100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB1508

 

Introduced 2/9/2017, by Sen. Heather A. Steans

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/8-102  from Ch. 68, par. 8-102

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


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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,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
5changing Section 8-102 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/8-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-102)
7    Sec. 8-102. Powers and Duties. In addition to the the other
8powers and duties prescribed in this Act, the Commission shall
9have the following powers and duties:
10    (A) Meetings. To meet and function at any place within the
11State.
12    (B) Offices. To establish and maintain offices in
13Springfield and Chicago.
14    (C) Employees. To select and fix the compensation of such
15technical advisors and employees as it may deem necessary
16pursuant to the provisions of "The Personnel Code".
17    (D) Hearing Officers. To select and fix the compensation of
18hearing officers who shall be attorneys duly licensed to
19practice law in this State and full time employees of the
20Commission.
21    A formal and unbiased training program for hearing officers
22shall be implemented. The training program shall include the
23following:

 

 

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1        (1) substantive and procedural aspects of the hearing
2    officer position;
3        (2) current issues in human rights law and practice;
4        (3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas
5    related to human rights matters;
6        (4) orientation to each operational unit of the
7    Department and Commission;
8        (5) observation of experienced hearing officers
9    conducting hearings of cases, combined with the
10    opportunity to discuss evidence presented and rulings
11    made;
12        (6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the hearing
13    officer to issue judgments as a means to evaluating
14    knowledge and writing ability;
15        (7) writing skills;
16        (8) computer skills, including but not limited to word
17    processing and document management.
18    A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development
19program including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas
20shall be implemented to keep hearing officers informed of
21recent developments and issues and to assist them in
22maintaining and enhancing their professional competence.
23    (E) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and
24rescind rules and regulations not inconsistent with the
25provisions of this Act pursuant to the Illinois Administrative
26Procedure Act.

 

 

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1    (F) Compulsory Process. To issue and authorize requests for
2enforcement of subpoenas and other compulsory process
3established by this Act.
4    (G) Decisions. Through a panel of three members designated
5by the Chairperson on a random basis, to hear and decide by
6majority vote complaints filed in conformity with this Act and
7to approve proposed settlements.
8    (H) Rehearings. To order, by a vote of 6 members, rehearing
9of its decisions by the entire Commission in conformity with
10this Act.
11    (I) Judicial Enforcement. To authorize requests for
12judicial enforcement of its orders in conformity with this Act.
13    (J) Opinions. To publish its decisions in timely fashion to
14assure a consistent source of precedent.
15    (K) Public Grants; Private Gifts. To accept public grants
16and private gifts as may be authorized.
17    (L) Interpreters. To appoint at the expense of the
18Commission a qualified sign language interpreter whenever a
19hearing impaired person is a party or witness at a public
20hearing.
21    (M) Automated Processing Plan. To prepare an electronic
22data processing and telecommunications plan jointly with the
23Department in accordance with Section 7-112.
24    (N) The provisions of this amendatory Act of 1995 amending
25subsection (G) of this Section apply to causes of action filed
26on or after January 1, 1996.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)