Rep. Anna Moeller

Filed: 5/29/2019

 

 


 

 


 
10100SB0220ham004LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 220

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 220, AS AMENDED, by
3replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
6changing Sections 7B-102, 8-101, and 10-103 as follows:
 
7    (775 ILCS 5/7B-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7B-102)
8    Sec. 7B-102. Procedures.
9    (A) Charge.
10        (1) Within one year after the date that a civil rights
11    violation allegedly has been committed or terminated, a
12    charge in writing under oath or affirmation may be filed
13    with the Department by an aggrieved party or issued by the
14    Department itself under the signature of the Director.
15        (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to
16    substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 2 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil
2    rights violation.
3    (B) Notice and Response to Charge.
4        (1) The Department shall serve notice upon the
5    aggrieved party acknowledging such charge and advising the
6    aggrieved party of the time limits and choice of forums
7    provided under this Act. The Department shall, within 10
8    days of the date on which the charge was filed or the
9    identification of an additional respondent under paragraph
10    (2) of this subsection, serve on the respondent a copy of
11    the charge along with a notice identifying the alleged
12    civil rights violation and advising the respondent of the
13    procedural rights and obligations of respondents under
14    this Act and may require the respondent to file a response
15    to the allegations contained in the charge. Upon the
16    Department's request, the respondent shall file a response
17    to the charge within 30 days and shall serve a copy of its
18    response on the complainant or his or her representative.
19    Notwithstanding any request from the Department, the
20    respondent may elect to file a response to the charge
21    within 30 days of receipt of notice of the charge, provided
22    the respondent serves a copy of its response on the
23    complainant or his or her representative. All allegations
24    contained in the charge not denied by the respondent within
25    30 days after the Department's request for a response may
26    be deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 3 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    without sufficient information to form a belief with
2    respect to such allegation. The Department may issue a
3    notice of default directed to any respondent who fails to
4    file a response to a charge within 30 days of the
5    Department's request, unless the respondent can
6    demonstrate good cause as to why such notice should not
7    issue. The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule
8    promulgated by the Department. Within 10 days of the date
9    he or she receives the respondent's response, the
10    complainant may file his or her reply to said response. If
11    he or she chooses to file a reply, the complainant shall
12    serve a copy of said reply on the respondent or his or her
13    representative. A party may supplement his or her response
14    or reply at any time that the investigation of the charge
15    is pending.
16        (2) A person who is not named as a respondent in a
17    charge, but who is identified as a respondent in the course
18    of investigation, may be joined as an additional or
19    substitute respondent upon written notice, under
20    subsection (B), to such person, from the Department. Such
21    notice, in addition to meeting the requirements of
22    subsections (A) and (B), shall explain the basis for the
23    Department's belief that a person to whom the notice is
24    addressed is properly joined as a respondent.
25    (C) Investigation.
26        (1) The Department shall conduct a full investigation

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 4 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    of the allegations set forth in the charge and complete
2    such investigation within 100 days after the filing of the
3    charge, unless it is impracticable to do so. The
4    Department's failure to complete the investigation within
5    100 days after the proper filing of the charge does not
6    deprive the Department of jurisdiction over the charge.
7        (2) If the Department is unable to complete the
8    investigation within 100 days after the charge is filed,
9    the Department shall notify the complainant and respondent
10    in writing of the reasons for not doing so.
11        (3) The Director or his or her designated
12    representative shall have authority to request any member
13    of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the
14    attendance of a witness or the production for examination
15    of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
16        (4) If any witness whose testimony is required for any
17    investigation resides outside the State, or through
18    illness or any other good cause as determined by the
19    Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator or
20    appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony
21    or deposition may be taken, within or without the State, in
22    the same manner as provided for in the taking of
23    depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
24        (5) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the
25    respondent, the Department may shall conduct a fact finding
26    conference, unless prior to 100 days from the date on which

