Bill Text: IL HB4821 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Authorizes an aggrieved party to commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court within 300 calendar days after the date that a civil rights violation allegedly has been committed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-05 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4821 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-HB4821-Introduced.html
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1 | AN ACT concerning civil law.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | |||||||||||||||||||
3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | changing Section 7A-102 as follows:
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6 | (775 ILCS 5/7A-102) (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-102) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 7A-102. Procedures. | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | (A) Charge. | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | (1) Within 300 calendar days after the date that a | |||||||||||||||||||
10 | civil rights violation allegedly has been committed, a | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | charge in writing under oath or affirmation may be filed | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | with the Department by an aggrieved party or issued by the | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | Department itself under the signature of the Director or | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | the aggrieved party may commence a civil action in the | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | appropriate circuit court . | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | (2) The charge shall be in such detail as to | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | substantially apprise any party properly concerned as to | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | the time, place, and facts surrounding the alleged civil | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | rights violation. | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | (3) Charges deemed filed with the Department pursuant | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | to subsection (A-1) of this Section shall be deemed to be | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | in compliance with this subsection. | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | (A-1) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charges. |
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1 | (1) If a charge is filed with the Equal Employment | ||||||
2 | Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 300 calendar days | ||||||
3 | after the date of the alleged civil rights violation, the | ||||||
4 | charge shall be deemed filed with the Department on the | ||||||
5 | date filed with the EEOC. If the EEOC is the governmental | ||||||
6 | agency designated to investigate the charge first, the | ||||||
7 | Department shall take no action until the EEOC makes a | ||||||
8 | determination on the charge and after the complainant | ||||||
9 | notifies the Department of the EEOC's determination. In | ||||||
10 | such cases, after receiving notice from the EEOC that a | ||||||
11 | charge was filed, the Department shall notify the parties | ||||||
12 | that (i) a charge has been received by the EEOC and has | ||||||
13 | been sent to the Department for dual filing purposes; (ii) | ||||||
14 | the EEOC is the governmental agency responsible for | ||||||
15 | investigating the charge and that the investigation shall | ||||||
16 | be conducted pursuant to the rules and procedures adopted | ||||||
17 | by the EEOC; (iii) it will take no action on the charge | ||||||
18 | until the EEOC issues its determination; (iv) the | ||||||
19 | complainant must submit a copy of the EEOC's determination | ||||||
20 | within 30 days after service of the determination by the | ||||||
21 | EEOC on the complainant; and (v) that the time period to | ||||||
22 | investigate the charge contained in subsection (G) of this | ||||||
23 | Section is tolled from the date on which the charge is | ||||||
24 | filed with the EEOC until the EEOC issues its | ||||||
25 | determination. | ||||||
26 | (2) If the EEOC finds reasonable cause to believe that |
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1 | there has been a violation of federal law and if the | ||||||
2 | Department is timely notified of the EEOC's findings by | ||||||
3 | the complainant, the Department shall notify the | ||||||
4 | complainant that the Department has adopted the EEOC's | ||||||
5 | determination of reasonable cause and that the complainant | ||||||
6 | has the right, within 90 days after receipt of the | ||||||
7 | Department's notice, to either file the complainant's own | ||||||
8 | complaint with the Illinois Human Rights Commission or | ||||||
9 | commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court | ||||||
10 | or other appropriate court of competent jurisdiction. This | ||||||
11 | notice shall be provided to the complainant within 10 | ||||||
12 | business days after the Department's receipt of the EEOC's | ||||||
13 | determination. The Department's notice to the complainant | ||||||
14 | that the Department has adopted the EEOC's determination | ||||||
15 | of reasonable cause shall constitute the Department's | ||||||
16 | Report for purposes of subparagraph (D) of this Section. | ||||||
17 | (3) For those charges alleging violations within the | ||||||
18 | jurisdiction of both the EEOC and the Department and for | ||||||
19 | which the EEOC either (i) does not issue a determination, | ||||||
20 | but does issue the complainant a notice of a right to sue, | ||||||
21 | including when the right to sue is issued at the request of | ||||||
22 | the complainant, or (ii) determines that it is unable to | ||||||
23 | establish that illegal discrimination has occurred and | ||||||
24 | issues the complainant a right to sue notice, and if the | ||||||
25 | Department is timely notified of the EEOC's determination | ||||||
26 | by the complainant, the Department shall notify the |
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1 | parties, within 10 business days after receipt of the | ||||||
