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Sen. Javier L. Cervantes
Filed: 3/14/2025
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| 1 | | AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 2339
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| 2 | | AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 2339 by replacing |
| 3 | | everything after the enacting clause with the following: |
| 4 | | "Section 5. The Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act is |
| 5 | | amended by changing Sections 12, 13, 15, and 20 and by adding |
| 6 | | Sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 as follows: |
| 7 | | (820 ILCS 55/12) |
| 8 | | Sec. 12. Use of Employment Eligibility Verification |
| 9 | | Systems. |
| 10 | | (a) Prior to enrolling in any Electronic Employment |
| 11 | | Verification System, including the E-Verify program and the |
| 12 | | Basic Pilot program, as authorized by 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, |
| 13 | | Pilot Programs for Employment Eligibility Confirmation |
| 14 | | (enacted by P.L. 104-208, div. C, title IV, subtitle A), |
| 15 | | renamed the E-Verify program, employers are urged to consult |
| 16 | | the Illinois Department of Labor's website for current |
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| 1 | | information on the accuracy of the E-Verify program and to |
| 2 | | review and understand an employer's legal responsibilities |
| 3 | | relating to the use of the E-Verify program. Nothing in this |
| 4 | | Act shall be construed to require an employer to enroll in any |
| 5 | | Electronic Employment Verification System, including the |
| 6 | | E-Verify program and the Basic Pilot program, as authorized by |
| 7 | | 8 U.S.C. 1324a, Notes, Pilot Programs for Employment |
| 8 | | Eligibility Confirmation (enacted by P.L. 104-208, div. C, |
| 9 | | title IV, subtitle A) beyond those obligations that have been |
| 10 | | imposed upon them by federal law. Nothing in this Act shall be |
| 11 | | construed to prohibit an employer from enrolling in any |
| 12 | | Electronic Employment Verification System, including the |
| 13 | | E-Verify program, as required or permitted by federal law. |
| 14 | | (a-1) The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) shall post |
| 15 | | on its website information or links to information from the |
| 16 | | United States Government Accountability Office, Westat, or a |
| 17 | | similar reliable source independent of the Department of |
| 18 | | Homeland Security regarding: (1) the accuracy of the E-Verify |
| 19 | | databases; (2) the approximate financial burden and |
| 20 | | expenditure of time that use of E-Verify requires from |
| 21 | | employers; and (3) an overview of an employer's |
| 22 | | responsibilities under federal and state law relating to the |
| 23 | | use of E-Verify. |
| 24 | | (b) Upon initial enrollment in an Employment Eligibility |
| 25 | | Verification System or within 30 days after the effective date |
| 26 | | of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, an |
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| 1 | | employer enrolled in E-Verify or any other Employment |
| 2 | | Eligibility Verification System must attest, under penalty of |
| 3 | | perjury, on a form prescribed by the IDOL available on the IDOL |
| 4 | | website: |
| 5 | | (1) that the employer has received the Basic Pilot or |
| 6 | | E-Verify training materials from the Department of |
| 7 | | Homeland Security (DHS), and that all employees who will |
| 8 | | administer the program have completed the Basic Pilot or |
| 9 | | E-Verify Computer Based Tutorial (CBT); and |
| 10 | | (2) that the employer has posted the notice from DHS |
| 11 | | indicating that the employer is enrolled in the Basic |
| 12 | | Pilot or E-Verify program and the anti-discrimination |
| 13 | | notice issued by the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section |
| 14 | | (IER) Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related |
| 15 | | Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), Civil Rights Division, |
| 16 | | U.S. Department of Justice in a prominent place that is |
| 17 | | clearly visible to both prospective and current employees. |
| 18 | | The employer must maintain the signed original of the |
| 19 | | attestation form prescribed by the IDOL, as well as all |
| 20 | | CBT certificates of completion and make them available for |
| 21 | | inspection or copying by the IDOL at any reasonable time. |
| 22 | | (c) It is a violation of this Act for an employer enrolled |
| 23 | | in an Employment Eligibility Verification System, including |
| 24 | | the E-Verify program and the Basic Pilot program: |
| 25 | | (1) to fail to display the notices supplied by DHS and |
| 26 | | IER OSC in a prominent place that is clearly visible to |
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| 1 | | both prospective and current employees; |
| 2 | | (2) to allow any employee to use an Employment |
| 3 | | Eligibility Verification System prior to having completed |
| 4 | | CBT; |
| 5 | | (3) to fail to take reasonable steps to prevent an |
| 6 | | employee from circumventing the requirement to complete |
| 7 | | the CBT by assuming another employee's E-Verify or Basic |
| 8 | | Pilot user identification or password; |
| 9 | | (4) to use the Employment Eligibility Verification |
