775 ILCS 5/ Illinois Human Rights Act.

(775 ILCS 5/Art. 7 heading) ARTICLE 7. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS; DUTIES; PROCEDURES

(775 ILCS 5/7-101) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-101)

Sec. 7-101. Powers and duties. In addition to other powers and duties prescribed in this Act, the Department shall have the following powers:

(A) Rules and Regulations. To adopt, promulgate, amend, and rescind rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act pursuant to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

(B) Charges. To issue, receive, investigate, conciliate, settle, and dismiss charges filed in conformity with this Act.

(C) Compulsory Process. To request subpoenas as it deems necessary for its investigations.

(D) Complaints. To file complaints with the Commission in conformity with this Act and to intervene in complaints pending before the Commission filed under Article 2, 4, 5, 5A, or 6.

(E) Judicial Enforcement. To seek temporary relief and to enforce orders of the Commission in conformity with this Act.

(F) Equal Employment Opportunities. To take such action as may be authorized to provide for equal employment opportunities and affirmative action.

(G) Recruitment; Research; Public Communication; Advisory Councils. To engage in such recruitment, research and public communication and create such advisory councils as may be authorized to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

(H) Coordination with other Agencies. To coordinate its activities with federal, state, and local agencies in conformity with this Act.

(I) Grants; Private Gifts.

(1) To accept public grants and private gifts as may be authorized.

(2) To design grant programs and award grants to eligible recipients.

(J) Education and Training. To implement a formal and unbiased program of education and training for all employees assigned to investigate and conciliate charges under Articles 7A and 7B. The training program shall include the following:

(1) substantive and procedural aspects of the investigation and conciliation positions;

(2) current issues in human rights law and practice;

(3) lectures by specialists in substantive areas related to human rights matters;

(4) orientation to each operational unit of the Department and Commission;

(5) observation of experienced Department investigators and attorneys conducting conciliation conferences, combined with the opportunity to discuss evidence presented and rulings made;

(6) the use of hypothetical cases requiring the Department investigator and conciliation conference attorney to issue judgments as a means to evaluating knowledge and writing ability;

(7) writing skills;

(8) computer skills, including but not limited to word processing and document management.

A formal, unbiased and ongoing professional development program including, but not limited to, the above-noted areas shall be implemented to keep Department investigators and attorneys informed of recent developments and issues and to assist them in maintaining and enhancing their professional competence.

(Source: P.A. 102-1115, eff. 1-9-23; 103-335, eff. 1-1-24.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-101.1)

Sec. 7-101.1. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 89-520, eff. 7-18-96. Repealed by P.A. 95-243, eff. 1-1-08.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-105) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-105)

Sec. 7-105. Equal Employment Opportunities; Affirmative Action. In order to establish and effectuate the policies of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, the Department shall, with respect to state executive departments, boards, commissions and instrumentalities and any party to a public contract:

(A) Policies; Rules; Regulations. Establish equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies, rules and regulations which specify plans, programs and reporting procedures. Such rules may provide for exemptions or modifications as may be necessary to assure the continuity of federal requirements in State agencies supported in whole or in part by federal funds.

(B) Minimum Compliance Criteria. Establish minimum compliance criteria and procedures for evaluating equal employment opportunity and affirmative action programs and plans.

(C) Technical Assistance. Provide technical assistance, training, and advice for the establishment and implementation of required programs.

(D) Meetings. Hold meetings at least annually with the head of each State agency and when necessary with any party to a public contract to:

(1) Review equal employment opportunity plans and progress, performance and problems in meeting equal opportunity goals.

(2) Recommend appropriate changes to the plans and procedures and the methods employed to implement the plans.

(E) Report. Include within its annual report, filed pursuant to Section 5-650 of the Departments of State Government Law (20 ILCS 5/5-650), the progress, performance, and problems of meeting equal opportunity goals, and the identity of any State agency which fails to comply with the requirements of this Act and the circumstances surrounding such violation.

(F) Personnel Operations. Periodically review personnel operations of State agencies to assure their conformity with this Act and the agency's plan.

(G) Equal Employment Opportunity Officers. Approve the appointment of equal employment opportunity officers hired pursuant to subparagraph (4) of paragraph (B) of Section 2-105.

(H) Enforcement. Require State agencies which fail to meet their affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals by equal employment opportunity category to establish necessary training programs for preparation and promotion of the category of individuals affected by the failure. An agency required to establish training programs under this subsection shall do so in cooperation with the Department of Central Management Services as provided in Section 405-125 of the Department of Central Management Services Law (20 ILCS 405/405-125).

