97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB2098

 

Introduced 2/22/2011, by Rep. Lou Lang

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act to create the Office of Administrative Hearings. Provides that the Office shall conduct administrative hearings for agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor, except for the Illinois Public Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, the Civil Service Commission, the Pollution Control Board, the Illinois State Police Merit Board, the Property Tax Appeal Board, the Human Rights Commission, and the State Board of Elections. Provides for the appointment of a Chief Administrative Law Judge by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets the powers and duties of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. Sets qualifications for administrative law judges employed by the Office. Sets out procedures for the conduct of administrative hearings by the Office. Provides for the transfer of personnel and property to the Office from State agencies. Amends the Personnel Code to exempt employees of the Office from the provisions of the Code. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2098LRB097 08432 JDS 48559 b

1    AN ACT concerning administrative hearings.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act is
5amended by changing Sections 1-5, 1-15, 1-30, 10-5, 10-15,
610-20, 10-25, 10-45, 10-50, 10-60, and 10-65 and adding
7Sections 1-13 and 10-3, Article 12 heading, and Sections 12-5,
812-10, 12-15, 12-20, 12-25, 12-30, 12-35, and 12-40 as follows:
 
9    (5 ILCS 100/1-5)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1001-5)
10    Sec. 1-5. Applicability.
11    (a) This Act applies to every agency as defined in this
12Act. Beginning January 1, 1978, in case of conflict between the
13provisions of this Act and the Act creating or conferring power
14on an agency, this Act shall control. If, however, an agency
15(or its predecessor in the case of an agency that has been
16consolidated or reorganized) has existing procedures on July 1,
171977, specifically for contested cases or licensing, those
18existing provisions control, except that this exception
19respecting contested cases and licensing does not apply if the
20Act creating or conferring power on the agency adopts by
21express reference the provisions of this Act. Where the Act
22creating or conferring power on an agency establishes
23administrative procedures not covered by this Act, those

 

 

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1procedures shall remain in effect.
2    (b) The provisions of this Act do not apply to (i)
3preliminary hearings, investigations, or practices where no
4final determinations affecting State funding are made by the
5State Board of Education, (ii) legal opinions issued under
6Section 2-3.7 of the School Code, (iii) as to State colleges
7and universities, their disciplinary and grievance
8proceedings, academic irregularity and capricious grading
9proceedings, and admission standards and procedures, and (iv)
10the class specifications for positions and individual position
11descriptions prepared and maintained under the Personnel Code.
12Those class specifications shall, however, be made reasonably
13available to the public for inspection and copying. The
14provisions of this Act do not apply to hearings under Section
1520 of the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.
16    (c) Section 5-35 of this Act relating to procedures for
17rulemaking does not apply to the following:
18        (1) Rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board that,
19    in accordance with Section 7.2 of the Environmental
20    Protection Act, are identical in substance to federal
21    regulations or amendments to those regulations
22    implementing the following: Sections 3001, 3002, 3003,
23    3004, 3005, and 9003 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act;
24    Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
25    Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980; Sections 307(b),
26    307(c), 307(d), 402(b)(8), and 402(b)(9) of the Federal

 

 

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1    Water Pollution Control Act; and Sections 1412(b),
2    1414(c), 1417(a), 1421, and 1445(a) of the Safe Drinking
3    Water Act.
4        (2) Rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board that
5    establish or amend standards for the emission of
6    hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide from gasoline powered
7    motor vehicles subject to inspection under the Vehicle
8    Emissions Inspection Law of 2005 or its predecessor laws .
9        (3) Procedural rules adopted by the Pollution Control
10    Board governing requests for exceptions under Section 14.2
11    of the Environmental Protection Act.
12        (4) The Pollution Control Board's grant, pursuant to an
13    adjudicatory determination, of an adjusted standard for
14    persons who can justify an adjustment consistent with
15    subsection (a) of Section 27 of the Environmental
16    Protection Act.
17        (5) Rules adopted by the Pollution Control Board that
18    are identical in substance to the regulations adopted by
19    the Office of the State Fire Marshal under clause (ii) of
20    paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of Section 2 of the
21    Gasoline Storage Act.
22    (d) Pay rates established under Section 8a of the Personnel
23Code shall be amended or repealed pursuant to the process set
24forth in Section 5-50 within 30 days after it becomes necessary
25to do so due to a conflict between the rates and the terms of a
26collective bargaining agreement covering the compensation of

 

 

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1an employee subject to that Code.
2    (e) Section 10-45 of this Act shall not apply to any
3hearing, proceeding, or investigation conducted under Section
413-515 of the Public Utilities Act.
5    (f) Article 10 of this Act does not apply to any hearing,
6proceeding, or investigation conducted by the State Council for
7the State of Illinois created under Section 3-3-11.05 of the
8Unified Code of Corrections or by the Interstate Commission for
9Adult Offender Supervision created under the Interstate
10Compact for Adult Offender Supervision or by the Interstate
11Commission for Juveniles created under the Interstate Compact
12for Juveniles.
13    (g) This Act is subject to the provisions of Article XXI of
14the Public Utilities Act. To the extent that any provision of
15this Act conflicts with the provisions of that Article XXI, the
16provisions of that Article XXI control.
17(Source: P.A. 95-9, eff. 6-30-07; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 95-937,
18eff. 8-26-08.)
 