| 10 | | System to verify the employment eligibility of job |
| 11 | | applicants prior to hiring or to otherwise use the |
| 12 | | Employment Eligibility Verification System to screen |
| 13 | | individuals prior to hiring and prior to the completion of |
| 14 | | a Form I-9; |
| 15 | | (5) to terminate an employee or take any other adverse |
| 16 | | employment action against an individual prior to receiving |
| 17 | | a final nonconfirmation notice from the Social Security |
| 18 | | Administration or the Department of Homeland Security; |
| 19 | | (6) to fail to notify an individual, in writing, of |
| 20 | | the employer's receipt of a tentative nonconfirmation |
| 21 | | notice, of the individual's right to contest the tentative |
| 22 | | nonconfirmation notice, and of the contact information for |
| 23 | | the relevant government agency or agencies that the |
| 24 | | individual must contact to resolve the tentative |
| 25 | | nonconfirmation notice; |
| 26 | | (7) to fail to safeguard the information contained in |
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| 1 | | the Employment Eligibility Verification System, and the |
| 2 | | means of access to the system (such as passwords and other |
| 3 | | privacy protections). An employer shall ensure that the |
| 4 | | System is not used for any purpose other than employment |
| 5 | | verification of newly hired employees and shall ensure |
| 6 | | that the information contained in the System and the means |
| 7 | | of access to the System are not disseminated to any person |
| 8 | | other than employees who need such information and access |
| 9 | | to perform the employer's employment verification |
| 10 | | responsibilities. |
| 11 | | (c-1) Any claim that an employer refused to hire, |
| 12 | | segregated, or acted with respect to recruitment, hiring, |
| 13 | | promotion, renewal or employment, selection for training or |
| 14 | | apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, |
| 15 | | privileges, or conditions of employment without following the |
| 16 | | procedures of the Employment Eligibility Verification System, |
| 17 | | including the Basic Pilot and the E-Verify program programs, |
| 18 | | may be brought under paragraph (G)(2) of Section 2-102 of the |
| 19 | | Illinois Human Rights Act. |
| 20 | | (c-2) It is a violation of this Section for an individual |
| 21 | | to falsely pose as an employer in order to enroll in an |
| 22 | | Employment Eligibility Verification System or for an employer |
| 23 | | to use an Employment Eligibility Verification System to access |
| 24 | | information regarding an individual who is not an employee of |
| 25 | | the employer. |
| 26 | | (d) Preemption. Neither the State nor any of its political |
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| 1 | | subdivisions, nor any unit of local government, including a |
| 2 | | home rule unit, may require any employer to use an Employment |
| 3 | | Eligibility Verification System, including under the following |
| 4 | | circumstances: |
| 5 | | (1) as a condition of receiving a government contract; |
| 6 | | (2) as a condition of receiving a business license; or |
| 7 | | (3) as penalty for violating licensing or other |
| 8 | | similar laws. |
| 9 | | This subsection (d) is a denial and limitation of home |
| 10 | | rule powers and functions under subsection (h) of Section 6 of |
| 11 | | Article VII of the Illinois Constitution. |
| 12 | | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25.) |
| 13 | | (820 ILCS 55/13) |
| 14 | | Sec. 13. Restrictions on the use of Employment Eligibility |
| 15 | | Verification Systems. |
| 16 | | (a) As used in this Section: |
| 17 | | "Employee's authorized representative" means an exclusive |
| 18 | | collective bargaining representative, an attorney, or, upon |
| 19 | | written notification to the employer, any other representative |
| 20 | | authorized by the employee. |
| 21 | | "Inspecting entity" means the U.S. Department of Homeland |
| 22 | | Security, the Immigrant Employee Rights Section, or the U.S. |
| 23 | | Department of Labor, as required under 8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)(3) |
| 24 | | Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Customs and |
| 25 | | Border Protection, or any other federal entity enforcing civil |
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| 1 | | immigration violations of an employer's I-9 Employment |
| 2 | | Eligibility Verification forms. |
| 3 | | (b) An employer shall not impose work authorization |
| 4 | | verification or re-verification requirements greater than |
| 5 | | those required by federal law or, if enrolled in an Employment |
| 6 | | Eligibility Verification System, including the E-Verify |
| 7 | | program, shall not impose work authorization verification or |
| 8 | | re-verification requirements greater than those required by |
| 9 | | the Employment Eligibility Verification System, including the |
| 10 | | E-Verify program. |
| 11 | | (c) If an employer contends that there is a discrepancy in |
| 12 | | an employee's employment verification information, the |
| 13 | | employer must provide the employee with: |
| 14 | | (1) The specific document or documents, if made |
| 15 | | available to the employer, that the employer deems to be |
| 16 | | deficient and the reason why the document or documents are |
| 17 | | deficient. Upon request by the employee or the employee's |
