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| Public Act 099-0074 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning human rights.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by | ||||
changing Section 7-101 as follows:
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(775 ILCS 5/7-101) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-101)
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Sec. 7-101. Powers and Duties. In addition to other powers | ||||
and duties
prescribed in this Act, the Department shall have | ||||
the following powers:
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(A) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and | ||||
rescind rules
and regulations not inconsistent with the | ||||
provisions of this Act pursuant
to the Illinois Administrative | ||||
Procedure Act.
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(B) Charges. To issue, receive, investigate, conciliate, | ||||
settle, and dismiss
charges filed in conformity with this Act.
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(C) Compulsory Process. To request subpoenas as it deems | ||||
necessary for
its investigations.
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(D) Complaints. To file complaints with the Commission in | ||||
conformity
with this Act.
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(E) Judicial Enforcement. To seek temporary relief and to | ||||
enforce orders
of the Commission in conformity with this Act.
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(F) Equal Employment Opportunities. To take such action as | ||||
may be authorized
to provide for equal employment opportunities | ||||
and affirmative action.
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(G) Recruitment; Research; Public Communication; Advisory | ||
Councils. To
engage in such recruitment, research and public | ||
communication and create
such advisory councils as may be | ||
authorized to effectuate the purposes of
this Act.
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(H) Coordination with other Federal and Local Agencies. To | ||
coordinate its
activities with federal, state, and local | ||
agencies in conformity with this Act.
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(I) Public Grants; Private Gifts. To accept public grants | ||
and private
gifts as may be authorized.
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(J) Education and Training. To implement a formal and | ||
unbiased program
of education and training for all employees | ||
assigned to investigate and
conciliate charges under Articles | ||
7A and 7B. The training program shall
include the following:
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(1) substantive and procedural aspects of the | ||
investigation and
conciliation positions;
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(2) current issues in human rights law and practice;
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(3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas | ||
related to human
rights matters;
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(4) orientation to each operational unit of the | ||
Department and Commission;
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(5) observation of experienced Department | ||
investigators and attorneys
conducting conciliation | ||
conferences, combined with the opportunity to
discuss | ||
evidence presented and rulings made;
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(6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the | ||
Department investigator
and conciliation conference | ||
attorney to issue judgments as a means to
evaluating | ||
knowledge and writing ability;
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(7) writing skills;
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(8) computer skills, including but not limited to word | ||
processing and
document management.
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A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development | ||
program
including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas | ||
shall be implemented
to keep Department investigators and | ||
attorneys informed of recent
developments and issues and to | ||
assist them in maintaining and enhancing
their professional | ||
competence.
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(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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