97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1124

 

Introduced 2/8/2011, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/7-101  from Ch. 68, par. 7-101

    Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Human Rights.


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A BILL FOR

 

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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 7-101 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/7-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7-101)
7    Sec. 7-101. Powers and Duties. In addition to other powers
8and and duties prescribed in this Act, the Department shall
9have the following powers:
10    (A) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and
11rescind rules and regulations not inconsistent with the
12provisions of this Act pursuant to the Illinois Administrative
13Procedure Act.
14    (B) Charges. To issue, receive, investigate, conciliate,
15settle, and dismiss charges filed in conformity with this Act.
16    (C) Compulsory Process. To request subpoenas as it deems
17necessary for its investigations.
18    (D) Complaints. To file complaints with the Commission in
19conformity with this Act.
20    (E) Judicial Enforcement. To seek temporary relief and to
21enforce orders of the Commission in conformity with this Act.
22    (F) Equal Employment Opportunities. To take such action as
23may be authorized to provide for equal employment opportunities

 

 

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1and affirmative action.
2    (G) Recruitment; Research; Public Communication; Advisory
3Councils. To engage in such recruitment, research and public
4communication and create such advisory councils as may be
5authorized to effectuate the purposes of this Act.
6    (H) Coordination with Federal and Local Agencies. To
7coordinate its activities with federal and local agencies in
8conformity with this Act.
9    (I) Public Grants; Private Gifts. To accept public grants
10and private gifts as may be authorized.
11    (J) Education and Training. To implement a formal and
12unbiased program of education and training for all employees
13assigned to investigate and conciliate charges under Articles
147A and 7B. The training program shall include the following:
15        (1) substantive and procedural aspects of the
16    investigation and conciliation positions;
17        (2) current issues in human rights law and practice;
18        (3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas
19    related to human rights matters;
20        (4) orientation to each operational unit of the
21    Department and Commission;
22        (5) observation of experienced Department
23    investigators and attorneys conducting conciliation
24    conferences, combined with the opportunity to discuss
25    evidence presented and rulings made;
26        (6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the

 

 

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1    Department investigator and conciliation conference
2    attorney to issue judgments as a means to evaluating
3    knowledge and writing ability;
4        (7) writing skills;
5        (8) computer skills, including but not limited to word
6    processing and document management.
7    A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development
8program including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas
9shall be implemented to keep Department investigators and
10attorneys informed of recent developments and issues and to
11assist them in maintaining and enhancing their professional
12competence.
13(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)