| 18 | | authorized representative, the employer shall give to the |
| 19 | | employee the original document forming the basis for the |
| 20 | | employer's contention of deficiency within 7 business |
| 21 | | days, unless a shorter timeline is provided for under a |
| 22 | | collective bargaining agreement. |
| 23 | | (2) Instructions on how the employee can correct the |
| 24 | | alleged deficient documents if required to do so by law. |
| 25 | | (3) An explanation of the employee's right to have |
| 26 | | representation present during related meetings, |
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| 1 | | discussions, or proceedings with the employer. If the |
| 2 | | alleged discrepancy is based on information obtained |
| 3 | | through the employer's participation in the E-Verify |
| 4 | | program, the right to representation shall apply unless |
| 5 | | not , if allowed by a memorandum of understanding |
| 6 | | concerning the federal E-Verify system. |
| 7 | | (4) An explanation of any other rights that the |
| 8 | | employee may have in connection with the employer's |
| 9 | | contention. |
| 10 | | (d) (Blank). When an employer receives notification from |
| 11 | | any federal or State agency, including, but not limited to, |
| 12 | | the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue |
| 13 | | Service, of a discrepancy as it relates to work authorization, |
| 14 | | the following rights and protections are granted to the |
| 15 | | employee: |
| 16 | | (1) The employer must not take any adverse action |
| 17 | | against the employee, including re-verification, based on |
| 18 | | the receipt of the notification. |
| 19 | | (2) The employer must provide a notice to the employee |
| 20 | | and, if allowed by a memorandum of understanding |
| 21 | | concerning the federal E-Verify system, to the employee's |
| 22 | | authorized representative, if any, as soon as practicable, |
| 23 | | but not more than 5 business days after the date of receipt |
| 24 | | of the notification, unless a shorter timeline is provided |
| 25 | | for under federal law or a collective bargaining |
| 26 | | agreement. The notice to the employee shall include, but |
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| 1 | | not be limited to: (i) an explanation that the federal or |
| 2 | | State agency has notified the employer that the employee's |
| 3 | | work authorization documents presented by the employee do |
| 4 | | not appear to be valid or reasonably relate to the |
| 5 | | employee; and (ii) the time period the employee has to |
| 6 | | contest the federal or State agency's determination. The |
| 7 | | employer shall notify the employee in person and deliver |
| 8 | | the notification by hand, if possible. If hand delivery is |
| 9 | | not possible, then the employer shall notify the employee |
| 10 | | by mail and email, if the email address of the employee is |
| 11 | | known, and shall notify the employee's authorized |
| 12 | | representative. Upon request by the employee or the |
| 13 | | employee's authorized representative, the employer shall |
| 14 | | give to the employee the original notice from the federal |
| 15 | | or State agency, including, but not limited to, the Social |
| 16 | | Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service, |
| 17 | | within 7 business days. This original notice shall be |
| 18 | | redacted in compliance with State and federal privacy laws |
| 19 | | and shall relate only to the employee receiving the |
| 20 | | notification. |
| 21 | | (3) The employee may have a representative of the |
| 22 | | employee's choosing in any meetings, discussions, or |
| 23 | | proceedings with the employer. |
| 24 | | The procedures described in this subsection do not apply |
| 25 | | to inspections of an employer's I-9 Employment Verification |
| 26 | | Forms by an inspecting entity or any relevant procedure |
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| 1 | | otherwise described in subsection (g). |
| 2 | | (d-5) If an employer receives a written notification from |
| 3 | | any federal agency or other outside third party not |
| 4 | | responsible for the enforcement of immigration law, including, |
| 5 | | but not limited to, the Social Security Administration, the |
| 6 | | Internal Revenue Service, or an insurance company, of a |
| 7 | | discrepancy as it relates to an employee's individual taxpayer |
| 8 | | identification number or other identifying documents, the |
| 9 | | following rights and protections are granted to the employee: |
| 10 | | (1) The employer shall not take any adverse action |
| 11 | | against the employee, including re-verification, based |
| 12 | | solely on the receipt of the notification. |
| 13 | | (2) The employer shall provide a notice to the |
| 14 | | employee and to the employee's authorized representative, |
| 15 | | if any, as soon as practicable, but not more than 5 |
| 16 | | business days after the date of receipt of the |
| 17 | | notification, unless a shorter timeline is provided for |
| 18 | | under federal law or a collective bargaining agreement. |
| 19 | | The employer shall notify the employee in person and |
| 20 | | deliver the notification by hand, if possible. If hand |
| 21 | | delivery is not possible, then the employer shall notify |
| 22 | | the employee by mail and email, if the email address of the |
