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Public Act 101-0661


 

Public Act 0661 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY



 


 
Public Act 101-0661
 
HB0377 EnrolledLRB101 03116 RJF 48124 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
changing Sections 7A-104, 8-105, 8-106.1, 8-111, 10-102,
10-103, and 10-104 as follows:
 
    (775 ILCS 5/7A-104)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-104)
    Sec. 7A-104. Judicial Proceedings.
    (A) Temporary Relief. (1) At any time after a charge is
filed, the Department or complainant may petition the
appropriate court for temporary relief, pending final
determination of the proceedings under this Act, including an
order or judgment restraining the respondent from doing or
causing any act which would render ineffectual an order which
the Commission may enter with respect to the complainant.
Whether it is brought by the Department or by the complainant,
the petition shall contain a certification by the Director that
the particular matter presents exceptional circumstances in
which irreparable injury will result from a civil rights
violation in the absence of temporary relief.
    (2) The petition shall be filed in the circuit court for
the county in which the respondent resides or transacts
business or in which the alleged violation took place, and the
proceedings shall be governed by Part I of Article XI of the
"Code of Civil Procedure", as amended. Except as provided in
subsection (A) (3), the court may grant temporary relief or a
temporary restraining order as it deems just and proper.
    (3) When the petition is based upon a civil rights
violation as defined in Article 3 of this Act, the relief or
restraining order entered by the court shall not exceed 5 days
unless:
    (a) A longer period is agreed to by the respondent; or
    (b) The court finds that there is substantial evidence to
demonstrate that the respondent has engaged in unlawful
discrimination.
    (B) Expedited Proceedings. (1) A complainant or the
Department at the request of the complainant may at any time
petition the circuit court for expedited proceedings. Except as
to causes the circuit court considers to be of greater
importance, consideration of petitions for expedited
proceedings under this subsection shall take precedence on the
docket over all other causes and be assigned for hearing at the
earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.
    (2) Venue for a petition filed under this subsection shall
lie in the county where the respondent resides or is found or
where the alleged violation was committed.
    (3) Any petition filed by the complainant shall name the
Department, Commission and the respondent. Any petition filed
by the Department, upon request of the complainant, shall name
the Commission and the respondent.
    (4) If the circuit court determines that the complainant is
likely to die before the termination of the proceedings under
this Act, it may order the proceedings expedited. When an order
for expedited proceedings is issued, the processing of the
complainant's charge by the Department and Commission shall
take precedence over all matters except older matters of the
same character. Where such order is issued, the Department, the
Commission, any panel of the Commission, or any Commission
hearing officer shall be authorized to shorten any time period,
other than the filing period set by Section 7A-102(A)(1) 180
day charge filing period set by this Act or by rule. If such an
order is issued and the complainant is before the Department,
the Department shall immediately appoint an investigator if an
investigator has not been appointed and shall in 90 days either
file a complaint or order that no complaint be issued. If the
Department fails to make a determination within 90 days the
complainant shall have 30 days to file his complaint with the
Commission.
    (C) Enforcement of Commission Orders. When authorized by
this Act, the Department, at the request of the Commission, may
take whatever action may be authorized for the enforcement of
Commission orders.
(Source: P.A. 86-910; 86-1028.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/8-105)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-105)
    Sec. 8-105. Settlement.
    (A) Approval.
        (1) When a proposed settlement is submitted by the
    Department, the Commission, through a panel of 3 members,
    shall determine whether to approve its terms and
    conditions.
        (2) A settlement of any complaint and its underlying
    charge or charges may be effectuated at any time upon
    agreement of the parties, with or without the Commission's
    approval, and shall act as a full and final resolution of
    the matter. If the parties desire that the Commission
    retain jurisdiction over the matter for purposes of
    enforcing the terms of the settlement, the terms shall be
    reduced to writing, signed by the parties, and submitted to
    the Commission for approval. The Commission, through a
    panel of 3 members, shall determine whether to approve the
    settlement.
        (3) Approval of the settlement shall be accomplished by
    an order, served on the parties and the Department, in
    accord with the written terms of the settlement.
    (B) Violation. When the Department files notice of a
settlement order violation, the Commission, through a panel of
three members, may either order the Department to seek
enforcement of the settlement order pursuant to paragraph (C)
(B) of Section 8-111 or remand for any type of hearing as it
may deem necessary pursuant to paragraph (D) of Section 8A-103.
    (C) Dismissal for Refusal to Accept Settlement Offer. The
Commission shall dismiss a complaint and the underlying charge
or charges of the complaint if the Commission is satisfied
that:
        1. the respondent has eliminated the effects of the
    civil rights violation charged and taken steps to prevent
    repetition of the violation; or
        2. the respondent offers and the complainant declines
    to accept the terms of settlement that the Commission
    determines are sufficient to eliminate the effect of the
    civil rights violation charged and to prevent repetition of
    the violation.
    In determining whether the respondent has eliminated the
effects of the civil rights violation charged, or has offered
terms of settlement sufficient to eliminate same, the
Commission shall consider the extent to which the respondent
has either fully provided, or reasonably offered by way of
terms of settlement, as the case may be, the relevant relief
available to the complainant under Section 8A-104 of this Act.
    At any time after the service of a complaint pursuant to
Section 8A-102 of this Act, and prior to service of a decision
