SB1122 EnrolledLRB097 04838 AJO 44877 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 Sections 2-102 and 7A-102 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/2-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 2-102)
7    Sec. 2-102. Civil Rights Violations - Employment. It is a
8civil rights violation:
9    (A) Employers. For any employer to refuse to hire, to
10segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring,
11promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or
12apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms,
13privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of unlawful
14discrimination or citizenship status.
15    (A-5) Language. For an employer to impose a restriction
16that has the effect of prohibiting a language from being spoken
17by an employee in communications that are unrelated to the
18employee's duties.
19    For the purposes of this subdivision (A-5), "language"
20means a person's native tongue, such as Polish, Spanish, or
21Chinese. "Language" does not include such things as slang,
22jargon, profanity, or vulgarity.
23    (B) Employment Agency. For any employment agency to fail or

 

 

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1refuse to classify properly, accept applications and register
2for employment referral or apprenticeship referral, refer for
3employment, or refer for apprenticeship on the basis of
4unlawful discrimination or citizenship status or to accept from
5any person any job order, requisition or request for referral
6of applicants for employment or apprenticeship which makes or
7has the effect of making unlawful discrimination or
8discrimination on the basis of citizenship status a condition
9of referral.
10    (C) Labor Organization. For any labor organization to
11limit, segregate or classify its membership, or to limit
12employment opportunities, selection and training for
13apprenticeship in any trade or craft, or otherwise to take, or
14fail to take, any action which affects adversely any person's
15status as an employee or as an applicant for employment or as
16an apprentice, or as an applicant for apprenticeships, or
17wages, tenure, hours of employment or apprenticeship
18conditions on the basis of unlawful discrimination or
19citizenship status.
20    (D) Sexual Harassment. For any employer, employee, agent of
21any employer, employment agency or labor organization to engage
22in sexual harassment; provided, that an employer shall be
23responsible for sexual harassment of the employer's employees
24by nonemployees or nonmanagerial and nonsupervisory employees
25only if the employer becomes aware of the conduct and fails to
26take reasonable corrective measures.

 

 

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1    (E) Public Employers. For any public employer to refuse to
2permit a public employee under its jurisdiction who takes time
3off from work in order to practice his or her religious beliefs
4to engage in work, during hours other than such employee's
5regular working hours, consistent with the operational needs of
6the employer and in order to compensate for work time lost for
7such religious reasons. Any employee who elects such deferred
8work shall be compensated at the wage rate which he or she
9would have earned during the originally scheduled work period.
10The employer may require that an employee who plans to take
11time off from work in order to practice his or her religious
12beliefs provide the employer with a notice of his or her
13intention to be absent from work not exceeding 5 days prior to
14the date of absence.
15    (F) Training and Apprenticeship Programs. For any
16employer, employment agency or labor organization to
17discriminate against a person on the basis of age in the
18selection, referral for or conduct of apprenticeship or
19training programs.
20    (G) Immigration-Related Practices.
21        (1) for an employer to request for purposes of
22    satisfying the requirements of Section 1324a(b) of Title 8
23    of the United States Code, as now or hereafter amended,
24    more or different documents than are required under such
25    Section or to refuse to honor documents tendered that on
26    their face reasonably appear to be genuine; or

 

 

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1        (2) for an employer participating in the Basic Pilot
2    Program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, Pilot
3    Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation (enacted
4    by PL 104-208, div. C title IV, subtitle A) to refuse to
5    hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment,
6    hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for
7    training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure
8    or terms, privileges or conditions of employment without
9    following the procedures under the Basic Pilot Program.
10    (H) Pregnancy; peace officers and fire fighters. For a
11public employer to refuse to temporarily transfer a pregnant
12female peace officer or pregnant female fire fighter to a less
13strenuous or hazardous position for the duration of her
14pregnancy if she so requests, with the advice of her physician,
15where that transfer can be reasonably accommodated. For the
16purposes of this subdivision (H), "peace officer" and "fire
17fighter" have the meanings ascribed to those terms in Section 3
18of the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
19    It is not a civil rights violation for an employer to take
20any action that is required by Section 1324a of Title 8 of the
21United States Code, as now or hereafter amended.
22    (I) Pregnancy. For an employer to refuse to hire, to
23segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring,
24promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or
25apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms,
26privileges or conditions of employment on the basis of

 

 

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1pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Women
2affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical
3conditions shall be treated the same for all employment-related
4purposes, including receipt of benefits under fringe benefit
5programs, as other persons not so affected but similar in their
6ability or inability to work.
7(Source: P.A. 95-25, eff. 1-1-08; 95-137, eff. 1-1-08; 95-876,
8eff. 8-21-08.)
 