19    (5 ILCS 100/1-13 new)
20    Sec. 1-13. "Administrative hearing" means any hearing
21required to comply with the provisions of this Act concerning a
22contested case.
 
23    (5 ILCS 100/1-15)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1001-15)
24    Sec. 1-15. "Administrative law judge" means the presiding

 

 

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1officer or officers at the initial administrative hearing
2before each agency and each continuation of that administrative
3hearing. The term also includes but is not limited to hearing
4examiners, hearing officers, referees, and arbitrators.
5(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
6    (5 ILCS 100/1-30)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1001-30)
7    Sec. 1-30. "Contested case" means an adjudicatory
8proceeding (not including ratemaking, rulemaking, or
9quasi-legislative, informational, or similar proceedings) in
10which the individual legal rights, duties, or privileges of a
11party are required by law to be determined by an agency only
12after an opportunity for an administrative a hearing.
13(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
14    (5 ILCS 100/10-3 new)
15    Sec. 10-3. Applicability. This Article applies to all
16agencies not covered by Article 12.
 
17    (5 ILCS 100/10-5)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-5)
18    Sec. 10-5. Rules required for hearings. All agencies shall
19adopt rules establishing procedures for administrative
20contested case hearings.
21(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
22    (5 ILCS 100/10-15)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-15)

 

 

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1    Sec. 10-15. Standard of proof. Unless otherwise provided
2by law or stated in the agency's rules, the standard of proof
3in any administrative contested case hearing conducted under
4this Act by an agency shall be the preponderance of the
5evidence.
6(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
7    (5 ILCS 100/10-20)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-20)
8    Sec. 10-20. Qualifications of administrative law judges.
9All Agencies shall adopt rules concerning the minimum
10qualifications of administrative law judges for administrative
11contested case hearings not subject to Article 12 of this Act.
12The agency head or an attorney licensed to practice law in
13Illinois may act as an administrative law judge or panel for an
14agency without adopting any rules under this Section. The These
15rules may be adopted using the procedures in either Section
165-15 or 5-35.
17(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
18    (5 ILCS 100/10-25)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-25)
19    Sec. 10-25. Notice of contested cases; administrative
20notice; hearing.
21    (a) In a contested case, all parties shall be afforded an
22opportunity for an administrative a hearing after reasonable
23notice. The notice shall be served personally or by certified
24or registered mail or as otherwise provided by law upon the

 

 

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1parties or their agents appointed to receive service of process
2and shall include the following:
3        (1) A statement of the time, place, and nature of the
4    administrative hearing.
5        (2) A statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction
6    under which the administrative hearing is to be held.
7        (3) A reference to the particular Sections of the
8    substantive and procedural statutes and rules involved.
9        (4) Except where a more detailed statement is otherwise
10    provided for by law, a short and plain statement of the
11    matters asserted, the consequences of a failure to respond,
12    and the official file or other reference number.
13        (5) The names and mailing addresses of the
14    administrative law judge, all parties, and all other
15    persons to whom the agency gives notice of the
16    administrative hearing unless otherwise confidential by
17    law.
18    (b) An opportunity shall be afforded all parties to be
19represented by legal counsel and to respond and present
20evidence and argument.
21    (c) Unless precluded by law, disposition may be made of any
22contested case by stipulation, agreed settlement, consent
23order, or default.
24(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
25    (5 ILCS 100/10-45)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-45)

 

 

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1    Sec. 10-45. Proposal for decision. Except where otherwise
2expressly provided by law, when in a contested case a majority
3of the officials of the agency who are to render the final
4decision has not heard the case or read the record, the
5decision, if adverse to a party to the proceeding other than
6the agency, shall not be made until a proposal for decision is
7served upon the parties and an opportunity is afforded to each
8party adversely affected to file exceptions and to present a
9brief and, if the agency so permits, oral argument to the
10agency officials who are to render the decision. The proposal
11for decision shall contain a statement of the reasons therefor
12and of each issue of fact or law necessary to the proposed
13decision and shall be prepared by the persons who conducted the
14administrative hearing or one who has read the record.
15(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
16    (5 ILCS 100/10-50)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-50)
17    Sec. 10-50. Decisions and orders.
18    (a) A final decision or order adverse to a party (other
19than the agency) in a contested case shall be in writing or
20stated on in the record. A final decision shall include
21findings of fact and conclusions of law, separately stated.
22Findings of fact, if set forth in statutory language, shall be
23accompanied by a concise and explicit statement of the
24underlying facts supporting the findings. If, in accordance
25with agency rules, a party submitted proposed findings of fact,