prepared pursuant to Section 8A-102(I), a respondent may move
for a recommended order dismissing a complaint and the
underlying charge or charges for complainant's refusal to
accept terms of settlement that are sufficient to eliminate the
effects of the civil rights violation charged in the complaint
and to eliminate repetition of the violation. Respondent's
motion and complainant's reply, if any, shall comply with the
requirements for summary decision set forth in Section 8-106.1
of this Act.
    (D) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
filed on or after January 1, 1996.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/8-106.1)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-106.1)
    Sec. 8-106.1. Summary Decision.
    (1) At any time after the service of a complaint and prior
to service of a decision pursuant to Section 8A-102(I) or
8B-102(J) 8-106(I), complainant or respondent may move with or
without supporting affidavits for a summary order in the moving
party's favor as to all or any part of the relief sought. A
hearing officer may not preclude the filing of said motion
except within the 60-day period prior to hearing on the merits
of the complaint.
    (2) Procedure. The non-moving party may file
counteraffidavits prior to the time of the ruling on the
motion. The hearing officer shall decide the motion without
delay and shall grant it if the pleadings and affidavits, if
any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material
fact and that the moving party is entitled to a recommended
order as a matter of law. The term "without delay" shall be
defined by rule promulgated by the Commission. An interim
summary recommended order, interlocutory in character, may be
rendered on the issue of liability alone although there is a
genuine issue as to the relief to be awarded.
    (3) Affidavits or Motions Made in Bad Faith. If it appears
to the satisfaction of the hearing officer at any time that any
affidavit or motion presented pursuant to this Section is
presented in bad faith or solely for the purpose of delay, the
hearing officer may recommend that the party employing the use
of affidavits for dilatory purposes shall pay to the other
party the amount of reasonable expenses incurred as a result of
the filing of the affidavit or motion, including reasonable
attorney's fees.
(Source: P.A. 89-370, eff. 8-18-95.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/8-111)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-111)
    Sec. 8-111. Court Proceedings.
    (A) Civil Actions Commenced in Circuit Court.
        (1) Venue. Civil actions commenced in a circuit court
    pursuant to Section 7A-102 shall be commenced in the
    circuit court in the county in which the civil rights
    violation was allegedly committed.
        (2) If a civil action is commenced in a circuit court,
    the form of the complaint shall be in accordance with the
    Code of Civil Procedure.
        (3) If a civil action is commenced in a circuit court
    under Section 7A-102, the plaintiff or defendant may demand
    trial by jury.
        (4) Remedies. Upon the finding of a civil rights
    violation, the circuit court or jury may award any of the
    remedies set forth in Section 8A-104.
    (B) Judicial Review.
        (1) Any complainant or respondent may apply for and
    obtain judicial review of a final order of the Commission
    entered under this Act by filing a petition for review in
    the Appellate Court within 35 days from the date that a
    copy of the decision sought to be reviewed was served upon
    the party affected by the decision. If a 3-member panel or
    the full Commission finds that an interlocutory order
    involves a question of law as to which there is substantial
    ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate
    appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate
    termination of the litigation, any party may petition the
    Appellate Court for permission to appeal the order. The
    procedure for obtaining the required Commission findings
    and the permission of the Appellate Court shall be governed
    by Supreme Court Rule 308, except the references to the
    "trial court" shall be understood as referring to the
    Commission.
        (2) In any proceeding brought for judicial review, the
    Commission's findings of fact shall be sustained unless the
    court determines that such findings are contrary to the
    manifest weight of the evidence.
        (3) Venue. Proceedings for judicial review shall be
    commenced in the appellate court for the district wherein
    the civil rights violation which is the subject of the
    Commission's order was allegedly committed.
    (C) Judicial Enforcement.
        (1) When the Commission, at the instance of the
    Department or an aggrieved party, concludes that any person
    has violated a valid order of the Commission issued
    pursuant to this Act, and the violation and its effects are
    not promptly corrected, the Commission, through a panel of
    3 members, shall order the Department to commence an action
    in the name of the People of the State of Illinois by
    complaint, alleging the violation, attaching a copy of the
    order of the Commission and praying for the issuance of an
    order directing such person, his or her or its officers,
    agents, servants, successors and assigns to comply with the
    order of the Commission.
        (2) An aggrieved party may file a complaint for
    enforcement of a valid order of the Commission directly in
    Circuit Court.
        (3) Upon the commencement of an action filed under
    paragraphs (1) or (2) of this subsection, (B) of this
    Section the court shall have jurisdiction over the
    proceedings and power to grant or refuse, in whole or in
    part, the relief sought or impose such other remedy as the
    court may deem proper.
        (4) The court may stay an order of the Commission in
    accordance with the applicable Supreme Court rules,
    pending disposition of the proceedings.
        (5) The court may punish for any violation of its order
    as in the case of civil contempt.
        (6) Venue. Proceedings for judicial enforcement of a
    Commission order shall be commenced in the circuit court in
    the county wherein the civil rights violation which is the
    subject of the Commission's order was committed.
    (D) Limitation. Except as otherwise provided by law, no
court of this state shall have jurisdiction over the subject of
an alleged civil rights violation other than as set forth in
this Act.
    (E) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
filed on or after January 1, 1996.
    (F) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
