Public Act 098-1051
 
HB5563 EnrolledLRB098 17633 JLS 52746 b

    AN ACT concerning employment.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Equal Pay Act of 2003 is amended by changing
Section 15 as follows:
 
    (820 ILCS 112/15)
    Sec. 15. Enforcement.
    (a) The Director or his or her authorized representative
shall administer and enforce the provisions of this Act. The
Director of Labor shall adopt rules necessary to administer and
enforce this Act.
    (b) An employee or former employee may file a complaint
with the Department alleging a violation of this Act by
submitting a signed, completed complaint form. All complaints
shall be filed with the Department within one year from the
date of the underpayment.
    (c) The Department has the power to conduct investigations
in connection with the administration and enforcement of this
Act and the authorized officers and employees of the Department
are authorized to investigate and gather data regarding the
wages, hours, and other conditions and practices of employment
in any industry subject to this Act, and may enter and inspect
such places and such records at reasonable times during regular
business hours, question the employees and investigate the
facts, conditions, practices, or matters as he or she may deem
necessary or appropriate to determine whether any person has
violated any provision of this Act, or which may aid in the
enforcement of this Act.
    (d) The Department may refer a complaint alleging a
violation of this Act to the Department of Human Rights for
investigation if the subject matter of the complaint also
alleges a violation of the Illinois Human Rights Act and the
Department of Human Rights has jurisdiction over the matter.
When a complaint is referred to the Department of Human Rights
under this subsection, the Department of Human Rights shall
also file the complaint under the Illinois Human Rights Act and
be the agency responsible for investigating the complaint. The
Department shall review the Department of Human Rights'
investigation and findings to determine whether a violation of
this Act has occurred or whether further investigation by the
Department is necessary and take any necessary or appropriate
action required to enforce the provisions of this Act. The
Director of Labor and the Department of Human rights shall
adopt joint rules necessary to administer and enforce this
subsection.
(Source: P.A. 96-467, eff. 8-14-09.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2015.