Signed by Governor JB Pritzker

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that establishes penalties for businesses that violate the Human Rights Act in Illinois.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Human Rights to conduct a fact finding conference at its discretion in the case of a complaint of a civil rights violation (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department of Human Rights to conduct a fact finding conference if both the complainant and respondent request one in the case of a complaint of a civil rights violation (Sec. 5).

• Establishes the following civil penalties in the event that a civil rights violation is found to have occurred and other relief is not reached (Sec. 8):

• An amount up to $16,000 if the respondent has not committed any prior civil rights violation under this Act;

• An amount up to $42,000 if the respondent has committed one prior civil rights violation under this Act within five years preceding the current charge; and

• An amount up to $70,000 if the respondent has committed two or more prior civil rights violations under this Act within seven years preceding the current charge.

• Specifies that if a subsequent violation is committed by the same individual, the time frame for higher civil penalties does not apply (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that establishes penalties for businesses that violate the Human Rights Act in Illinois.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Department of Human Rights to conduct a fact finding conference at its discretion in the case of a complaint of a civil rights violation (Sec. 5).

• Requires the Department of Human Rights to conduct a fact finding conference if both the complainant and respondent request one in the case of a complaint of a civil rights violation (Sec. 5).

• Establishes the following civil penalties in the event that a civil rights violation is found to have occurred and other relief is not reached (Sec. 8):

• An amount up to $16,000 if the respondent has not committed any prior civil rights violation under this Act;

• An amount up to $42,000 if the respondent has committed one prior civil rights violation under this Act within five years preceding the current charge; and

• An amount up to $70,000 if the respondent has committed two or more prior civil rights violations under this Act within seven years preceding the current charge.

• Specifies that if a subsequent violation is committed by the same individual, the time frame for higher civil penalties does not apply (Sec. 8).

Full Bill Text