More Research Guides  PDF version Steps In Using the Illinois Administrative Code [IAC] Prepared by Frank Houdek, SIU Law Library — Spring 2007
| DESCRIPTION OF STEP |
Code of Illinois Rules |
JCAR Administrative Code [electronic]* |
Westlaw / LexisNexis |
STEP 1: Identify Pertinent Regulations |
| Use "index" approach to identify Illinois Administrative Code sections by subject; the name of the appropriate agency is often a useful search term |
Use "Subject Index" located in INDEX volume at end of set |
Use search box provided for "Keyword(s)" search |
W Subj. search in IL-ADC database [note: you may click on "Thesaurus" and/or "Field Restrictions" on search menu screen for assistance in developing search]
L Subj. search in Illinois Administrative Code source [note: in Advanced search mode, you may click on "Suggest Terms for My Search" and/or "Restrict by Segment" on search menu screen for assistance in developing search] |
| Use "table of contents" approach to identify Ill. Admin. Code sections by subject |
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From Administrative Code main page → select title → select part → continue to relevant §§ |
W Go to IL-ADC → Click "Table of Contents" link → click + to expand levels until you find relevant §§
L Go to Illinois Administrative Code source → click + to expand levels until you find relevant §§ |
| Use "enabling statute" as access point to identify Ill. Admin. Code sections promulgated under its authority |
Use "Illinois Table of Authorities" located in INDEX volume at end of set |
not searchable |
W In IL-ADC database, use "Credit" (CR) field to search for ILCS §
L In Illinois Administrative Code source, use "Authority" segment to search for ILCS § |
STEP 2: Retrieve Text of Pertinent Regulations |
Locate and read Illinois Administrative Code section(s) identified in Step 1
- review other §§ in regulatory scheme for relevance
- identify & review "source" (Illinois Register) and "authority" (ILCS)
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Go to title and section number(s)
- review surrounding sections
- go to listed Ill. Reg. source(s) and ILCS authority
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- have to review sections individually; do this by "clicking through" from title to part to sections from Ill. Admin. Code main page once you have identified the relevant section
- the Ill. Reg. source is listed at end of Ill. Admin. Code §; Ill. Sec. of State has Ill. Reg. in electronic form on its Web site (Aug. 2002–present), available in PDF format by issue; for earlier Ill. Reg. cites, must use print or other source for Ill. Reg.
- authority information provided at beginning of Ill. Admin. Code part to which § belongs
|
W (1) click "Table of Contents" link in left frame to get § in context, OR (2) use "Previous/Next section" arrows at top of screen to move from § to §
Click "General Materials" at end of § to get Ill. Reg. source and ILCS authority
L (1) click "TOC" link in upper lefthand corner of screen (or click on hot-linked PART #) to see § in context, OR (2) click on "book browse" (at top of screen) to move from § to § (using arrows)
Click "Authority & Gen. Source" at end of § to get Ill. Reg. source and ILCS authority |
STEP 3: Update Pertinent Regulations |
| Determine whether regulation(s) has been amended since last published in Ill. Admin. Code |
- updated monthly; check "update" pages in Vol. 1 to determine currentness (note that amendments are not interfiled but are found at end of volume)
- to further update, use cumulative Sections Affected Index for Illinois Register & each Ill. Reg. issue after last quarterly Sections Affected Index
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As up-to-date as the latest available Illinois Register |
W (1) notice "current through" info. found on section; (2) click on Red Flag link on left frame if provided (this will take you into Illinois Register database to page where section was affected); (3) search Illinois Register database using date limitation & IAC § as search query (e.g., 2520.360 and da(aft 2/16/07))
L (1) notice "current through" info. found on section; (2) search Illinois Register source using date limitation & IAC § as search query (e.g., 2520.360 and date after 2/23/07) |
STEP 4: Find Cases |
| Find cases that have interpreted the regulation |
Not annotated and not covered by Shepard's |
Not annotated and not covered by Shepard's |
W click on KeyCite "citing references" link on left frame
L search Illinois case source (such as IL State Cases, Combined) using IAC § as search term (may combine with other terms to narrow the search) |
*Illinois General Assembly, Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, Illinois Administrative Code, at http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/titles.html
PDF version of this research guide. 
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