Full Text of HB0178 97th General Assembly
HB0178 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
| | 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012 HB0178 Introduced 1/18/2011, by Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
| 775 ILCS 5/7A-102 | from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102 | 775 ILCS 5/7B-102 | from Ch. 68, par. 7B-102 |
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Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. In cases other than real estate transaction cases: provides that the Department of Human Rights shall serve on (instead of send by certified or registered mail to) the parties written notice of the complainant's right to sue in court or file with the Human Rights Commission; provides that the time within which to file a party's position statement and a respondent's response to the charge is 30 (instead of 60) days; and provides that the Department may issue a default within 30 (instead of 60) days. In cases other than real estate transaction cases, provides that upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding conference, unless prior to 365 days after the date on which the charge was filed the Director has determined whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights violation has been committed, the charge has been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, or the parties voluntarily and in writing agree to waive the fact finding conference (instead of providing that upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding conference prior to 365 days after the date on which the charge was filed, unless the Director has determined whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights violation has been committed or the charge has been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction). In real estate transaction cases, provides that the parties may voluntarily waive the fact finding conference requirement.
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| | A BILL FOR |
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| 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 Sections 7A-102 and 7B-102 as follows:
| 6 | | (775 ILCS 5/7A-102) (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102)
| 7 | | Sec. 7A-102. Procedures.
| 8 | | (A) Charge.
| 9 | | (1) Within 180 days after the
date that a civil rights | 10 | | violation allegedly has been committed, a
charge in writing | 11 | | under oath or affirmation may be filed with the
Department | 12 | | by an aggrieved party or issued by the Department itself
| 13 | | under the signature of the Director.
| 14 | | (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to | 15 | | substantially apprise
any party properly concerned as to | 16 | | the time, place, and facts
surrounding the alleged civil | 17 | | rights violation.
| 18 | | (A-1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges. A | 19 | | charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | 20 | | within 180 days after the date of the alleged civil rights | 21 | | violation shall be deemed filed with the Department on the date | 22 | | filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Upon | 23 | | receipt of a charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity |
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| 1 | | Commission, the Department shall notify the complainant that he | 2 | | or she may proceed with the Department. The complainant must | 3 | | notify the Department of his or her decision in writing within | 4 | | 35 days of receipt of the Department's notice to the | 5 | | complainant and the Department shall close the case if the | 6 | | complainant does not do so. If the complainant proceeds with | 7 | | the Department, the Department shall take no action until the | 8 | | Equal Employment Opportunity Commission makes a determination | 9 | | on the charge. Upon receipt of the Equal Employment Opportunity | 10 | | Commission's determination, the Department shall cause the | 11 | | charge to be filed under oath or affirmation and to be in such | 12 | | detail as provided for under subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A). | 13 | | At the Department's discretion, the Department shall either | 14 | | adopt the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's | 15 | | determination or process the charge pursuant to this Act. | 16 | | Adoption of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's | 17 | | determination shall be deemed a determination by the Department | 18 | | for all purposes under this Act.
| 19 | | (B) Notice and Response to Charge.
The Department shall, | 20 | | within 10
days of the date on which the charge
was filed, serve | 21 | | a copy of the charge on the respondent. This period shall
not | 22 | | be construed to be jurisdictional. The charging party and the | 23 | | respondent
may each file a position statement and other | 24 | | materials with the Department
regarding the charge of alleged | 25 | | discrimination within 30 60 days of receipt of the
notice of | 26 | | the charge. The position statements and other materials filed |
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| 1 | | shall
remain confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the | 2 | | party providing the
information and shall not be served on or | 3 | | made available to the other
party during pendency
of a charge | 4 | | with the Department. The Department
shall
require the | 5 | | respondent to file a verified response to
the allegations | 6 | | contained in the charge within 30 60 days of receipt of the
| 7 | | notice of the
charge. The respondent shall serve a copy
of its | 8 | | response on the
complainant or his representative. All | 9 | | allegations contained in the charge
not timely denied by the | 10 | | respondent shall be deemed admitted, unless the
respondent | 11 | | states that it is without sufficient information to
form a | 12 | | belief with respect to such allegation. The Department may | 13 | | issue
a notice of default directed to any respondent who fails | 14 | | to file a
verified response to a charge within 30 60 days of | 15 | | receipt of the
notice of the charge,
unless the respondent can
| 16 | | demonstrate good cause as
to why such notice should not issue. | 17 | | The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule promulgated by | 18 | | the Department. Within 30 days of receipt
of the respondent's | 19 | | response, the complainant may file a
reply to
said response and
| 20 | | shall serve
a copy of said reply on the respondent or his | 21 | | representative. A party
shall have the right to supplement his | 22 | | response or reply at any time that
the investigation of the | 23 | | charge is pending. The Department shall,
within 10 days of the | 24 | | date on which the charge was filed,
and again no later than 335 | 25 | | days thereafter,
serve a send by certified or registered mail | 26 | | written notice on to the complainant
and on to the respondent
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| 1 | | informing the complainant
of the complainant's right to either | 2 | | file a complaint with the Human
Rights Commission or commence a | 3 | | civil action in the appropriate circuit court
under | 4 | | subparagraph (2) of paragraph (G), including in such notice the | 5 | | dates
within which the complainant may exercise this right.
