101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3215

 

Introduced 2/11/2020, by Sen. Cristina Castro

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/1-103  from Ch. 68, par. 1-103
775 ILCS 5/2-105  from Ch. 68, par. 2-105
775 ILCS 5/3-102.10 new
775 ILCS 5/5A-101.1
775 ILCS 5/6-101  from Ch. 68, par. 6-101
775 ILCS 5/6-101.5 new
775 ILCS 5/7A-101  from Ch. 68, par. 7A-101
775 ILCS 5/7B-101  from Ch. 68, par. 7B-101
775 ILCS 5/7B-102  from Ch. 68, par. 7B-102
775 ILCS 5/8A-101  from Ch. 68, par. 8A-101
775 ILCS 5/8B-101  from Ch. 68, par. 8B-101

    Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation for a third-party loan modification service provider, because of unlawful discrimination, familial status, or an arrest record, to (1) refuse to engage in loan modification services or to discriminate in making such services available, or (2) alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such services. Makes changes concerning what constitutes retaliation under various Articles of the Act. Provides that, in proceedings relating to real estate transactions, the failure of the Department to notify the complainant or respondent in writing of the reasons for not completing an investigation on the allegations set forth in a charge within 100 days shall not deprive the Department of jurisdiction over the charge. Makes corresponding and other changes.


LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3215LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 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 1-103, 2-105, 5A-101.1, 6-101, 7A-101,
67B-101, 7B-102, 8A-101, and 8B-101 and by adding Sections
73-102.10 and 6-101.5 as follows:
 
8    (775 ILCS 5/1-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 1-103)
9    Sec. 1-103. General definitions. When used in this Act,
10unless the context requires otherwise, the term:
11    (A) Age. "Age" means the chronological age of a person who
12is at least 40 years old, except with regard to any practice
13described in Section 2-102, insofar as that practice concerns
14training or apprenticeship programs. In the case of training or
15apprenticeship programs, for the purposes of Section 2-102,
16"age" means the chronological age of a person who is 18 but not
17yet 40 years old.
18    (B) Aggrieved party. "Aggrieved party" means a person who
19is alleged or proved to have been injured by a civil rights
20violation or believes he or she will be injured by a civil
21rights violation under Article 3 that is about to occur.
22    (B-5) Arrest record. "Arrest record" means:
23        (1) an arrest not leading to a conviction;

 

 

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1        (2) a juvenile record; or
2        (3) criminal history record information ordered
3    expunged, sealed, or impounded under Section 5.2 of the
4    Criminal Identification Act.
5    (C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the
6Department by an aggrieved party or initiated by the Department
7under its authority.
8    (D) Civil rights violation. "Civil rights violation"
9includes and shall be limited to only those specific acts set
10forth in Sections 2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-102.1, 3-103,
113-102.10 3-104, 3-104.1, 3-105, 3-105.1, 4-102, 4-103, 5-102,
125A-102, 6-101, 6-101.5, and 6-102 of this Act.
13    (E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights
14Commission created by this Act.
15    (F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading filed
16by the Department with the Commission following an
17investigation and finding of substantial evidence of a civil
18rights violation.
19    (G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including
20the Department who files a charge of civil rights violation
21with the Department or the Commission.
22    (H) Department. "Department" means the Department of Human
23Rights created by this Act.
24    (I) Disability. "Disability" means a determinable physical
25or mental characteristic of a person, including, but not
26limited to, a determinable physical characteristic which

 

 

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1necessitates the person's use of a guide, hearing or support
2dog, the history of such characteristic, or the perception of
3such characteristic by the person complained against, which may
4result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or
5functional disorder and which characteristic:
6        (1) For purposes of Article 2, is unrelated to the
7    person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job
8    or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this Act, a
9    person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a
10    disability;
11        (2) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the
12    person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain a housing
13    accommodation;
14        (3) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a
15    person's ability to repay;
16        (4) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a
17    person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of
18    public accommodation;
19        (5) For purposes of Article 5, also includes any
20    mental, psychological, or developmental disability,
21    including autism spectrum disorders.
22    (J) Marital status. "Marital status" means the legal status
23of being married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed.
24    (J-1) Military status. "Military status" means a person's
25status on active duty in or status as a veteran of the armed
26forces of the United States, status as a current member or

