HB5475 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 17717 SMS 67144 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5475

Introduced , by Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr.

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

10 ILCS 5/17-15

from Ch. 46, par. 17-15

Amends the Election Code. Provides that an employee is entitled to absent himself or herself from work for a period of 4 hours (rather than 2) to vote. Provides that an employee receiving an hourly wage shall be compensated for the time used to vote, up to 4 hours.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning elections.

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

Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing Section 17-15 as follows:

(10 ILCS 5/17-15) (from Ch. 46, par. 17-15)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 101-624)

Sec. 17-15. Any person entitled to vote at a general or special election or at any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed, for a period of 4 2 hours between the time of opening and closing the polls; and such voter shall not because of so absenting himself be liable to any penalty; Provided, however, that application for such leave of absence shall be made prior to the day of election. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself as aforesaid, except that the employer must permit a 4-hour 2-hour absence during working hours if the employee's working hours begin less than 4 2 hours after the opening of the polls and end less than 4 2 hours before the closing of the polls. No person or corporation shall refuse to an employee the privilege hereby conferred, nor shall subject an employee to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to an absence under this Section, because of the exercise of such privilege, nor shall directly or indirectly violate the provisions of this Section. An employee receiving an hourly wage shall be compensated for up to 4 hours for the time he or she absented himself or herself to vote.

(Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 101-624)

Sec. 17-15. (a) Any person entitled to vote at a general or special election or at any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed, for a period of 4 2 hours between the time of opening and closing the polls; and such voter shall not because of so absenting himself be liable to any penalty; Provided, however, that application for such leave of absence shall be made prior to the day of election. The employer may specify the hours during which said employee may absent himself as aforesaid, except that the employer must permit a 4-hour 2-hour absence during working hours if the employee's working hours begin less than 4 2 hours after the opening of the polls and end less than 4 2 hours before the closing of the polls. No person or corporation shall refuse to an employee the privilege hereby conferred, nor shall subject an employee to a penalty, including a reduction in compensation due to an absence under this Section, because of the exercise of such privilege, nor shall directly or indirectly violate the provisions of this Section. An employee receiving an hourly wage shall be compensated for up to 4 hours for the time he or she absented himself or herself to vote.

(b) Beginning the 15th day before a general or special election or any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State or on the day of a general or special election or any election at which propositions are submitted to a popular vote in this State, any student entitled to vote at such election shall be entitled to be absent from school for a period of 2 hours during the school day in order to vote. The school may specify the hours during which the eligible student may be absent. A student who is absent from school under this subsection (b) is not considered absent for the purpose of calculating enrollment under Section 18-8.15 of the School Code.

(Source: P.A. 101-624, eff. 6-1-20.)

Section 95. No acceleration or delay. Where this Act makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for example, a Section represented by multiple versions), the use of that text does not accelerate or delay the taking effect of (i) the changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from any other Public Act.