In | 6 | | the notice the Department shall notify the complainant that the
| 7 | | charge of civil rights violation will be dismissed with | 8 | | prejudice and with no
right to further proceed if a written | 9 | | complaint is not timely filed with
the Commission or with the | 10 | | appropriate circuit court by the complainant pursuant to | 11 | | subparagraph (2) of paragraph (G)
or by the Department pursuant | 12 | | to subparagraph (1) of paragraph (G).
| 13 | | (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree | 14 | | to voluntarily
submit the charge
to mediation without waiving | 15 | | any rights that are otherwise available to
either party | 16 | | pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to
| 17 | | accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring | 18 | | in mediation
shall
be disclosed by the Department or admissible | 19 | | in evidence in any subsequent
proceeding unless the complainant | 20 | | and the respondent agree in writing that such
disclosure be | 21 | | made.
| 22 | | (C) Investigation.
| 23 | | (1) After the respondent has been notified, the
| 24 | | Department shall conduct a full investigation of the | 25 | | allegations set
forth in the charge.
| 26 | | (2) The Director or his or her designated |
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| 1 | | representatives shall have
authority to request any member | 2 | | of the Commission to issue subpoenas to
compel the | 3 | | attendance of a witness or the production for
examination | 4 | | of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
| 5 | | (3) If any witness whose testimony is required for any | 6 | | investigation
resides outside the State, or through | 7 | | illness or any other good cause as
determined by the | 8 | | Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator
or | 9 | | appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony | 10 | | or deposition
may be taken, within or without the State, in | 11 | | the same manner as is
provided for in the taking of | 12 | | depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
| 13 | | (4) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the | 14 | | respondent,
the Department shall conduct a fact finding | 15 | | conference , unless prior to
365 days after the date on | 16 | | which the charge was filed ,
unless the Director has | 17 | | determined whether there is substantial evidence
that the | 18 | | alleged civil rights violation has been committed , or the | 19 | | charge has
been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction , or the | 20 | | parties voluntarily and in writing agree to waive the fact | 21 | | finding conference . If the parties agree in writing,
the | 22 | | fact finding conference may be held at a time after the 365 | 23 | | day limit.
Any party's failure to attend the conference | 24 | | without good cause
shall result in dismissal or default. | 25 | | The term "good cause"
shall
be defined by rule promulgated | 26 | | by the Department. A notice of dismissal or
default shall |
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| 1 | | be issued by the Director. The notice of default issued by | 2 | | the Director shall notify the respondent that a request for | 3 | | review may be filed in writing with the Commission
within | 4 | | 30 days of receipt of notice of default. The notice of | 5 | | dismissal issued by the Director shall give
the complainant | 6 | | notice of his or her right to seek review of the dismissal
| 7 | | before the Human Rights Commission or commence a civil | 8 | | action in the
appropriate circuit court. If the complainant | 9 | | chooses to have the Human Rights Commission review the | 10 | | dismissal order, he or she shall file a request for review | 11 | | with the Commission within 90 days after receipt of the | 12 | | Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to file a | 13 | | request for review with the Commission, he or she may not | 14 | | later commence a civil action in a circuit court. If the | 15 | | complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a circuit | 16 | | court, he or she must do so within 90 days after receipt of | 17 | | the Director's notice.
| 18 | | (D) Report.
| 19 | | (1) Each charge shall be the
subject of a
report to the | 20 | | Director. The report shall be a confidential document
| 21 | | subject to review by the Director, authorized Department | 22 | | employees, the
parties, and, where indicated by this Act, | 23 | | members of the Commission or
their designated hearing | 24 | | officers.
| 25 | | (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall | 26 | | determine whether
there is substantial evidence that the |
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| 1 | | alleged civil rights violation
has been committed.