9    (775 ILCS 5/7A-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102)
10    Sec. 7A-102. Procedures.
11    (A) Charge.
12        (1) Within 180 days after the date that a civil rights
13    violation allegedly has been committed, a charge in writing
14    under oath or affirmation may be filed with the Department
15    by an aggrieved party or issued by the Department itself
16    under the signature of the Director.
17        (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to
18    substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to
19    the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil
20    rights violation.
21        (3) Charges deemed filed with the Department pursuant
22    to subsection (A-1) of this Section shall be deemed to be
23    in compliance with this subsection.
24    (A-1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges.
25        (1) If a A charge is filed with the Equal Employment

 

 

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1    Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days after the
2    date of the alleged civil rights violation, the charge
3    shall be deemed filed with the Department on the date filed
4    with the EEOC. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
5    Upon receipt of a charge filed with the Equal Employment
6    Opportunity Commission, the Department shall notify the
7    complainant that he or she may proceed with the Department.
8    The complainant must notify the Department of his or her
9    decision in writing within 35 days of receipt of the
10    Department's notice to the complainant and the Department
11    shall close the case if the complainant does not do so. If
12    the complainant proceeds with the Department, If the EEOC
13    is the governmental agency designated to investigate the
14    charge first, the Department shall take no action until the
15    EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission makes a
16    determination on the charge and after the complainant
17    notifies the Department of the EEOC's determination. In
18    such cases, after receiving notice from the EEOC that a
19    charge was filed, the Department shall notify the parties
20    that (i) a charge has been received by the EEOC and has
21    been sent to the Department for dual filing purposes; (ii)
22    the EEOC is the governmental agency responsible for
23    investigating the charge and that the investigation shall
24    be conducted pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted
25    by the EEOC; (iii) it will take no action on the charge
26    until the EEOC issues its determination; (iv) the

 

 

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1    complainant must submit a copy of the EEOC's determination
2    within 30 days after service of the determination by the
3    EEOC on complainant; and (v) that the time period to
4    investigate the charge contained in subsection (G) of this
5    Section is tolled from the date on which the charge is
6    filed with the EEOC until the EEOC issues its
7    determination. Upon receipt of the Equal Employment
8    Opportunity Commission's determination, the Department
9    shall cause the charge to be filed under oath or
10    affirmation and to be in such detail as provided for under
11    subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A).
12        (2) If the EEOC finds reasonable cause to believe that
13    there has been a violation of federal law and if the
14    Department is timely notified of the EEOC's findings by
15    complainant, the Department shall notify complainant that
16    the Department has adopted the EEOC's determination of
17    reasonable cause and that complainant has the right, within
18    90 days after receipt of the Department's notice, to either
19    file his or her own complaint with the Illinois Human
20    Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
21    appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of
22    competent jurisdiction. The Department's notice to
23    complainant that the Department has adopted the EEOC's
24    determination of reasonable cause shall constitute the
25    Department's Report for purposes of subparagraph (D) of
26    this Section.

 

 

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1        (3) For those charges alleging violations within the
2    jurisdiction of both the EEOC and the Department and for
3    which the EEOC either (i) does not issue a determination,
4    but does issue the complainant a notice of a right to sue,
5    including when the right to sue is issued at the request of
6    the complainant, or (ii) determines that it is unable to
7    establish that illegal discrimination has occurred and
8    issues the complainant a right to sue notice, and if the
9    Department is timely notified of the EEOC's determination
10    by complainant, the Department shall notify the parties
11    that the Department will adopt the EEOC's determination as
12    a dismissal for lack of substantial evidence unless the
13    complainant requests in writing within 35 days after
14    receipt of the Department's notice that the Department
15    review the EEOC's determination.
16            (a) If the complainant does not file a written
17        request with the Department to review the EEOC's
18        determination within 35 days after receipt of the
19        Department's notice, the Department shall notify
20        complainant that the decision of the EEOC has been
21        adopted by the Department as a dismissal for lack of
22        substantial evidence and that the complainant has the
23        right, within 90 days after receipt of the Department's
24        notice, to commence a civil action in the appropriate
25        circuit court or other appropriate court of competent
26        jurisdiction. The Department's notice to complainant

