"Public employee" means a person, other than a public officer, who is authorized to perform any official function on behalf of, and is paid by, the State or any of its political subdivisions.
720 ILCS 5/2-17
"Public employee"
Laws 1961, p. 1983.
Official source: Illinois General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Illinois statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.