The | 2 | | determination of substantial evidence is limited to | 3 | | determining the need
for further consideration of the | 4 | | charge pursuant to this Act
and includes, but is not | 5 | | limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well
as | 6 | | the reasons for the determinations on all material issues. | 7 | | Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind | 8 | | accepts
as sufficient to support a particular conclusion | 9 | | and which consists of more
than a mere scintilla but may be | 10 | | somewhat less than a preponderance.
| 11 | | (3) If the Director determines
that there is no | 12 | | substantial
evidence, the charge shall be dismissed by | 13 | | order of the
Director and the Director shall give the
| 14 | | complainant notice of his or her right to seek review of | 15 | | the dismissal order before the
Commission or commence a | 16 | | civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the | 17 | | complainant chooses to have the Human Rights Commission | 18 | | review the dismissal order, he or she shall file a request | 19 | | for review with the Commission within 90 days after receipt | 20 | | of the Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to | 21 | | file a request for review with the Commission, he or she | 22 | | may not later commence a civil action in a circuit court. | 23 | | If the complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a | 24 | | circuit court, he or she must do so within 90 days after | 25 | | receipt of the Director's notice.
| 26 | | (4) If the Director determines that there is |
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| 1 | | substantial evidence, he or she shall notify the | 2 | | complainant and respondent of that determination. The | 3 | | Director shall also notify the parties that the complainant | 4 | | has the right to either commence a civil action in the | 5 | | appropriate circuit court or request that the Department of | 6 | | Human Rights file a complaint with the Human Rights | 7 | | Commission on his or her behalf. Any such complaint shall | 8 | | be filed within 90 days after receipt of the Director's | 9 | | notice. If the complainant chooses to have the Department | 10 | | file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on his or | 11 | | her behalf, the complainant must, within 30 days after | 12 | | receipt of the Director's notice, request in writing that | 13 | | the Department file the complaint. If the complainant | 14 | | timely requests that the Department file the complaint, the | 15 | | Department shall file the complaint on his or her behalf. | 16 | | If the complainant fails to timely request that the | 17 | | Department file the complaint, the complainant may file his | 18 | | or her complaint with the Commission or commence a civil | 19 | | action in the appropriate circuit court.
If the complainant | 20 | | files a complaint with
the Human Rights Commission, the | 21 | | complainant shall give notice to the
Department of the | 22 | | filing of the complaint with the Human Rights Commission. | 23 | | (E) Conciliation.
| 24 | |
(1) When there is a finding of substantial evidence, | 25 | | the Department may designate a Department employee who is | 26 | | an attorney
licensed to practice in Illinois to endeavor to |
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| 1 | | eliminate the effect of
the alleged civil rights violation | 2 | | and to prevent its repetition by
means of conference and | 3 | | conciliation.
| 4 | | (2) When the Department determines that a formal
| 5 | | conciliation conference is necessary, the complainant and | 6 | | respondent
shall be notified of the time and place of the | 7 | | conference by registered
or certified mail at least 10 days | 8 | | prior thereto and either or both
parties shall appear at | 9 | | the conference in person or by attorney.
| 10 | | (3) The place fixed for the conference shall be within | 11 | | 35 miles of
the place where the civil rights violation is | 12 | | alleged to have been
committed.
| 13 | | (4) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be | 14 | | disclosed by the
Department unless
the complainant and | 15 | | respondent agree in writing that
such disclosure be made.
| 16 | | (5) The Department's efforts to conciliate the matter | 17 | | shall not stay or extend the time for filing the complaint | 18 | | with the Commission or the circuit court.
| 19 | | (F) Complaint.
| 20 | | (1) When the complainant requests that the Department | 21 | | file a complaint with the Commission on his or her behalf, | 22 | | the Department shall prepare a
written complaint, under | 23 | | oath or affirmation, stating the nature of the
civil rights | 24 | | violation substantially as alleged in the charge | 25 | | previously
filed and the relief sought on behalf of the | 26 | | aggrieved party. The Department shall file the complaint |
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| 1 | | with the Commission.
| 2 | | (2) If the complainant chooses to commence a civil | 3 | | action in a circuit court, he or she must do so in the | 4 | | circuit court in the county wherein the civil rights | 5 | | violation was allegedly committed. The form of the | 6 | | complaint in any such civil action shall be in accordance | 7 | | with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
| 8 | | (G) Time Limit.
