101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB5376

 

Introduced , by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/10-102  from Ch. 68, par. 10-102
775 ILCS 5/10-103  from Ch. 68, par. 10-103

    Amends the Circuit Court Actions Article of the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that an aggrieved respondent may commence a civil action in an appropriate circuit court not later than 2 years after the occurrence or termination of an alleged civil rights violation or breach of a conciliation or settlement agreement entered into to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the alleged civil rights violation or breach. Provides that in a civil action pursuant to election, if the court finds that a civil rights violation has not occurred, the court may grant all attorney's fees and remittance of any monetary relief that was awarded during settlement by the Human Rights Commission.


LRB101 18939 LNS 68398 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5376LRB101 18939 LNS 68398 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 10-102 and 10-103 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/10-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 10-102)
7    Sec. 10-102. Court Actions. (A) Circuit Court Actions. (1)
8An aggrieved party or respondent may commence a civil action in
9an appropriate Circuit Court not later than 2 years after the
10occurrence or the termination of an alleged civil rights
11violation or the breach of a conciliation or settlement
12agreement entered into under this Act, whichever occurs last,
13to obtain appropriate relief with respect to the alleged civil
14rights violation or breach. Venue for such civil action shall
15be determined under Section 8-111(B)(6).
16    (2) The computation of such 2-year period shall not include
17any time during which an administrative proceeding under this
18Act was pending with respect to a complaint or charge under
19this Act based upon the alleged civil rights violation. This
20paragraph does not apply to actions arising from a breach of a
21conciliation or settlement agreement.
22    (3) An aggrieved party may commence a civil action under
23this subsection whether or not a charge has been filed under

 

 

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1Section 7B-102 and without regard to the status of any such
2charge, however, if the Department or local agency has obtained
3a conciliation or settlement agreement with the consent of an
4aggrieved party, no action may be filed under this subsection
5by such aggrieved party with respect to the alleged civil
6rights violation practice which forms the basis for such
7complaint except for the purpose of enforcing the terms of such
8conciliation or settlement agreement.
9    (4) An aggrieved party shall not commence a civil action
10under this subsection with respect to an alleged civil rights
11violation which forms the basis of a complaint issued by the
12Department if a hearing officer has commenced a hearing on the
13record under Article 3 of this Act with respect to such
14complaint.
15    (B) Appointment of Attorney by Court. Upon application by a
16person alleging a civil rights violation or a person against
17whom the civil rights violation is alleged, if in the opinion
18of the court such person is financially unable to bear the
19costs of such action, the court may:
20    (1) appoint an attorney for such person, any attorney so
21appointed may petition for an award of attorneys fees pursuant
22to subsection (C)(2) of this Section; or
23    (2) authorize the commencement or continuation of a civil
24action under subsection (A) without the payment of fees, costs,
25or security.
26    (C) Relief which may be granted. (1) In a civil action

 

 

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1under subsection (A) if the court finds that a civil rights
2violation has occurred or is about to occur, the court may
3award to the plaintiff actual and punitive damages, and may
4grant as relief, as the court deems appropriate, any permanent
5or preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order, or
6other order, including an order enjoining the defendant from
7engaging in such civil rights violation or ordering such
8affirmative action as may be appropriate.
9    (2) In a civil action under subsection (A), the court, in
10its discretion, may allow the prevailing party, other than the
11State of Illinois, reasonable attorneys fees and costs. The
12State of Illinois shall be liable for such fees and costs to
13the same extent as a private person.
14    (D) Intervention By The Department. The Attorney General of
15Illinois may intervene on behalf of the Department if the
16Department certifies that the case is of general public
17importance. Upon such intervention the court may award such
18relief as is authorized to be granted to a plaintiff in a civil
19action under Section 10-102(C).
20(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
21    (775 ILCS 5/10-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 10-103)
22    Sec. 10-103. Circuit court actions pursuant to election.
23    (A) If an election is made under Section 8B-102, the
24Department shall authorize and not later than 30 days after the
25entry of the administrative closure order by the Commission the

 

 

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1Attorney General shall commence and maintain a civil action on
2behalf of the aggrieved party in a circuit court of Illinois
3seeking relief under this Section. Venue for such civil action
4shall be determined under Section 8-111(B)(6).
5    (B) Any aggrieved party with respect to the issues to be
6determined in a civil action under this Section may intervene
7as of right in that civil action.
8    (C) In a civil action under this Section, if the court
9finds that a civil rights violation has occurred or is about to
10occur the court may grant as relief any relief which a court
11could grant with respect to such civil rights violation in a
12civil action under Section 10-102. Any relief so granted that
13would accrue to an aggrieved party in a civil action commenced
14by that aggrieved party under Section 10-102 shall also accrue
15to that aggrieved party in a civil action under this Section.
16If monetary relief is sought for the benefit of an aggrieved
17party who does not intervene in the civil action, the court
18shall not award such relief if that aggrieved party has not
19complied with discovery orders entered by the court.
20    (D) In a civil action under this Section, if the court
21finds that a civil rights violation has not occurred, the court
22may grant, as relief, all attorney's fees and remittance of any
23monetary relief that was awarded during settlement by the
24Commission.
25(Source: P.A. 101-530, eff. 1-1-20.)