of the 95th General Assembly apply to charges or complaints
filed with the Department or the Commission on or after the
effective date of those changes.
(Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/10-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 10-102)
    Sec. 10-102. Court Actions. (A) Circuit Court Actions. (1)
An aggrieved party may commence a civil action in an
appropriate Circuit Court not later than 2 years after the
occurrence or the termination of an alleged civil rights
violation or the breach of a conciliation or settlement
agreement entered into under this Act, whichever occurs last,
to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the alleged civil
rights violation or breach. Venue for such civil action shall
be determined under Section 8-111(A)(1) (B)(6).
    (2) The computation of such 2-year period shall not include
any time during which an administrative proceeding under this
Act was pending with respect to a complaint or charge under
this Act based upon the alleged civil rights violation. This
paragraph does not apply to actions arising from a breach of a
conciliation or settlement agreement.
    (3) An aggrieved party may commence a civil action under
this subsection whether or not a charge has been filed under
Section 7B-102 and without regard to the status of any such
charge, however, if the Department or local agency has obtained
a conciliation or settlement agreement with the consent of an
aggrieved party, no action may be filed under this subsection
by such aggrieved party with respect to the alleged civil
rights violation practice which forms the basis for such
complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of such
conciliation or settlement agreement.
    (4) An aggrieved party shall not commence a civil action
under this subsection with respect to an alleged civil rights
violation which forms the basis of a complaint issued by the
Department if a hearing officer has commenced a hearing on the
record under Article 3 of this Act with respect to such
complaint.
    (B) Appointment of Attorney by Court. Upon application by a
person alleging a civil rights violation or a person against
whom the civil rights violation is alleged, if in the opinion
of the court such person is financially unable to bear the
costs of such action, the court may:
    (1) appoint an attorney for such person, any attorney so
appointed may petition for an award of attorneys fees pursuant
to subsection (C)(2) of this Section; or
    (2) authorize the commencement or continuation of a civil
action under subsection (A) without the payment of fees, costs,
or security.
    (C) Relief which may be granted. (1) In a civil action
under subsection (A) if the court finds that a civil rights
violation has occurred or is about to occur, the court may
award to the plaintiff actual and punitive damages, and may
grant as relief, as the court deems appropriate, any permanent
or preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order, or
other order, including an order enjoining the defendant from
engaging in such civil rights violation or ordering such
affirmative action as may be appropriate.
    (2) In a civil action under subsection (A), the court, in
its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the
State of Illinois, reasonable attorneys fees and costs. The
State of Illinois shall be liable for such fees and costs to
the same extent as a private person.
    (D) Intervention By The Department. The Attorney General of
Illinois may intervene on behalf of the Department if the
Department certifies that the case is of general public
importance. Upon such intervention the court may award such
relief as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a civil
action under Section 10-102(C).
(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/10-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 10-103)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 101-530)
    Sec. 10-103. Circuit court actions pursuant to election.
    (A) If an election is made under Section 8B-102, the
Department shall authorize and not later than 30 days after the
election is made the Attorney General shall commence and
maintain a civil action on behalf of the aggrieved party in a
circuit court of Illinois seeking relief under this Section.
Venue for such civil action shall be determined under Section
8-111(A)(1) (B)(6).
    (B) Any aggrieved party with respect to the issues to be
determined in a civil action under this Section may intervene
as of right in that civil action.
    (C) In a civil action under this Section, if the court
finds that a civil rights violation has occurred or is about to
occur the court may grant as relief any relief which a court
could grant with respect to such civil rights violation in a
civil action under Section 10-102. Any relief so granted that
would accrue to an aggrieved party in a civil action commenced
by that aggrieved party under Section 10-102 shall also accrue
to that aggrieved party in a civil action under this Section.
If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved
party who does not intervene in the civil action, the court
shall not award such relief if that aggrieved party has not
complied with discovery orders entered by the court.
(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 101-530)
    Sec. 10-103. Circuit court actions pursuant to election.
    (A) If an election is made under Section 8B-102, the
Department shall authorize and not later than 30 days after the
entry of the administrative closure order by the Commission the
Attorney General shall commence and maintain a civil action on
behalf of the aggrieved party in a circuit court of Illinois
seeking relief under this Section. Venue for such civil action
shall be determined under Section 8-111(A)(1) (B)(6).
    (B) Any aggrieved party with respect to the issues to be
determined in a civil action under this Section may intervene
as of right in that civil action.
    (C) In a civil action under this Section, if the court
finds that a civil rights violation has occurred or is about to
occur the court may grant as relief any relief which a court
could grant with respect to such civil rights violation in a
civil action under Section 10-102. Any relief so granted that
would accrue to an aggrieved party in a civil action commenced
by that aggrieved party under Section 10-102 shall also accrue
to that aggrieved party in a civil action under this Section.
If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved
party who does not intervene in the civil action, the court
shall not award such relief if that aggrieved party has not
complied with discovery orders entered by the court.
(Source: P.A. 101-530, eff. 1-1-20.)
 
