SB0061 EngrossedLRB100 05682 HEP 15700 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
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 Sections 7-109.1, 7A-102, and 8-103 as follows:
 
6    (775 ILCS 5/7-109.1)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7-109.1)
7    Sec. 7-109.1. Administrative closure of charges Federal or
8State Court Proceedings.
9    (a) For charges filed under Article 7A, if the charging
10party has initiated litigation for the purpose of seeking final
11relief in a State or federal court or before an administrative
12law judge or hearing officer in an administrative proceeding
13before a local government administrative agency, and if a final
14decision on the merits in that litigation or administrative
15hearing would preclude the charging party from bringing another
16action based on the pending charge, the Department shall cease
17its investigation and dismiss the pending charge by order of
18the Director, who shall provide the charging party notice of
19his or her right to commence a civil action in the appropriate
20circuit court or other appropriate court of competent
21jurisdiction. The Director shall also provide the charging
22party notice of his or her right to seek review of the
23dismissal order before the Commission. Any review by the

 

 

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1Commission of the dismissal shall be limited to the question of
2whether the charge was properly dismissed pursuant to this
3Section. Nothing in this Section shall preclude the Department
4from continuing to investigate an allegation in a charge that
5is unique to this Act or otherwise could not have been included
6in the litigation or administrative proceeding.
7    (b) For charges filed under Article 7B, the The Department
8may administratively close a charge pending before the
9Department if the issues that which are the basis of the charge
10are being litigated in a State or federal court proceeding.
11(Source: P.A. 86-1343.)
 
12    (775 ILCS 5/7A-102)  (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102)
13    Sec. 7A-102. Procedures.
14    (A) Charge.
15        (1) Within 180 days after the date that a civil rights
16    violation allegedly has been committed, a charge in writing
17    under oath or affirmation may be filed with the Department
18    by an aggrieved party or issued by the Department itself
19    under the signature of the Director.
20        (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to
21    substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to
22    the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil
23    rights violation.
24        (3) Charges deemed filed with the Department pursuant
25    to subsection (A-1) of this Section shall be deemed to be

 

 

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1    in compliance with this subsection.
2    (A-1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges.
3        (1) If a charge is filed with the Equal Employment
4    Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 days after the
5    date of the alleged civil rights violation, the charge
6    shall be deemed filed with the Department on the date filed
7    with the EEOC. If the EEOC is the governmental agency
8    designated to investigate the charge first, the Department
9    shall take no action until the EEOC makes a determination
10    on the charge and after the complainant notifies the
11    Department of the EEOC's determination. In such cases,
12    after receiving notice from the EEOC that a charge was
13    filed, the Department shall notify the parties that (i) a
14    charge has been received by the EEOC and has been sent to
15    the Department for dual filing purposes; (ii) the EEOC is
16    the governmental agency responsible for investigating the
17    charge and that the investigation shall be conducted
18    pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted by the EEOC;
19    (iii) it will take no action on the charge until the EEOC
20    issues its determination; (iv) the complainant must submit
21    a copy of the EEOC's determination within 30 days after
22    service of the determination by the EEOC on complainant;
23    and (v) that the time period to investigate the charge
24    contained in subsection (G) of this Section is tolled from
25    the date on which the charge is filed with the EEOC until
26    the EEOC issues its determination.

 

 

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1        (2) If the EEOC finds reasonable cause to believe that
2    there has been a violation of federal law and if the
3    Department is timely notified of the EEOC's findings by
4    complainant, the Department shall notify complainant that
5    the Department has adopted the EEOC's determination of
6    reasonable cause and that complainant has the right, within
7    90 days after receipt of the Department's notice, to either
8    file his or her own complaint with the Illinois Human
9    Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
10    appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of
11    competent jurisdiction. The Department's notice to
12    complainant that the Department has adopted the EEOC's
13    determination of reasonable cause shall constitute the
14    Department's Report for purposes of subparagraph (D) of
15    this Section.
16        (3) For those charges alleging violations within the
17    jurisdiction of both the EEOC and the Department and for
18    which the EEOC either (i) does not issue a determination,
19    but does issue the complainant a notice of a right to sue,
20    including when the right to sue is issued at the request of
21    the complainant, or (ii) determines that it is unable to
22    establish that illegal discrimination has occurred and
23    issues the complainant a right to sue notice, and if the
24    Department is timely notified of the EEOC's determination
25    by complainant, the Department shall notify the parties
26    that the Department will adopt the EEOC's determination as