| 9 | | (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
| 10 | | properly filed, the Department, within 365
days thereof or | 11 | | within any
extension of that period agreed to in writing by | 12 | | all parties, shall issue its report as required by | 13 | | subparagraph (D). Any such report
shall be duly served upon | 14 | | both the complainant and the respondent.
| 15 | | (2) If the Department has not issued its report within | 16 | | 365 days after the charge is filed, or any such longer | 17 | | period agreed to in writing by all the parties, the | 18 | | complainant shall have 90 days to either file his or her | 19 | | own complaint with the Human Rights Commission or commence | 20 | | a civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the | 21 | | complainant files a complaint with the Commission, the form | 22 | | of the complaint shall be in accordance with the provisions | 23 | | of
paragraph (F)(1). If the complainant commences a civil | 24 | | action in a circuit court, the form of the complaint shall | 25 | | be in accordance with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure. | 26 | | The aggrieved party shall notify the Department that a
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| 1 | | complaint
has been filed and shall serve a copy of the | 2 | | complaint on the Department
on the same date that the | 3 | | complaint is filed with the Commission or in circuit court. | 4 | | If the complainant files a complaint with the Commission, | 5 | | he or she may not later commence a civil action in circuit | 6 | | court.
| 7 | | (3) If an aggrieved party files a complaint
with the
| 8 | | Human Rights Commission or commences a civil action in | 9 | | circuit court pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, | 10 | | or if
the time period for filing a complaint has expired, | 11 | | the
Department shall immediately cease its investigation | 12 | | and
dismiss the charge of civil rights violation.
Any final | 13 | | order entered by the Commission under this Section is
| 14 | | appealable in accordance with paragraph (B)(1) of Section | 15 | | 8-111.
Failure to immediately cease an investigation and | 16 | | dismiss the charge of civil
rights violation as provided in | 17 | | this paragraph
(3) constitutes grounds for entry of an | 18 | | order by the circuit court permanently
enjoining the
| 19 | | investigation. The Department may also be liable for any
| 20 | | costs and other damages incurred by the respondent as a | 21 | | result of the action of
the Department.
| 22 | | (4) The Department shall stay any administrative | 23 | | proceedings
under this Section after the filing of a civil | 24 | | action by or on behalf of the
aggrieved party under any | 25 | | federal or State law seeking relief with respect to
the
| 26 | | alleged civil rights violation.
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| 1 | | (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action | 2 | | filed on or
after January 1, 1996.
| 3 | | (I) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action | 4 | | filed on or
after January 1, 1996.
| 5 | | (J) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243 | 6 | | apply to charges filed on or
after the effective date of those | 7 | | changes.
| 8 | | (K) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act | 9 | | of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or
after | 10 | | the effective date of those changes. | 11 | | (Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08; 96-876, eff. 2-2-10.)
| 12 | | (775 ILCS 5/7B-102) (from Ch. 68, par. 7B-102)
| 13 | | Sec. 7B-102. Procedures.
| 14 | | (A) Charge.
| 15 | | (1) Within one year after the
date that a civil rights | 16 | | violation allegedly has been committed or terminated,
a | 17 | | charge in writing under oath or affirmation may be filed | 18 | | with the
Department by an aggrieved party or issued by the | 19 | | Department itself
under the signature of the Director.
| 20 | | (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to | 21 | | substantially apprise
any party properly concerned as to | 22 | | the time, place, and facts
surrounding the alleged civil | 23 | | rights violation.
| 24 | | (B) Notice and Response to Charge.
| 25 | | (1) The Department shall serve
notice upon the |
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| 1 | | aggrieved party acknowledging such charge and advising the
| 2 | | aggrieved party of the time limits and choice of forums | 3 | | provided under this
Act. The Department shall, within 10 | 4 | | days of the date on which the charge
was filed or the | 5 | | identification of an additional respondent under paragraph
| 6 | | (2) of this subsection, serve on the respondent a copy of | 7 | | the charge along with a notice
identifying the alleged | 8 | | civil rights violation and advising the
respondent of the | 9 | | procedural rights and obligations of respondents under
| 10 | | this Act and shall require the respondent to file a | 11 | | verified response to
the allegations contained in the | 12 | | charge within 30 days. The respondent
shall serve a copy of | 13 | | its response on the complainant or his
representative. All | 14 | | allegations contained in the charge
not timely denied by | 15 | | the respondent shall be deemed admitted, unless the
| 16 | | respondent states that it is without sufficient | 17 | | information to
form a belief with respect to such | 18 | | allegation. The Department may issue
a notice of default | 19 | | directed to any respondent who fails to file a verified
| 20 | | response to a charge within 30 days of the date on which | 21 | | the charge was
filed, unless the respondent can demonstrate | 22 | | good cause as
to why such notice should not issue. The term | 23 | | "good cause" shall be defined by rule promulgated by the | 24 | | Department. Within 10 days of the date he
receives the | 25 | | respondent's response, the complainant may file his reply | 26 | | to
said response. If he chooses to file a reply, the |
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| 1 | | complainant shall serve
a copy of said reply on the | 2 | | respondent or his representative. A party
shall have the | 3 | | right to supplement his response or reply at any time that
| 4 | | the investigation of the charge is pending.
