Rep. Chris Nybo

Filed: 3/31/2011

 

 


 

 


 
09700HB1552ham002LRB097 06777 AJO 53737 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1552

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1552, AS AMENDED, by
3replacing everything after the enacting clause with the
4following:
 
5    "Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by
6changing Section 7A-102 as follows:
 
7    (775 ILCS 5/7A-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102)
8    Sec. 7A-102. Procedures.
9    (A) Charge.
10        (1) Within 180 days after the date that a civil rights
11    violation allegedly has been committed, a charge in writing
12    under oath or affirmation may be filed with the Department
13    by an aggrieved party or issued by the Department itself
14    under the signature of the Director.
15        (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to
16    substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to

 

 

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1    the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil
2    rights violation.
3    (A-1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges. A
4charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
5within 180 days after the date of the alleged civil rights
6violation shall be deemed filed with the Department on the date
7filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Upon
8receipt of a charge filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity
9Commission, the Department shall notify the complainant that he
10or she may proceed with the Department. The complainant must
11notify the Department of his or her decision in writing within
1235 days of receipt of the Department's notice to the
13complainant and the Department shall close the case if the
14complainant does not do so. If the complainant proceeds with
15the Department, the Department shall take no action until the
16Equal Employment Opportunity Commission makes a determination
17on the charge. Upon receipt of the Equal Employment Opportunity
18Commission's determination, the Department shall cause the
19charge to be filed under oath or affirmation and to be in such
20detail as provided for under subparagraph (2) of paragraph (A).
21For those charges alleging violations within the jurisdiction
22of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the
23Department and for which the Equal Employment Opportunity
24Commission does not determine that there is reasonable cause to
25believe that discrimination occurred, the Department shall
26adopt the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's

 

 

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1determination which shall be deemed a determination by the
2Department for all purposes under this Act. For those charges
3where the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determines
4that there is reasonable cause to believe that discrimination
5occurred, the Department, at its discretion, shall either adopt
6the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's determination or
7process the charge pursuant to this Act. At the Department's
8discretion, the Department shall either adopt the Equal
9Employment Opportunity Commission's determination or process
10the charge pursuant to this Act. Adoption of the Equal
11Employment Opportunity Commission's determination shall be
12deemed a determination by the Department for all purposes under
13this Act.
14    (B) Notice and Response to Charge. The Department shall,
15within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, serve
16a copy of the charge on the respondent. This period shall not
17be construed to be jurisdictional. The charging party and the
18respondent may each file a position statement and other
19materials with the Department regarding the charge of alleged
20discrimination within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the
21charge. The position statements and other materials filed shall
22remain confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the party
23providing the information and shall not be served on or made
24available to the other party during pendency of a charge with
25the Department. The Department shall require the respondent to
26file a verified response to the allegations contained in the

 

 

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1charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the charge.
2The respondent shall serve a copy of its response on the
3complainant or his representative. All allegations contained
4in the charge not timely denied by the respondent shall be
5deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is
6without sufficient information to form a belief with respect to
7such allegation. The Department may issue a notice of default
8directed to any respondent who fails to file a verified
9response to a charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of
10the charge, unless the respondent can demonstrate good cause as
11to why such notice should not issue. The term "good cause"
12shall be defined by rule promulgated by the Department. Within
1330 days of receipt of the respondent's response, the
14complainant may file a reply to said response and shall serve a
15copy of said reply on the respondent or his representative. A
16party shall have the right to supplement his response or reply
17at any time that the investigation of the charge is pending.
18The Department shall, within 10 days of the date on which the
19charge was filed, and again no later than 335 days thereafter,
20send by certified or registered mail written notice to the
21complainant and to the respondent informing the complainant of
22the complainant's right to either file a complaint with the
23Human Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
24appropriate circuit court under subparagraph (2) of paragraph
25(G), including in such notice the dates within which the
26complainant may exercise this right. In the notice the

 

 