    (775 ILCS 5/10-104)
    Sec. 10-104. Circuit Court Actions by the Illinois Attorney
General.
    (A) Standing, venue, limitations on actions, preliminary
investigations, notice, and Assurance of Voluntary Compliance.
        (1) Whenever the Illinois Attorney General has
    reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of
    persons is engaged in a pattern and practice of
    discrimination prohibited by this Act, the Illinois
    Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of
    the People of the State, as parens patriae on behalf of
    persons within the State to enforce the provisions of this
    Act in any appropriate circuit court. Venue for this civil
    action shall be determined under paragraph (1) (6) of
    subsection (A) (C) of Section 8-111. Such actions shall be
    commenced no later than 2 years after the occurrence or the
    termination of an alleged civil rights violation or the
    breach of a conciliation agreement or Assurance of
    Voluntary Compliance entered into under this Act,
    whichever occurs last, to obtain relief with respect to the
    alleged civil rights violation or breach.
        (2) Prior to initiating a civil action, the Attorney
    General shall conduct a preliminary investigation to
    determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that
    any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern and
    practice of discrimination declared unlawful by this Act
    and whether the dispute can be resolved without litigation.
    In conducting this investigation, the Attorney General
    may:
            (a) require the individual or entity to file a
        statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise,
        as to all information the Attorney General may consider
        necessary;
            (b) examine under oath any person alleged to have
        participated in or with knowledge of the alleged
        pattern and practice violation; or
            (c) issue subpoenas or conduct hearings in aid of
        any investigation.
        (3) Service by the Attorney General of any notice
    requiring a person to file a statement or report, or of a
    subpoena upon any person, shall be made:
            (a) personally by delivery of a duly executed copy
        thereof to the person to be served or, if a person is
        not a natural person, in the manner provided in the
        Code of Civil Procedure when a complaint is filed; or
            (b) by mailing by certified mail a duly executed
        copy thereof to the person to be served at his or her
        last known abode or principal place of business within
        this State.
        (4) In lieu of a civil action, the individual or entity
    alleged to have engaged in a pattern or practice of
    discrimination deemed violative of this Act may enter into
    an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance with respect to the
    alleged pattern or practice violation.
        (5) The Illinois Attorney General may commence a civil
    action under this subsection (A) whether or not a charge
    has been filed under Sections 7A-102 or 7B-102 and without
    regard to the status of any charge, however, if the
    Department or local agency has obtained a conciliation or
    settlement agreement or if the parties have entered into an
    Assurance of Voluntary Compliance no action may be filed
    under this subsection (A) with respect to the alleged civil
    rights violation practice that forms the basis for the
    complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of
    the conciliation or settlement agreement or the terms of
    the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance.
        (6) Subpoenas.
            (a) Petition for enforcement. Whenever any person
        fails to comply with any subpoena issued under
        paragraph (2) of this subsection (A), or whenever
        satisfactory copying or reproduction of any material
        requested in an investigation cannot be done and the
        person refuses to surrender the material, the Attorney
        General may file in any appropriate circuit court, and
        serve upon the person, a petition for a court order for
        the enforcement of the subpoena or other request. Venue
        for this enforcement action shall be determined under
        paragraph (E)(1) (C)(6) of Section 8-104 8-111.
            (b) Petition to modify or set aside a subpoena.
                (i) Any person who has received a subpoena
            issued under paragraph (2) of this subsection (A)
            may file in the appropriate circuit court, and
            serve upon the Attorney General, a petition for a