| 23 | | employee is known, and shall notify the employee's |
| 24 | | authorized representative. Upon request by the employee or |
| 25 | | the employee's authorized representative, the employer |
| 26 | | shall give to the employee the original notification. The |
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| 1 | | notice to the employee shall include, but shall not be |
| 2 | | limited to: (A) an explanation that the federal agency or |
| 3 | | outside third party has notified the employer that the |
| 4 | | identification documents presented by the employee do not |
| 5 | | appear to match; and (B) the time period the employee has |
| 6 | | to contest the disputed information, if such a time period |
| 7 | | is required by federal law. |
| 8 | | (3) The employee may have a representative of the |
| 9 | | employee's choosing in any meetings, discussions, or |
| 10 | | proceedings with the employer. |
| 11 | | (e) Except as otherwise required by federal law, an |
| 12 | | employer shall provide a notice to each current employee, by |
| 13 | | posting in English and in any language commonly used in the |
| 14 | | workplace, of any inspections of I-9 Employment Eligibility |
| 15 | | Verification forms or other employment records conducted by |
| 16 | | the inspecting entity within 72 hours after receiving notice |
| 17 | | of the inspection. Written notice shall also be given within |
| 18 | | 72 hours to the employee's authorized representative, if any. |
| 19 | | The posted notice shall contain the following information: |
| 20 | | (1) the name of the entity conducting the inspections |
| 21 | | of I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification forms or other |
| 22 | | employment records; |
| 23 | | (2) the date that the employer received notice of the |
| 24 | | inspection; |
| 25 | | (3) the nature of the inspection to the extent known |
| 26 | | by the employer; and |
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| 1 | | (4) a copy of the notice received by the employer. |
| 2 | | An employer, upon reasonable request, shall provide an |
| 3 | | employee a copy of the Notice of Inspection of I-9 Employment |
| 4 | | Eligibility Verification forms. |
| 5 | | (f) On or before 6 months after the effective date of this |
| 6 | | amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the Department |
| 7 | | shall develop a template posting that employers may use to |
| 8 | | comply with the requirements of subsection (e) to inform |
| 9 | | employees of a notice of inspection to be conducted of I-9 |
| 10 | | Employment Eligibility Verification forms or other employment |
| 11 | | records conducted by the inspecting entity. The Department |
| 12 | | shall make the template available on its website so that it is |
| 13 | | accessible to any employer. |
| 14 | | (g) Except as otherwise required by federal law, if during |
| 15 | | an inspection of the employer's I-9 Employment Eligibility |
| 16 | | Verification forms by an inspecting entity, the inspecting |
| 17 | | entity makes a determination that the employee's work |
| 18 | | authorization documents do not establish that the employee is |
| 19 | | authorized to work in the United States and provide the |
| 20 | | employer with notice of that determination, the employer shall |
| 21 | | provide a written notice as set forth in this subsection to the |
| 22 | | employee within 5 business days, unless a shorter timeline is |
| 23 | | provided for under federal law or a collective bargaining |
| 24 | | agreement. The employer's notice to the employee shall relate |
| 25 | | to the employee only. The employer shall notify the employee |
| 26 | | in person and deliver the notification by hand, if possible. |
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| 1 | | If hand delivery is not possible, then the employer shall |
| 2 | | notify the employee by mail and email, if the email address of |
| 3 | | the employee is known, and shall notify the employee's |
| 4 | | authorized representative. The employer's notice to the |
| 5 | | employee shall contain the following information: |
| 6 | | (1) an explanation that the inspecting entity has |
| 7 | | determined that the employee's work authorization |
| 8 | | documents presented by the employee do not appear to be |
| 9 | | valid or reasonably relate to the employee; |
| 10 | | (2) the time period for the employee to notify the |
| 11 | | employer whether the employee is contesting or not |
| 12 | | contesting the determination by the inspecting entity, if |
| 13 | | any time period is required by federal law; |
| 14 | | (3) if known by the employer, the time and date of any |
| 15 | | meeting with the employer and employee or with the |
| 16 | | inspecting entity and employee related to the correction |
| 17 | | of the inspecting entity's determination that the |
| 18 | | employee's work authorization documents presented by the |
| 19 | | employee do not appear to be valid or reasonably relate to |
| 20 | | the employee; and |
| 21 | | (4) notice that the employee has the right to |
| 22 | | representation during any meeting scheduled with the |
| 23 | | employer and the inspecting entity. |
| 24 | | If the employee contests the inspecting entity's |
| 25 | | determination, the employer will notify the employee within 72 |
| 26 | | hours after receipt of any final determination by the |