 

 

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1the decision shall include a ruling upon each proposed finding.
2Parties or their agents appointed to receive service of process
3shall be notified either personally or by registered or
4certified mail of any decision or order. Upon request a copy of
5the decision or order shall be delivered or mailed forthwith to
6each party and to each his attorney of record.
7    (b) All agency orders shall specify whether they are final
8and subject to the Administrative Review Law.
9    (c) A decision by any agency in a contested case under this
10Act shall be void unless the proceedings are conducted in
11compliance with the provisions of this Act relating to
12contested cases, except to the extent those provisions are
13waived under Section 10-70 and except to the extent the agency
14has adopted its own rules for contested cases as authorized in
15Section 1-5.
16(Source: P.A. 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)
 
17    (5 ILCS 100/10-60)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-60)
18    Sec. 10-60. Ex parte communications.
19    (a) Except in the disposition of matters that agencies are
20authorized by law to entertain or dispose of on an ex parte
21basis, agency heads, agency employees, and administrative law
22judges shall not, after notice of hearing in a contested case
23or licensing to which the procedures of a contested case apply
24under this Act, communicate, directly or indirectly, in
25connection with any issue of fact, with any person or party, or

 

 

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1in connection with any other issue with any party or the
2representative of any party, without except upon notice and
3opportunity for all parties to participate.
4    (b) However, an agency member may communicate with other
5members of the agency, and an agency member or administrative
6law judge may have the aid and advice of one or more personal
7assistants.
8    (c) An ex parte communication received by any agency head,
9agency employee, or administrative law judge shall be made a
10part of the record of the pending matter, including all written
11communications, all written responses to the communications,
12and a memorandum stating the substance of all oral
13communications and all responses made and the identity of each
14person from whom the ex parte communication was received.
15    (d) Communications regarding matters of procedure and
16practice, such as the format of pleadings, number of copies
17required, manner of service, scheduling, and status of
18proceedings, are not considered ex parte communications under
19this Section.
20(Source: P.A. 87-823.)
 
21    (5 ILCS 100/10-65)  (from Ch. 127, par. 1010-65)
22    Sec. 10-65. Licenses.
23    (a) When any licensing is required by law to be preceded by
24notice and an opportunity for an administrative a hearing, the
25provisions of this Act concerning contested cases shall apply.

 

 

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1    (b) When a licensee has made timely and sufficient
2application for the renewal of a license or a new license with
3reference to any activity of a continuing nature, the existing
4license shall continue in full force and effect until the final
5agency decision on the application has been made unless a later
6date is fixed by order of a reviewing court.
7    (c) Except as provided in Section 1-17 of the Department of
8Natural Resources Act, an application for the renewal of a
9license or a new license shall include the applicant's social
10security number. Each agency shall require the licensee to
11certify on the application form, under penalty of perjury, that
12he or she is not more than 30 days delinquent in complying with
13a child support order. Every application shall state that
14failure to so certify shall result in disciplinary action, and
15that making a false statement may subject the licensee to
16contempt of court. The agency shall notify each applicant or
17licensee who acknowledges a delinquency or who, contrary to his
18or her certification, is found to be delinquent or who after
19receiving notice, fails to comply with a subpoena or warrant
20relating to a paternity or a child support proceeding, that the
21agency intends to take disciplinary action. Accordingly, the
22agency shall provide written notice of the facts or conduct
23upon which the agency will rely to support its proposed action
24and the applicant or licensee shall be given an opportunity for
25an administrative a hearing in accordance with the provisions
26of the Act concerning contested cases. Any delinquency in

 

 

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1complying with a child support order can be remedied by
2arranging for payment of past due and current support. Any
3failure to comply with a subpoena or warrant relating to a
4paternity or child support proceeding can be remedied by
5complying with the subpoena or warrant. Upon a final finding of
6delinquency or failure to comply with a subpoena or warrant,
7the agency shall suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew
8the license. In cases in which the Department of Healthcare and
9Family Services (formerly Department of Public Aid) has
10previously determined that an applicant or a licensee is more
11than 30 days delinquent in the payment of child support and has
12subsequently certified the delinquency to the licensing
13agency, and in cases in which a court has previously determined
14that an applicant or licensee has been in violation of the
15Non-Support Punishment Act for more than 60 days, the licensing
16agency shall refuse to issue or renew or shall revoke or
17suspend that person's license based solely upon the
18certification of delinquency made by the Department of
19Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of Public
20Aid) or the certification of violation made by the court.
21Further process, hearings, or redetermination of the
22delinquency or violation by the licensing agency shall not be
23required. The licensing agency may issue or renew a license if
24the licensee has arranged for payment of past and current child
25support obligations in a manner satisfactory to the Department
26of Healthcare and Family Services (formerly Department of

