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1 | AN ACT concerning employment. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Section 5. The Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act is | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | amended by changing Sections 12, 13, and 15 and by adding | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6 | Sections 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 as follows: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7 | (820 ILCS 55/12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8 | Sec. 12. Use of Employment Eligibility Verification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 | Systems. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10 | (a) Prior to enrolling in any Electronic Employment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11 | Verification System, including the E-Verify program or and the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12 | Basic Pilot program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13 | Pilot Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
14 | (enacted by P.L. 104-208, div. C, title IV, subtitle A), | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
15 | employers are urged to consult the Illinois Department of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
16 | Labor's website for current information on the accuracy of the | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
17 | E-Verify program and to review and understand an employer's | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
18 | legal responsibilities relating to the use of the E-Verify | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
19 | program. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to require an | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20 | employer to enroll in any Electronic Employment Verification | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 | System, including the E-Verify program and the Basic Pilot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
22 | program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, Pilot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
23 | Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation (enacted by |
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1 | P.L. 104-208, div. C, title IV, subtitle A) beyond those | ||||||
2 | obligations that have been imposed upon them by federal law. | ||||||
3 | Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit an employer | ||||||
4 | from enrolling in any Electronic Employment Verification | ||||||
5 | System, including the E-Verify program, as required or | ||||||
6 | permitted by federal law. | ||||||
7 | (a-1) The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) shall post | ||||||
8 | on its website information or links to information from the | ||||||
9 | United States Government Accountability Office, Westat, or a | ||||||
10 | similar reliable source independent of the Department of | ||||||
11 | Homeland Security regarding: (1) the accuracy of the E-Verify | ||||||
12 | databases; (2) the approximate financial burden and | ||||||
13 | expenditure of time that use of E-Verify requires from | ||||||
14 | employers; and (3) an overview of an employer's | ||||||
15 | responsibilities under federal and state law relating to the | ||||||
16 | use of E-Verify. | ||||||
17 | (b) Upon initial enrollment in an Employment Eligibility | ||||||
18 | Verification System or within 30 days after the effective date | ||||||
19 | of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, an | ||||||
20 | employer enrolled in E-Verify or any other Employment | ||||||
21 | Eligibility Verification System must attest, under penalty of | ||||||
22 | perjury, on a form prescribed by the IDOL available on the IDOL | ||||||
23 | website: | ||||||
24 | (1) that the employer has received the Basic Pilot or | ||||||
25 | E-Verify training materials from the Department of | ||||||
26 | Homeland Security (DHS), and that all employees who will |
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1 | administer the program have completed the Basic Pilot or | ||||||
2 | E-Verify Computer Based Tutorial (CBT); and | ||||||
3 | (2) that the employer has posted the notice from DHS | ||||||
4 | indicating that the employer is enrolled in the Basic | ||||||
5 | Pilot or E-Verify program and the anti-discrimination | ||||||
6 | notice issued by the Office of Special Counsel for | ||||||
7 | Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), | ||||||
8 | Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice in a | ||||||
9 | prominent place that is clearly visible to both | ||||||
10 | prospective and current employees. The employer must | ||||||
11 | maintain the signed original of the attestation form | ||||||
12 | prescribed by the IDOL, as well as all CBT certificates of | ||||||
13 | completion and make them available for inspection or | ||||||
14 | copying by the IDOL at any reasonable time. | ||||||
15 | (c) It is a violation of this Act for an employer enrolled | ||||||
16 | in an Employment Eligibility Verification System, including | ||||||
17 | the E-Verify program and the Basic Pilot program : | ||||||
18 | (1) to fail to display the notices supplied by DHS and | ||||||
19 | OSC in a prominent place that is clearly visible to both | ||||||
20 | prospective and current employees; | ||||||
21 | (2) to allow any employee to use an Employment | ||||||
22 | Eligibility Verification System prior to having completed | ||||||