2 | EEOC's determination, that the Department will adopt the | ||||||
3 | EEOC's determination as a dismissal for lack of | ||||||
4 | substantial evidence unless the complainant requests in | ||||||
5 | writing within 35 days after receipt of the Department's | ||||||
6 | notice that the Department review the EEOC's | ||||||
7 | determination. | ||||||
8 | (a) If the complainant does not file a written | ||||||
9 | request with the Department to review the EEOC's | ||||||
10 | determination within 35 days after receipt of the | ||||||
11 | Department's notice, the Department shall notify the | ||||||
12 | complainant, within 10 business days after the | ||||||
13 | expiration of the 35-day period, that the decision of | ||||||
14 | the EEOC has been adopted by the Department as a | ||||||
15 | dismissal for lack of substantial evidence and that | ||||||
16 | the complainant has the right, within 90 days after | ||||||
17 | receipt of the Department's notice, to commence a | ||||||
18 | civil action in the appropriate circuit court or other | ||||||
19 | appropriate court of competent jurisdiction. The | ||||||
20 | Department's notice to the complainant that the | ||||||
21 | Department has adopted the EEOC's determination shall | ||||||
22 | constitute the Department's report for purposes of | ||||||
23 | subparagraph (D) of this Section. | ||||||
24 | (b) If the complainant does file a written request | ||||||
25 | with the Department to review the EEOC's | ||||||
26 | determination, the Department shall review the EEOC's |
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1 | determination and any evidence obtained by the EEOC | ||||||
2 | during its investigation. If, after reviewing the | ||||||
3 | EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by the | ||||||
4 | EEOC, the Department determines there is no need for | ||||||
5 | further investigation of the charge, the Department | ||||||
6 | shall issue a report and the Director shall determine | ||||||
7 | whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged | ||||||
8 | civil rights violation has been committed pursuant to | ||||||
9 | subsection (D) of this Section. If, after reviewing | ||||||
10 | the EEOC's determination and any evidence obtained by | ||||||
11 | the EEOC, the Department determines there is a need | ||||||
12 | for further investigation of the charge, the | ||||||
13 | Department may conduct any further investigation it | ||||||
14 | deems necessary. After reviewing the EEOC's | ||||||
15 | determination, the evidence obtained by the EEOC, and | ||||||
16 | any additional investigation conducted by the | ||||||
17 | Department, the Department shall issue a report and | ||||||
18 | the Director shall determine whether there is | ||||||
19 | substantial evidence that the alleged civil rights | ||||||
20 | violation has been committed pursuant to subsection | ||||||
21 | (D) of this Section. | ||||||
22 | (4) Pursuant to this Section, if the EEOC dismisses | ||||||
23 | the charge or a portion of the charge of discrimination | ||||||
24 | because, under federal law, the EEOC lacks jurisdiction | ||||||
25 | over the charge, and if, under this Act, the Department | ||||||
26 | has jurisdiction over the charge of discrimination, the |
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1 | Department shall investigate the charge or portion of the | ||||||
2 | charge dismissed by the EEOC for lack of jurisdiction | ||||||
3 | pursuant to subsections (A), (A-1), (B), (B-1), (C), (D), | ||||||
4 | (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), and (K) of this Section. | ||||||
5 | (5) The time limit set out in subsection (G) of this | ||||||
6 | Section is tolled from the date on which the charge is | ||||||
7 | filed with the EEOC to the date on which the EEOC issues | ||||||
8 | its determination. | ||||||
9 | (6) The failure of the Department to meet the | ||||||
10 | 10-business-day notification deadlines set out in | ||||||
11 | paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not impair the | ||||||
12 | rights of any party. | ||||||
13 | (B) Notice and Response to Charge. The Department shall, | ||||||
14 | within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, serve | ||||||
15 | a copy of the charge on the respondent and provide all parties | ||||||
16 | with a notice of the complainant's right to opt out of the | ||||||
17 | investigation within 60 days as set forth in subsection (C-1). | ||||||
18 | This period shall not be construed to be jurisdictional. The | ||||||
19 | charging party and the respondent may each file a position | ||||||
20 | statement and other materials with the Department regarding | ||||||
21 | the charge of alleged discrimination within 60 days of receipt | ||||||
22 | of the notice of the charge. The position statements and other | ||||||
23 | materials filed shall remain confidential unless otherwise | ||||||
24 | agreed to by the party providing the information and shall not | ||||||
25 | be served on or made available to the other party during the | ||||||
26 | pendency of a charge with the Department. The Department may |
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1 | require the respondent to file a response to the allegations | ||||||
2 | contained in the charge. Upon the Department's request, the | ||||||
3 | respondent shall file a response to the charge within 60 days | ||||||
4 | and shall serve a copy of its response on the complainant or | ||||||
5 | the complainant's representative. Notwithstanding any request | ||||||
6 | from the Department, the respondent may elect to file a | ||||||
7 | response to the charge within 60 days of receipt of notice of | ||||||
8 | the charge, provided the respondent serves a copy of its | ||||||
9 | response on the complainant or the complainant's | ||||||
10 | representative. All allegations contained in the charge not | ||||||
11 | denied by the respondent within 60 days of the Department's | ||||||
12 | request for a response may be deemed admitted, unless the | ||||||
13 | respondent states that it is without sufficient information to | ||||||
14 | form a belief with respect to such allegation. The Department | ||||||
15 | may issue a notice of default directed to any respondent who | ||||||