 

 

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1Public Aid) or the court. The licensing agency may impose
2conditions, restrictions, or disciplinary action upon that
3license.
4    (d) Except as provided in subsection (c), no agency shall
5revoke, suspend, annul, withdraw, amend materially, or refuse
6to renew any valid license without first giving written notice
7to the licensee of the facts or conduct upon which the agency
8will rely to support its proposed action and an opportunity for
9an administrative a hearing in accordance with the provisions
10of this Act concerning contested cases. At the administrative
11hearing, the licensee shall have the right to show compliance
12with all lawful requirements for the retention, continuation,
13or renewal of the license. If, however, the agency finds that
14the public interest, safety, or welfare imperatively requires
15emergency action, and if the agency incorporates a finding to
16that effect in its order, summary suspension of a license may
17be ordered pending proceedings for revocation or other action.
18Those proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined.
19    (e) Any application for renewal of a license that contains
20required and relevant information, data, material, or
21circumstances that were not contained in an application for the
22existing license shall be subject to the provisions of
23subsection (a).
24(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
 
25    (5 ILCS 100/Art. 12 heading new)

 

 

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1
ARTICLE 12. OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

 
2    (5 ILCS 100/12-5 new)
3    Sec. 12-5. Applicability. This Article applies to all
4agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor other than the
5following:
6    (a) Illinois Labor Relations Boards created under the
7Illinois Public Labor Relations Act;
8    (b) Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board;
9    (c) Illinois Commerce Commission;
10    (d) Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission;
11    (e) Civil Service Commission;
12    (f) Pollution Control Board;
13    (g) Illinois State Police Merit Board;
14    (h) Property Tax Appeal Board;
15    (i) Human Rights Commission; and
16    (j) State Board of Elections.
 
17    (5 ILCS 100/12-10 new)
18    Sec. 12-10. Office of Administrative Hearings.
19    (a) The Office of Administrative Hearings, hereinafter
20referred to as the Office, is established for the purpose of
21improving public trust and confidence in administrative
22adjudication by:
23        (1) separating the adjudicatory function from the
24    investigatory, prosecutory, and policy-making functions of

 

 

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1    agencies in the executive branch;
2        (2) establishing a professional corp of administrative
3    law judges;
4        (3) establishing greater uniformity in the rules of
5    procedure and evidence in administrative adjudication; and
6        (4) eliminating unnecessary and duplicative costs in
7    administrative adjudication.
8    (b) The Office is an independent State agency in the
9executive branch and is responsible for conducting
10administrative hearings in accordance with the legislative
11intent expressed by this Act.
12    (c) The Office is under the administration, supervision,
13and direction of a Chief Administrative Law Judge, appointed by
14the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
15The Chief Administrative Law Judge, as a condition of
16appointment, must have been admitted to practice law in the
17State of Illinois for at least 10 years, must have substantial
18knowledge and experience suitable to the duties of the Office,
19and may be removed only for good cause following notice and an
20opportunity for an adjudicative hearing.
21    (d) The Chief Administrative Law Judge must maintain his or
22her principal office in Springfield and may maintain any other
23offices that may be necessary.
24    (e) The Office may purchase or lease any equipment and
25supplies that may be necessary to carry out its duties and must
26maintain records and files of the work of the Office.

 

 

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1    (f) The Office of Administrative Hearings by and through
2the Chief Administrative Law Judge and any Administrative Law
3Judge under this Article is empowered to subpoena and bring
4before it, him, or her any person in this State and to take
5testimony, in person or by telephone, upon payment of the same
6fees, and in the same manner as is prescribed by law for
7judicial proceedings in civil cases in the courts of this
8State. The term "Administrative Law Judge" as used in this
9Article means an administrative law judge as defined in Section
101-15 who is an employee of the Office.
11    (g) The Office may enter into an interagency agreement with
12any agency to furnish administrative law judges to conduct
13administrative hearings not otherwise required to be conducted
14by the Office. The Office may also enter into an agreement with
15a unit of local government or school district to furnish
16administrative law judges to conduct administrative hearings.
17    (h) Any finding, determination, ruling or order issued as
18result of any hearing conducted for any public entity subject
19to or contracted for under this Article shall have the same
20status and be subject to the same conditions and limitations as
21if conducted by that public entity. That entity shall remain
22the proper party named and served in any action in
23administrative review under the provisions of the
24Administrative Review Law or other review or appeal provision
25provided by law.
26    (i) The Office must develop and institute a program of