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| 1 | | inspecting entity related to the employee's work authorization |
| 2 | | status. Upon request by the employee or the employee's |
| 3 | | authorized representative, the employer shall give the |
| 4 | | employee the original notice from the inspecting entity within |
| 5 | | 7 business days. This original notice shall be redacted in |
| 6 | | compliance with State and federal privacy laws and shall |
| 7 | | relate only to the employee receiving the notification. |
| 8 | | (h) This Section does not require a penalty to be imposed |
| 9 | | upon an employer or person who fails to provide notice to an |
| 10 | | employee at the express and specific direction or request of |
| 11 | | the federal government. In determining the amount of the |
| 12 | | penalty, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the |
| 13 | | business of the employer charged and the gravity of the |
| 14 | | violation shall be considered. The penalty may be recovered in |
| 15 | | a civil action brought by the Director in any circuit court. |
| 16 | | Upon request by the employee or the employee's authorized |
| 17 | | representative, the employer shall give the employee the |
| 18 | | original notice from the inspecting entity within 7 business |
| 19 | | days. |
| 20 | | (i) This Section applies to public and private employers. |
| 21 | | (j) Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted, |
| 22 | | construed, or applied to restrict or limit an employer's |
| 23 | | compliance with a memorandum of understanding concerning the |
| 24 | | use of the federal E-Verify system. |
| 25 | | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25.) |
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| 1 | | (820 ILCS 55/15) (from Ch. 48, par. 2865) |
| 2 | | Sec. 15. Administration and enforcement by the Department. |
| 3 | | (a) It shall be the duty of the Department to enforce the |
| 4 | | provisions of this Act when, in the Department's judgment, |
| 5 | | there is cause and sufficient resources for investigation. The |
| 6 | | Department shall have the power to conduct investigations in |
| 7 | | connection with the administration and enforcement of this |
| 8 | | Act, and any investigator with the Department shall be |
| 9 | | authorized to visit and inspect, at all reasonable times, any |
| 10 | | places covered by this Act and shall be authorized to inspect, |
| 11 | | at all reasonable times, records of the employer or |
| 12 | | prospective employer related to its employees or prospective |
| 13 | | employees and related to its participation in and compliance |
| 14 | | with the E-Verify program. The Department shall have the |
| 15 | | authority to request the issuance of a search warrant or |
| 16 | | subpoena to inspect the files of the employer or prospective |
| 17 | | employer, if necessary. The Department shall conduct hearings |
| 18 | | in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act |
| 19 | | upon written complaint by an investigator of the Department. |
| 20 | | After the hearing, if supported by the evidence, the |
| 21 | | Department may (i) issue and cause to be served on any party an |
| 22 | | order to cease and desist from further violation of the Act, |
| 23 | | (ii) take affirmative or other action as deemed reasonable to |
| 24 | | eliminate the effect of the violation, and (iii) determine the |
| 25 | | amount of any civil penalty allowed by the Act. The Director of |
| 26 | | Labor or his or her representative may compel, by subpoena, |
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| 1 | | the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production |
| 2 | | of books, payrolls, records, papers, and other evidence in any |
| 3 | | investigation or hearing and may administer oaths to witnesses |
| 4 | | The Director of Labor or his authorized representative shall |
| 5 | | administer and enforce the provisions of this Act. The |
| 6 | | Director of Labor may issue rules and regulations necessary to |
| 7 | | administer and enforce the provisions of this Act. |
| 8 | | (b) If an employee or applicant for employment alleges |
| 9 | | that he or she has been denied his or her rights under this |
| 10 | | Act, he or she may file a complaint with the Department of |
| 11 | | Labor. The Department shall investigate the complaint pursuant |
| 12 | | to its authority under subsection (a) and shall have authority |
| 13 | | to request the issuance of a search warrant or subpoena to |
| 14 | | inspect the files of the employer or prospective employer, if |
| 15 | | necessary. The Department shall attempt to resolve the |
| 16 | | complaint by conference, conciliation, or persuasion. If the |
| 17 | | complaint is not so resolved and the Department finds the |
| 18 | | employer or prospective employer has violated the Act, the |
| 19 | | Department may commence an action in the circuit court to |
| 20 | | enforce the provisions of this Act including an action to |
| 21 | | compel compliance. The circuit court for the county in which |
| 22 | | the complainant resides or in which the complainant is |
| 23 | | employed shall have jurisdiction in such actions. |
| 24 | | (c) (Blank). If an employer or prospective employer |
| 25 | | violates this Act, an employee or applicant for employment may |
| 26 | | commence an action in the circuit court to enforce the |