23 | CBT; | ||||||
24 | (3) to fail to take reasonable steps to prevent an | ||||||
25 | employee from circumventing the requirement to complete | ||||||
26 | the CBT by assuming another employee's E-Verify or Basic |
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1 | Pilot user identification or password; | ||||||
2 | (4) to use the Employment Eligibility Verification | ||||||
3 | System to verify the employment eligibility of job | ||||||
4 | applicants prior to hiring or to otherwise use the | ||||||
5 | Employment Eligibility Verification System to screen | ||||||
6 | individuals prior to hiring and prior to the completion of | ||||||
7 | a Form I-9; | ||||||
8 | (5) to terminate an employee or take any other adverse | ||||||
9 | employment action against an individual prior to receiving | ||||||
10 | a final nonconfirmation notice from the Social Security | ||||||
11 | Administration or the Department of Homeland Security; | ||||||
12 | (6) to fail to notify an individual, in writing, of | ||||||
13 | the employer's receipt of a tentative nonconfirmation | ||||||
14 | notice, of the individual's right to contest the tentative | ||||||
15 | nonconfirmation notice, and of the contact information for | ||||||
16 | the relevant government agency or agencies that the | ||||||
17 | individual must contact to resolve the tentative | ||||||
18 | nonconfirmation notice; | ||||||
19 | (7) to fail to safeguard the information contained in | ||||||
20 | the Employment Eligibility Verification System, and the | ||||||
21 | means of access to the system (such as passwords and other | ||||||
22 | privacy protections). An employer shall ensure that the | ||||||
23 | System is not used for any purpose other than employment | ||||||
24 | verification of newly hired employees and shall ensure | ||||||
25 | that the information contained in the System and the means | ||||||
26 | of access to the System are not disseminated to any person |
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1 | other than employees who need such information and access | ||||||
2 | to perform the employer's employment verification | ||||||
3 | responsibilities. | ||||||
4 | (c-1) Any claim that an employer refused to hire, | ||||||
5 | segregated, or acted with respect to recruitment, hiring, | ||||||
6 | promotion, renewal or employment, selection for training or | ||||||
7 | apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, | ||||||
8 | privileges, or conditions of employment without following the | ||||||
9 | procedures of the Employment Eligibility Verification System, | ||||||
10 | including the Basic Pilot and the E-Verify program programs , | ||||||
11 | may be brought under paragraph (G)(2) of Section 2-102 of the | ||||||
12 | Illinois Human Rights Act. | ||||||
13 | (c-2) It is a violation of this Section for an individual | ||||||
14 | to falsely pose as an employer in order to enroll in an | ||||||
15 | Employment Eligibility Verification System or for an employer | ||||||
16 | to use an Employment Eligibility Verification System to access | ||||||
17 | information regarding an individual who is not an employee of | ||||||
18 | the employer. | ||||||
19 | (d) Preemption. Neither the State nor any of its political | ||||||
20 | subdivisions, nor any unit of local government, including a | ||||||
21 | home rule unit, may require any employer to use an Employment | ||||||
22 | Eligibility Verification System, including under the following | ||||||
23 | circumstances: | ||||||
24 | (1) as a condition of receiving a government contract; | ||||||
25 | (2) as a condition of receiving a business license; or | ||||||
26 | (3) as penalty for violating licensing or other |
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1 | similar laws. | ||||||
2 | This subsection (d) is a denial and limitation of home | ||||||
3 | rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of | ||||||
4 | Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. | ||||||
5 | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25 .) | ||||||
6 | (820 ILCS 55/13) | ||||||
7 | Sec. 13. Restrictions on the use of Employment Eligibility | ||||||
8 | Verification Systems. | ||||||
9 | (a) As used in this Section: | ||||||
10 | "Employee's authorized representative" means an exclusive | ||||||
11 | collective bargaining representative , an attorney or, upon | ||||||
12 | written notification to the employer, any other representative | ||||||
13 | authorized by the employee . | ||||||
14 | "Inspecting entity" means the U.S. Immigration and Customs | ||||||
15 | Enforcement, United States Customs and Border Protection, or | ||||||
16 | any other federal entity enforcing civil immigration | ||||||
17 | violations of an employer's I-9 Employment Eligibility | ||||||
18 | Verification forms. | ||||||
19 | (b) An employer shall not impose work authorization | ||||||
20 | verification or re-verification requirements greater than | ||||||
21 | those required by federal law or, if enrolled in an Employment | ||||||
22 | Eligibility Verification System, including the E-Verify | ||||||
23 | program, shall not impose work authorization verification or | ||||||
24 | re-verification requirements greater than those required by | ||||||
25 | the Employment Eligibility Verification System, including the |
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1 | E-Verify program . | ||||||
2 | (c) If an employer contends that there is a discrepancy in | ||||||
3 | an employee's employment verification information, the | ||||||