 

 

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1    a dismissal for lack of substantial evidence unless the
2    complainant requests in writing within 35 days after
3    receipt of the Department's notice that the Department
4    review the EEOC's determination.
5            (a) If the complainant does not file a written
6        request with the Department to review the EEOC's
7        determination within 35 days after receipt of the
8        Department's notice, the Department shall notify
9        complainant that the decision of the EEOC has been
10        adopted by the Department as a dismissal for lack of
11        substantial evidence and that the complainant has the
12        right, within 90 days after receipt of the Department's
13        notice, to commence a civil action in the appropriate
14        circuit court or other appropriate court of competent
15        jurisdiction. The Department's notice to complainant
16        that the Department has adopted the EEOC's
17        determination shall constitute the Department's report
18        for purposes of subparagraph (D) of this Section.
19            (b) If the complainant does file a written request
20        with the Department to review the EEOC's
21        determination, the Department shall review the EEOC's
22        determination and any evidence obtained by the EEOC
23        during its investigation. If, after reviewing the
24        EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by the
25        EEOC, the Department determines there is no need for
26        further investigation of the charge, the Department

 

 

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1        shall issue a report and the Director shall determine
2        whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
3        civil rights violation has been committed pursuant to
4        subsection (D) of Section 7A-102. If, after reviewing
5        the EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by
6        the EEOC, the Department determines there is a need for
7        further investigation of the charge, the Department
8        may conduct any further investigation it deems
9        necessary. After reviewing the EEOC's determination,
10        the evidence obtained by the EEOC, and any additional
11        investigation conducted by the Department, the
12        Department shall issue a report and the Director shall
13        determine whether there is substantial evidence that
14        the alleged civil rights violation has been committed
15        pursuant to subsection (D) of Section 7A-102 of this
16        Act.
17        (4) Pursuant to this Section, if the EEOC dismisses the
18    charge or a portion of the charge of discrimination
19    because, under federal law, the EEOC lacks jurisdiction
20    over the charge, and if, under this Act, the Department has
21    jurisdiction over the charge of discrimination, the
22    Department shall investigate the charge or portion of the
23    charge dismissed by the EEOC for lack of jurisdiction
24    pursuant to subsections (A), (A-1), (B), (B-1), (C), (D),
25    (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) of Section 7A-102 of
26    this Act.

 

 

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1        (5) The time limit set out in subsection (G) of this
2    Section is tolled from the date on which the charge is
3    filed with the EEOC to the date on which the EEOC issues
4    its determination.
5    (B) Notice and Response to Charge. The Department shall,
6within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, serve
7a copy of the charge on the respondent. This period shall not
8be construed to be jurisdictional. The charging party and the
9respondent may each file a position statement and other
10materials with the Department regarding the charge of alleged
11discrimination within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the
12charge. The position statements and other materials filed shall
13remain confidential unless otherwise agreed to by the party
14providing the information and shall not be served on or made
15available to the other party during pendency of a charge with
16the Department. The Department shall require the respondent to
17file a verified response to the allegations contained in the
18charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of the charge.
19The respondent shall serve a copy of its response on the
20complainant or his representative. All allegations contained
21in the charge not timely denied by the respondent shall be
22deemed admitted, unless the respondent states that it is
23without sufficient information to form a belief with respect to
24such allegation. The Department may issue a notice of default
25directed to any respondent who fails to file a verified
26response to a charge within 60 days of receipt of the notice of