 

 

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1veteran of any reserve component of the armed forces of the
2United States, including the United States Army Reserve, United
3States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Navy Reserve, United
4States Air Force Reserve, and United States Coast Guard
5Reserve, or status as a current member or veteran of the
6Illinois Army National Guard or Illinois Air National Guard.
7    (K) National origin. "National origin" means the place in
8which a person or one of his or her ancestors was born.
9    (K-5) "Order of protection status" means a person's status
10as being a person protected under an order of protection issued
11pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, Article
12112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Stalking No
13Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act, or an
14order of protection issued by a court of another state.
15    (L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals,
16partnerships, associations or organizations, labor
17organizations, labor unions, joint apprenticeship committees,
18or union labor associations, corporations, the State of
19Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions,
20units of local government, legal representatives, trustees in
21bankruptcy or receivers.
22    (L-5) Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means pregnancy, childbirth,
23or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or
24childbirth.
25    (M) Public contract. "Public contract" includes every
26contract to which the State, any of its political subdivisions,

 

 

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1or any municipal corporation is a party.
2    (N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of religious
3observance and practice, as well as belief, except that with
4respect to employers, for the purposes of Article 2, "religion"
5has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (F) of Section
62-101.
7    (O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.
8    (O-1) Sexual orientation. "Sexual orientation" means
9actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality,
10bisexuality, or gender-related identity, whether or not
11traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at
12birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or
13sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.
14    (P) Unfavorable military discharge. "Unfavorable military
15discharge" includes discharges from the Armed Forces of the
16United States, their Reserve components, or any National Guard
17or Naval Militia which are classified as RE-3 or the equivalent
18thereof, but does not include those characterized as RE-4 or
19"Dishonorable".
20    (Q) Unlawful discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination"
21means discrimination against a person because of his or her
22actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin,
23ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status,
24disability, military status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or
25unfavorable discharge from military service as those terms are
26defined in this Section.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 100-714, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19;
2101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-565, eff. 1-1-20; revised 9-18-19.)
 
3    (775 ILCS 5/2-105)  (from Ch. 68, par. 2-105)
4    Sec. 2-105. Equal Employment Opportunities; Affirmative
5Action.
6    (A) Public Contracts. Every party to a public contract and
7every eligible bidder shall:
8        (1) Refrain from unlawful discrimination and
9    discrimination based on citizenship status in employment
10    and undertake affirmative action to assure equality of
11    employment opportunity and eliminate the effects of past
12    discrimination;
13        (2) Comply with the procedures and requirements of the
14    Department's regulations concerning equal employment
15    opportunities and affirmative action;
16        (3) Provide such information, with respect to its
17    employees and applicants for employment, and assistance as
18    the Department may reasonably request;
19        (4) Have written sexual harassment policies that shall
20    include, at a minimum, the following information: (i) the
21    illegality of sexual harassment; (ii) the definition of
22    sexual harassment under State law; (iii) a description of
23    sexual harassment, utilizing examples; (iv) the vendor's
24    internal complaint process including penalties; (v) the
25    legal recourse, investigative and complaint process

 

 

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1    available through the Department and the Commission; (vi)
2    directions on how to contact the Department and Commission;
3    and (vii) protection against retaliation as provided by
4    Sections Section 6-101 and 6-101.5 of this Act. A copy of
5    the policies shall be provided to the Department upon
6    request. Additionally, each bidder who submits a bid or
7    offer for a State contract under the Illinois Procurement
8    Code shall have a written copy of the bidder's sexual
9    harassment policy as required under this paragraph (4). A
10    copy of the policy shall be provided to the State agency
11    entering into the contract upon request.
12    (B) State Agencies. Every State executive department,
13State agency, board, commission, and instrumentality shall:
14        (1) Comply with the procedures and requirements of the
15    Department's regulations concerning equal employment
16    opportunities and affirmative action;
17        (2) Provide such information and assistance as the
18    Department may request.
19        (3) Establish, maintain, and carry out a continuing
20    affirmative action plan consistent with this Act and the
21    regulations of the Department designed to promote equal
22    opportunity for all State residents in every aspect of
23    agency personnel policy and practice. For purposes of these
24    affirmative action plans, the race and national origin
25    categories to be included in the plans are: American Indian
26    or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American,