4 | employer must provide the employee with: | ||||||
5 | (1) The specific document or documents, if made | ||||||
6 | available to the employer, that the employer deems to be | ||||||
7 | deficient and the reason why the document or documents are | ||||||
8 | deficient. Upon request by the employee or the employee's | ||||||
9 | authorized representative, the employer shall give to the | ||||||
10 | employee the original document forming the basis for the | ||||||
11 | employer's contention of deficiency within 7 business | ||||||
12 | days. | ||||||
13 | (2) Instructions on how the employee can correct the | ||||||
14 | alleged deficient documents if required to do so by law. | ||||||
15 | (3) An explanation of the employee's right to have | ||||||
16 | representation present during related meetings, | ||||||
17 | discussions, or proceedings with the employer . If the | ||||||
18 | alleged discrepancy is based on information obtained | ||||||
19 | through the employer's participation in the E-Verify | ||||||
20 | program, the right to representation shall apply unless | ||||||
21 | not , if allowed by a memorandum of understanding | ||||||
22 | concerning the federal E-Verify system. | ||||||
23 | (4) An explanation of any other rights that the | ||||||
24 | employee may have in connection with the employer's | ||||||
25 | contention. | ||||||
26 | (d) If When an employer receives notification from an |
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1 | inspecting entity any federal or State agency, including, but | ||||||
2 | not limited to, the Social Security Administration or the | ||||||
3 | Internal Revenue Service, of a discrepancy as it relates to | ||||||
4 | work authorization, the following rights and protections are | ||||||
5 | granted to the employee: | ||||||
6 | (1) The employer must not take any adverse action | ||||||
7 | against the employee, including re-verification, based on | ||||||
8 | the receipt of the notification. | ||||||
9 | (2) The employer must provide a notice to the employee | ||||||
10 | unless not and, if allowed by a memorandum of | ||||||
11 | understanding concerning the federal E-Verify system, to | ||||||
12 | the employee or the employee's authorized representative, | ||||||
13 | if any, as soon as practicable, but not more than 5 | ||||||
14 | business days after the date of receipt of the | ||||||
15 | notification, unless a shorter timeline is provided for | ||||||
16 | under federal law or a collective bargaining agreement. | ||||||
17 | The notice to the employee shall include, but not be | ||||||
18 | limited to: (i) an explanation that the inspecting entity | ||||||
19 | federal or State agency has notified the employer that the | ||||||
20 | employee's work authorization documents presented by the | ||||||
21 | employee do not appear to be valid or reasonably relate to | ||||||
22 | the employee; and (ii) the time period the employee has to | ||||||
23 | contest the inspecting entity's federal or State agency's | ||||||
24 | determination , if any time period is required by federal | ||||||
25 | law . The employer shall notify the employee in person and | ||||||
26 | deliver the notification by hand, if possible. If hand |
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1 | delivery is not possible, then the employer shall notify | ||||||
2 | the employee by mail and email, if the email address of the | ||||||
3 | employee is known, and shall notify the employee's | ||||||
4 | authorized representative. Upon request by the employee or | ||||||
5 | the employee's authorized representative, the employer | ||||||
6 | shall give to the employee the original notice from the | ||||||
7 | inspecting entity federal or State agency, including, but | ||||||
8 | not limited to, the Social Security Administration or the | ||||||
9 | Internal Revenue Service, within 7 business days. This | ||||||
10 | original notice shall be redacted in compliance with State | ||||||
11 | and federal privacy laws and shall relate only to the | ||||||
12 | employee receiving the notification. | ||||||
13 | (3) The employee may have a representative of the | ||||||
14 | employee's choosing in any meetings, discussions, or | ||||||
15 | proceedings with the employer. | ||||||
16 | The procedures described in this subsection do not apply | ||||||
17 | to inspections of an employer's I-9 Employment Verification | ||||||
18 | Forms by an inspecting entity or any relevant procedure | ||||||
19 | otherwise described in subsection (g). | ||||||
20 | (d-1) If an employer receives notification from any | ||||||
21 | federal agency or other outside third party not responsible | ||||||
22 | for the enforcement of immigration law, including, but not | ||||||
23 | limited to, the Social Security Administration, the Internal | ||||||
24 | Revenue Service, or an insurance company, of a discrepancy as | ||||||
25 | it relates to an employee's individual taxpayer identification | ||||||
26 | number or other identifying documents, the following rights |
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1 | and protections are granted to the employee: | ||||||
2 | (1) The employer shall not take any adverse action | ||||||
3 | against the employee, including re-verification, based on | ||||||
4 | the receipt of the notification. | ||||||
5 | (2) The employer shall provide a notice to the | ||||||
6 | employee and to the employee's authorized representative, | ||||||
7 | if any, as soon as practicable, but not more than 5 | ||||||
8 | business days after the date of receipt of the | ||||||