 

 

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1continuing education and training for administrative law
2judges and may permit administrative law judges and hearing
3examiners employed by other agencies to participate in its
4program. The Office shall also develop and implement a code of
5professional conduct for its administrative law judges,
6incorporating the provisions of the Rules of Judicial Conduct
7whenever possible. The Office may develop and institute other
8educational programs in the area of administrative law and
9procedure for the benefit of State employees and those who
10participate in administrative hearings.
 
11    (5 ILCS 100/12-15 new)
12    Sec. 12-15. Term of office and salary.
13    (a) The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall serve for a
14term of 6 years, provided that he or she shall hold office
15until a successor is appointed.
16    (b) The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall receive an
17annual salary as set by the Governor of Illinois from time to
18time or the amount established by the Compensation Review
19Board, whichever is greater.
 
20    (5 ILCS 100/12-20 new)
21    Sec. 12-20. Oath. Each prospective Chief Administrative
22Law Judge, before taking office, must take and subscribe to the
23oath or affirmation prescribed by Section 3 of Article XIII of
24the Illinois Constitution, an executed copy of which must be

 

 

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1filed with the Secretary of State.
 
2    (5 ILCS 100/12-25 new)
3    Sec. 12-25. Powers and Duties of the Chief Administrative
4Law Judge. The Chief Administrative Law Judge has the following
5powers and duties:
6    (a) The Chief Administrative Law Judge may employ
7Administrative Law Judges that are necessary to carry out the
8purposes of this Article.
9    (b) Administrative Law Judges and their immediate
10supervisors shall be subject to Jurisdiction A, B, and C of the
11Personnel Code, except that provisions contained in Sections
128b.18 and 8b.19 of the Personnel Code (20 ILCS 415/8b.18 and
13415/8b.19) shall not apply.
14    (c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 12-40 of this
15Article, an Administrative Law Judge must have been admitted to
16practice as an attorney in this State for at least 5 years and
17must have a demonstrated knowledge of and experience in
18administrative law and procedure that is suitable to the duties
19of the Office. Supervisors of Administrative Law Judges must be
20experienced administrative law judges.
21    (d) The Chief Administrative Law Judge may contract for the
22services of an attorney to serve as a special administrative
23law judge when necessary.
24    (e) The Chief Administrative Law Judge must adopt a code of
25conduct and rules concerning the discipline and termination of

 

 

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1Office Administrative Law Judges and the resolution of
2grievances, subject to any collective bargaining agreement.
3    (f) The Chief Administrative Law Judge may employ and
4direct other staff, including administrative, supervisory,
5clerical, and other specialized or technical personnel that may
6be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Article.
7    (g) The Chief Administrative Law Judge must assign an
8administrative law judge for any proceeding that is required by
9this Article to be conducted by the Office and for any
10proceeding for which the Office has agreed to furnish an
11administrative law judge as provided in Section 12-10 of this
12Act.
13    (h) Any administrative law judge so assigned does not
14become an employee of the agency during the assignment and is
15not subject to the direction or the supervision of the agency
16to whose proceeding the administrative law judge has been
17assigned.
18    (i) In assigning administrative law judges, the Chief
19Administrative Law Judge must, when possible, use personnel
20having knowledge, training, or experience in the field or
21subject matter of the hearing and assign administrative law
22judges primarily to the hearings of particular agencies on a
23long-term basis. The Chief Administrative Law Judge may act as
24an administrative law judge in a particular case when
25appropriate under law.
26    (j) The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall adopt uniform

 

 

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1rules of procedure and evidence governing hearings conducted by
2the Office of Administrative Hearings. Rules adopted by the
3Chief Administrative Law Judge shall supersede any contrary
4rules adopted by agencies subject to this Article except to the
5extent required by federal law or State statute. The Chief
6Administrative Law Judge may adopt such additional rules as
7necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the Office of
8Administrative Hearings.
9    (k) The Chief Administrative Law Judge must:
10        (1) annually collect information on administrative law
11    and procedure in Illinois and must study administrative law
12    and procedure for the purpose of improving the fairness,
13    efficiency, and uniformity of administrative adjudicatory
14    proceedings in Illinois;
15        (2) monitor the quality and cost of State
16    administrative hearings; and
17        (3) annually report his or her findings and
18    recommendations to the Governor and to the General Assembly
19    no later than March 15 of each year.
 