 

 

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1    Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific
2    Islander.
3        This plan shall include a current detailed status
4    report:
5            (a) indicating, by each position in State service,
6        the number, percentage, and average salary of
7        individuals employed by race, national origin, sex and
8        disability, and any other category that the Department
9        may require by rule;
10            (b) identifying all positions in which the
11        percentage of the people employed by race, national
12        origin, sex and disability, and any other category that
13        the Department may require by rule, is less than
14        four-fifths of the percentage of each of those
15        components in the State work force;
16            (c) specifying the goals and methods for
17        increasing the percentage by race, national origin,
18        sex and disability, and any other category that the
19        Department may require by rule, in State positions;
20            (d) indicating progress and problems toward
21        meeting equal employment opportunity goals, including,
22        if applicable, but not limited to, Department of
23        Central Management Services recruitment efforts,
24        publicity, promotions, and use of options designating
25        positions by linguistic abilities;
26            (e) establishing a numerical hiring goal for the

 

 

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1        employment of qualified persons with disabilities in
2        the agency as a whole, to be based on the proportion of
3        people with work disabilities in the Illinois labor
4        force as reflected in the most recent employment data
5        made available by the United States Census Bureau.
6        (4) If the agency has 1000 or more employees, appoint a
7    full-time Equal Employment Opportunity officer, subject to
8    the Department's approval, whose duties shall include:
9            (a) Advising the head of the particular State
10        agency with respect to the preparation of equal
11        employment opportunity programs, procedures,
12        regulations, reports, and the agency's affirmative
13        action plan.
14            (b) Evaluating in writing each fiscal year the
15        sufficiency of the total agency program for equal
16        employment opportunity and reporting thereon to the
17        head of the agency with recommendations as to any
18        improvement or correction in recruiting, hiring or
19        promotion needed, including remedial or disciplinary
20        action with respect to managerial or supervisory
21        employees who have failed to cooperate fully or who are
22        in violation of the program.
23            (c) Making changes in recruitment, training and
24        promotion programs and in hiring and promotion
25        procedures designed to eliminate discriminatory
26        practices when authorized.

 

 

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1            (d) Evaluating tests, employment policies,
2        practices and qualifications and reporting to the head
3        of the agency and to the Department any policies,
4        practices and qualifications that have unequal impact
5        by race, national origin as required by Department
6        rule, sex or disability or any other category that the
7        Department may require by rule, and to assist in the
8        recruitment of people in underrepresented
9        classifications. This function shall be performed in
10        cooperation with the State Department of Central
11        Management Services.
12            (e) Making any aggrieved employee or applicant for
13        employment aware of his or her remedies under this Act.
14            In any meeting, investigation, negotiation,
15        conference, or other proceeding between a State
16        employee and an Equal Employment Opportunity officer,
17        a State employee (1) who is not covered by a collective
18        bargaining agreement and (2) who is the complaining
19        party or the subject of such proceeding may be
20        accompanied, advised and represented by (1) an
21        attorney licensed to practice law in the State of
22        Illinois or (2) a representative of an employee
23        organization whose membership is composed of employees
24        of the State and of which the employee is a member. A
25        representative of an employee, other than an attorney,
26        may observe but may not actively participate, or advise

 

 