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 5 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    the charge was filed, the Director has determined whether
2    there is substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights
3    violation has been committed or the parties voluntarily and
4    in writing agree to waive the fact finding conference. When
5    requested by the Department, a A party's failure to attend
6    the conference without good cause may result in dismissal
7    or default. A notice of dismissal or default shall be
8    issued by the Director and shall notify the relevant party
9    that a request for review may be filed in writing with the
10    Commission within 30 days of receipt of notice of dismissal
11    or default.
12    (D) Report.
13        (1) Each charge investigated under subsection (C)
14    shall be the subject of a report to the Director. The
15    report shall be a confidential document subject to review
16    by the Director, authorized Department employees, the
17    parties, and, where indicated by this Act, members of the
18    Commission or their designated hearing officers.
19            The report shall contain:
20            (a) the names and dates of contacts with witnesses;
21            (b) a summary and the date of correspondence and
22        other contacts with the aggrieved party and the
23        respondent;
24            (c) a summary description of other pertinent
25        records;
26            (d) a summary of witness statements; and

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 6 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1            (e) answers to questionnaires.
2        A final report under this paragraph may be amended if
3    additional evidence is later discovered.
4        (2) Upon review of the report and within 100 days of
5    the filing of the charge, unless it is impracticable to do
6    so, the Director shall determine whether there is
7    substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights
8    violation has been committed or is about to be committed.
9    If the Director is unable to make the determination within
10    100 days after the filing of the charge, the Director shall
11    notify the complainant and respondent in writing of the
12    reasons for not doing so. The Director's failure to make
13    the determination within 100 days after the proper filing
14    of the charge does not deprive the Department of
15    jurisdiction over the charge.
16            (a) If the Director determines that there is no
17        substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed
18        and the aggrieved party notified that he or she may
19        seek review of the dismissal order before the
20        Commission. The aggrieved party shall have 90 days from
21        receipt of notice to file a request for review by the
22        Commission. The Director shall make public disclosure
23        of each such dismissal.
24            (b) If the Director determines that there is
25        substantial evidence, he or she shall immediately
26        issue a complaint on behalf of the aggrieved party

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 7 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1        pursuant to subsection (F).
2    (E) Conciliation.
3        (1) During the period beginning with the filing of
4    charge and ending with the filing of a complaint or a
5    dismissal by the Department, the Department shall, to the
6    extent feasible, engage in conciliation with respect to
7    such charge.
8        When the Department determines that a formal
9    conciliation conference is feasible, the aggrieved party
10    and respondent shall be notified of the time and place of
11    the conference by registered or certified mail at least 7
12    days prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear
13    at the conference in person or by attorney.
14        (2) The place fixed for the conference shall be within
15    35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is
16    alleged to have been committed.
17        (3) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be made
18    public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding for
19    the purpose of proving a violation under this Act unless
20    the complainant and respondent agree in writing that such
21    disclosure be made.
22        (4) A conciliation agreement arising out of such
23    conciliation shall be an agreement between the respondent
24    and the complainant, and shall be subject to approval by
25    the Department and Commission.
26        (5) A conciliation agreement may provide for binding

