SB0115 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 06240 AEK 46315 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB0115

Introduced 1/27/2011, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

820 ILCS 112/30

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides for a civil penalty of up to $5,000 when any employer or person violates sections of the Act prohibiting an employer or person from interfering or discouraging another from exercising his or her rights under the Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning employment.

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

Section 5. The Equal Pay Act of 2003 is amended by changing Section 30 as follows:

(820 ILCS 112/30)

Sec. 30. Violations; fines and penalties.

(a) If an employee is paid by his or her employer less than the wage to which he or she is entitled in violation of Section 10 of this Act, the employee may recover in a civil action the entire amount of any underpayment together with interest and the costs and reasonable attorney's fees as may be allowed by the court and as necessary to make the employee whole. At the request of the employee or on a motion of the Director, the Department may make an assignment of the wage claim in trust for the assigning employee and may bring any legal action necessary to collect the claim, and the employer shall be required to pay the costs incurred in collecting the claim. Every such action shall be brought within 5 years from the date of the underpayment. For purposes of this Act, "date of the underpayment" means each time wages are underpaid.

(b) The Director is authorized to supervise the payment of the unpaid wages owing to any employee or employees under this Act and may bring any legal action necessary to recover the amount of unpaid wages and penalties and the employer shall be required to pay the costs. Any sums recovered by the Director on behalf of an employee under this Section shall be paid to the employee or employees affected.

(c) Any employer who violates any provision of this Act or any rule adopted under the Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 for each violation for each employee affected, except that any employer or person who violates subsection (b) or (c) of Section 10 is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation for each employee affected. In determining the amount of the penalty, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the employer charged and the gravity of the violation shall be considered. The penalty may be recovered in a civil action brought by the Director in any circuit court.

(Source: P.A. 96-467, eff. 8-14-09.)