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1        the State employee during the course of such meeting,
2        investigation, negotiation, conference or other
3        proceeding. Nothing in this Section shall be construed
4        to permit any person who is not licensed to practice
5        law in Illinois to deliver any legal services or
6        otherwise engage in any activities that would
7        constitute the unauthorized practice of law. Any
8        representative of an employee who is present with the
9        consent of the employee, shall not, during or after
10        termination of the relationship permitted by this
11        Section with the State employee, use or reveal any
12        information obtained during the course of the meeting,
13        investigation, negotiation, conference or other
14        proceeding without the consent of the complaining
15        party and any State employee who is the subject of the
16        proceeding and pursuant to rules and regulations
17        governing confidentiality of such information as
18        promulgated by the appropriate State agency.
19        Intentional or reckless disclosure of information in
20        violation of these confidentiality requirements shall
21        constitute a Class B misdemeanor.
22        (5) Establish, maintain and carry out a continuing
23    sexual harassment program that shall include the
24    following:
25            (a) Develop a written sexual harassment policy
26        that includes at a minimum the following information:

 

 

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1        (i) the illegality of sexual harassment; (ii) the
2        definition of sexual harassment under State law; (iii)
3        a description of sexual harassment, utilizing
4        examples; (iv) the agency's internal complaint process
5        including penalties; (v) the legal recourse,
6        investigative and complaint process available through
7        the Department and the Commission; (vi) directions on
8        how to contact the Department and Commission; and (vii)
9        protection against retaliation as provided by Section
10        6-101 of this Act. The policy shall be reviewed
11        annually.
12            (b) Post in a prominent and accessible location and
13        distribute in a manner to assure notice to all agency
14        employees without exception the agency's sexual
15        harassment policy. Such documents may meet, but shall
16        not exceed, the 6th grade literacy level. Distribution
17        shall be effectuated within 90 days of the effective
18        date of this amendatory Act of 1992 and shall occur
19        annually thereafter.
20            (c) Provide training on sexual harassment
21        prevention and the agency's sexual harassment policy
22        as a component of all ongoing or new employee training
23        programs.
24        (6) Notify the Department 30 days before effecting any
25    layoff. Once notice is given, the following shall occur:
26            (a) No layoff may be effective earlier than 10

 

 

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1        working days after notice to the Department, unless an
2        emergency layoff situation exists.
3            (b) The State executive department, State agency,
4        board, commission, or instrumentality in which the
5        layoffs are to occur must notify each employee targeted
6        for layoff, the employee's union representative (if
7        applicable), and the State Dislocated Worker Unit at
8        the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
9            (c) The State executive department, State agency,
10        board, commission, or instrumentality in which the
11        layoffs are to occur must conform to applicable
12        collective bargaining agreements.
13            (d) The State executive department, State agency,
14        board, commission, or instrumentality in which the
15        layoffs are to occur should notify each employee
16        targeted for layoff that transitional assistance may
17        be available to him or her under the Economic
18        Dislocation and Worker Adjustment Assistance Act
19        administered by the Department of Commerce and
20        Economic Opportunity. Failure to give such notice
21        shall not invalidate the layoff or postpone its
22        effective date.
23     As used in this subsection (B), "disability" shall be
24defined in rules promulgated under the Illinois Administrative
25Procedure Act.
26    (C) Civil Rights Violations. It is a civil rights violation

 

 

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1for any public contractor or eligible bidder to:
2        (1) fail to comply with the public contractor's or
3    eligible bidder's duty to refrain from unlawful
4    discrimination and discrimination based on citizenship
5    status in employment under subsection (A)(1) of this
6    Section; or
7        (2) fail to comply with the public contractor's or
8    eligible bidder's duties of affirmative action under
9    subsection (A) of this Section, provided however, that the
10    Department has notified the public contractor or eligible
11    bidder in writing by certified mail that the public
12    contractor or eligible bidder may not be in compliance with
13    affirmative action requirements of subsection (A). A
14    minimum of 60 days to comply with the requirements shall be
15    afforded to the public contractor or eligible bidder before
16    the Department may issue formal notice of non-compliance.
17    (D) As used in this Section:
18        (1) "American Indian or Alaska Native" means a person
19    having origins in any of the original peoples of North and
20    South America, including Central America, and who
21    maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
22        (2) "Asian" means a person having origins in any of the
23    original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the
24    Indian subcontinent, including, but not limited to,
25    Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan,
26    the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

