94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB1244


 
Introduced 2/18/2005, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein - Emil Jones, Jr.
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













775 ILCS 5/7-101
  from Ch. 68, par. 7-101








    Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act.  Makes a technical change in a Section
concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Human Rights.
















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A BILL FOR









 











SB1244

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    AN ACT concerning human rights.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
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represented in the General Assembly: 


 
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    Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by 
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changing Section 7-101 as follows:
 



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    (775 ILCS 5/7-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7-101)



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    Sec. 7-101. Powers and Duties. In addition to other powers 
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and
and duties
prescribed in this Act, the Department shall 
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have the following powers:
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    (A) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and 
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rescind rules
and regulations not inconsistent with the 
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provisions of this Act pursuant
to the Illinois Administrative 
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Procedure Act.

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    (B) Charges. To issue, receive, investigate, conciliate, 
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settle, and dismiss
charges filed in conformity with this Act.

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    (C) Compulsory Process. To request subpoenas as it deems 
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necessary for
its investigations.

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    (D) Complaints. To file complaints with the Commission in 
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conformity
with this Act.

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    (E) Judicial Enforcement. To seek temporary relief and to 
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enforce orders
of the Commission in conformity with this Act.

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    (F) Equal Employment Opportunities. To take such action as 
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may be authorized
to provide for equal employment opportunities 
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and affirmative action.

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    (G) Recruitment; Research; Public Communication; Advisory 
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Councils. To
engage in such recruitment, research and public 
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communication and create
such advisory councils as may be 
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authorized to effectuate the purposes of
this Act.

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    (H) Coordination with Federal and Local Agencies. To 
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coordinate its
activities with federal and local agencies in 
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conformity with this Act.

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    (I) Public Grants; Private Gifts. To accept public grants 
 


 






SB1244
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and private
gifts as may be authorized.

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    (J) Education and Training.  To implement a formal and 
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unbiased program
of education and training for all employees 
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assigned to investigate and
conciliate charges under Articles 
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7A and 7B. The training program shall
include the following:


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        (1) substantive and procedural aspects of the 
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    investigation and
conciliation positions;


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        (2) current issues in human rights law and practice;


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        (3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas 
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    related to human
rights matters;


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        (4) orientation to each operational unit of the 
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    Department and Commission;


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        (5) observation of experienced Department 
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    investigators and attorneys
conducting conciliation 
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    conferences, combined with the opportunity to
discuss 
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    evidence presented and rulings made;


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        (6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the 
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    Department investigator
and conciliation conference 
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    attorney to issue judgments as a means to
evaluating 
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    knowledge and writing ability;


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        (7) writing skills;


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        (8) computer skills, including but not limited to word 
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    processing and
document management.

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    A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development 
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program
including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas 
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shall be implemented
to keep Department investigators and 
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attorneys informed of recent
developments and issues and to 
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assist them in maintaining and enhancing
their professional 
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competence.

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(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)