) that he shall receive reasonably current, annual reports as to all charitable trusts or other relationships of a similar nature, which will enable him to ascertain whether they are being properly administered, and (2) that periodic reports shall not unreasonably add to the expense of the administration of charitable trusts and similar relationships. The Attorney General may suspend the filing of reports as to a particular charitable trust or relationship for a reasonable, specifically designated time upon written application of the trustee filed with the Attorney General and after the Attorney General has filed in the register of charitable trusts a written statement that the interests of the beneficiaries will not be prejudiced thereby and that periodic reports are not required for proper supervision by his office.(c) A copy of an account filed by the trustee in any court having jurisdiction of the trust or other relationship, if the account has been approved by the court in which it was filed and notice given to the Attorney General as an interested party, may be filed as a report required by this Section.(d) The first report for a trust or similar relationship hereafter established, unless the filing thereof is suspended as herein provided, shall be filed not later than one year after any part of the income or principal is authorized or required to be applied to a charitable purpose. If any part of the income or principal of a trust previously established is authorized or required to be applied to a charitable purpose at the time this Act takes effect, the first report, unless the filing thereof is suspended, shall be filed within 6 months after the effective date of this Act. In addition, every trustee registered hereunder that received more than $25,000 in revenue during a trust fiscal year or has possession of more than $25,000 of assets at any time during a fiscal year shall file an annual financial report within 6 months of the close of the trust's or organization's fiscal year, and if a calendar year the report shall be due on each June 30 of the following year. Every trustee registered hereunder that did not receive more than $25,000 in revenue or hold more than $25,000 in assets during a fiscal year shall file only a simplified summary financial statement disclosing only the gross receipts, total disbursements, and assets on hand at the end of the year, on forms prescribed by the Attorney General.(e) The periodic reporting provisions of this Act do not apply to any trustee of a trust which is the subject matter of an adversary proceeding pending in the circuit court in this State. However, upon commencement of the proceeding the trustee shall file a report with the Attorney General informing him of that fact together with the title and number of the cause and the name of the court. Upon entry of final judgment in the cause the trustee shall in like manner report that fact to the Attorney General and fully account for all periods of suspension.(f) The Attorney General in his discretion may, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Attorney General, accept executed copies of federal Internal Revenue returns and reports as a portion of the annual reporting. The report shall include a statement of any changes in purpose or any other information required to be contained in the registration form filed on behalf of the organization. The report shall be signed under penalty of perjury by the president and the chief fiscal officer of any corporate organization or by 2 trustees if not a corporation. One signature shall be accepted if there is only one officer or trustee.(g) The Attorney General shall cancel the registration of any trust or organization that wilfully fails to comply with subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section within the time prescribed, and the assets of the organization may through court proceedings be collected, debts paid and proceeds distributed under court supervision to other charitable purposes upon an action filed by the Attorney General as law and equity allow. Upon timely written request, the due date for filing may be extended by the Attorney General for a period of 60 days. Notice of registration cancellation shall be mailed by regular mail to the registrant at the registration file address or to its registered agent or president 21 days before the effective date of the cancellation. Reports submitted after registration is canceled shall require reregistration.(h) Every trustee registered hereunder that received in any fiscal year more than $25,000 in revenue or held more than $25,000 in assets shall pay a fee of $15 along with each annual financial report filed pursuant to this Act. If an annual report is not timely filed, a late filing fee of an additional $100 is imposed and shall be paid as a condition of filing a late report. Reports submitted without the proper fee shall not be accepted for filing. P.A. 90-469, eff. 8/17/1997; 91-444, eff. 8/6/1999.