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 8 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    arbitration of the dispute arising from the charge. Any
2    such arbitration that results from a conciliation
3    agreement may award appropriate relief, including monetary
4    relief.
5        (6) Each conciliation agreement shall be made public
6    unless the complainant and respondent otherwise agree and
7    the Department determines that disclosure is not required
8    to further the purpose of this Act.
9    (F) Complaint.
10        (1) When there is a failure to settle or adjust any
11    charge through a conciliation conference and the charge is
12    not dismissed, the Department shall prepare a written
13    complaint, under oath or affirmation, stating the nature of
14    the civil rights violation and the relief sought on behalf
15    of the aggrieved party. Such complaint shall be based on
16    the final investigation report and need not be limited to
17    the facts or grounds alleged in the charge filed under
18    subsection (A).
19        (2) The complaint shall be filed with the Commission.
20        (3) The Department may not issue a complaint under this
21    Section regarding an alleged civil rights violation after
22    the beginning of the trial of a civil action commenced by
23    the aggrieved party under any State or federal law, seeking
24    relief with respect to that alleged civil rights violation.
25    (G) Time Limit.
26        (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 9 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    properly filed, the Department, within 100 days thereof,
2    unless it is impracticable to do so, shall either issue and
3    file a complaint in the manner and form set forth in this
4    Section or shall order that no complaint be issued. Any
5    such order shall be duly served upon both the aggrieved
6    party and the respondent. The Department's failure to
7    either issue and file a complaint or order that no
8    complaint be issued within 100 days after the proper filing
9    of the charge does not deprive the Department of
10    jurisdiction over the charge.
11        (2) The Director shall make available to the aggrieved
12    party and the respondent, at any time, upon request
13    following completion of the Department's investigation,
14    information derived from an investigation and any final
15    investigative report relating to that investigation.
16    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action
17filed on or after January 1, 1996.
18    (I) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
19apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those
20changes.
21    (J) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
22of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or after
23the effective date of those changes.
24(Source: P.A. 100-492, eff. 9-8-17; 100-1066, eff. 8-24-18.)
 
25    (775 ILCS 5/8-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-101)

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 10 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    Sec. 8-101. Illinois Human Rights Commission.
2    (A) Creation; appointments. The Human Rights Commission is
3created to consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor with
4the advice and consent of the Senate. No more than 4 members
5shall be of the same political party. The Governor shall
6designate one member as chairperson. All appointments shall be
7in writing and filed with the Secretary of State as a public
8record.
9    (B) Terms. Of the members first appointed, 4 shall be
10appointed for a term to expire on the third Monday of January,
112021, and 3 (including the Chairperson) shall be appointed for
12a term to expire on the third Monday of January, 2023.
13    Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the
14contrary, the term of office of each member of the Illinois
15Human Rights Commission is abolished on January 19, 2019.
16Incumbent members holding a position on the Commission that was
17created by Public Act 84-115 and whose terms, if not for this
18amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, would have
19expired January 18, 2021 shall continue to exercise all of the
20powers and be subject to all of the duties of members of the
21Commission until June 30, 2019 or until their respective
22successors are appointed and qualified, whichever is earlier.
23    Thereafter, each member shall serve for a term of 4 years
24and until his or her successor is appointed and qualified;
25except that any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring
26otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be appointed only

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 11 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1for the unexpired term of the member whom he or she shall
2succeed and until his or her successor is appointed and
3qualified.
4    (C) Vacancies.
5        (1) In the case of vacancies on the Commission during a
6    recess of the Senate, the Governor shall make a temporary
7    appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when he or
8    she shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. Any person
9    so nominated and confirmed by the Senate shall hold office
10    for the remainder of the term and until his or her
11    successor is appointed and qualified.
12        (2) If the Senate is not in session at the time this
13    Act takes effect, the Governor shall make temporary
14    appointments to the Commission as in the case of vacancies.
15        (3) Vacancies in the Commission shall not impair the
16    right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers
17    of the Commission. Except when authorized by this Act to
18    proceed through a 3 member panel, a majority of the members
19    of the Commission then in office shall constitute a quorum.
20    (D) Compensation. On and after January 19, 2019, the
21Chairperson of the Commission shall be compensated at the rate
22of $125,000 per year, or as set by the Compensation Review
23Board, whichever is greater, during his or her service as
24Chairperson, and each other member shall be compensated at the
25rate of $119,000 per year, or as set by the Compensation Review
26Board, whichever is greater. In addition, all members of the

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 12 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1Commission shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and
2necessarily incurred by them in the performance of their
3duties.
4    (E) Notwithstanding the general supervisory authority of
5the Chairperson, each commissioner, unless appointed to the
6special temporary panel created under subsection (H), has the
7authority to hire and supervise a staff attorney. The staff
8attorney shall report directly to the individual commissioner.
9    (F) A formal training program for newly appointed
10commissioners shall be implemented. The training program shall
11include the following:
12        (1) substantive and procedural aspects of the office of
13    commissioner;
14        (2) current issues in employment and housing
15    discrimination and public accommodation law and practice;
16        (3) orientation to each operational unit of the Human
17    Rights Commission;
18        (4) observation of experienced hearing officers and
19    commissioners conducting hearings of cases, combined with
20    the opportunity to discuss evidence presented and rulings
21    made;
22        (5) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the newly
23    appointed commissioner to issue judgments as a means of
24    evaluating knowledge and writing ability;
25        (6) writing skills; and
26        (7) professional and ethical standards.