The Department by rule or regulation shall provide for the implementation of this subsection. Such rules or regulations shall prescribe but not be limited to the following:

(1) the circumstances and conditions which constitute an agency's failure to meet its affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals;

(2) the time period for measuring success or failure in reaching affirmative action and equal employment opportunity goals; and

(3) that training programs shall be limited to State employees.

This subsection shall not be construed to conflict with any contract between the State and any party which is approved and ratified by or on September 11, 1990.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-105a) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-105a)

Sec. 7-105a. (a) In order to facilitate the implementation of the policies of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, the State executive departments, boards, commissions and instrumentalities shall, on and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, on all forms used to collect information from individuals for official purposes, when such forms request information concerning the race or ethnicity of an individual by providing spaces for the designation of that individual as "white" or "black", or the semantic equivalent thereof, provide an additional space for a designation as "Hispanic".

(b) Whenever a State executive department, board, commission or instrumentality is required to supply information to the Department concerning the racial or ethnic composition of its employees, clients or other groups of individuals on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1983, the agency supplying such information shall supply the information by categories of "white", "black", and "Hispanic", or the semantic equivalent thereof, unless otherwise required by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 83-648.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-105b) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-105b)

Sec. 7-105b. Compliance with State Employment Records Act. The Department, as required by and for the purposes of the State Employment Records Act, shall, on a fiscal year basis, report the total number of persons employed within the State work force that are under the monitoring jurisdiction of the Department and provide any other information necessary to facilitate an accurate compilation of the entire State work force as defined and required by that Act. The State Employment Records (SER) report shall be maintained and kept on file within the Department.

(Source: P.A. 87-1211.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-106) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-106)

Sec. 7-106. Recruitment; Research; Public Communication) For the purpose of promoting equal employment and housing opportunities and eliminating unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment in employment and sexual harassment in elementary, secondary, and higher education, the Department shall have authority to:

(A) Recruitment. Cooperate with public and private organizations, as well as the Department of Central Management Services, in encouraging individuals in underrepresented classifications to seek employment in state government.

(B) Publications; Research. Issue publications, conduct research, and make surveys as it deems necessary.

(C) Public Hearings. Hold public hearings to obtain information from the general public on the effectiveness of the state's equal employment opportunity program and the protection against unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment in employment and sexual harassment in elementary, secondary, and higher education afforded by this Act and to accept public recommendations concerning changes in the program and the Act for inclusion in its annual report.

(D) Promotion of Communication and Goodwill. Establish a program to cooperate with civic, religious and educational organizations in order to improve human communication and understanding, foster equal opportunities in employment and housing, and promote and encourage communication, goodwill and interfaith and interracial harmony.

(Source: P.A. 96-1319, eff. 7-27-10.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-107) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-107)

Sec. 7-107. Advisory Councils) The Department shall have authority, as the need requires, to create local or statewide advisory councils to aid in effectuating the purposes of this Act, to limit the duration of a council's existence, and to empower a council to:

(A) Study. Study and report on problems of unlawful discrimination and equal employment opportunity.

(B) Goodwill. Foster through community effort or otherwise goodwill among the groups and segments of the population of Illinois.

(C) Recommendations. Make recommendations to the Department for the development of policies and practices that will aid in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(D) Support Services. Receive technical and clerical assistance and reimbursement of actual expenses from the Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-1216.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-108) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-108)

Sec. 7-108. Local Departments, Commissions.

(A) Authority. A political subdivision, or two or more political subdivisions acting jointly, may create a local department or commission as it or they see fit to promote the purposes of this Act and to secure for all individuals within the jurisdiction of the political subdivision or subdivisions freedom from unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment in employment and sexual harassment in elementary, secondary, and higher education. The provisions of any ordinance enacted by any municipality or county which prohibits broader or different categories of discrimination than are prohibited by this Act are not invalidated or affected by this Act.

(B) Concurrent Jurisdiction. When the Department and a local department or commission have concurrent jurisdiction over a complaint, either may transfer the complaint to the other under regulations established by the Department.

(C) Exclusive Jurisdiction. When the Department or a local department or commission has jurisdiction over a complaint and the other does not, the Department or local department or commission without jurisdiction may transfer the complaint to the other under regulations established by the Department.

(D) To secure and guarantee the rights established by Sections 17, 18 and 19 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution, any ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation of any county, municipality or other unit of local government or of any local department or commission which prohibits, restricts, narrows or limits the housing choice of any person is unenforceable and void. Nothing in this amendatory Act of 1981 prohibits a unit of local government from making special outreach efforts to inform members of minority groups of housing opportunities available in areas of majority white concentration and make similar efforts to inform the majority white population of available housing opportunities located in areas of minority concentration. This paragraph is applicable to home rule units as well as non-home rule units.

Pursuant to Article VII, Section 6, paragraph (i) of the Illinois Constitution, this amendatory Act of 1981 is a limitation of the power of home rule units.