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| 1 | | provisions of this Act, including actions to compel |
| 2 | | compliance, where efforts to resolve the employee's or |
| 3 | | applicant for employment's complaint concerning the violation |
| 4 | | by conference, conciliation or persuasion under subsection (b) |
| 5 | | have failed and the Department has not commenced an action in |
| 6 | | circuit court to redress the violation. The circuit court for |
| 7 | | the county in which the complainant resides or in which the |
| 8 | | complainant is employed shall have jurisdiction in such |
| 9 | | actions. |
| 10 | | (d) (Blank). Failure to comply with an order of the court |
| 11 | | may be punished as contempt. In addition, the court shall |
| 12 | | award an employee or applicant for employment prevailing in an |
| 13 | | action under this Act the following damages: |
| 14 | | (1) Actual damages plus costs. |
| 15 | | (2) For a willful and knowing violation of this Act, |
| 16 | | $200 plus costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and actual |
| 17 | | damages. |
| 18 | | (3) For a willful and knowing violation of Section |
| 19 | | 12(c) or Section 12(c-2) of this Act, $500 per affected |
| 20 | | employee plus costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and |
| 21 | | actual damages. |
| 22 | | (4) For a willful and knowing violation of Section 13, |
| 23 | | a civil penalty of a minimum of $2,000 up to a maximum of |
| 24 | | $5,000 for a first violation and a civil penalty of a |
| 25 | | minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 for each |
| 26 | | subsequent violation per affected employee plus costs, |
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| 1 | | reasonable attorney's fees, and actual damages. |
| 2 | | (e) Any employer or prospective employer or his agent who |
| 3 | | violates the provisions of this Act is guilty of a petty |
| 4 | | offense. |
| 5 | | (f) Any employer or prospective employer, or the officer |
| 6 | | or agent of any employer or prospective employer, who |
| 7 | | discharges or in any other manner discriminates against any |
| 8 | | employee or applicant for employment because that employee or |
| 9 | | applicant for employment has made a complaint to his employer, |
| 10 | | or to the Director of Labor or his authorized representative, |
| 11 | | or because that employee or applicant for employment has |
| 12 | | caused to be instituted or is about to cause to be instituted |
| 13 | | any proceeding under or related to this Act, or because that |
| 14 | | employee or applicant for employment has testified or is about |
| 15 | | to testify in an investigation or proceeding under this Act, |
| 16 | | is guilty of a petty offense. |
| 17 | | (Source: P.A. 103-879, eff. 1-1-25.) |
| 18 | | (820 ILCS 55/16 new) |
| 19 | | Sec. 16. Action for civil penalties brought by an |
| 20 | | interested party. |
| 21 | | (a) As used in this Section, "interested party" means an |
| 22 | | organization that monitors or is attentive to compliance with |
| 23 | | public or worker safety and privacy laws, wage and hour |
| 24 | | requirements, or other statutory requirements. |
| 25 | | (b) Upon a reasonable belief that an employer or |
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| 1 | | prospective employer covered by this Act is in violation of |
| 2 | | any part of this Act, an interested party may initiate a civil |
| 3 | | action in the county where the alleged offenses occurred or |
| 4 | | where any party to the action resides, asserting that a |
| 5 | | violation of the Act has occurred, pursuant to the following |
| 6 | | sequence of events: |
| 7 | | (1) The interested party submits to the Department of |
| 8 | | Labor a complaint describing the violation and employer or |
| 9 | | prospective employer alleged to have violated this Act. |
| 10 | | (2) The Department sends notice of complaint to the |
| 11 | | named parties alleged to have violated this Act and the |
| 12 | | interested party. The named parties may either contest the |
| 13 | | alleged violation or attempt to cure the alleged |
| 14 | | violation. |
| 15 | | (3) The named parties contest or cure the alleged |
| 16 | | violation within 30 days after the receipt of the notice |
| 17 | | of complaint or, if the named party does not respond |
| 18 | | within 30 days, the Department issues a notice of right to |
| 19 | | sue to the interested party as described in paragraph (4). |
| 20 | | (4) The Department issues a notice of right to sue to |
| 21 | | the interested party, if one or more of the following has |
| 22 | | occurred: |
| 23 | | (A) the named party has cured the alleged |
| 24 | | violation to the satisfaction of the Director; |
| 25 | | (B) the Director has determined that the |
| 26 | | allegation is unjustified or that the Department does |
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| 1 | | not have jurisdiction over the matter or the parties; |
| 2 | | or |
| 3 | | (C) the Director has determined that the |
| 4 | | allegation is justified or has not made a |
| 5 | | determination, and either has decided not to exercise |
| 6 | | jurisdiction over the matter or has concluded |
| 7 | | administrative enforcement of the matter. |
| 8 | | (c) If, within 180 days after service of the notice of |
| 9 | | complaint to the parties, the Department has not resolved the |
| 10 | | contest and cure period with the mutual agreement of the |