 

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1        (3) "Black or African American" means a person having
2    origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. Terms
3    such as "Haitian" or "Negro" can be used in addition to
4    "Black or African American".
5        (4) "Hispanic or Latino" means a person of Cuban,
6    Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other
7    Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
8        (5) "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander" means a
9    person having origins in any of the original peoples of
10    Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
11(Source: P.A. 99-933, eff. 1-27-17; 100-698, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
12    (775 ILCS 5/3-102.10 new)
13    Sec. 3-102.10. Third-Party loan modification service
14provider.
15    (A) It is a civil rights violation for a third-party loan
16modification service provider, because of unlawful
17discrimination, familial status, or an arrest record, to:
18        (1) refuse to engage in loan modification services or
19    to discriminate in making such services available; or
20        (2) alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such
21    services.
22    (B) For purposes of this Section, "third-party loan
23modification service provider" means a person or entity,
24whether licensed or not, who, for or with the expectation of
25receiving consideration, provides assistance or services to a

 

 

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1loan borrower to obtain a modification to a term of an existing
2real estate loan or to obtain foreclosure relief. "Third party
3loan modification service provider" does not include lenders,
4brokers or appraisers of mortgage loans, or affiliates of the
5lender collecting the loan payments.
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/5A-101.1)
7    Sec. 5A-101.1. Notice.
8    (A) Every institution of higher education covered by this
9Act shall post in a prominent and accessible location a poster
10stating sexual harassment laws and policies. The poster shall
11be (i) posted and kept posted at each campus in common area
12positions easily accessible to all students including, but not
13limited to residence halls, administration buildings, student
14unions, cafeterias, and libraries or (ii) posted annually at
15each campus in common area positions easily accessible to all
16students including, but not limited to, residence halls,
17administration buildings, student unions, cafeterias, and
18libraries, with an electronic copy of the sexual harassment
19laws and policies also sent to each student at the time that
20registration materials are emailed or (iii) on campuses that
21provide for online registration of student classes, such
22information pertaining to sexual harassment laws and policies
23may be incorporated into the registration process so that
24students must review the policies and laws and acknowledge such
25review, prior to being allowed to register. Documents to be

 

 

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1posted shall be retrieved from the Illinois Department of Human
2Rights website to satisfy posting requirements. Posting of the
3posters shall be effectuated within 90 days of the effective
4date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly and
5shall occur annually thereafter.
6    (B) The posted sexual harassment poster shall include, at a
7minimum, the following information: (i) the illegality of
8sexual harassment in higher education; (ii) the definition of
9sexual harassment under State law; (iii) a description of
10sexual harassment, utilizing examples; (iv) the institution's
11internal complaint process including penalties; (v) the legal
12recourse, investigative and complaint process available
13through the Department of Human Rights; (vi) directions on how
14to contact the Department; and (vii) protection against
15retaliation as provided by Sections Section 6-101 and 6-101.5
16of this Act.
17    (C) Upon notification of a failure to post, the Department
18of Human Rights may launch a preliminary investigation. If the
19Department finds a failure to post, the Department may issue a
20notice to show cause giving the institution 30 days to correct
21the failure to post. If the failure to post is not corrected,
22the Department may initiate a charge of a civil rights
23violation.
24(Source: P.A. 96-574, eff. 8-18-09.)
 
