The Secretary of State, or any person designated by him or her, may issue a statement concerning the applicability of the Act or the rules and regulations thereunder to any transaction or proposed transaction which may be subject to the Act. No statement issued by the Secretary of State or his or her designee pursuant to this Section 15a shall be binding upon the Secretary of State or the State of Illinois, or shall be admissible in any administrative, civil or criminal action as, or shall otherwise constitute, a legal opinion of the Secretary of State. Each application for a statement pursuant to this Section 15a shall be filed with the Secretary of State in the form and manner prescribed by the Secretary of State by rule or regulation, and shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount specified in Section 11a of this Act, which fee shall not be returnable in any event.