 

 

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1        that the Department has adopted the EEOC's
2        determination shall constitute the Department's report
3        for purposes of subparagraph (D) of this Section.
4            (b) If the complainant does file a written request
5        with the Department to review the EEOC's
6        determination, the Department shall review the EEOC's
7        determination and any evidence obtained by the EEOC
8        during its investigation. If, after reviewing the
9        EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by the
10        EEOC, the Department determines there is no need for
11        further investigation of the charge, the Department
12        shall issue a report and the Director shall determine
13        whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
14        civil rights violation has been committed pursuant to
15        subsection (D) of Section 7A-102. If, after reviewing
16        the EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by
17        the EEOC, the Department determines there is a need for
18        further investigation of the charge, the Department
19        may conduct any further investigation it deems
20        necessary. After reviewing the EEOC's determination,
21        the evidence obtained by the EEOC, and any additional
22        investigation conducted by the Department, the
23        Department shall issue a report and the Director shall
24        determine whether there is substantial evidence that
25        the alleged civil rights violation has been committed
26        pursuant to subsection (D) of Section 7A-102 of this

 

 

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1        Act.
2        (4) Pursuant to this Section, if the EEOC dismisses the
3    charge or a portion of the charge of discrimination
4    because, under federal law, the EEOC lacks jurisdiction
5    over the charge, and if, under this Act, the Department has
6    jurisdiction over the charge of discrimination, the
7    Department shall investigate the charge or portion of the
8    charge dismissed by the EEOC for lack of jurisdiction
9    pursuant to subsections (A), (A-1), (B), (B-1), (C), (D),
10    (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) of Section 7A-102 of
11    this Act.
12        (5) The time limit set out in subsection (G) of this
13    Section is tolled from the date on which the charge is
14    filed with the EEOC to the date on which the EEOC issues
15    its determination. At the Department's discretion, the
16    Department shall either adopt the Equal Employment
17    Opportunity Commission's determination or process the
18    charge pursuant to this Act. Adoption of the Equal
19    Employment Opportunity Commission's determination shall be
20    deemed a determination by the Department for all purposes
21    under this Act.
22    (B) Notice and Response to Charge. The Department shall,
23within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, serve
24a copy of the charge on the respondent. This period shall not
25be construed to be jurisdictional. The charging party and the
26respondent may each file a position statement and other

 

 

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1materials with the Department regarding the charge of alleged
2discrimination within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the
3charge. The position statements and other materials filed shall
4remain confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the party
5providing the information and shall not be served on or made
6available to the other party during pendency of a charge with
7the Department. The Department shall require the respondent to
8file a verified response to the allegations contained in the
9charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the charge.
10The respondent shall serve a copy of its response on the
11complainant or his representative. All allegations contained
12in the charge not timely denied by the respondent shall be
13deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is
14without sufficient information to form a belief with respect to
15such allegation. The Department may issue a notice of default
16directed to any respondent who fails to file a verified
17response to a charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of
18the charge, unless the respondent can demonstrate good cause as
19to why such notice should not issue. The term "good cause"
20shall be defined by rule promulgated by the Department. Within
2130 days of receipt of the respondent's response, the
22complainant may file a reply to said response and shall serve a
23copy of said reply on the respondent or his representative. A
24party shall have the right to supplement his response or reply
25at any time that the investigation of the charge is pending.
26The Department shall, within 10 days of the date on which the

 

 