9 | notification, unless a shorter timeline is provided for | ||||||
10 | under federal law or a collective bargaining agreement. | ||||||
11 | The notice to the employee shall include, but not be | ||||||
12 | limited to: (A) an explanation that the federal agency or | ||||||
13 | outside third party has notified the employer that the | ||||||
14 | identification documents presented by the employee do not | ||||||
15 | appear to match; and () the time period the employee has to | ||||||
16 | contest the disputed information, if any such time period | ||||||
17 | is required by federal law. | ||||||
18 | (3) The employee may have a representative of the | ||||||
19 | employee's choosing in any meetings, discussions, or | ||||||
20 | proceedings with the employer. | ||||||
21 | (e) Except as otherwise required by federal law, an | ||||||
22 | employer shall provide a notice to each current employee, by | ||||||
23 | posting in English and in any language commonly used in the | ||||||
24 | workplace, of any inspections of I-9 Employment Eligibility | ||||||
25 | Verification forms or other employment records conducted by | ||||||
26 | the inspecting entity within 72 hours after receiving notice |
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1 | of the inspection. Written notice shall also be given within | ||||||
2 | 72 hours to the employee's authorized representative, if any. | ||||||
3 | The posted notice shall contain the following information: | ||||||
4 | (1) the name of the entity conducting the inspections | ||||||
5 | of I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms or other | ||||||
6 | employment records; | ||||||
7 | (2) the date that the employer received notice of the | ||||||
8 | inspection; | ||||||
9 | (3) the nature of the inspection to the extent known | ||||||
10 | by the employer; and | ||||||
11 | (4) a copy of the notice received by the employer. | ||||||
12 | An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide an | ||||||
13 | employee a copy of the Notice of Inspection of I-9 Employment | ||||||
14 | Eligibility Verification forms. | ||||||
15 | (f) On or before 6 months after the effective date of this | ||||||
16 | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Department | ||||||
17 | shall develop a template posting that employers may use to | ||||||
18 | comply with the requirements of subsection (e) to inform | ||||||
19 | employees of a notice of inspection to be conducted of I-9 | ||||||
20 | Employment Eligibility Verification forms or other employment | ||||||
21 | records conducted by the inspecting entity. The Department | ||||||
22 | shall make the template available on its website so that it is | ||||||
23 | accessible to any employer. | ||||||
24 | (g) Except as otherwise required by federal law, if during | ||||||
25 | an inspection of the employer's I-9 Employment Eligibility | ||||||
26 | Verification forms by an inspecting entity, the inspecting |
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1 | entity makes a determination that the employee's work | ||||||
2 | authorization documents do not establish that the employee is | ||||||
3 | authorized to work in the United States and provide the | ||||||
4 | employer with notice of that determination, the employer shall | ||||||
5 | provide a written notice as set forth in this subsection to the | ||||||
6 | employee within 5 business days, unless a shorter timeline is | ||||||
7 | provided for under federal law or a collective bargaining | ||||||
8 | agreement. The employer's notice to the employee shall relate | ||||||
9 | to the employee only. The employer shall notify the employee | ||||||
10 | in person and deliver the notification by hand, if possible. | ||||||
11 | If hand delivery is not possible, then the employer shall | ||||||
12 | notify the employee by mail and email, if the email address of | ||||||
13 | the employee is known, and shall notify the employee's | ||||||
14 | authorized representative. The employer's notice to the | ||||||
15 | employee shall contain the following information: | ||||||
16 | (1) an explanation that the inspecting entity has | ||||||
17 | determined that the employee's work authorization | ||||||
18 | documents presented by the employee do not appear to be | ||||||
19 | valid or reasonably relate to the employee; | ||||||
20 | (2) the time period for the employee to notify the | ||||||
21 | employer whether the employee is contesting or not | ||||||
22 | contesting the determination by the inspecting entity , if | ||||||
23 | any time period is required by federal law ; | ||||||
24 | (3) if known by the employer, the time and date of any | ||||||
25 | meeting with the employer and employee or with the | ||||||
26 | inspecting entity and employee related to the correction |
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1 | of the inspecting entity's determination that the | ||||||
2 | employee's work authorization documents presented by the | ||||||
3 | employee do not appear to be valid or reasonably relate to | ||||||
4 | the employee; and | ||||||
5 | (4) notice that the employee has the right to | ||||||
6 | representation during any meeting scheduled with the | ||||||
7 | employer and the inspecting entity. | ||||||
8 | If the employee contests the inspecting entity's | ||||||
9 | determination, the employer will notify the employee within 72 | ||||||
10 | hours after receipt of any final determination by the | ||||||
11 | inspecting entity related to the employee's work authorization | ||||||