| 11 | | parties, extended the time for the named party to cure the |
| 12 | | violation and resolve the complaint, or issued a right to sue |
| 13 | | letter, the interested party may initiate a civil action for |
| 14 | | penalties. The parties may extend the 180-day period by mutual |
| 15 | | agreement. The limitations period for the interested party to |
| 16 | | bring an action for the alleged violation of the Act shall be |
| 17 | | tolled for the 180-day period and for the period of any |
| 18 | | mutually agreed extensions. At the end of the 180-day period, |
| 19 | | or any mutually agreed extensions, the Department shall issue |
| 20 | | a right to sue letter to the interested party. |
| 21 | | (d) Upon receipt of a right to sue letter from the |
| 22 | | Department, an interested party may bring a civil action in |
| 23 | | the county where the alleged offenses occurred or where any |
| 24 | | party to the action resides, in the name of the State and for |
| 25 | | the benefit of any impacted employees or prospective |
| 26 | | employees. |
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| 1 | | (1) No later than 30 days after filing an action, the |
| 2 | | interested party shall serve upon the State through the |
| 3 | | Attorney General a copy of the complaint and written |
| 4 | | disclosure of substantially all material evidence and |
| 5 | | information the interested party possesses. |
| 6 | | (2) The State may elect to intervene and proceed with |
| 7 | | the action no later than 60 days after it receives both the |
| 8 | | complaint and the material evidence and information. The |
| 9 | | State may, for good cause shown, move the court for an |
| 10 | | extension of the time to intervene and proceed with the |
| 11 | | action. |
| 12 | | (3) Before the expiration of the 60-day period or any |
| 13 | | extensions under subparagraph (2), the State shall: |
| 14 | | (i) proceed with the action, in which case the |
| 15 | | action shall be conducted by the State; or |
| 16 | | (ii) notify the court that it declines to take the |
| 17 | | action, in which case the interested party bringing |
| 18 | | the action shall have the right to conduct the action. |
| 19 | | (4) When the State conducts the action, the interested |
| 20 | | party shall have the right to continue as a party to the |
| 21 | | action subject to the following limitations: |
| 22 | | (i) the State may dismiss the action |
| 23 | | notwithstanding the objections of the interested party |
| 24 | | initiating the action if the interested party has been |
| 25 | | notified by the State of the filing of the motion and |
| 26 | | the court has provided the interested party with an |
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| 1 | | opportunity for a hearing on the motion; and |
| 2 | | (ii) the State may settle the action with the |
| 3 | | defendant notwithstanding the objections of the person |
| 4 | | initiating the action if the court determines, after a |
| 5 | | hearing, that the proposed settlement is fair, |
| 6 | | adequate, and reasonable under all the circumstances. |
| 7 | | (5) If an interested party brings an action under this |
| 8 | | Section, no person other than the State may intervene or |
| 9 | | bring a related action on behalf of the State based on the |
| 10 | | facts underlying the pending action. |
| 11 | | (6) An action brought in court by an interested party |
| 12 | | under this Section may be dismissed if the court and the |
| 13 | | Attorney General give written consent to the dismissal and |
| 14 | | their reasons for consenting. |
| 15 | | (e) Any claim or action filed by an interested party under |
| 16 | | this Section shall be made no later 3 years after the alleged |
| 17 | | conduct resulting in the complaint, plus any period for which |
| 18 | | the limitations period has been tolled. |
| 19 | | (f) In an action brought by an interested party under this |
| 20 | | Section, an interested party may recover against the covered |
| 21 | | entity any statutory penalties set forth in Section 17, |
| 22 | | injunctive relief, and any other relief available to the |
| 23 | | Department. An interested party who prevails in a civil action |
| 24 | | shall receive 10% of any statutory penalties assessed, plus |
| 25 | | any attorney's fees and costs. The remaining 90% of any |
| 26 | | statutory penalties assessed shall be deposited into a special |
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| 1 | | fund of the Department for enforcement of this Act. |
| 2 | | (820 ILCS 55/17 new) |
| 3 | | Sec. 17. Private right of action. |
| 4 | | (a) A person aggrieved by a violation of this Act or any |
| 5 | | rule adopted under this Act by an employer or prospective |
| 6 | | employer may file suit in circuit court of Illinois, in the |
| 7 | | county where the alleged offense occurred, where the employee |
| 8 | | or prospective employee who is party to the action resides, or |
| 9 | | where the employer or prospective employer which is party to |
| 10 | | the action is located, without regard to exhaustion of any |
| 11 | | alternative administrative remedies provided in this Act. |
| 12 | | Actions may be brought by one or more affected employees or |
| 13 | | prospective employees for and on behalf of themselves and |
| 14 | | employees or prospective employees similarly situated. An |