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 13 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    A formal and ongoing professional development program
2including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas shall be
3implemented to keep commissioners informed of recent
4developments and issues and to assist them in maintaining and
5enhancing their professional competence. Each commissioner
6shall complete 20 hours of training in the above-noted areas
7during every 2 years the commissioner remains in office.
8    (G) Commissioners must meet one of the following
9qualifications:
10        (1) licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois;
11        (2) at least 3 years of experience as a hearing officer
12    at the Human Rights Commission; or
13        (3) at least 4 years of professional experience working
14    for or dealing with individuals or corporations affected by
15    this Act or similar laws in other jurisdictions, including,
16    but not limited to, experience with a civil rights advocacy
17    group, a fair housing group, a trade association, a union,
18    a law firm, a legal aid organization, an employer's human
19    resources department, an employment discrimination
20    consulting firm, or a municipal human relations agency.
21    The Governor's appointment message, filed with the
22Secretary of State and transmitted to the Senate, shall state
23specifically how the experience of a nominee for commissioner
24meets the requirement set forth in this subsection. The
25Chairperson must have public or private sector management and
26budget experience, as determined by the Governor.

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 14 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1    Each commissioner shall devote full time to his or her
2duties and any commissioner who is an attorney shall not engage
3in the practice of law, nor shall any commissioner hold any
4other office or position of profit under the United States or
5this State or any municipal corporation or political
6subdivision of this State, nor engage in any other business,
7employment, or vocation.
8    (H) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the
9Governor shall appoint, by and with the consent of the Senate,
10a special temporary panel of commissioners comprised of 3
11members. The members shall hold office until the Commission, in
12consultation with the Governor, determines that the caseload of
13requests for review has been reduced sufficiently to allow
14cases to proceed in a timely manner, or for a term of 18 months
15from the date of appointment by the Governor, whichever is
16earlier. Each of the 3 members shall have only such rights and
17powers of a commissioner necessary to dispose of the cases
18assigned to the special panel. Each of the 3 members appointed
19to the special panel shall receive the same salary as other
20commissioners for the duration of the panel. The panel shall
21have the authority to hire and supervise a staff attorney who
22shall report to the panel of commissioners.
23(Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 100-1066, eff. 8-24-18.)
 
24    (775 ILCS 5/10-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 10-103)
25    Sec. 10-103. Circuit Court Actions Pursuant To Election.

 

 

10100SB0220ham004- 15 -LRB101 07990 LNS 61349 a

1(A) If an election is made under Section 8B-102, the Department
2shall authorize and not later than 30 days after the entry of
3the administrative closure order by the Commission election is
4made the Attorney General shall commence and maintain a civil
5action on behalf of the aggrieved party in a circuit court of
6Illinois seeking relief under this Section. Venue for such
7civil action shall be determined under Section 8-111(B)(6).
8    (B) Any aggrieved party with respect to the issues to be
9determined in a civil action under this Section may intervene
10as of right in that civil action.
11    (C) In a civil action under this Section, if the court
12finds that a civil rights violation has occurred or is about to
13occur the court may grant as relief any relief which a court
14could grant with respect to such civil rights violation in a
15civil action under Section 10-102. Any relief so granted that
16would accrue to an aggrieved party in a civil action commenced
17by that aggrieved party under Section 10-102 shall also accrue
18to that aggrieved party in a civil action under this Section.
19If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved
20party who does not intervene in the civil action, the court
21shall not award such relief if that aggrieved party has not
22complied with discovery orders entered by the court.
23(Source: P.A. 86-910.)".