12 | status. Upon request by the employee or the employee's | ||||||
13 | authorized representative, the employer shall give the | ||||||
14 | employee the original notice from the inspecting entity within | ||||||
15 | 7 business days. This original notice shall be redacted in | ||||||
16 | compliance with State and federal privacy laws and shall | ||||||
17 | relate only to the employee receiving the notification. | ||||||
18 | (h) This Section does not require a penalty to be imposed | ||||||
19 | upon an employer or person who fails to provide notice to an | ||||||
20 | employee at the express and specific direction or request of | ||||||
21 | the federal government. In determining the amount of the | ||||||
22 | penalty, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the | ||||||
23 | business of the employer charged and the gravity of the | ||||||
24 | violation shall be considered. The penalty may be recovered in | ||||||
25 | a civil action brought by the Director in any circuit court. | ||||||
26 | Upon request by the employee or the employee's authorized |
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1 | representative, the employer shall give the employee the | ||||||
2 | original notice from the inspecting entity within 7 business | ||||||
3 | days. | ||||||
4 | (i) This Section applies to public and private employers. | ||||||
5 | (j) Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted, | ||||||
6 | construed, or applied to restrict or limit an employer's | ||||||
7 | compliance with a memorandum of understanding concerning the | ||||||
8 | use of the federal E-Verify system. | ||||||
9 | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25 .) | ||||||
10 | (820 ILCS 55/15) (from Ch. 48, par. 2865) | ||||||
11 | Sec. 15. Administration and enforcement by the Department . | ||||||
12 | (a) It shall be the duty of the Department to enforce the | ||||||
13 | provisions of this Act when, in the Department's judgment, | ||||||
14 | there is cause and sufficient resources for investigation. The | ||||||
15 | Department shall have the power to conduct investigations in | ||||||
16 | connection with the administration and enforcement of this Act | ||||||
17 | and any investigator with the Department shall be authorized | ||||||
18 | to visit and inspect, at all reasonable times, any places | ||||||
19 | covered by this Act and shall be authorized to inspect, at all | ||||||
20 | reasonable times, records of the employer or prospective | ||||||
21 | employer related to its employees or prospective employees and | ||||||
22 | related to its participation in and compliance with the | ||||||
23 | E-Verify program. The Department shall have the authority to | ||||||
24 | request the issuance of a search warrant or subpoena to | ||||||
25 | inspect the files of the employer or prospective employer, if |
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1 | necessary. The Department shall conduct hearings in accordance | ||||||
2 | with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act upon written | ||||||
3 | complaint by an investigator of the Department. After the | ||||||
4 | hearing, if supported by the evidence, the Department may (i) | ||||||
5 | issue and cause to be served on any party an order to cease and | ||||||
6 | desist from further violation of the Act, (ii) take | ||||||
7 | affirmative or other action as deemed reasonable to eliminate | ||||||
8 | the effect of the violation, and (iii) determine the amount of | ||||||
9 | any civil penalty allowed by the Act. The Director of Labor or | ||||||
10 | his or her representative may compel, by subpoena, the | ||||||
11 | attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of | ||||||
12 | books, payrolls, records, papers, and other evidence in any | ||||||
13 | investigation or hearing and may administer oaths to witnesses | ||||||
14 | The Director of Labor or his authorized representative shall | ||||||
15 | administer and enforce the provisions of this Act. The | ||||||
16 | Director of Labor may issue rules and regulations necessary to | ||||||
17 | administer and enforce the provisions of this Act . | ||||||
18 | (b) If an employee or applicant for employment alleges | ||||||
19 | that he or she has been denied his or her rights under this | ||||||
20 | Act, he or she may file a complaint with the Department of | ||||||
21 | Labor. The Department shall investigate the complaint pursuant | ||||||
22 | to its authority under subsection (a) and shall have authority | ||||||
23 | to request the issuance of a search warrant or subpoena to | ||||||
24 | inspect the files of the employer or prospective employer, if | ||||||
25 | necessary . The Department shall attempt to resolve the | ||||||
26 | complaint by conference, conciliation, or persuasion. If the |
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1 | complaint is not so resolved and the Department finds the | ||||||
2 | employer or prospective employer has violated the Act, the | ||||||
3 | Department may commence an action in the circuit court to | ||||||
4 | enforce the provisions of this Act including an action to | ||||||
5 | compel compliance. The circuit court for the county in which | ||||||
6 | the complainant resides or in which the complainant is | ||||||
7 | employed shall have jurisdiction in such actions. | ||||||
8 | (c) (Blank). If an employer or prospective employer | ||||||
9 | violates this Act, an employee or applicant for employment may | ||||||
10 | commence an action in the circuit court to enforce the | ||||||
