96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB1096

 

Introduced 2/6/2009, by Sen. John J. Cullerton

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/7-101   from Ch. 68, par. 7-101

    Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the powers and duties of the Department of Human Rights.


LRB096 07177 AJO 17263 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB1096 LRB096 07177 AJO 17263 b

1     AN ACT concerning human rights.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
5 changing Section 7-101 as follows:
 
6     (775 ILCS 5/7-101)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7-101)
7     Sec. 7-101. Powers and Duties. In addition to other powers
8 and and duties prescribed in this Act, the Department shall
9 have the following powers:
10     (A) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and
11 rescind rules and regulations not inconsistent with the
12 provisions of this Act pursuant to the Illinois Administrative
13 Procedure Act.
14     (B) Charges. To issue, receive, investigate, conciliate,
15 settle, and dismiss charges filed in conformity with this Act.
16     (C) Compulsory Process. To request subpoenas as it deems
17 necessary for its investigations.
18     (D) Complaints. To file complaints with the Commission in
19 conformity with this Act.
20     (E) Judicial Enforcement. To seek temporary relief and to
21 enforce orders of the Commission in conformity with this Act.
22     (F) Equal Employment Opportunities. To take such action as
23 may be authorized to provide for equal employment opportunities

 

 

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1 and affirmative action.
2     (G) Recruitment; Research; Public Communication; Advisory
3 Councils. To engage in such recruitment, research and public
4 communication and create such advisory councils as may be
5 authorized to effectuate the purposes of this Act.
6     (H) Coordination with Federal and Local Agencies. To
7 coordinate its activities with federal and local agencies in
8 conformity with this Act.
9     (I) Public Grants; Private Gifts. To accept public grants
10 and private gifts as may be authorized.
11     (J) Education and Training. To implement a formal and
12 unbiased program of education and training for all employees
13 assigned to investigate and conciliate charges under Articles
14 7A and 7B. The training program shall include the following:
15         (1) substantive and procedural aspects of the
16     investigation and conciliation positions;
17         (2) current issues in human rights law and practice;
18         (3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas
19     related to human rights matters;
20         (4) orientation to each operational unit of the
21     Department and Commission;
22         (5) observation of experienced Department
23     investigators and attorneys conducting conciliation
24     conferences, combined with the opportunity to discuss
25     evidence presented and rulings made;
26         (6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the

 

 

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1     Department investigator and conciliation conference
2     attorney to issue judgments as a means to evaluating
3     knowledge and writing ability;
4         (7) writing skills;
5         (8) computer skills, including but not limited to word
6     processing and document management.
7     A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development
8 program including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas
9 shall be implemented to keep Department investigators and
10 attorneys informed of recent developments and issues and to
11 assist them in maintaining and enhancing their professional
12 competence.
13 (Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)