97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB1552

 

Introduced 2/15/2011, by Rep. Chris Nybo

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
775 ILCS 5/7A-102  from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102

    Amends provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act relating to proceedings other than those involving real estate transactions. Provides that the Department of Human Rights shall adopt the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission's determination as its own (instead of at the Department's discretion, the Department may accept the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission's determination as its own or process the charge pursuant to the Act). Effective immediately.


LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB1552LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

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 7A-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
19charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
20within 180 days after the date of the alleged civil rights
21violation shall be deemed filed with the Department on the date
22filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Upon
23receipt of a charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity

 

 

HB1552- 2 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1Commission, the Department shall notify the complainant that he
2or she may proceed with the Department. The complainant must
3notify the Department of his or her decision in writing within
435 days of receipt of the Department's notice to the
5complainant and the Department shall close the case if the
6complainant does not do so. If the complainant proceeds with
7the Department, the Department shall take no action until the
8Equal Employment Opportunity Commission makes a determination
9on the charge. Upon receipt of the Equal Employment Opportunity
10Commission's determination, the Department shall cause the
11charge to be filed under oath or affirmation and to be in such
12detail as provided for under subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A).
13The At the Department's discretion, the Department shall either
14adopt the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's
15determination which or process the charge pursuant to this Act.
16Adoption of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's
17determination shall be deemed a determination by the Department
18for all purposes under this Act.
19    (B) Notice and Response to Charge. The Department shall,
20within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, serve
21a copy of the charge on the respondent. This period shall not
22be construed to be jurisdictional. The charging party and the
23respondent may each file a position statement and other
24materials with the Department regarding the charge of alleged
25discrimination within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the
26charge. The position statements and other materials filed shall

 

 

HB1552- 3 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1remain confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the party
2providing the information and shall not be served on or made
3available to the other party during pendency of a charge with
4the Department. The Department shall require the respondent to
5file a verified response to the allegations contained in the
6charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the charge.
7The respondent shall serve a copy of its response on the
8complainant or his representative. All allegations contained
9in the charge not timely denied by the respondent shall be
10deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is
11without sufficient information to form a belief with respect to
12such allegation. The Department may issue a notice of default
13directed to any respondent who fails to file a verified
14response to a charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of
15the charge, unless the respondent can demonstrate good cause as
16to why such notice should not issue. The term "good cause"
17shall be defined by rule promulgated by the Department. Within
1830 days of receipt of the respondent's response, the
19complainant may file a reply to said response and shall serve a
20copy of said reply on the respondent or his representative. A
21party shall have the right to supplement his response or reply
22at any time that the investigation of the charge is pending.
23The Department shall, within 10 days of the date on which the
24charge was filed, and again no later than 335 days thereafter,
25send by certified or registered mail written notice to the
26complainant and to the respondent informing the complainant of

 

 

HB1552- 4 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1the complainant's right to either file a complaint with the
2Human Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
3appropriate circuit court under subparagraph (2) of paragraph
4(G), including in such notice the dates within which the
5complainant may exercise this right. In the notice the
6Department shall notify the complainant that the charge of
7civil rights violation will be dismissed with prejudice and
8with no right to further proceed if a written complaint is not
9timely filed with the Commission or with the appropriate
10circuit court by the complainant pursuant to subparagraph (2)
11of paragraph (G) or by the Department pursuant to subparagraph
12(1) of paragraph (G).
13    (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree
14to voluntarily submit the charge to mediation without waiving
15any rights that are otherwise available to either party
16pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to
17accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring
18in mediation shall be disclosed by the Department or admissible
19in evidence in any subsequent proceeding unless the complainant
20and the respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be
21made.
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

 

 

HB1552- 5 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

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 prior to 365 days after the date on which the
16    charge was filed, unless the Director has determined
17    whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
18    civil rights violation has been committed or the charge has
19    been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. If the parties
20    agree in writing, the fact finding conference may be held
21    at a time after the 365 day limit. Any party's failure to
22    attend the conference without good cause shall result in
23    dismissal or default. The term "good cause" shall be
24    defined by rule promulgated by the Department. A notice of
25    dismissal or default shall be issued by the Director. The
26    notice of default issued by the Director shall notify the

 

 

HB1552- 6 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1    respondent that a request for review may be filed in
2    writing with the Commission within 30 days of receipt of
3    notice of default. The notice of dismissal issued by the
4    Director shall give the complainant notice of his or her
5    right to seek review of the dismissal before the Human
6    Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
7    appropriate circuit court. If the complainant chooses to
8    have the Human Rights Commission review the dismissal
9    order, he or she shall file a request for review with the
10    Commission within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
11    notice. If the complainant chooses to file a request for
12    review with the Commission, he or she may not later
13    commence a civil action in a circuit court. If the
14    complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a circuit
15    court, he or she must do so within 90 days after receipt of
16    the Director's notice.
17    (D) Report.
18        (1) Each charge shall be the subject of a report to the
19    Director. The report shall be a confidential document
20    subject to review by the Director, authorized Department
21    employees, the parties, and, where indicated by this Act,
22    members of the Commission or their designated hearing
23    officers.
24        (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall
25    determine whether there is substantial evidence that the
26    alleged civil rights violation has been committed. The

 

 