11 | provisions of this Act, including actions to compel | ||||||
12 | compliance, where efforts to resolve the employee's or | ||||||
13 | applicant for employment's complaint concerning the violation | ||||||
14 | by conference, conciliation or persuasion under subsection (b) | ||||||
15 | have failed and the Department has not commenced an action in | ||||||
16 | circuit court to redress the violation. The circuit court for | ||||||
17 | the county in which the complainant resides or in which the | ||||||
18 | complainant is employed shall have jurisdiction in such | ||||||
19 | actions. | ||||||
20 | (d) (Blank). Failure to comply with an order of the court | ||||||
21 | may be punished as contempt. In addition, the court shall | ||||||
22 | award an employee or applicant for employment prevailing in an | ||||||
23 | action under this Act the following damages: | ||||||
24 | (1) Actual damages plus costs. | ||||||
25 | (2) For a willful and knowing violation of this Act, | ||||||
26 | $200 plus costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and actual |
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1 | damages. | ||||||
2 | (3) For a willful and knowing violation of Section | ||||||
3 | 12(c) or Section 12(c-2) of this Act, $500 per affected | ||||||
4 | employee plus costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and | ||||||
5 | actual damages. | ||||||
6 | (4) For a willful and knowing violation of Section 13, | ||||||
7 | a civil penalty of a minimum of $2,000 up to a maximum of | ||||||
8 | $5,000 for a first violation and a civil penalty of a | ||||||
9 | minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 for each | ||||||
10 | subsequent violation per affected employee plus costs, | ||||||
11 | reasonable attorney's fees, and actual damages. | ||||||
12 | (e) Any employer or prospective employer or his agent who | ||||||
13 | violates the provisions of this Act is guilty of a petty | ||||||
14 | offense. | ||||||
15 | (f) Any employer or prospective employer, or the officer | ||||||
16 | or agent of any employer or prospective employer, who | ||||||
17 | discharges or in any other manner discriminates against any | ||||||
18 | employee or applicant for employment because that employee or | ||||||
19 | applicant for employment has made a complaint to his employer, | ||||||
20 | or to the Director of Labor or his authorized representative, | ||||||
21 | or because that employee or applicant for employment has | ||||||
22 | caused to be instituted or is about to cause to be instituted | ||||||
23 | any proceeding under or related to this Act, or because that | ||||||
24 | employee or applicant for employment has testified or is about | ||||||
25 | to testify in an investigation or proceeding under this Act, | ||||||
26 | is guilty of a petty offense. |
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| |||||||
1 | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25 .) | ||||||
2 | (820 ILCS 55/16 new) | ||||||
3 | Sec. 16. Action for civil penalties brought by an | ||||||
4 | interested party. | ||||||
5 | (a) Upon a reasonable belief that an employer or | ||||||
6 | prospective employer covered by this Act is in violation of | ||||||
7 | any part of this Act, an interested party may initiate a civil | ||||||
8 | action in the county where the alleged offenses occurred or | ||||||
9 | where any party to the action resides, asserting that a | ||||||
10 | violation of the Act has occurred, pursuant to the following | ||||||
11 | sequence of events: | ||||||
12 | (1) The interested party submits to the Department of | ||||||
13 | Labor a complaint describing the violation and employer or | ||||||
14 | prospective employer alleged to have violated this Act. | ||||||
15 | (2) The Department sends notice of complaint to the | ||||||
16 | named parties alleged to have violated this Act and the | ||||||
17 | interested party. The named parties may either contest the | ||||||
18 | alleged violation or attempt to cure the alleged | ||||||
19 | violation. | ||||||
20 | (3) The named parties contest or cure the alleged | ||||||
21 | violation within 30 days after the receipt of the notice | ||||||
22 | of complaint or, if the named party does not respond | ||||||
23 | within 30 days, the Department issues a notice of right to | ||||||
24 | sue to the interested party as described in paragraph (4). | ||||||
25 | (4) The Department issues a notice of right to sue to |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | the interested party, if one or more of the following has | ||||||
2 | occurred: | ||||||
3 | (i) the named party has cured the alleged | ||||||
4 | violation to the satisfaction of the Director; | ||||||
5 | (ii) the Director has determined that the | ||||||
6 | allegation is unjustified or that the Department does | ||||||
7 | not have jurisdiction over the matter or the parties; | ||||||
8 | or | ||||||
9 | (iii) the Director has determined that the | ||||||
10 | allegation is justified or has not made a | ||||||
11 | determination, and either has decided not to exercise | ||||||
12 | jurisdiction over the matter or has concluded | ||||||
13 | administrative enforcement of the matter. | ||||||
14 | (b) If within 180 days after service of the notice of | ||||||
15 | complaint to the parties, the Department has not (i) resolved | ||||||
16 | the contest and cure period, (ii) with the mutual agreement of | ||||||
17 | the parties, extended the time for the named party to cure the | ||||||
