Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB2878

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that the Attorney General may commence a civil action in the name of the People of the State of Illinois as parens patriae to enforce the Act. Provides for venue and limitations. Provides that remedies are available to the Attorney General to the same extent that remedies are available to an aggrieved party, and that, in addition to those remedies, the court shall award the State, as monetary relief, 3 times the amount of profits that accrued to the respondent by reason of the act, conduct, practice, or system challenged in the action, plus costs and a reasonable attorney's fee as determined by the court. Provides that the court shall: require that damages for injuries sustained by persons other than the State be paid to those persons (with certain exceptions) to the extent they are identifiable and there is a practicable method for making the payment; and direct that damages that cannot practicably be paid to injured individuals shall be paid to the State. Provides for notice by publication or other means to aggrieved parties who may be bound by the court's judgment in the Attorney General's action and the right of any aggrieved party to elect to exclude his or her claim from adjudication. Provides that the Attorney General may intervene as parens patriae on behalf of persons in civil actions brought by aggrieved individuals under the Act. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything and re-inserts provisions of the introduced bill, except: requires civil penalties and damages directed by the court to be paid to the State under specified provisions to be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund; eliminates provisions requiring the court to award the State as monetary relief threefold the amount of profits that accrued to the Respondent by reason of the act, conduct, practice, or system challenged in the suit; provides for specified civil penalties and types of equitable relief; deletes provisions regarding determination of attorney's fees; and makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything and re-inserts provisions of the engrossed bill, except: adds language providing that the Attorney General may commence a civil action if the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination prohibited by the Act; deletes language regarding the computation of the 2-year limitation period; makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Deletes everything and re-inserts provisions of the introduced bill with changes. Requires that civil penalties be deposited into the Attorney General Court Ordered and Voluntary Compliance Payment Projects Fund. Provides that the Attorney General shall conduct a preliminary investigation to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that any person or group of persons is engaged in a pattern and practice of discrimination declared unlawful by the Act and whether the dispute can be resolved without litigation. Provides that, in conducting the investigation, the Attorney General may: (i) require the individual or entity to file a statement or report in writing under oath or otherwise, as to all information the Attorney General may consider necessary; (ii) examine under oath any person alleged to have participated in or with knowledge of the alleged pattern and practice violation; or (iii) issue subpoenas or conduct hearings in aid of any investigation. Sets out service of notice requirements. Provides for Assurance of Voluntary Compliance agreements in lieu of civil action. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

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