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1charge was filed, and again no later than 335 days thereafter,
2send by certified or registered mail written notice to the
3complainant and to the respondent informing the complainant of
4the complainant's right to either file a complaint with the
5Human Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
6appropriate circuit court under subparagraph (2) of paragraph
7(G), including in such notice the dates within which the
8complainant may exercise this right. In the notice the
9Department shall notify the complainant that the charge of
10civil rights violation will be dismissed with prejudice and
11with no right to further proceed if a written complaint is not
12timely filed with the Commission or with the appropriate
13circuit court by the complainant pursuant to subparagraph (2)
14of paragraph (G) or by the Department pursuant to subparagraph
15(1) of paragraph (G).
16    (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree
17to voluntarily submit the charge to mediation without waiving
18any rights that are otherwise available to either party
19pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to
20accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring
21in mediation shall be disclosed by the Department or admissible
22in evidence in any subsequent proceeding unless the complainant
23and the respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be
24made.
25    (C) Investigation.
26        (1) After the respondent has been notified, the

 

 

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1    Department shall conduct a full investigation of the
2    allegations set forth in the charge.
3        (2) The Director or his or her designated
4    representatives shall have authority to request any member
5    of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the
6    attendance of a witness or the production for examination
7    of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
8        (3) If any witness whose testimony is required for any
9    investigation resides outside the State, or through
10    illness or any other good cause as determined by the
11    Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator or
12    appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony
13    or deposition may be taken, within or without the State, in
14    the same manner as is provided for in the taking of
15    depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
16        (4) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the
17    respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding
18    conference prior to 365 days after the date on which the
19    charge was filed, unless the Director has determined
20    whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
21    civil rights violation has been committed or the charge has
22    been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. If the parties
23    agree in writing, the fact finding conference may be held
24    at a time after the 365 day limit. Any party's failure to
25    attend the conference without good cause shall result in
26    dismissal or default. The term "good cause" shall be

 

 

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1    defined by rule promulgated by the Department. A notice of
2    dismissal or default shall be issued by the Director. The
3    notice of default issued by the Director shall notify the
4    respondent that a request for review may be filed in
5    writing with the Commission within 30 days of receipt of
6    notice of default. The notice of dismissal issued by the
7    Director shall give the complainant notice of his or her
8    right to seek review of the dismissal before the Human
9    Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
10    appropriate circuit court. If the complainant chooses to
11    have the Human Rights Commission review the dismissal
12    order, he or she shall file a request for review with the
13    Commission within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
14    notice. If the complainant chooses to file a request for
15    review with the Commission, he or she may not later
16    commence a civil action in a circuit court. If the
17    complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a circuit
18    court, he or she must do so within 90 days after receipt of
19    the Director's notice.
20    (D) Report.
21        (1) Each charge shall be the subject of a report to the
22    Director. The report shall be a confidential document
23    subject to review by the Director, authorized Department
24    employees, the parties, and, where indicated by this Act,
25    members of the Commission or their designated hearing
26    officers.

 

 

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1        (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall
2    determine whether there is substantial evidence that the
3    alleged civil rights violation has been committed. The
4    determination of substantial evidence is limited to
5    determining the need for further consideration of the
6    charge pursuant to this Act and includes, but is not
7    limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well as
8    the reasons for the determinations on all material issues.
9    Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind
10    accepts as sufficient to support a particular conclusion
11    and which consists of more than a mere scintilla but may be
12    somewhat less than a preponderance.
13        (3) If the Director determines that there is no
14    substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed by
15    order of the Director and the Director shall give the
16    complainant notice of his or her right to seek review of
17    the dismissal order before the Commission or commence a
18    civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the
19    complainant chooses to have the Human Rights Commission
20    review the dismissal order, he or she shall file a request
21    for review with the Commission within 90 days after receipt
22    of the Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to
23    file a request for review with the Commission, he or she
24    may not later commence a civil action in a circuit court.
25    If the complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a
26    circuit court, he or she must do so within 90 days after

 

 

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1    receipt of the Director's notice.
2        (4) If the Director determines that there is
3    substantial evidence, he or she shall notify the
4    complainant and respondent of that determination. The
5    Director shall also notify the parties that the complainant
6    has the right to either commence a civil action in the
7    appropriate circuit court or request that the Department of
8    Human Rights file a complaint with the Human Rights
9    Commission on his or her behalf. Any such complaint shall
10    be filed within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
11    notice. If the complainant chooses to have the Department
12    file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on his or
13    her behalf, the complainant must, within 30 days after
14    receipt of the Director's notice, request in writing that
15    the Department file the complaint. If the complainant
16    timely requests that the Department file the complaint, the
17    Department shall file the complaint on his or her behalf.
18    If the complainant fails to timely request that the
19    Department file the complaint, the complainant may file his
20    or her complaint with the Commission or commence a civil
21    action in the appropriate circuit court. If the complainant
22    files a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, the
23    complainant shall give notice to the Department of the
24    filing of the complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
25    (E) Conciliation.
26         (1) When there is a finding of substantial evidence,