 

 

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1the charge, unless the respondent can demonstrate good cause as
2to why such notice should not issue. The term "good cause"
3shall be defined by rule promulgated by the Department. Within
430 days of receipt of the respondent's response, the
5complainant may file a reply to said response and shall serve a
6copy of said reply on the respondent or his representative. A
7party shall have the right to supplement his response or reply
8at any time that the investigation of the charge is pending.
9The Department shall, within 10 days of the date on which the
10charge was filed, and again no later than 335 days thereafter,
11send by certified or registered mail written notice to the
12complainant and to the respondent informing the complainant of
13the complainant's right to either file a complaint with the
14Human Rights Commission or commence a civil action in the
15appropriate circuit court under subparagraph (2) of paragraph
16(G), including in such notice the dates within which the
17complainant may exercise this right. In the notice the
18Department shall notify the complainant that the charge of
19civil rights violation will be dismissed with prejudice and
20with no right to further proceed if a written complaint is not
21timely filed with the Commission or with the appropriate
22circuit court by the complainant pursuant to subparagraph (2)
23of paragraph (G) or by the Department pursuant to subparagraph
24(1) of paragraph (G).
25    (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree
26to voluntarily submit the charge to mediation without waiving

 

 

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1any rights that are otherwise available to either party
2pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to
3accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring
4in mediation shall be disclosed by the Department or admissible
5in evidence in any subsequent proceeding unless the complainant
6and the respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be
7made.
8    (C) Investigation.
9        (1) After the respondent has been notified, the
10    Department shall conduct a full investigation of the
11    allegations set forth in the charge.
12        (2) The Director or his or her designated
13    representatives shall have authority to request any member
14    of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the
15    attendance of a witness or the production for examination
16    of any books, records or documents whatsoever.
17        (3) If any witness whose testimony is required for any
18    investigation resides outside the State, or through
19    illness or any other good cause as determined by the
20    Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator or
21    appear at a fact finding conference, his or her testimony
22    or deposition may be taken, within or without the State, in
23    the same manner as is provided for in the taking of
24    depositions in civil cases in circuit courts.
25        (4) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the
26    respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding

 

 

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1    conference, unless prior to 365 days after the date on
2    which the charge was filed the Director has determined
3    whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged
4    civil rights violation has been committed, the charge has
5    been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, or the parties
6    voluntarily and in writing agree to waive the fact finding
7    conference. Any party's failure to attend the conference
8    without good cause shall result in dismissal or default.
9    The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule promulgated
10    by the Department. A notice of dismissal or default shall
11    be issued by the Director. The notice of default issued by
12    the Director shall notify the respondent that a request for
13    review may be filed in writing with the Commission within
14    30 days of receipt of notice of default. The notice of
15    dismissal issued by the Director shall give the complainant
16    notice of his or her right to seek review of the dismissal
17    before the Human Rights Commission or commence a civil
18    action in the appropriate circuit court. If the complainant
19    chooses to have the Human Rights Commission review the
20    dismissal order, he or she shall file a request for review
21    with the Commission within 90 days after receipt of the
22    Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to file a
23    request for review with the Commission, he or she may not
24    later commence a civil action in a circuit court. If the
25    complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a circuit
26    court, he or she must do so within 90 days after receipt of

 

 

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1    the Director's notice.
2    (D) Report.
3        (1) Each charge shall be the subject of a report to the
4    Director. The report shall be a confidential document
5    subject to review by the Director, authorized Department
6    employees, the parties, and, where indicated by this Act,
7    members of the Commission or their designated hearing
8    officers.
9        (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall
10    determine whether there is substantial evidence that the
11    alleged civil rights violation has been committed. The
12    determination of substantial evidence is limited to
13    determining the need for further consideration of the
14    charge pursuant to this Act and includes, but is not
15    limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well as
16    the reasons for the determinations on all material issues.
17    Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind
18    accepts as sufficient to support a particular conclusion
19    and which consists of more than a mere scintilla but may be
20    somewhat less than a preponderance.
21        (3) If the Director determines that there is no
22    substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed by
23    order of the Director and the Director shall give the
24    complainant notice of his or her right to seek review of
25    the dismissal order before the Commission or commence a
26    civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the

