103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB1353

 

Introduced 1/31/2023, by Rep. Dan Ugaste

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/2-109

    Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Requires a trade union to provide sexual harassment prevention training to its workers. Provides that any trade union providing sexual harassment prevention training shall use the model sexual harassment prevention training program created by the Department of Human Rights and shall provide that training at least once a year to all workers and maintain a log indicating each worker's yearly training status. Provides that a trade union worker is not required to participate in a sexual harassment prevention training program each time the worker is hired for a new job if the worker has already participated in a sexual harassment prevention training program during that calendar year.


LRB103 05089 LNS 50103 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1353LRB103 05089 LNS 50103 b

1    AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
5changing Section 2-109 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/2-109)
7    Sec. 2-109. Sexual harassment prevention training.
8    (A) The General Assembly finds that the organizational
9tolerance of sexual harassment has a detrimental influence in
10workplaces by creating a hostile environment for employees,
11reducing productivity, and increasing legal liability. It is
12the General Assembly's intent to encourage employers to adopt
13and actively implement policies to ensure their workplaces are
14safe for employees to report concerns about sexual harassment
15without fear of retaliation, loss of status, or loss of
16promotional opportunities.
17    (B) The Department shall produce a model sexual harassment
18prevention training program aimed at the prevention of sexual
19harassment in the workplace. The model program shall be made
20available to employers and to the public online at no cost.
21This model program shall include, at a minimum, the following:
22        (1) an explanation of sexual harassment consistent
23    with this Act;

 

 

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1        (2) examples of conduct that constitutes unlawful
2    sexual harassment;
3        (3) a summary of relevant federal and State statutory
4    provisions concerning sexual harassment, including
5    remedies available to victims of sexual harassment; and
6        (4) a summary of responsibilities of employers in the
7    prevention, investigation, and corrective measures of
8    sexual harassment.
9    (C) Except for those employers subject to the requirements
10of Section 5-10.5 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics
11Act, every employer with employees working in this State shall
12use the model sexual harassment prevention training program
13created by the Department or establish its own sexual
14harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds
15the minimum standards in subsection (B). The sexual harassment
16prevention training shall be provided at least once a year to
17all employees. For the purposes of satisfying the requirements
18under this Section, the Department's model sexual harassment
19prevention training program may be used to supplement any
20existing program an employer is utilizing or develops. An
21employer is not required to provide sexual harassment
22prevention training for a trade union worker if the worker has
23participated in a sexual harassment prevention training
24program under subsection (C-5).
25    (C-5) A trade union shall provide sexual harassment
26prevention training for its workers in this State. Any trade

 

 

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1union providing sexual harassment prevention training shall
2use the model sexual harassment prevention training program
3created by the Department or establish its own sexual
4harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds
5the minimum standards in subsection (B). The sexual harassment
6prevention training shall be provided at least once a year to
7all workers and the trade union shall maintain a log
8indicating each worker's yearly training status. A worker is
9not required to participate in a sexual harassment prevention
10training program under subsection (C) each time the worker is
11hired for a new job if the worker has already participated in a
12sexual harassment prevention training program during that
13calendar year.
14    (D) If an employer violates this Section, the Department
15shall issue a notice to show cause giving the employer 30 days
16to comply. If the employer does not comply within 30 days, the
17Department shall petition the Human Rights Commission for
18entry of an order imposing a civil penalty against the
19employer pursuant to Section 8-109.1. The civil penalty shall
20be paid into the Department of Human Rights Training and
21Development Fund.
22(Source: P.A. 101-221, eff. 1-1-20.)