 

 

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1    the Department may designate a Department employee who is
2    an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois to endeavor to
3    eliminate the effect of the alleged civil rights violation
4    and to prevent its repetition by means of conference and
5    conciliation.
6        (2) When the Department determines that a formal
7    conciliation conference is necessary, the complainant and
8    respondent shall be notified of the time and place of the
9    conference by registered or certified mail at least 10 days
10    prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear at
11    the conference in person or by attorney.
12        (3) The place fixed for the conference shall be within
13    35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is
14    alleged to have been committed.
15        (4) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be
16    disclosed by the Department unless the complainant and
17    respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be made.
18        (5) The Department's efforts to conciliate the matter
19    shall not stay or extend the time for filing the complaint
20    with the Commission or the circuit court.
21    (F) Complaint.
22        (1) When the complainant requests that the Department
23    file a complaint with the Commission on his or her behalf,
24    the Department shall prepare a written complaint, under
25    oath or affirmation, stating the nature of the civil rights
26    violation substantially as alleged in the charge

 

 

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1    previously filed and the relief sought on behalf of the
2    aggrieved party. The Department shall file the complaint
3    with the Commission.
4        (2) If the complainant chooses to commence a civil
5    action in a circuit court, he or she must do so in the
6    circuit court in the county wherein the civil rights
7    violation was allegedly committed. The form of the
8    complaint in any such civil action shall be in accordance
9    with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
10    (G) Time Limit.
11        (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
12    properly filed, the Department, within 365 days thereof or
13    within any extension of that period agreed to in writing by
14    all parties, shall issue its report as required by
15    subparagraph (D). Any such report shall be duly served upon
16    both the complainant and the respondent.
17        (2) If the Department has not issued its report within
18    365 days after the charge is filed, or any such longer
19    period agreed to in writing by all the parties, the
20    complainant shall have 90 days to either file his or her
21    own complaint with the Human Rights Commission or commence
22    a civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the
23    complainant files a complaint with the Commission, the form
24    of the complaint shall be in accordance with the provisions
25    of paragraph (F)(1). If the complainant commences a civil
26    action in a circuit court, the form of the complaint shall

 

 

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1    be in accordance with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
2    The aggrieved party shall notify the Department that a
3    complaint has been filed and shall serve a copy of the
4    complaint on the Department on the same date that the
5    complaint is filed with the Commission or in circuit court.
6    If the complainant files a complaint with the Commission,
7    he or she may not later commence a civil action in circuit
8    court.
9        (3) If an aggrieved party files a complaint with the
10    Human Rights Commission or commences a civil action in
11    circuit court pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection,
12    or if the time period for filing a complaint has expired,
13    the Department shall immediately cease its investigation
14    and dismiss the charge of civil rights violation. Any final
15    order entered by the Commission under this Section is
16    appealable in accordance with paragraph (B)(1) of Section
17    8-111. Failure to immediately cease an investigation and
18    dismiss the charge of civil rights violation as provided in
19    this paragraph (3) constitutes grounds for entry of an
20    order by the circuit court permanently enjoining the
21    investigation. The Department may also be liable for any
22    costs and other damages incurred by the respondent as a
23    result of the action of the Department.
24        (4) The Department shall stay any administrative
25    proceedings under this Section after the filing of a civil
26    action by or on behalf of the aggrieved party under any

 

 

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1    federal or State law seeking relief with respect to the
2    alleged civil rights violation.
3    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action
4filed on or after January 1, 1996.
5    (I) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
6filed on or after January 1, 1996.
7    (J) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
8apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those
9changes.
10    (K) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
11of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or after
12the effective date of those changes.
13(Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08; 96-876, eff. 2-2-10.)
 
14    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
15becoming law.