            court order to modify or set aside the subpoena or
            other request. The petition must be filed either
            (I) within 20 days after the date of service of the
            subpoena or at any time before the return date
            specified in the subpoena, whichever date is
            earlier, or (II) within such longer period as may
            be prescribed in writing by the Attorney General.
                (ii) The petition shall specify each ground
            upon which the petitioner relies in seeking relief
            under subdivision (i) and may be based upon any
            failure of the subpoena to comply with the
            provisions of this Section or upon any
            constitutional or other legal right or privilege
            of the petitioner. During the pendency of the
            petition in the court, the court may stay, as it
            deems proper, the running of the time allowed for
            compliance with the subpoena or other request, in
            whole or in part, except that the petitioner shall
            comply with any portion of the subpoena or other
            request not sought to be modified or set aside.
            (c) Jurisdiction. Whenever any petition is filed
        in any circuit court under this paragraph (6), the
        court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the
        matter so presented and to enter such orders as may be
        required to carry out the provisions of this Section.
        Any final order so entered shall be subject to appeal
        in the same manner as appeals of other final orders in
        civil matters. Any disobedience of any final order
        entered under this paragraph (6) by any court shall be
        punished as a contempt of the court.
    (B) Relief which may be granted.
        (1) In any civil action brought pursuant to subsection
    (A) of this Section, the Attorney General may obtain as a
    remedy, equitable relief (including any permanent or
    preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order, or
    other order, including an order enjoining the defendant
    from engaging in such civil rights violation or ordering
    any action as may be appropriate). In addition, the
    Attorney General may request and the Court may impose a
    civil penalty to vindicate the public interest:
            (a) for violations of Article 3 and Article 4 in an
        amount not exceeding $25,000 per violation, and in the
        case of violations of all other Articles in an amount
        not exceeding $10,000 if the defendant has not been
        adjudged to have committed any prior civil rights
        violations under the provision of the Act that is the
        basis of the complaint;
            (b) for violations of Article 3 and Article 4 in an
        amount not exceeding $50,000 per violation, and in the
        case of violations of all other Articles in an amount
        not exceeding $25,000 if the defendant has been
        adjudged to have committed one other civil rights
        violation under the provision of the Act within 5 years
        of the occurrence of the civil rights violation that is
        the basis of the complaint; and
            (c) for violations of Article 3 and Article 4 in an
        amount not exceeding $75,000 per violation, and in the
        case of violations of all other Articles in an amount
        not exceeding $50,000 if the defendant has been
        adjudged to have committed 2 or more civil rights
        violations under the provision of the Act within 5
        years of the occurrence of the civil rights violation
        that is the basis of the complaint.
        (2) A civil penalty imposed under subdivision (B)(1) of
    this Section shall be deposited into the Attorney General
    Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects
    Fund, which is a special fund in the State Treasury. Moneys
    in the Fund shall be used, subject to appropriation, for
    the performance of any function pertaining to the exercise
    of the duties of the Attorney General including but not
    limited to enforcement of any law of this State and
    conducting public education programs; however, any moneys
    in the Fund that are required by the court or by an
    agreement to be used for a particular purpose shall be used
    for that purpose.
        (3) Aggrieved parties seeking actual damages must
    follow the procedure set out in Sections 7A-102 or 7B-102
    for filing a charge.
(Source: P.A. 97-1032, eff. 1-1-13.)
 
    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.".
 
    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 4/2/2021