 

 

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1    complainant chooses to have the Human Rights Commission
2    review the dismissal order, he or she shall file a request
3    for review with the Commission within 90 days after receipt
4    of the Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to
5    file a request for review with the Commission, he or she
6    may not later commence a civil action in a circuit court.
7    If the complainant chooses to commence a civil action in a
8    circuit court, he or she must do so within 90 days after
9    receipt of the Director's notice.
10        (4) If the Director determines that there is
11    substantial evidence, he or she shall notify the
12    complainant and respondent of that determination. The
13    Director shall also notify the parties that the complainant
14    has the right to either commence a civil action in the
15    appropriate circuit court or request that the Department of
16    Human Rights file a complaint with the Human Rights
17    Commission on his or her behalf. Any such complaint shall
18    be filed within 90 days after receipt of the Director's
19    notice. If the complainant chooses to have the Department
20    file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on his or
21    her behalf, the complainant must, within 30 days after
22    receipt of the Director's notice, request in writing that
23    the Department file the complaint. If the complainant
24    timely requests that the Department file the complaint, the
25    Department shall file the complaint on his or her behalf.
26    If the complainant fails to timely request that the

 

 

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1    Department file the complaint, the complainant may file his
2    or her complaint with the Commission or commence a civil
3    action in the appropriate circuit court. If the complainant
4    files a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, the
5    complainant shall give notice to the Department of the
6    filing of the complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
7    (E) Conciliation.
8         (1) When there is a finding of substantial evidence,
9    the Department may designate a Department employee who is
10    an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois to endeavor to
11    eliminate the effect of the alleged civil rights violation
12    and to prevent its repetition by means of conference and
13    conciliation.
14        (2) When the Department determines that a formal
15    conciliation conference is necessary, the complainant and
16    respondent shall be notified of the time and place of the
17    conference by registered or certified mail at least 10 days
18    prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear at
19    the conference in person or by attorney.
20        (3) The place fixed for the conference shall be within
21    35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is
22    alleged to have been committed.
23        (4) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be
24    disclosed by the Department unless the complainant and
25    respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be made.
26        (5) The Department's efforts to conciliate the matter

 

 

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1    shall not stay or extend the time for filing the complaint
2    with the Commission or the circuit court.
3    (F) Complaint.
4        (1) When the complainant requests that the Department
5    file a complaint with the Commission on his or her behalf,
6    the Department shall prepare a written complaint, under
7    oath or affirmation, stating the nature of the civil rights
8    violation substantially as alleged in the charge
9    previously filed and the relief sought on behalf of the
10    aggrieved party. The Department shall file the complaint
11    with the Commission.
12        (2) If the complainant chooses to commence a civil
13    action in a circuit court, he or she must do so in the
14    circuit court in the county wherein the civil rights
15    violation was allegedly committed. The form of the
16    complaint in any such civil action shall be in accordance
17    with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
18    (G) Time Limit.
19        (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been
20    properly filed, the Department, within 365 days thereof or
21    within any extension of that period agreed to in writing by
22    all parties, shall issue its report as required by
23    subparagraph (D). Any such report shall be duly served upon
24    both the complainant and the respondent.
25        (2) If the Department has not issued its report within
26    365 days after the charge is filed, or any such longer

 

 