25    (775 ILCS 5/6-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 6-101)

 

 

SB3215- 18 -LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 b

1    Sec. 6-101. Additional civil rights violations under
2Articles 2, 4, 5, and 5A Additional Civil Rights Violations. It
3is a civil rights violation for a person, or for 2 two or more
4persons, to conspire, to:
5        (A) Retaliation. Retaliate against a person because he
6    or she has opposed that which he or she reasonably and in
7    good faith believes to be unlawful discrimination, sexual
8    harassment in employment, or sexual harassment in
9    elementary, secondary, and higher education, or
10    discrimination based on arrest record or citizenship
11    status in employment under Articles 2, 4, 5, and 5A,
12    because he or she has made a charge, filed a complaint,
13    testified, assisted, or participated in an investigation,
14    proceeding, or hearing under this Act, or because he or she
15    has requested, attempted to request, used, or attempted to
16    use a reasonable accommodation as allowed by this Act;
17        (B) Aiding and Abetting; Coercion. Aid, abet, compel or
18    coerce a person to commit any violation of this Act;
19        (C) Interference. Wilfully interfere with the
20    performance of a duty or the exercise of a power by the
21    Commission or one of its members or representatives or the
22    Department or one of its officers or employees.
23    Definitions. For the purposes of this Section, "sexual
24harassment" and "citizenship status" shall have the same
25meaning as defined in Section 2-101 of this Act.
26(Source: P.A. 97-333, eff. 8-12-11; 98-1050, eff. 1-1-15.)
 

 

 

SB3215- 19 -LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 b

1    (775 ILCS 5/6-101.5 new)
2    Sec. 6-101.5. Additional civil rights violations under
3Article 3. It is a civil rights violation for a person, or for
42 or more persons, to conspire, to:
5    (A) retaliate against a person because the person has
6opposed that which he or she reasonably and in good faith
7believes to be unlawful discrimination or discrimination based
8on familial status or arrest record in a real estate
9transaction under Article 3, because the person has made a
10charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or
11participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under
12this Act, or because the person has requested, attempted to
13request, used, or attempted to use a reasonable accommodation
14as allowed by this Act;
15    (B) aid, abet, compel, or coerce a person to commit any
16violation of this Act; or
17    (C) willfully interfere with the performance of a duty or
18the exercise of a power by the Commission or one of its members
19or representatives or the Department or one of its officers or
20employees.
21    For the purposes of this Section, "familial status" has the
22same meaning as defined in Section 3-101.
 
23    (775 ILCS 5/7A-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-101)
24    Sec. 7A-101. The procedures specified in this Article shall

 

 

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1apply solely to Articles 2, 4, 5, and 5A and Sections 6-101 and
26-102 of Article 6.
3(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
4    (775 ILCS 5/7B-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7B-101)
5    Sec. 7B-101. The procedures specified in this Article shall
6apply solely to Article 3 and Section 6-101.5 of Article 6.
7(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
8    (775 ILCS 5/7B-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7B-102)
9    Sec. 7B-102. Procedures.
10    (A) Charge.
11        (1) Within one year after the date that a civil rights
12    violation allegedly has been committed or terminated, a
13    charge in writing under oath or affirmation may be filed
14    with the Department by an aggrieved party or issued by the
15    Department itself under the signature of the Director.
16        (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to
17    substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to
18    the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil
19    rights violation.
20    (B) Notice and Response to Charge.
21        (1) The Department shall serve notice upon the
22    aggrieved party acknowledging such charge and advising the
23    aggrieved party of the time limits and choice of forums
24    provided under this Act. The Department shall, within 10

 

 

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1    days of the date on which the charge was filed or the
2    identification of an additional respondent under paragraph
3    (2) of this subsection, serve on the respondent a copy of
4    the charge along with a notice identifying the alleged
5    civil rights violation and advising the respondent of the
6    procedural rights and obligations of respondents under
7    this Act and may require the respondent to file a response
8    to the allegations contained in the charge. Upon the
9    Department's request, the respondent shall file a response
10    to the charge within 30 days and shall serve a copy of its
11    response on the complainant or his or her representative.
12    Notwithstanding any request from the Department, the
13    respondent may elect to file a response to the charge
14    within 30 days of receipt of notice of the charge, provided
15    the respondent serves a copy of its response on the
16    complainant or his or her representative. All allegations
17    contained in the charge not denied by the respondent within
18    30 days after the Department's request for a response may
19    be deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is
20    without sufficient information to form a belief with
21    respect to such allegation. The Department may issue a
22    notice of default directed to any respondent who fails to
23    file a response to a charge within 30 days of the
24    Department's request, unless the respondent can
25    demonstrate good cause as to why such notice should not
26    issue. The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule

 

 

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1    promulgated by the Department. Within 10 days of the date
2    he or she receives the respondent's response, the
3    complainant may file his or her reply to said response. If
4    he or she chooses to file a reply, the complainant shall
5    serve a copy of said reply on the respondent or his or her
6    representative. A party may supplement his or her response
7    or reply at any time that the investigation of the charge
8    is pending.
9        (2) A person who is not named as a respondent in a
10    charge, but who is identified as a respondent in the course
11    of investigation, may be joined as an additional or
12    substitute respondent upon written notice, under
13    subsection (B), to such person, from the Department. Such
14    notice, in addition to meeting the requirements of
15    subsections (A) and (B), shall explain the basis for the
16    Department's belief that a person to whom the notice is
17    addressed is properly joined as a respondent.
18    (C) Investigation.
19        (1) The Department shall conduct a full investigation
20    of the allegations set forth in the charge and complete
21    such investigation within 100 days after the filing of the
22    charge, unless it is impracticable to do so. The
23    Department's failure to complete the investigation within
24    100 days after the proper filing of the charge does not
25    deprive the Department of jurisdiction over the charge.
26        (2) If the Department is unable to complete the

 

 

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1    investigation within 100 days after the charge is filed,
2    the Department shall notify the complainant and respondent
3    in writing of the reasons for not doing so. The failure of
4    the Department to notify the complainant or respondent in
5    writing of the reasons for not doing so shall not deprive
6    the Department of jurisdiction over the charge.
7        (3) The Director or his or her designated
8    representative shall have authority to request any member
9    of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the
10    attendance of a witness or the production for examination
11    of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
12        (4) If any witness whose testimony is required for any
13    investigation resides outside the State, or through
14    illness or any other good cause as determined by the
15    Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator or
16    appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony
17    or deposition may be taken, within or without the State, in
18    the same manner as provided for in the taking of
19    depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
20        (5) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the
21    respondent, the Department may conduct a fact finding
22    conference. When requested by the Department, a party's
23    failure to attend the conference without good cause may
24    result in dismissal or default. A notice of dismissal or
25    default shall be issued by the Director and shall notify
26    the relevant party that a request for review may be filed

 

 

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1    in writing with the Commission within 30 days of receipt of
2    notice of dismissal or default.
3    (D) Report.
4        (1) Each charge investigated under subsection (C)
5    shall be the subject of a report to the Director. The
6    report shall be a confidential document subject to review
7    by the Director, authorized Department employees, the
8    parties, and, where indicated by this Act, members of the
9    Commission or their designated hearing officers.
10            The report shall contain:
11            (a) the names and dates of contacts with witnesses;
12            (b) a summary and the date of correspondence and
13        other contacts with the aggrieved party and the
14        respondent;
15            (c) a summary description of other pertinent
16        records;
17            (d) a summary of witness statements; and
18            (e) answers to questionnaires.
19        A final report under this paragraph may be amended if
20    additional evidence is later discovered.
21        (2) Upon review of the report and within 100 days of
22    the filing of the charge, unless it is impracticable to do
23    so, the Director shall determine whether there is
24    substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights
25    violation has been committed or is about to be committed.
26    If the Director is unable to make the determination within

 

 