20    (5 ILCS 100/12-30 new)
21    Sec. 12-30. Proceedings. Beginning on January 1, 2011, an
22administrative law judge of the Office shall preside over any
23administrative hearing of any agency subject to this Article,
24except that an administrative hearing in a contested case
25commenced before January 1, 2011, and pending before an

 

 

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1administrative law judge not transferred to the Office of
2Administrative Hearings by operation of Section 12-40 of this
3Article shall not be heard by an administrative law judge of
4the Office without the agreement of the parties.
 
5    (5 ILCS 100/12-35 new)
6    Sec. 12-35. Administrative Hearing Procedures.
7    (a) Time and place of hearing. The Office must consult the
8agency and determine the place and the time of commencement of
9the administrative hearing.
10    (b) Powers of administrative law judge. The administrative
11law judge presides at the administrative hearing and may:
12        (1) administer oaths and affirmations;
13        (2) rule on offers of proof and receive relevant
14    evidence;
15        (3) regulate the schedule and the course of the
16    hearing;
17        (4) dispose of procedural requests or similar matters;
18        (5) sign and issue subpoenas in the name of the agency
19    requiring attendance and giving of testimony by witnesses
20    and the production of books, papers, and other documentary
21    evidence;
22        (6) exercise any other powers relating to the conduct
23    of the administrative hearing that are lawfully delegated
24    to him or her by the agency or by the examining, advisory,
25    or disciplinary board. Whenever, after an agency head or an

 

 

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1    examining, advisory, or disciplinary board has commenced
2    hearing a case with an administrative law judge presiding,
3    a quorum no longer exists, the administrate law judge who
4    is presiding must complete the hearing as if sitting alone
5    and must render a proposed decision in accordance with
6    subsection (e) of this Section; and
7        (7) perform other necessary and appropriate acts in the
8    performance of his or her duties.
9    (c) Disqualifications.
10        (1) Administrative Law Judges shall be assigned to
11    hearings in accordance with the procedures set forth by the
12    Chief Administrative Law Judge. No agency may select any
13    individual administrative law judge for any proceeding or
14    reject any individual administrative law judge. In cases
15    where the agency is a party to the hearing, it shall have
16    all rights and privileges and be subject to the same
17    limitations as all other parties to the hearing.
18        (2) An administrative law judge of the Office must
19    voluntarily disqualify himself or herself and withdraw
20    from any case for bias, prejudice, interest, or any other
21    cause for which, under the laws of this State, a State
22    court judge is disqualified from hearing a particular case.
23    An administrative law judge should perform the duties of
24    the Office impartially and diligently.
25        (3) Any party may petition for the disqualification of
26    any administrative law judge by filing an affidavit stating

 

 

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1    with particularity the grounds upon which it is claimed
2    that a fair and impartial hearing cannot be accorded. The
3    affidavit must be filed before the taking of evidence or,
4    if evidence has already been taken, promptly upon
5    discovering facts establishing grounds for
6    disqualification.
7        (4) The administrative law judge whose
8    disqualification is requested shall determine whether to
9    grant the petition, stating facts and reasons for the
10    determination.
11        (5) If an administrative law judge becomes unavailable
12    as a result of recusal or any other reasons, the Chief
13    Administrative Law Judge must assign another
14    administrative law judge to preside at the administrative
15    hearing.
16    (d) Ex parte communications. Except in disposition of
17matters that are authorized by law to be disposed of on an ex
18parte basis, no administrative law judge of the Office may,
19after notice of an administrative hearing in a contested case,
20communicate, directly or indirectly, in connection with any
21issue of fact, with any person or party, or in connection with
22any other issue with any party or his or her representative,
23without notice and opportunity for all parties to participate.
24An administrative law judge, however, may communicate with
25other employees of the Office. No member of the Office may
26communicate regarding pending matters to any member of an

 

 

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1agency or of an examining, advisory, or disciplinary board if
2the agency or board is hearing the case with the administrative
3law judge. An administrative law judge may have the aid and
4advice of one or more assistants.
5    (e) Proposed decisions. When a majority of the members of
6an agency or of an examining, advisory, or disciplinary board
7has not heard a case with the administrative law judge, any
8proposed decision prepared by an administrative law judge of
9the Office is subject to this subsection (e) and Section 10-45
10of this Act.
11        (1) When an administrative law judge hears a case
12    alone, he or she must prepare a decision. The
13    administrative law judge must submit the decision to the
14    agency or, in the case of proceedings that an examining,
15    advisory, or disciplinary board is authorized by an Act to
16    hear and make a recommended decision, to the examining,
17    advisory, or disciplinary board.
18        (2) When an administrative law judge hears a case with
19    an agency head or with an examining, advisory, or
20    disciplinary board, the administrative law judge must be
21    present during the consideration of the case and must, if
22    requested by the agency or by the board, prepare a proposed
23    decision and submit it to the agency or board.
24        (3) In reviewing a proposed decision submitted by an
25    administrative law judge of the Office, an agency head or
26    an examining, advisory, or disciplinary board is not bound