HB1552- 7 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1    determination of substantial evidence is limited to
2    determining the need for further consideration of the
3    charge pursuant to this Act and includes, but is not
4    limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well as
5    the reasons for the determinations on all material issues.
6    Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind
7    accepts as sufficient to support a particular conclusion
8    and which consists of more than a mere scintilla but may be
9    somewhat less than a preponderance.
10        (3) If the Director determines that there is no
11    substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed by
12    order of the Director and the Director shall give the
13    complainant notice of his or her right to seek review of
14    the dismissal order before the Commission or commence a
15    civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the
16    complainant chooses to have the Human Rights Commission
17    review the dismissal order, he or she shall file a request
18    for review with the Commission within 90 days after receipt
19    of the Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to
20    file a request for review with the Commission, he or she
21    may not later commence a civil action in a circuit court.
22    If the complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a
23    circuit court, he or she must do so within 90 days after
24    receipt of the Director's notice.
25        (4) If the Director determines that there is
26    substantial evidence, he or she shall notify the

 

 

HB1552- 8 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1    complainant and respondent of that determination. The
2    Director shall also notify the parties that the complainant
3    has the right to either commence a civil action in the
4    appropriate circuit court or request that the Department of
5    Human Rights file a complaint with the Human Rights
6    Commission on his or her behalf. Any such complaint shall
7    be filed within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
8    notice. If the complainant chooses to have the Department
9    file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on his or
10    her behalf, the complainant must, within 30 days after
11    receipt of the Director's notice, request in writing that
12    the Department file the complaint. If the complainant
13    timely requests that the Department file the complaint, the
14    Department shall file the complaint on his or her behalf.
15    If the complainant fails to timely request that the
16    Department file the complaint, the complainant may file his
17    or her complaint with the Commission or commence a civil
18    action in the appropriate circuit court. If the complainant
19    files a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, the
20    complainant shall give notice to the Department of the
21    filing of the complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
22    (E) Conciliation.
23         (1) When there is a finding of substantial evidence,
24    the Department may designate a Department employee who is
25    an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois to endeavor to
26    eliminate the effect of the alleged civil rights violation

 

 

HB1552- 9 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1    and to prevent its repetition by means of conference and
2    conciliation.
3        (2) When the Department determines that a formal
4    conciliation conference is necessary, the complainant and
5    respondent shall be notified of the time and place of the
6    conference by registered or certified mail at least 10 days
7    prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear at
8    the conference in person or by attorney.
9        (3) The place fixed for the conference shall be within
10    35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is
11    alleged to have been committed.
12        (4) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be
13    disclosed by the Department unless the complainant and
14    respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be made.
15        (5) The Department's efforts to conciliate the matter
16    shall not stay or extend the time for filing the complaint
17    with the Commission or the circuit court.
18    (F) Complaint.
19        (1) When the complainant requests that the Department
20    file a complaint with the Commission on his or her behalf,
21    the Department shall prepare a written complaint, under
22    oath or affirmation, stating the nature of the civil rights
23    violation substantially as alleged in the charge
24    previously filed and the relief sought on behalf of the
25    aggrieved party. The Department shall file the complaint
26    with the Commission.

 

 

HB1552- 10 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1        (2) If the complainant chooses to commence a civil
2    action in a circuit court, he or she must do so in the
3    circuit court in the county wherein the civil rights
4    violation was allegedly committed. The form of the
5    complaint in any such civil action shall be in accordance
6    with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
7    (G) Time Limit.
8        (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
9    properly filed, the Department, within 365 days thereof or
10    within any extension of that period agreed to in writing by
11    all parties, shall issue its report as required by
12    subparagraph (D). Any such report shall be duly served upon
13    both the complainant and the respondent.
14        (2) If the Department has not issued its report within
15    365 days after the charge is filed, or any such longer
16    period agreed to in writing by all the parties, the
17    complainant shall have 90 days to either file his or her
18    own complaint with the Human Rights Commission or commence
19    a civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the
20    complainant files a complaint with the Commission, the form
21    of the complaint shall be in accordance with the provisions
22    of paragraph (F)(1). If the complainant commences a civil
23    action in a circuit court, the form of the complaint shall
24    be in accordance with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
25    The aggrieved party shall notify the Department that a
26    complaint has been filed and shall serve a copy of the

 

 

HB1552- 11 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1    complaint on the Department on the same date that the
2    complaint is filed with the Commission or in circuit court.
3    If the complainant files a complaint with the Commission,
4    he or she may not later commence a civil action in circuit
5    court.
6        (3) If an aggrieved party files a complaint with the
7    Human Rights Commission or commences a civil action in
8    circuit court pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection,
9    or if the time period for filing a complaint has expired,
10    the Department shall immediately cease its investigation
11    and dismiss the charge of civil rights violation. Any final
12    order entered by the Commission under this Section is
13    appealable in accordance with paragraph (B)(1) of Section
14    8-111. Failure to immediately cease an investigation and
15    dismiss the charge of civil rights violation as provided in
16    this paragraph (3) constitutes grounds for entry of an
17    order by the circuit court permanently enjoining the
18    investigation. The Department may also be liable for any
19    costs and other damages incurred by the respondent as a
20    result of the action of the Department.
21        (4) The Department shall stay any administrative
22    proceedings under this Section after the filing of a civil
23    action by or on behalf of the aggrieved party under any
24    federal or State law seeking relief with respect to the
25    alleged civil rights violation.
26    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action

 

 

HB1552- 12 -LRB097 06777 AJO 46868 b

1filed on or after January 1, 1996.
2    (I) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
3filed on or after January 1, 1996.
4    (J) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
5apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those
6changes.
7    (K) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
8of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or after
9the effective date of those changes.
10(Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08; 96-876, eff. 2-2-10.)
 
11    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
12becoming law.