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1    100 days after the filing of the charge, the Director shall
2    notify the complainant and respondent in writing of the
3    reasons for not doing so. The Director's failure to make
4    the determination within 100 days after the proper filing
5    of the charge does not deprive the Department of
6    jurisdiction over the charge.
7            (a) If the Director determines that there is no
8        substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed
9        and the aggrieved party notified that he or she may
10        seek review of the dismissal order before the
11        Commission. The aggrieved party shall have 90 days from
12        receipt of notice to file a request for review by the
13        Commission. The Director shall make public disclosure
14        of each such dismissal.
15            (b) If the Director determines that there is
16        substantial evidence, he or she shall immediately
17        issue a complaint on behalf of the aggrieved party
18        pursuant to subsection (F).
19    (E) Conciliation.
20        (1) During the period beginning with the filing of
21    charge and ending with the filing of a complaint or a
22    dismissal by the Department, the Department shall, to the
23    extent feasible, engage in conciliation with respect to
24    such charge.
25        When the Department determines that a formal
26    conciliation conference is feasible, the aggrieved party

 

 

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1    and respondent shall be notified of the time and place of
2    the conference by registered or certified mail at least 7
3    days prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear
4    at the conference in person or by attorney.
5        (2) The place fixed for the conference shall be within
6    35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is
7    alleged to have been committed.
8        (3) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be made
9    public or used as evidence in a subsequent proceeding for
10    the purpose of proving a violation under this Act unless
11    the complainant and respondent agree in writing that such
12    disclosure be made.
13        (4) A conciliation agreement arising out of such
14    conciliation shall be an agreement between the respondent
15    and the complainant, and shall be subject to approval by
16    the Department and Commission.
17        (5) A conciliation agreement may provide for binding
18    arbitration of the dispute arising from the charge. Any
19    such arbitration that results from a conciliation
20    agreement may award appropriate relief, including monetary
21    relief.
22        (6) Each conciliation agreement shall be made public
23    unless the complainant and respondent otherwise agree and
24    the Department determines that disclosure is not required
25    to further the purpose of this Act.
26    (F) Complaint.

 

 

SB3215- 27 -LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 b

1        (1) When there is a failure to settle or adjust any
2    charge through a conciliation conference and the charge is
3    not dismissed, the Department shall prepare a written
4    complaint, under oath or affirmation, stating the nature of
5    the civil rights violation and the relief sought on behalf
6    of the aggrieved party. Such complaint shall be based on
7    the final investigation report and need not be limited to
8    the facts or grounds alleged in the charge filed under
9    subsection (A).
10        (2) The complaint shall be filed with the Commission.
11        (3) The Department may not issue a complaint under this
12    Section regarding an alleged civil rights violation after
13    the beginning of the trial of a civil action commenced by
14    the aggrieved party under any State or federal law, seeking
15    relief with respect to that alleged civil rights violation.
16    (G) Time Limit.
17        (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
18    properly filed, the Department, within 100 days thereof,
19    unless it is impracticable to do so, shall either issue and
20    file a complaint in the manner and form set forth in this
21    Section or shall order that no complaint be issued. Any
22    such order shall be duly served upon both the aggrieved
23    party and the respondent. The Department's failure to
24    either issue and file a complaint or order that no
25    complaint be issued within 100 days after the proper filing
26    of the charge does not deprive the Department of

 

 

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1    jurisdiction over the charge.
2        (2) The Director shall make available to the aggrieved
3    party and the respondent, at any time, upon request
4    following completion of the Department's investigation,
5    information derived from an investigation and any final
6    investigative report relating to that investigation.
7    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action
8filed on or after January 1, 1996.
9    (I) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
10apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those
11changes.
12    (J) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
13of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or after
14the effective date of those changes.
15(Source: P.A. 100-492, eff. 9-8-17; 100-1066, eff. 8-24-18;
16101-530, eff. 1-1-20.)
 
17    (775 ILCS 5/8A-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8A-101)
18    Sec. 8A-101. This Article shall apply solely to Articles 2,
194, 5, and 5A and Sections 6-101 and 6-102 of Article 6.
20(Source: P.A. 86-910.)
 
21    (775 ILCS 5/8B-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8B-101)
22    Sec. 8B-101. Applicability. The procedures and relief
23specified in this Article shall apply solely to complaints
24filed with the Human Rights Commission under Article 3 and

 

 

SB3215- 29 -LRB101 16916 LNS 70022 b

1Section 6-101.5 of Article 6.
2(Source: P.A. 86-910.)