2-32-085 Voluntary charitable payroll deductions.

   (a)   The Chief Financial Officer shall administer a program under this section through which employees of the City may make contributions to charitable organizations by authorizing voluntary payroll deductions. The program shall supersede the voluntary payroll deduction program administered by the Department of Human Resources prior to May 9, 2007 (the effective date of this section).

   (b)   Pursuant to the program administered under this section, an employee may authorize the withholding of a portion of his or her salary or wages for contribution to a maximum number of 10 organizations designated as qualified to participate in the program administered under this section.

   (c)   In addition to the organizations specified in subsection (i), the Chief Financial Officer may from time to time recommend that the City Council designate by ordinance other not-for-profit organizations as eligible for participation in the program established under this section, provided that the total number of organizations having such designation at any time may not exceed 50. The Chief Financial Officer may from time to time recommend that the City Council by ordinance remove the designation of an organization that no longer meets the requirements of this section. No organization shall be designated as qualified to participate in such program unless it is a voluntary, charitable, health or welfare organization that provides or supports direct health or welfare services to individuals or their families, and is in compliance with the requirements in, and certifications made pursuant to, subsection (d).

   (d)   An organization desiring to be designated as qualified to participate in the program established under this section shall:

      (1)   Submit to the Chief Financial Officer an application in a form prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer;

      (2)   Certify that the organization (or all agencies benefitting from such organization) is tax exempt under the Internal Revenue Code; and

      (3)   Certify that the organization (or all agencies benefitting from such organization) conducts health or welfare programs and provides services to individuals directed at one or more of the following common human needs within a community: service, research, and education in the health fields; family and child care services; protective services for children and adults; services for children and adults in foster care; services related to the management and maintenance of the home; day care services for adults; transportation services; information, referral and counseling services; services to eliminate illiteracy; the preparation and delivery of meals; adoption services; emergency shelter care and relief services; disaster relief services; safety services; neighborhood and community organization services; recreation services; social adjustment and rehabilitation services; health support services; or a combination of such services designed to meet the special needs of specific groups, such as children and youth, the ill and infirm, and the physically or mentally handicapped; and that the organization and any such benefitting agencies provide the above-described services to individuals and their families in Chicago, or that the organization or benefitting agencies provide relief to victims of natural disasters and other emergencies on a where- and as-needed basis;

      (4)   Certify that it will pay its share of the program costs;

      (5)   Submit to the Chief Financial Officer a copy of the organization's annual report and, if the organization has an annual budget over $100,000, a copy of the most recently completed audit of the organization; and

      (6)   Provide such other information to the Chief Financial Officer as the Chief Financial Officer may reasonably require.

   (e)   Chief Financial Officer may require an organization designated as qualified to participate in the program administered under this section to provide, on a periodic or one-time basis, information reasonably necessary to determine whether the organization continues to be qualified to participate in the program.

   (f)   The designation of any organization that receives fewer than 250 contributions in any calendar year shall be subject to removal under subsection (c) for the subsequent calendar year.

   (g)   The Chief Financial Officer is hereby authorized to perform any acts as shall be necessary to implement this section, including negotiating, executing and entering into any advisable agreements and instruments.

   (h)   The Chief Financial Officer shall promulgate reasonable rules relating to the administration of the program.

   (i)   The following entities are eligible to participate in the program because they have been found to meet the qualifications of this section:

      100 Club of Chicago
      After School Matters
      American Cancer Society
      American Heart Association
      The Anti-Cruelty Society
      Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
      Black Fire Brigade
      Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc.
      The three firefighter support organizations currently constituting CFDC Charities, Inc.
      Chicago Humanities Festival
      Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
      Community Health Charities of Illinois
      Community Shares of Illinois
      EarthShare Illinois
      Easterseals serving Chicagoland & Rockford
      Ende, Menzer, Walsh & Quinn Retirees', Widows' and Children's Assistance Fund
      Ginger Rugai Y-Me Softball Tournament
      Global Impact
      Hispanic Scholarship Fund
      Kids In Danger
      Little City
      March of Dimes
      Misericordia Heart of Mercy
      Muscular Dystrophy Association
      Prevent Child Abuse America
      Rainbows for All Children
      Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois
      Special Children's Charities – Special Olympics Chicago
      Special Olympics Illinois
      United Way
      United Negro College Fund, Inc.

   (j)   As used in this Section, "Chief Financial Officer" means the Chief Financial Officer of the City appointed by the Mayor or, if there is no such officer then holding that office, the City Comptroller.

(Added Coun. J. 4-11-07, p. 101755, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-08, p. 42731, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-23-20, p. 22956, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 28492, § 1)