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1    period agreed to in writing by all the parties, the
2    complainant shall have 90 days to either file his or her
3    own complaint with the Human Rights Commission or commence
4    a civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the
5    complainant files a complaint with the Commission, the form
6    of the complaint shall be in accordance with the provisions
7    of paragraph (F)(1). If the complainant commences a civil
8    action in a circuit court, the form of the complaint shall
9    be in accordance with the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure.
10    The aggrieved party shall notify the Department that a
11    complaint has been filed and shall serve a copy of the
12    complaint on the Department on the same date that the
13    complaint is filed with the Commission or in circuit court.
14    If the complainant files a complaint with the Commission,
15    he or she may not later commence a civil action in circuit
16    court.
17        (3) If an aggrieved party files a complaint with the
18    Human Rights Commission or commences a civil action in
19    circuit court pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection,
20    or if the time period for filing a complaint has expired,
21    the Department shall immediately cease its investigation
22    and dismiss the charge of civil rights violation. Any final
23    order entered by the Commission under this Section is
24    appealable in accordance with paragraph (B)(1) of Section
25    8-111. Failure to immediately cease an investigation and
26    dismiss the charge of civil rights violation as provided in

 

 

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1    this paragraph (3) constitutes grounds for entry of an
2    order by the circuit court permanently enjoining the
3    investigation. The Department may also be liable for any
4    costs and other damages incurred by the respondent as a
5    result of the action of the Department.
6        (4) (Blank) The Department shall stay any
7    administrative proceedings under this Section after the
8    filing of a civil action by or on behalf of the aggrieved
9    party under any federal or State law seeking relief with
10    respect to the alleged civil rights violation.
11    (H) This amendatory Act of 1995 applies to causes of action
12filed on or after January 1, 1996.
13    (I) This amendatory Act of 1996 applies to causes of action
14filed on or after January 1, 1996.
15    (J) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
16apply to charges filed on or after the effective date of those
17changes.
18    (K) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
19of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges filed on or after
20the effective date of those changes.
21(Source: P.A. 96-876, eff. 2-2-10; 97-22, eff. 1-1-12; 97-596,
22eff. 8-26-11; 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)
 
23    (775 ILCS 5/8-103)  (from Ch. 68, par. 8-103)
24    Sec. 8-103. Request for Review.
25    (A) Jurisdiction. The Commission, through a panel of three

 

 

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1members, shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine requests
2for review of (1) decisions of the Department to dismiss a
3charge; and (2) notices of default issued by the Department.
4    In each instance, the Department shall be the respondent.
5    (B) Review. When a request for review is properly filed,
6the Commission may consider the Department's report, any
7argument and supplemental evidence timely submitted, and the
8results of any additional investigation conducted by the
9Department in response to the request. However, if the
10Commission is reviewing a dismissal order entered pursuant to
11subsection (a) of Section 7-109.1 of this Act, the Commission's
12review shall be limited to the question of whether the charge
13was properly dismissed pursuant to that Section. In its
14discretion, the Commission may designate a hearing officer to
15conduct a hearing into the factual basis of the matter at
16issue.
17    (C) Default Order. When a respondent fails to file a timely
18request for review of a notice of default, or the default is
19sustained on review, the Commission shall enter a default order
20and notify the parties that the complainant has the right to
21either commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court
22to determine the complainant's damages or request that the
23Commission set a hearing on damages before one of its hearing
24officers. The complainant shall have 90 days after receipt of
25the Commission's default order to either commence a civil
26action in the appropriate circuit court or request that the

 

 

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1Commission set a hearing on damages.
2    (D) Time Period Toll. Proceedings on requests for review
3shall toll the time limitation established in paragraph (G) of
4Section 7A-102 from the date on which the Department's notice
5of dismissal or default is issued to the date on which the
6Commission's order is entered.
7    (E) The changes made to this Section by Public Act 95-243
8apply to charges or complaints filed with the Department or
9Commission on or after the effective date of those changes.
10    (F) The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act
11of the 96th General Assembly apply to charges or complaints
12filed with the Department or Commission on or after the
13effective date of those changes.
14(Source: P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08; 96-876, eff. 2-2-10.)