| 15 | | employee or prospective employee may recover for a violation |
| 16 | | of the Act under this Section or under Section 15 or 16 at the |
| 17 | | employee or prospective employee's option, but not under more |
| 18 | | than one Section. An employee or prospective employee whose |
| 19 | | rights have been violated under this Act by an employer or |
| 20 | | prospective employer is entitled to collect under this |
| 21 | | Section: |
| 22 | | (1) in the case of a violation of this Act or any rule |
| 23 | | adopted under this Act as it relates to the employee or |
| 24 | | prospective employee, a civil penalty of not less than |
| 25 | | $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation found by a |
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| 1 | | court; |
| 2 | | (2) in the event a violation of this Act or any rule |
| 3 | | adopted under this Act as it relates to denial or loss of |
| 4 | | employment for the employee or prospective employee, all |
| 5 | | relief necessary to make the employee whole, including, |
| 6 | | but not limited to, the following: |
| 7 | | (i) reinstatement with the same seniority status |
| 8 | | that the employee would have had but for the |
| 9 | | violation, as appropriate; |
| 10 | | (ii) back pay, with interest, as appropriate; and |
| 11 | | (iii) a civil penalty of $10,000; and |
| 12 | | (3) compensation for any damages sustained as a result |
| 13 | | of the violation, including litigation costs, expert |
| 14 | | witness fees, and reasonable attorney's fees. |
| 15 | | (b) The right of an aggrieved person to bring an action |
| 16 | | under this Section terminates upon the passing of 3 years |
| 17 | | after the date of the violation. This limitations period is |
| 18 | | tolled if an employer or prospective employer has failed to |
| 19 | | provide an employee or prospective employee information |
| 20 | | required under this Act or has deterred an employee or |
| 21 | | prospective employee from the exercise of rights under this |
| 22 | | Act. |
| 23 | | (820 ILCS 55/18 new) |
| 24 | | Sec. 18. Penalties. |
| 25 | | (a) An employer or prospective employer that violates any |
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| 1 | | of the provisions of this Act or any rule adopted under this |
| 2 | | Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $100 |
| 3 | | and not more than $1,000 for each violation of his Act found by |
| 4 | | the Department or determined by a court in a civil action |
| 5 | | brought by the Department or by an interested party, as |
| 6 | | defined in subsection (a) of Section 16, or determined by a |
| 7 | | court in a civil action brought by the Attorney General |
| 8 | | pursuant to its authority under Section 6.3 of the Attorney |
| 9 | | General Act. An employer or prospective employer that commits |
| 10 | | a second or subsequent violation of the same provisions or |
| 11 | | this Act or any rule adopted under this Act within a 3-year |
| 12 | | period shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than |
| 13 | | $1,000 and not more than $5,000 for each violation of this Act |
| 14 | | found by the Department or determined by a court in a civil |
| 15 | | action brought by the Department or by an interested party, as |
| 16 | | defined in subsection (a) of Section 16, or determined by a |
| 17 | | court in a civil action brought by the Attorney General |
| 18 | | pursuant to its authority under Section 6.3 of the Attorney |
| 19 | | General Act. For purposes of this subsection, each violation |
| 20 | | of this Act or any rule adopted under this Act shall constitute |
| 21 | | a separate and distinct violation. |
| 22 | | (b) In determining the amount of a penalty, the Director |
| 23 | | or circuit court shall consider (i) the appropriateness of the |
| 24 | | penalty to the size of the business of the employer charged and |
| 25 | | (ii) the gravity of the violation. |
| 26 | | (c) The Department shall adopt rules for violation |
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| 1 | | hearings and penalties for violations of this Act or the |
| 2 | | Department's rules in conjunction with the penalties set forth |
| 3 | | in this Act. Any administrative determination by the |
| 4 | | Department as to the amount of each penalty shall be final |
| 5 | | unless reviewed as provided in Section 17 of this Act. |
| 6 | | (820 ILCS 55/19 new) |
| 7 | | Sec. 19. Review under the Administrative Review Law. Any |
| 8 | | party to a proceeding under this Act may apply for and obtain |
| 9 | | judicial review of an order of the Department entered under |
| 10 | | this Act in accordance with the provisions of the |
| 11 | | Administrative Review Law, and the Department, in proceedings |
| 12 | | under this Act, may obtain an order from the court for the |
| 13 | | enforcement of its order. |
| 14 | | (820 ILCS 55/20) |
| 15 | | Sec. 20. Dismissal of complaint. The Director or any court |
| 16 | | of competent jurisdiction shall summarily dismiss any |
| 17 | | complaint alleging a violation of Section 5 of this Act which |
| 18 | | states as the sole cause of the complaint that the employer |
| 19 | | offered a health, disability, or life insurance policy that |
| 20 | | makes a distinction between employees for the type of coverage |
| 21 | | or the price of coverage based upon the employees' use of |
| 22 | | lawful products. |
| 23 | | (Source: P.A. 87-807.)". |