18 | violation and resolve the complaint, or (iii) issued a right | ||||||
19 | to sue letter, the interested party may initiate a civil | ||||||
20 | action for penalties. The parties may extend the 180-day | ||||||
21 | period by mutual agreement. The limitations period for the | ||||||
22 | interested party to bring an action for the alleged violation | ||||||
23 | of the Act shall be tolled for the 180-day period and for the | ||||||
24 | period of any mutually agreed extensions. At the end of the | ||||||
25 | 180-day period, or any mutually agreed extensions, the | ||||||
26 | Department shall issue a right to sue letter to the interested |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | party. | ||||||
2 | (c) Upon receipt of a right to sue letter from the | ||||||
3 | Department, an interested party may bring a civil action in | ||||||
4 | the county where the alleged offenses occurred or where any | ||||||
5 | party to the action resides, in the name of the State and for | ||||||
6 | the benefit of any impacted day or temporary laborers. | ||||||
7 | (1) No later than 30 days after filing an action, the | ||||||
8 | interested party shall serve upon the State through the | ||||||
9 | Attorney General a copy of the complaint and written | ||||||
10 | disclosure of substantially all material evidence and | ||||||
11 | information the interested party possesses. | ||||||
12 | (2) The State may elect to intervene and proceed with | ||||||
13 | the action no later than 60 days after it receives both the | ||||||
14 | complaint and the material evidence and information. The | ||||||
15 | State may, for good cause shown, move the court for an | ||||||
16 | extension of the time to intervene and proceed with the | ||||||
17 | action. | ||||||
18 | (3) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any | ||||||
19 | extensions under subparagraph (2), the State shall: | ||||||
20 | (i) proceed with the action, in which case the | ||||||
21 | action shall be conducted by the State; or | ||||||
22 | (ii) notify the court that it declines to take the | ||||||
23 | action, in which case the interested party bringing | ||||||
24 | the action shall have the right to conduct the action. | ||||||
25 | (4) When the State conducts the action, the interested | ||||||
26 | party shall have the right to continue as a party to the |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | action subject to the following limitations: | ||||||
2 | (i) the State may dismiss the action | ||||||
3 | notwithstanding the objections of the interested party | ||||||
4 | initiating the action if the interested party has been | ||||||
5 | notified by the State of the filing of the motion and | ||||||
6 | the court has provided the interested party with an | ||||||
7 | opportunity for a hearing on the motion; and | ||||||
8 | (ii) the State may settle the action with the | ||||||
9 | defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person | ||||||
10 | initiating the action if the court determines, after a | ||||||
11 | hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair, | ||||||
12 | adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances. | ||||||
13 | (5) If an interested party brings an action under this | ||||||
14 | Section, no person other than the State may intervene or | ||||||
15 | bring a related action on behalf of the State based on the | ||||||
16 | facts underlying the pending action. | ||||||
17 | (6) An action brought in court by an interested party | ||||||
18 | under this Section may be dismissed if the court and the | ||||||
19 | Attorney General give written consent to the dismissal and | ||||||
20 | their reasons for consenting. | ||||||
21 | (d) Any claim or action filed by an interested party under | ||||||
22 | this Section shall be made no later 3 years after the alleged | ||||||
23 | conduct resulting in the complaint, plus any period for which | ||||||
24 | the limitations period has been tolled. | ||||||
25 | (e) In an action brought by an interested party under this | ||||||
26 | Section, an interested party may recover against the covered |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | entity any statutory penalties set forth in Section 17, | ||||||
2 | injunctive relief, and any other relief available to the | ||||||
3 | Department. An interested party who prevails in a civil action | ||||||
4 | shall receive 10% of any statutory penalties assessed, plus | ||||||
5 | any attorney's fees and costs. The remaining 90% of any | ||||||
6 | statutory penalties assessed shall be deposited into a special | ||||||
7 | fund of the Department for enforcement of this Act. | ||||||
8 | (820 ILCS 55/17 new) | ||||||
9 | Sec. 17. Private right of action. | ||||||
10 | (a) A person aggrieved by a violation of this Act or any | ||||||
11 | rule adopted under this Act by an employer or prospective | ||||||
12 | employer may file suit in circuit court of Illinois, in the | ||||||
13 | county where the alleged offense occurred, where the employee | ||||||
14 | or prospective employee who is party to the action resides or | ||||||
15 | where the employer or prospective employer which is party to | ||||||
16 | the action is located, without regard to exhaustion of any | ||||||
17 | alternative administrative remedies provided in this Act. | ||||||
18 | Actions may be brought by one or more day or affected employees | ||||||
19 | or prospective employees for and on behalf of themselves and | ||||||
20 | employees or prospective employees similarly situated. An | ||||||