| 5 | | (2) A person who is not named as a respondent in a | 6 | | charge, but who is
identified as a respondent in the course | 7 | | of investigation, may be joined as
an additional or | 8 | | substitute respondent upon written notice, under | 9 | | subsection
(B), to such person, from the Department.
Such | 10 | | notice, in addition to meeting the requirements of | 11 | | subsections (A)
and (B), shall explain the basis for the | 12 | | Department's belief that a person
to whom the notice is | 13 | | addressed is properly joined as a respondent.
| 14 | | (C) Investigation.
| 15 | | (1) The Department shall conduct a full investigation
| 16 | | of the allegations set forth in the charge and complete | 17 | | such investigation
within 100 days after the filing of the | 18 | | charge, unless it is impracticable to
do so. The | 19 | | Department's failure to complete the investigation within | 20 | | 100 days after the proper filing of the charge does not | 21 | | deprive the Department of jurisdiction over the charge.
| 22 | | (2) If the Department is unable to complete the | 23 | | investigation within 100
days after the charge is filed, | 24 | | the Department shall notify the complainant
and respondent | 25 | | in writing of the reasons for not doing so.
| 26 | | (3) The Director or his or her designated |
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| 1 | | representative shall have
authority to request any member | 2 | | of the Commission to issue subpoenas to
compel the | 3 | | attendance of a witness or the production for
examination | 4 | | of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
| 5 | | (4) If any witness whose testimony is required for any | 6 | | investigation
resides outside the State, or through | 7 | | illness or any other good cause as
determined by the | 8 | | Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator
or | 9 | | appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony | 10 | | or deposition
may be taken, within or without the State, in | 11 | | the same manner as
provided for in the taking of | 12 | | depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
| 13 | | (5) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the | 14 | | respondent,
the Department shall conduct a fact finding | 15 | | conference, unless prior to
100 days from the date on which | 16 | | the charge was filed, the Director has
determined whether | 17 | | there is substantial evidence that the alleged civil
rights | 18 | | violation has been committed or the parties voluntarily and | 19 | | in writing agree to waive the fact finding conference . A | 20 | | party's failure to attend the
conference
without good cause | 21 | | may result in dismissal or default. A notice of dismissal
| 22 | | or default shall be issued by the Director and shall notify | 23 | | the relevant
party that a request for review may be filed | 24 | | in writing with the Commission
within 30 days of receipt of | 25 | | notice of dismissal or default.
| 26 | | (D) Report.
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| 1 | | (1) Each investigated charge shall be the subject of a
| 2 | | report to the Director. The report shall be a confidential | 3 | | document
subject to review by the Director, authorized | 4 | | Department employees, the
parties, and, where indicated by | 5 | | this Act, members of the Commission or
their designated | 6 | | hearing officers.
| 7 | | The report shall contain:
| 8 | | (a) the names and dates of contacts with witnesses;
| 9 | | (b) a summary and the date of correspondence and | 10 | | other contacts with the
aggrieved party and the | 11 | | respondent;
| 12 | | (c) a summary description of other pertinent | 13 | | records;
| 14 | | (d) a summary of witness statements; and
| 15 | | (e) answers to questionnaires.
| 16 | | A final report under this paragraph may be amended if | 17 | | additional evidence
is later discovered.
| 18 | | (2) Upon review of the report and within 100 days of | 19 | | the filing of the
charge, unless it is impracticable
to do | 20 | | so, the Director shall determine whether there is | 21 | | substantial
evidence that the alleged civil rights | 22 | | violation has been committed or is
about to be committed.
| 23 | | If the Director is unable to make the determination within | 24 | | 100 days after
the filing of the charge, the Director shall | 25 | | notify the complainant and
respondent in writing of the | 26 | | reasons for not doing so. The Director's failure to make |
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| 1 | | the determination within 100 days after the proper filing | 2 | | of the charge does not deprive the Department of | 3 | | jurisdiction over the charge.