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1Department shall notify the complainant that the charge of
2civil rights violation will be dismissed with prejudice and
3with no right to further proceed if a written complaint is not
4timely filed with the Commission or with the appropriate
5circuit court by the complainant pursuant to subparagraph (2)
6of paragraph (G) or by the Department pursuant to subparagraph
7(1) of paragraph (G).
8    (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree
9to voluntarily submit the charge to mediation without waiving
10any rights that are otherwise available to either party
11pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to
12accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring
13in mediation shall be disclosed by the Department or admissible
14in evidence in any subsequent proceeding unless the complainant
15and the respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be
16made.
17    (C) Investigation.
18        (1) After the respondent has been notified, the
19    Department shall conduct a full investigation of the
20    allegations set forth in the charge.
21        (2) The Director or his or her designated
22    representatives shall have authority to request any member
23    of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the
24    attendance of a witness or the production for examination
25    of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
26        (3) If any witness whose testimony is required for any

 

 

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1    investigation resides outside the State, or through
2    illness or any other good cause as determined by the
3    Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator or
4    appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony
5    or deposition may be taken, within or without the State, in
6    the same manner as is provided for in the taking of
7    depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
8        (4) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the
9    respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding
10    conference prior to 365 days after the date on which the
11    charge was filed, unless the Director has determined
12    whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
13    civil rights violation has been committed or the charge has
14    been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. If the parties
15    agree in writing, the fact finding conference may be held
16    at a time after the 365 day limit. Any party's failure to
17    attend the conference without good cause shall result in
18    dismissal or default. The term "good cause" shall be
19    defined by rule promulgated by the Department. A notice of
20    dismissal or default shall be issued by the Director. The
21    notice of default issued by the Director shall notify the
22    respondent that a request for review may be filed in
23    writing with the Commission within 30 days of receipt of
24    notice of default. The notice of dismissal issued by the
25    Director shall give the complainant notice of his or her
26    right to seek review of the dismissal before the Human

 

 

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1    Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
2    appropriate circuit court. If the complainant chooses to
3    have the Human Rights Commission review the dismissal
4    order, he or she shall file a request for review with the
5    Commission within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
6    notice. If the complainant chooses to file a request for
7    review with the Commission, he or she may not later
8    commence a civil action in a circuit court. If the
9    complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a circuit
10    court, he or she must do so within 90 days after receipt of
11    the Director's notice.
12    (D) Report.
13        (1) Each charge shall be the subject of a report to the
14    Director. The report shall be a confidential document
15    subject to review by the Director, authorized Department
16    employees, the parties, and, where indicated by this Act,
17    members of the Commission or their designated hearing
18    officers.
19        (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall
20    determine whether there is substantial evidence that the
21    alleged civil rights violation has been committed. The
22    determination of substantial evidence is limited to
23    determining the need for further consideration of the
24    charge pursuant to this Act and includes, but is not
25    limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well as
26    the reasons for the determinations on all material issues.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1        (3) If an aggrieved party files a complaint with the
2    Human Rights Commission or commences a civil action in
3    circuit court pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection,
4    or if the time period for filing a complaint has expired,
5    the Department shall immediately cease its investigation
6    and dismiss the charge of civil rights violation. Any final
7    order entered by the Commission under this Section is
8    appealable in accordance with paragraph (B)(1) of Section
9    8-111. Failure to immediately cease an investigation and
10    dismiss the charge of civil rights violation as provided in
11    this paragraph (3) constitutes grounds for entry of an
12    order by the circuit court permanently enjoining the
13    investigation. The Department may also be liable for any
14    costs and other damages incurred by the respondent as a
15    result of the action of the Department.
16        (4) The Department shall stay any administrative
17    proceedings under this Section after the filing of a civil
18    action by or on behalf of the aggrieved party under any
19    federal or State law seeking relief with respect to the
20    alleged civil rights violation.
21    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action
22filed on or after January 1, 1996.
23    (I) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
24filed on or after January 1, 1996.
25    (J) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
26apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those

 

 

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