 

 

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1    by the proposed decision and may adopt all, some, or none
2    of the proposed decision as its recommended decision. If
3    the agency head or examining, advisory, or disciplinary
4    board does not adopt the proposed decision in its entirety,
5    it must either (i) recommend a decision in the case based
6    upon the record, including transcript, or (ii) remand the
7    case to the same administrative law judge to take
8    additional evidence.
9        (4) If a case has been remanded to an administrative
10    law judge to take additional evidence or to include more
11    detailed findings of fact or conclusions of law, the
12    administrative law judge must prepare a proposed decision
13    upon the additional evidence and upon the transcript and
14    other papers that are part of the record of the prior
15    hearing and must submit the proposed decision to the agency
16    or to the examining, advisory, or disciplinary board. If
17    the administrative law judge who heard the case originally
18    is unavailable to take the additional evidence, by reason
19    of illness or other disability or because he or she is no
20    longer employed by the Office, the Chief Administrative Law
21    Judge must assign a different administrative law judge to
22    take the additional evidence.
 
23    (5 ILCS 100/12-40 new)
24    Sec. 12-40. Transition.
25    (a) The Governor must appoint a Chief Administrative Law

 

 

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1Judge to take office on July 1, 2010.
2    (b) No later than July 1, 2009, each agency must provide to
3the Chief Administrative Law Judge all relevant information
4concerning hearings, number of hearings, personnel used as
5hearing officers and support staff, and actual expenditures for
6contracted hearing officer services, equipment, and travel.
7    (c) All full-time administrative law judges used
8principally to preside over administrative hearings conducted
9by an agency subject to the provisions of this Act for at least
10one year before July 1, 2009 must be administratively
11transferred to the Office no later than January 1, 2010.
12    (d) All full-time employees who have principally served as
13support staff of those employees transferred under subsection
14(c) of this Section must be administratively transferred to the
15Office no later than January 1, 2010.
16    (e) All equipment or other tangible property, in possession
17of agencies, used or held principally by personnel transferred
18under this Section must be transferred to the Office not later
19than January 1, 2010, unless the head of the agency and the
20Chief Administrative Law Judge determine that the equipment or
21property will be more efficiently used by the agency if not
22transferred.
 
23    Section 10. The Personnel Code is amended by changing
24Section 4c as follows:
 

 

 

HB2098- 27 -LRB097 08432 JDS 48559 b

1    (20 ILCS 415/4c)  (from Ch. 127, par. 63b104c)
2    Sec. 4c. General exemptions. The following positions in
3State service shall be exempt from jurisdictions A, B, and C,
4unless the jurisdictions shall be extended as provided in this
5Act:
6        (1) All officers elected by the people.
7        (2) All positions under the Lieutenant Governor,
8    Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller,
9    State Board of Education, Clerk of the Supreme Court,
10    Attorney General, and State Board of Elections.
11        (3) Judges, and officers and employees of the courts,
12    and notaries public.
13        (4) All officers and employees of the Illinois General
14    Assembly, all employees of legislative commissions, all
15    officers and employees of the Illinois Legislative
16    Reference Bureau, the Legislative Research Unit, and the
17    Legislative Printing Unit.
18        (5) All positions in the Illinois National Guard and
19    Illinois State Guard, paid from federal funds or positions
20    in the State Military Service filled by enlistment and paid
21    from State funds.
22        (6) All employees of the Governor at the executive
23    mansion and on his immediate personal staff.
24        (7) Directors of Departments, the Adjutant General,
25    the Assistant Adjutant General, the Director of the
26    Illinois Emergency Management Agency, members of boards

 

 

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1    and commissions, and all other positions appointed by the
2    Governor by and with the consent of the Senate.
3        (8) The presidents, other principal administrative
4    officers, and teaching, research and extension faculties
5    of Chicago State University, Eastern Illinois University,
6    Governors State University, Illinois State University,
7    Northeastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois
8    University, Western Illinois University, the Illinois
9    Community College Board, Southern Illinois University,
10    Illinois Board of Higher Education, University of
11    Illinois, State Universities Civil Service System,
12    University Retirement System of Illinois, and the
13    administrative officers and scientific and technical staff
14    of the Illinois State Museum.
15        (9) All other employees except the presidents, other
16    principal administrative officers, and teaching, research
17    and extension faculties of the universities under the
18    jurisdiction of the Board of Regents and the colleges and
19    universities under the jurisdiction of the Board of
20    Governors of State Colleges and Universities, Illinois
21    Community College Board, Southern Illinois University,
22    Illinois Board of Higher Education, Board of Governors of
23    State Colleges and Universities, the Board of Regents,
24    University of Illinois, State Universities Civil Service
25    System, University Retirement System of Illinois, so long
26    as these are subject to the provisions of the State