| 4 | | (a) If the Director determines that there is no | 5 | | substantial
evidence, the charge shall be dismissed | 6 | | and the aggrieved party notified
that he or she may | 7 | | seek review of the dismissal order before the
| 8 | | Commission. The aggrieved party shall have 90 days from | 9 | | receipt of notice
to file a request for review by the | 10 | | Commission. The
Director shall make
public disclosure | 11 | | of each such dismissal.
| 12 | | (b) If the Director determines that there is | 13 | | substantial evidence, he or
she shall immediately | 14 | | issue a complaint on behalf of the aggrieved party
| 15 | | pursuant to subsection (F).
| 16 | | (E) Conciliation.
| 17 | | (1) During the period beginning with the filing of
| 18 | | charge and ending with the filing of a complaint or a | 19 | | dismissal by the
Department, the Department shall, to the | 20 | | extent feasible, engage in
conciliation with respect to | 21 | | such charge.
| 22 | | When the Department determines that a formal
| 23 | | conciliation conference is feasible, the aggrieved party | 24 | | and respondent
shall be notified of the time and place of | 25 | | the conference by registered
or certified mail at least 7 | 26 | | days prior thereto and either or both
parties shall appear |
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| 1 | | at the conference in person or by attorney.
| 2 | | (2) The place fixed for the conference shall be within | 3 | | 35 miles of
the place where the civil rights violation is | 4 | | alleged to have been
committed.
| 5 | | (3) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be made | 6 | | public or used as
evidence in a subsequent proceeding for | 7 | | the purpose of proving a violation
under this Act unless | 8 | | the complainant and respondent agree in writing that
such | 9 | | disclosure be made.
| 10 | | (4) A conciliation agreement arising out of such | 11 | | conciliation shall be
an agreement between the respondent | 12 | | and the complainant, and shall be
subject to approval by | 13 | | the Department and Commission.
| 14 | | (5) A conciliation agreement may provide for binding | 15 | | arbitration of the
dispute arising from the charge. Any | 16 | | such arbitration that results from a
conciliation | 17 | | agreement may award appropriate relief, including monetary | 18 | | relief.
| 19 | | (6) Each conciliation agreement shall be made public | 20 | | unless the
complainant and respondent otherwise agree and | 21 | | the Department determines
that disclosure is not required | 22 | | to further the purpose of this Act.
| 23 | | (F) Complaint.
| 24 | | (1) When there is a failure to settle or adjust any
| 25 | | charge through a conciliation conference and the charge is | 26 | | not dismissed,
the Department shall prepare a
written |
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| 1 | | complaint, under oath or affirmation, stating the nature of | 2 | | the
civil rights violation and the relief sought on behalf | 3 | | of the aggrieved
party. Such complaint shall be based on | 4 | | the final investigation report and
need not be limited to | 5 | | the facts or grounds alleged in the charge filed
under | 6 | | subsection (A).
| 7 | | (2) The complaint shall be filed with the Commission.
| 8 | | (3) The Department may not issue a complaint under this | 9 | | Section
regarding an alleged civil rights violation after | 10 | | the beginning of
the trial of a civil action commenced by | 11 | | the aggrieved party under any
State or federal law, seeking | 12 | | relief with respect to that alleged civil rights
violation.
| 13 | | (G) Time Limit.
| 14 | | (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
| 15 | | properly filed, the Department, within 100 days thereof, | 16 | | unless it is
impracticable to do so,
shall either issue and | 17 | | file a complaint in the manner and form set forth in
this | 18 | | Section or shall order that no complaint be issued. Any | 19 | | such order
shall be duly served upon both the aggrieved | 20 | | party and the respondent. The Department's failure to | 21 | | either issue and file a complaint or order that no | 22 | | complaint be issued within 100 days after the proper filing | 23 | | of the charge does not deprive the Department of | 24 | | jurisdiction over the charge.
| 25 | | (2) The Director shall make available to the aggrieved | 26 | | party
and the respondent, at any time, upon request |
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| 1 | | following completion of the
Department's investigation, | 2 | | information derived from an investigation and
any final | 3 | | investigative report relating to that investigation.
| 4 | | (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action | 5 | | filed on or
after
January 1, 1996.
| 6 | | (I) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243 | 7 | | apply to charges filed on or
after the effective date of those | 8 | | changes. | 9 | | (J) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act | 10 | | of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or
after | 11 | | the effective date of those changes. | 12 | | (Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08; 96-876, eff. 2-2-10.)
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