102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB1226
 
Introduced 2/17/2021, by Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
  
820 ILCS 112/15

    Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Makes a technical change in a Section
concerning
enforcement.



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A BILL FOR
 


HB1226LRB102 03241 KTG 13254 b



1    AN ACT concerning employment.

 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly: 

 
4    Section 5. The Equal Pay Act of 2003 is amended by changing 
5Section 15 as follows:
 


6    (820 ILCS 112/15)



7    Sec. 15. Enforcement. 
8    (a) The
The Director or his or her authorized

9representative shall
administer and enforce the provisions of 
10this Act. The Director of Labor shall
adopt rules
necessary to 
11administer and enforce this Act.
12    (b)  An employee or former employee may file a complaint 
13with the
Department alleging a violation of this Act by 
14submitting a signed, completed complaint form.  All complaints 
15shall be filed with the Department within one year from the 
16date of the underpayment. 
17    (c) The Department has the power to conduct investigations 
18in
connection with
the administration and enforcement of this 
19Act and the authorized officers and
employees of the

20Department are authorized to investigate and gather data 
21regarding the wages,
hours, and other
conditions and practices 
22of employment in any industry subject to this Act, and
may 
23enter and
inspect such places and such records at reasonable 
 
 
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1times during regular
business hours, question
the employees 
2and investigate the facts, conditions, practices, or matters 
3as
he or she may deem
necessary or appropriate to determine 
4whether any person has violated any
provision of this Act, or 
5which may aid in the enforcement of this Act.

6    (d) The Department may refer a complaint alleging a 
7violation of this Act to the Department of Human Rights for 
8investigation if the subject matter of the complaint also 
9alleges a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act and the 
10Department of Human Rights has jurisdiction over the matter.  
11When a complaint is referred to the Department of Human Rights 
12under this subsection, the Department of Human Rights shall 
13also file the complaint under the Illinois Human Rights Act 
14and be the agency responsible for investigating the complaint. 
15The Department shall review the Department of Human Rights' 
16investigation and findings to determine whether a violation of 
17this Act has occurred or whether further investigation by the 
18Department is necessary and take any necessary or appropriate 
19action required to enforce the provisions of this Act. The 
20Director of Labor and the Department of Human Rights shall 
21adopt joint rules necessary to administer and enforce this 
22subsection. 
23(Source: P.A. 98-1051, eff. 1-1-15.)