(225 ILCS 515/1.5)

Sec. 1.5. Application for license; application fees; disclosure of fees, charges, and commissions; investigation of applicants; renewal of license; changes in structure and management of licensees.

(a) The applicant for a license shall furnish to the Department the following:

(1) An affidavit stating that he has never been a party to any fraud, has no jail or prison record, belongs to no subversive societies, is of good moral character, has business integrity and is financially responsible. In determining moral character and qualification for licensing, the Department may take into consideration any criminal conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to licensing.

(2) A completed application, on a form provided by the Department, that includes the name of the person, corporation, or other entity applying for the license; the location at which the person intends to conduct business; the type of employment services provided; and a disclosure of any other pecuniary interests held by the entity applying for the license.

(3) An application fee. The Director shall adopt rules to establish a schedule of fees for application for a license. The application fee is nonrefundable.

(4) A schedule of fees, charges, and commissions, which the employment agency intends to charge and collect for its services, together with a copy of all forms and contracts that the agency intends to be used in the operation of the agency. Such schedule of fees, charges, and commissions may thereafter be changed by filing with the Department an amended or supplemental schedule showing such changes at least 15 days before such change is to become effective. Any change in forms or contracts must be filed with the Department of Labor at least 15 days before such change is going to become effective. Such schedule of fees to be charged shall be posted in a conspicuous place in each room of such an agency where applicants are interviewed, in not less than 30 point bold-faced type. Agencies which deal exclusively with employer paid fees shall not be required to post said schedule of fees. The Department may by rule require contracts to contain definitions of terms used in such contracts to eliminate ambiguity.

It shall be unlawful for any employment agency to charge, collect, or receive a greater compensation for any service performed by it than is specified in the schedule filed with the Department. It shall be unlawful for any employment agency to collect or attempt to collect any compensation for any service not specified in the schedule of fees filed with the Department.

(b) Upon the filing of such application and supporting documentation, the Department shall cause an investigation to be made as to the character and the business integrity and financial responsibility of the applicant and those mentioned in the application. The application shall be rejected if the Department finds that any of the persons named in the application fail to demonstrate good moral character, business integrity and financial responsibility, or if there is any good and sufficient reason within the meaning and purpose of this Act for rejecting such application. Unless the application shall be rejected for one or more of the causes specified above, it shall be granted. A detailed report of such investigation and the action taken thereon shall be made in writing, signed by the investigator, and become a part of the official records of the Department. When, at the time of filing the application, the applicant or any person mentioned in the application is employed as an employment counselor by a licensed employment agency in this State, the Department shall notify the agency of this fact.

(c) Once issued, a license may be renewed annually by furnishing the Department the required application fee, a letter from a surety stating that a sufficient bond is in force, and other documents necessary to complete the renewal. Failure to renew a license at its expiration date shall cause the license to lapse and it may only be reinstated by a new application.

(d) No license shall be transferrable, but a licensee may, with the approval of the Department, make changes in the structure of the business entity operating the agency, but no licensee shall permit any person not mentioned in the original application for a license to become a partner if such agency is a partnership, or an officer of the corporation if such agency is a corporation, unless the written consent of the Department of Labor shall first be obtained. Such consent may be withheld for any reason for which an original application might have been rejected, if the person in question had been mentioned therein. No such change shall be permitted until the written consent of the surety or sureties on the bond required to be filed by Section 2 of this Act, to such change, is filed with the original bond. The Department shall be notified immediately of any change in the management of the agency so that at all times the identity of the person charged with the general management of the agency shall be known by the Department. A licensee may promote persons within its agency or change the titles and duties of existing agency personnel, other than the general manager, without notice to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 99-422, eff. 1-1-16; 100-278, eff. 8-22-17.)