(820 ILCS 80/30)
    Sec. 30. Duties of the Board. In addition to the other duties and responsibilities stated in this Act, the Board shall:
        (a) Cause the Program to be designed, established and
    
operated in a manner that:
            (1) accords with best practices for retirement
        
savings vehicles;
            (2) maximizes participation, savings, and sound
        
investment practices;
            (3) maximizes simplicity, including ease of
        
administration for participating employers and enrollees;
            (4) provides an efficient product to enrollees by
        
pooling investment funds;
            (5) ensures the portability of benefits; and
            (6) provides for the deaccumulation of enrollee
        
assets in a manner that maximizes financial security in retirement.
        (b) Appoint a trustee to the IRA Fund in compliance
    
with Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code.
        (c) Explore and establish investment options, subject
    
to Section 45 of this Act, that offer employees returns on contributions and the conversion of individual retirement savings account balances to secure retirement income without incurring debt or liabilities to the State.
        (d) Establish the process by which interest,
    
investment earnings, and investment losses are allocated to individual program accounts on a pro rata basis and are computed at the interest rate on the balance of an individual's account.
        (e) Make and enter into contracts necessary for the
    
administration of the Program and Fund, including, but not limited to, retaining and contracting with investment managers, private financial institutions, other financial and service providers, consultants, actuaries, counsel, auditors, third-party administrators, and other professionals as necessary.
        (e-5) Conduct a review of the performance of any
    
investment vendors every 4 years, including, but not limited to, a review of returns, fees, and customer service. A copy of reviews conducted under this subsection (e-5) shall be posted to the Board's Internet website.
        (f) In collaboration with the State Treasurer,
    
determine the number and duties of staff members needed to administer the Program and assemble such a staff.
        (g) Cause moneys in the Fund to be held and invested
    
as pooled investments described in Section 45 of this Act, with a view to achieving cost savings through efficiencies and economies of scale.
        (h) Evaluate and establish the process by which an
    
enrollee is able to contribute a portion of his or her wages to the Program for automatic deposit of those contributions and the process by which the participating employer provides a payroll deposit retirement savings arrangement to forward those contributions and related information to the Program, including, but not limited to, contracting with financial service companies and third-party administrators with the capability to receive and process employee information and contributions for payroll deposit retirement savings arrangements or similar arrangements.
        (i) Design and establish the process for enrollment
    
under Section 60 of this Act, including the process by which an employee can opt not to participate in the Program, select a contribution level, select an investment option, and terminate participation in the Program.
        (j) Evaluate and establish the process by which an
    
individual may voluntarily enroll in and make contributions to the Program.
        (k) Accept any grants, appropriations, or other
    
moneys from the State, any unit of federal, State, or local government, or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation solely for deposit into the Fund, whether for investment or administrative purposes.
        (l) Evaluate the need for, and procure as needed,
    
insurance against any and all loss in connection with the property, assets, or activities of the Program, and indemnify as needed each member of the Board from personal loss or liability resulting from a member's action or inaction as a member of the Board.
        (m) Make provisions for the payment of administrative
    
costs and expenses for the creation, management, and operation of the Program, including the costs associated with subsection (b) of Section 20 of this Act, subsections (e), (f), (h), and (l) of this Section, subsection (b) of Section 45 of this Act, subsection (a) of Section 80 of this Act, and subsection (n) of Section 85 of this Act. Subject to appropriation, the State may pay administrative costs associated with the creation and management of the Program until sufficient assets are available in the Fund for that purpose. Thereafter, all administrative costs of the Fund shall be paid only out of moneys on deposit therein. However, private funds or federal funding received under subsection (k) of Section 30 of this Act in order to implement the Program until the Fund is self-sustaining shall not be repaid unless those funds were offered contingent upon the promise of such repayment. The Board shall keep investment fees as low as possible, but in no event shall they exceed 0.25% of the total trust balance. The Board may charge administrative fees, established by rule, that shall be consistent with industry standards.
        (n) Allocate administrative fees to individual
    
retirement accounts in the Program on a pro rata basis.
        (o) Set minimum and maximum contribution levels in
    
accordance with limits established for IRAs by the Internal Revenue Code.
        (o-5) Select a default contribution rate for
    
Program participants within the range of 3% to 6% of an enrollee's wages.
        (o-10) Establish annual, automatic increases to the
    
contribution rates based upon a schedule provided for in rules up to a maximum of 10% of an enrollee's wages.
        (p) Facilitate education and outreach to employers
    
and employees.
        (q) Facilitate compliance by the Program with all
    
applicable requirements for the Program under the Internal Revenue Code, including tax qualification requirements or any other applicable law and accounting requirements.
        (q-5) Verify employee eligibility for auto-enrollment
    
in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Federal and State laws. The verification shall include the rejection of any enrollee under 18 years of age.
        (r) Carry out the duties and obligations of the
    
Program in an effective, efficient, and low-cost manner.
        (s) Exercise any and all other powers reasonably
    
necessary for the effectuation of the purposes, objectives, and provisions of this Act pertaining to the Program.
        (t) Deposit into the Illinois Secure Choice
    
Administrative Fund all grants, gifts, donations, fees, and earnings from investments from the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program Fund that are used to recover administrative costs. All expenses of the Board shall be paid from the Illinois Secure Choice Administrative Fund.
    The Board may enter into agreements with other governmental entities, including other states or their agencies and instrumentalities, to enable residents of other states to participate in the Program.
(Source: P.A. 102-179, eff. 1-1-22; 103-43, eff. 6-9-23.)