(Source: P.A. 96-1319, eff. 7-27-10.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-109) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-109)

Sec. 7-109. Federal Departments and Agencies) (A) Utilization of Department Facilities and Employees. The Department in its discretion and for the purpose of carrying out its functions, may permit the utilization of its facilities and employees by federal departments and agencies in the investigation of charges over which the Department has jurisdiction. The Department shall be authorized to be reimbursed by the federal government for the reasonable value of such services rendered.

(B) Cooperative Undertakings. In order to effect cooperative undertakings in the reduction of unlawful discrimination, the Department has the power and authority for and on behalf of the state to make contractual agreements, within the scope and authority of this Act, with any agency of the federal government, and such agreements may include provisions under which the federal department or agency shall refrain from processing a charge in Illinois in any cases or class of cases specified in these agreements.

(Source: P.A. 81-1216.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-109.1) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-109.1)

Sec. 7-109.1. Federal or State court proceedings.

(1) For charges filed under Article 7A of this Act, if the complainant has initiated litigation in a federal or State court for the purpose of seeking final relief on some or all of the issues that are the basis of the charge, either party may request that the Department administratively dismiss the Department's charge or portions of the charge. Within 10 business days of receipt of the federal or State court complaint, the Department shall issue a notice of administrative dismissal and provide the complainant notice of his or her right to commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of competent jurisdiction. The Director shall also provide the charging party notice of his or her right to seek review of the notice of dismissal before the Commission. Any review by the Commission of the dismissal shall be filed within 30 days after receipt of the Director's notice and shall be limited to the question of whether the charge was properly dismissed under this Section.

(2) For charges filed under Article 7B of this Act, if the complainant has initiated litigation in a federal or State court for the purpose of seeking final relief on some or all of the issues that are the basis of the charge, either party may request that the Department administratively dismiss the charge or portions of the charge pending in the federal or State court proceeding if a trial has commenced in the federal or State court proceeding. Within 10 business days of receipt of notice that the trial has begun, the Department shall issue a notice of administrative dismissal and provide the complainant notice of his or her right to commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of competent jurisdiction. The Director shall also provide the charging party notice of his or her right to seek review of the notice of dismissal before the Commission. Any review by the Commission of the dismissal shall be filed within 30 days after receipt of the Director's notice and shall be limited to the question of whether the charge was properly dismissed under this Section.

(3) Nothing in this Section shall preclude the Department from continuing to investigate an allegation in the charge that is not included in the federal or State court proceeding.

(Source: P.A. 100-1066, eff. 8-24-18; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-110) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-110)

Sec. 7-110. Attorney General) When authorized by this Act to take part in a judicial proceeding in any court in this state, the Department shall proceed only through the Attorney General of Illinois or with the Attorney General's approval.

(Source: P.A. 81-1216.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-111) (from Ch. 68, par. 7-111)

Sec. 7-111. Public Grants; Private Gifts) The Department is authorized to accept public grants and private gifts and bequests so long as the conditions of the grant, gift or bequest are not inconsistent with the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1216.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-112)

Sec. 7-112. Automated Processing of Charges and Complaints. On or before December 31, 1996, the Department and the Commission shall jointly prepare an electronic data processing and telecommunications plan for the purpose of automating the processing of charges and complaints.

(Source: P.A. 89-370, eff. 8-18-95.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-112.5)

Sec. 7-112.5. Training tuition. The Department is authorized to charge tuition to non-governmental entities, other than not for profit groups or organizations in Illinois that have no more than 50 employees, for training offered by the Department's Institute for Training and Development. The tuition shall be paid into the Department of Human Rights Training and Development Fund, a special fund that is created in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund shall be used to: (i) enhance the quality of the Department's training services; (ii) make training available at no cost to not for profit groups or organizations in Illinois that have no more than 50 employees, Department employees, other State agencies and instrumentalities of the State, and community organizations; and (iii) make training available to any other non-governmental entities on a tuition basis.

(Source: P.A. 96-548, eff. 1-1-10.)

(775 ILCS 5/7-113)

Sec. 7-113. Employer report form; registration fee. When a person files an "Employer Report Form" (PC-1) with the Department as specified in subsection (J) of Section 2-101 to establish eligibility to be awarded a contract by a State agency, the person must pay a $75 registration fee. A person must also pay a $75 registration fee when the person files for renewal of eligibility. These fees shall be paid into the Department of Human Rights Special Fund, a special fund that is created in the State treasury. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the Fund is not subject to administrative charges or charge-backs. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely to fund the Department's public contract compliance monitoring program and other Department programs and activities.

(Source: P.A. 96-786, eff. 1-1-10.)