 

 

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1    Universities Civil Service Act.
2        (10) The State Police so long as they are subject to
3    the merit provisions of the State Police Act.
4        (11) (Blank).
5        (12) The technical and engineering staffs of the
6    Department of Transportation, the Department of Nuclear
7    Safety, the Pollution Control Board, and the Illinois
8    Commerce Commission, and the technical and engineering
9    staff providing architectural and engineering services in
10    the Department of Central Management Services.
11        (13) All employees of the Illinois State Toll Highway
12    Authority.
13        (14) The Secretary of the Illinois Workers'
14    Compensation Commission.
15        (15) All persons who are appointed or employed by the
16    Director of Insurance under authority of Section 202 of the
17    Illinois Insurance Code to assist the Director of Insurance
18    in discharging his responsibilities relating to the
19    rehabilitation, liquidation, conservation, and dissolution
20    of companies that are subject to the jurisdiction of the
21    Illinois Insurance Code.
22        (16) All employees of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area
23    Airport Authority.
24        (17) All investment officers employed by the Illinois
25    State Board of Investment.
26        (18) Employees of the Illinois Young Adult

 

 

HB2098- 30 -LRB097 08432 JDS 48559 b

1    Conservation Corps program, administered by the Illinois
2    Department of Natural Resources, authorized grantee under
3    Title VIII of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act
4    of 1973, 29 USC 993.
5        (19) Seasonal employees of the Department of
6    Agriculture for the operation of the Illinois State Fair
7    and the DuQuoin State Fair, no one person receiving more
8    than 29 days of such employment in any calendar year.
9        (20) All "temporary" employees hired under the
10    Department of Natural Resources' Illinois Conservation
11    Service, a youth employment program that hires young people
12    to work in State parks for a period of one year or less.
13        (21) All hearing officers of the Human Rights
14    Commission.
15        (22) All employees of the Illinois Mathematics and
16    Science Academy.
17        (23) All employees of the Kankakee River Valley Area
18    Airport Authority.
19        (24) The commissioners and employees of the Executive
20    Ethics Commission.
21        (25) The Executive Inspectors General, including
22    special Executive Inspectors General, and employees of
23    each Office of an Executive Inspector General.
24        (26) The commissioners and employees of the
25    Legislative Ethics Commission.
26        (27) The Legislative Inspector General, including

 

 

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1    special Legislative Inspectors General, and employees of
2    the Office of the Legislative Inspector General.
3        (28) The Auditor General's Inspector General and
4    employees of the Office of the Auditor General's Inspector
5    General.
6        (29) All employees of the Office of Administrative
7    Hearings.
8(Source: P.A. 95-728, eff. 7-1-08 - See Sec. 999.)
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.

 

 

HB2098- 32 -LRB097 08432 JDS 48559 b

1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    5 ILCS 100/1-5from Ch. 127, par. 1001-5
4    5 ILCS 100/1-13 new
5    5 ILCS 100/1-15from Ch. 127, par. 1001-15
6    5 ILCS 100/1-30from Ch. 127, par. 1001-30
7    5 ILCS 100/10-3 new
8    5 ILCS 100/10-5from Ch. 127, par. 1010-5
9    5 ILCS 100/10-15from Ch. 127, par. 1010-15
10    5 ILCS 100/10-20from Ch. 127, par. 1010-20
11    5 ILCS 100/10-25from Ch. 127, par. 1010-25
12    5 ILCS 100/10-45from Ch. 127, par. 1010-45
13    5 ILCS 100/10-50from Ch. 127, par. 1010-50
14    5 ILCS 100/10-60from Ch. 127, par. 1010-60
15    5 ILCS 100/10-65from Ch. 127, par. 1010-65
16    5 ILCS 100/Art. 12 heading
17    new
18    5 ILCS 100/12-5 new
19    5 ILCS 100/12-10 new
20    5 ILCS 100/12-15 new
21    5 ILCS 100/12-20 new
22    5 ILCS 100/12-25 new
23    5 ILCS 100/12-30 new
24    5 ILCS 100/12-35 new
25    5 ILCS 100/12-40 new

 

 

HB2098- 33 -LRB097 08432 JDS 48559 b

1    20 ILCS 415/4cfrom Ch. 127, par. 63b104c