101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB3528

 

Introduced , by Rep. Anne Stava-Murray

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/2-108 new

    Provides that the Act may be referred to as the Consent-Required Workplace Act. Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Defines terms. Provides that an employer shall require active consent for any physical touch beyond a handshake between colleagues, contractors, customers, students, direct reports, or business-to-business clients. Provides that a person with a higher pay grade or higher status than another person shall not ask the other person to initiate a physical touch beyond a handshake or engage in unwanted or offensive speech. Provides that if employees develop a personal relationship, active consent paperwork may be filed with their employer. Provides that if a non-consensual behavior complaint is filed against an employer, the employer's policy shall be updated within 7 business days to address the current complaint. Provides that any employer having a complaint of a violation filed against it with the Department of Human Rights is subject to randomized auditing to ensure the company has an acceptable policy and is following the policy to protect its employees. Provides that if an employer receives 10 or more non-consensual behavior complaints, the Department is required to conduct an audit. Provides that a violation of the new provisions constitutes a civil rights violation. Provides that, in addition to any remedies available under the Act, a person or employer is subject to a $1,000 penalty for each violation, collectible by the Department and to be used by the Department for the administration of the new provisions. Effective January 1, 2020.


LRB101 07029 LNS 52065 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3528LRB101 07029 LNS 52065 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 1. References to Act. This Act may be referred to
5as the Consent-Required Workplace Act.
 
6    Section 10. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
7adding Section 2-108 as follows:
 
8    (775 ILCS 5/2-108 new)
9    Sec. 2-108. Consent-required workplace.
10    (a) For purposes of this Section:
11    "Acceptable policy" means outlining specific actions and
12specific consequences to be carried out in the workplace
13regarding active consent and non-consensual behavior.
14    "Active consent" means a person asking for any physical
15touch beyond a handshake.
16    "Non-consensual behavior" means any physical touch beyond
17a handshake that has been carried out, including, but not
18limited to, brushing a person while walking past them, groping
19a person while in an overcrowded space, putting hands on a
20person while having a photo taken, and a violation of
21subsection (c).
22    (b) An employer based in this State shall be responsible

 

 

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1for the workplace safety of its employees. An employer shall
2require active consent for any physical touch beyond a
3handshake between colleagues, contractors, customers,
4students, direct reports, or business-to-business clients and
5their employee.
6    (c) A person with a higher pay grade or higher status than
7another person shall not ask the other person to initiate a
8physical touch beyond a handshake or engage in unwanted or
9offensive speech.
10    (d) If employees develop a personal relationship, active
11consent paperwork may be filed with their employer.
12    (e) If a non-consensual behavior complaint is filed against
13an employer, the employer's policy shall be updated within 7
14business days to address the current complaint if it is not yet
15included in the policy.
16    (f) Any employer having a complaint of a violation of this
17Act filed against it with the Department is subject to
18randomized auditing to ensure the employer has an acceptable
19policy and is following the policy to protect its employees.
20    (g) If the Department receives 10 or more complaints of a
21violation of this Section regarding an employer, the Department
22shall conduct an audit to ensure compliance with this Section.
23    (h) A violation of this Section constitutes a civil rights
24violation. In addition to any other remedies available under
25this Act, a person or employer who violates this Section is
26subject to a $1,000 penalty for each violation, collectible by

 

 

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1the Department. The civil penalty shall be used by the
2Department for the administration of this Section.
3    (i) This Section applies to all employees and employers,
4including instructors at institutions of higher education and
5students participating in school-sponsored work-study
6programs.
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
81, 2020.