21 | employee or prospective employee may recover for a violation | ||||||
22 | of the Act under this Section or under Section 15 or 16 at the | ||||||
23 | employee or prospective employee's option, but not under more | ||||||
24 | than one Section. An employee or prospective employee whose | ||||||
25 | rights have been violated under this Act by an employer or |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | prospective employer is entitled to collect under this | ||||||
2 | Section: | ||||||
3 | (1) in the case of a violation of this Act or any rule | ||||||
4 | adopted under this Act as it relates to the employee or | ||||||
5 | prospective employee, a civil penalty of not less than | ||||||
6 | $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation found by a | ||||||
7 | court; | ||||||
8 | (2) in the event a violation of this Act or any rule | ||||||
9 | adopted under this Act as it relates to denial or loss of | ||||||
10 | employment for the employee or prospective employee, all | ||||||
11 | relief necessary to make the employee whole, including, | ||||||
12 | but not limited to the following: | ||||||
13 | (i) reinstatement with the same seniority status | ||||||
14 | that the employee would have had, but for the | ||||||
15 | violation, as appropriate; | ||||||
16 | (ii) back pay, with interest, as appropriate; and | ||||||
17 | (iii) a civil penalty of $10,000; and | ||||||
18 | (3) compensation for any damages sustained as a result | ||||||
19 | of the violation, including litigation costs, expert | ||||||
20 | witness fees, and reasonable attorney's fees. | ||||||
21 | (b) The right of an aggrieved person to bring an action | ||||||
22 | under this Section terminates upon the passing of 3 years | ||||||
23 | after the date of the violation. This limitations period is | ||||||
24 | tolled if an employer or prospective employer has failed to | ||||||
25 | provide an employee or prospective employer information | ||||||
26 | required under this Act or has deterred an employee or |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | prospective employee from the exercise of rights under this | ||||||
2 | Act. | ||||||
3 | (820 ILCS 55/18 new) | ||||||
4 | Sec. 18. Penalties. | ||||||
5 | (a) An employer or prospective employer that violates any | ||||||
6 | of the provisions of this Act or any rule adopted under this | ||||||
7 | Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $100 | ||||||
8 | and not more than $1,000 for each violation of his Act found by | ||||||
9 | the Department or determined by a court in a civil action | ||||||
10 | brought by the Department or by an interested party, or | ||||||
11 | determined by a court in a civil action brought by the Attorney | ||||||
12 | General pursuant to its authority under Section 6.3 of the | ||||||
13 | Attorney General Act. An employer or prospective employer that | ||||||
14 | commits a subsequent violation of the same provisions or this | ||||||
15 | Act or any rule adopted under this Act within a 3-year period | ||||||
16 | shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and | ||||||
17 | not more than $5,000 for each violation of his Act found by the | ||||||
18 | Department or determined by a court in a civil action brought | ||||||
19 | by the Department or by an interested party, or determined by a | ||||||
20 | court in a civil action brought by the Attorney General | ||||||
21 | pursuant to its authority under Section 6.3 of the Attorney | ||||||
22 | General Act. For purposes of this subsection, each violation | ||||||
23 | of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act shall constitute | ||||||
24 | a separate and distinct violation. | ||||||
25 | (b) In determining the amount of a penalty, the Director |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | or circuit court shall consider the appropriateness of the | ||||||
2 | penalty to the size of the business of the employer charged and | ||||||
3 | the gravity of the violation shall be considered. | ||||||
4 | (c) The Department shall adopt rules for violation | ||||||
5 | hearings and penalties for violations of this Act or the | ||||||
6 | Department's rules in conjunction with the penalties set forth | ||||||
7 | in this Act. Any administrative determination by the | ||||||
8 | Department as to the amount of each penalty shall be final | ||||||
9 | unless reviewed as provided in Section 17 of this Act. | ||||||
10 | (820 ILCS 55/19 new) | ||||||
11 | Sec. 19. Review under the Administrative Review Law. Any | ||||||
12 | party to a proceeding under this Act may apply for and obtain | ||||||
13 | judicial review of an order of the Department entered under | ||||||
14 | this Act in accordance with the provisions of the | ||||||
15 | Administrative Review Law and the Department in proceedings | ||||||
16 | under this Act may obtain an order from the court for the | ||||||
17 | enforcement of its order. | ||||||
18 | (820 ILCS 55/20) (from Ch. 48, par. 2870) | ||||||
19 | Sec. 20. Dismissal of complaint. The Director or any court | ||||||
20 | of competent jurisdiction shall summarily dismiss any | ||||||
21 | complaint alleging a violation of Section 5 of this Act which | ||||||
22 | states as the sole cause of the complaint that the employer | ||||||
23 | offered a health, disability, or life insurance policy that | ||||||
24 | makes a distinction between employees for the type of coverage |
| |||||||
| |||||||
1 | or the price of coverage based upon the employees' use of | ||||||
2 | lawful products. | ||||||
3 | (Source: P.A. 87-807.) |