16 | fails to file a response to a charge within 60 days of receipt | ||||||
17 | of the Department's request, unless the respondent can | ||||||
18 | demonstrate good cause as to why such notice should not issue. | ||||||
19 | The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule promulgated by | ||||||
20 | the Department. Within 30 days of receipt of the respondent's | ||||||
21 | response, the complainant may file a reply to said response | ||||||
22 | and shall serve a copy of said reply on the respondent or the | ||||||
23 | respondent's representative. A party shall have the right to | ||||||
24 | supplement the party's response or reply at any time that the | ||||||
25 | investigation of the charge is pending. The Department shall, | ||||||
26 | within 10 days of the date on which the charge was filed, and |
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1 | again no later than 335 days thereafter, send by certified or | ||||||
2 | registered mail, or electronic mail if elected by the party, | ||||||
3 | written notice to the complainant and to the respondent | ||||||
4 | informing the complainant of the complainant's rights to | ||||||
5 | either file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission or | ||||||
6 | commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit court under | ||||||
7 | subparagraph (2) of paragraph (G), including in such notice | ||||||
8 | the dates within which the complainant may exercise these | ||||||
9 | rights. In the notice the Department shall notify the | ||||||
10 | complainant that the charge of civil rights violation will be | ||||||
11 | dismissed with prejudice and with no right to further proceed | ||||||
12 | if a written complaint is not timely filed with the Commission | ||||||
13 | or with the appropriate circuit court by the complainant | ||||||
14 | pursuant to subparagraph (2) of paragraph (G) or by the | ||||||
15 | Department pursuant to subparagraph (1) of paragraph (G). | ||||||
16 | (B-1) Mediation. The complainant and respondent may agree | ||||||
17 | to voluntarily submit the charge to mediation without waiving | ||||||
18 | any rights that are otherwise available to either party | ||||||
19 | pursuant to this Act and without incurring any obligation to | ||||||
20 | accept the result of the mediation process. Nothing occurring | ||||||
21 | in mediation shall be disclosed by the Department or | ||||||
22 | admissible in evidence in any subsequent proceeding unless the | ||||||
23 | complainant and the respondent agree in writing that such | ||||||
24 | disclosure be made. | ||||||
25 | (C) Investigation. | ||||||
26 | (1) The Department shall conduct an investigation |
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1 | sufficient to determine whether the allegations set forth | ||||||
2 | in the charge are supported by substantial evidence unless | ||||||
3 | the complainant elects to opt out of an investigation | ||||||
4 | pursuant to subsection (C-1). | ||||||
5 | (2) The Director or the Director's designated | ||||||
6 | representatives shall have authority to request any member | ||||||
7 | of the Commission to issue subpoenas to compel the | ||||||
8 | attendance of a witness or the production for examination | ||||||
9 | of any books, records or documents whatsoever. | ||||||
10 | (3) If any witness whose testimony is required for any | ||||||
11 | investigation resides outside the State, or through | ||||||
12 | illness or any other good cause as determined by the | ||||||
13 | Director is unable to be interviewed by the investigator | ||||||
14 | or appear at a fact finding conference, the witness' | ||||||
15 | testimony or deposition may be taken, within or without | ||||||
16 | the State, in the same manner as is provided for in the | ||||||
17 | taking of depositions in civil cases in circuit courts. | ||||||
18 | (4) Upon reasonable notice to the complainant and the | ||||||
19 | respondent, the Department shall conduct a fact finding | ||||||
20 | conference, unless prior to 365 days after the date on | ||||||
21 | which the charge was filed the Director has determined | ||||||
22 | whether there is substantial evidence that the alleged | ||||||
23 | civil rights violation has been committed, the charge has | ||||||
24 | been dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, or the parties | ||||||
25 | voluntarily and in writing agree to waive the fact finding | ||||||
26 | conference. Any party's failure to attend the conference |
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1 | without good cause shall result in dismissal or default. | ||||||
2 | The term "good cause" shall be defined by rule promulgated | ||||||
3 | by the Department. A notice of dismissal or default shall | ||||||
4 | be issued by the Director. The notice of default issued by | ||||||
5 | the Director shall notify the respondent that a request | ||||||
6 | for review may be filed in writing with the Commission | ||||||
7 | within 30 days of receipt of notice of default. The notice | ||||||
8 | of dismissal issued by the Director shall give the | ||||||
9 | complainant notice of the complainant's right to seek | ||||||
10 | review of the dismissal before the Human Rights Commission | ||||||
11 | or commence a civil action in the appropriate circuit | ||||||
12 | court. If the complainant chooses to have the Human Rights | ||||||
13 | Commission review the dismissal order, the complainant | ||||||
14 | shall file a request for review with the Commission within | ||||||
15 | 90 days after receipt of the Director's notice. If the | ||||||
16 | complainant chooses to file a request for review with the | ||||||
17 | Commission, the complainant may not later commence a civil | ||||||
18 | action in a circuit court. If the complainant chooses to | ||||||
19 | commence a civil action in a circuit court, the | ||||||
20 | complainant must do so within 90 days after receipt of the | ||||||
21 | Director's notice. | ||||||
22 | (C-1) Opt out of Department's investigation. At any time | ||||||
23 | within 60 days after receipt of notice of the right to opt out, | ||||||
24 | a complainant may submit a written request seeking notice from | ||||||
25 | the Director indicating that the complainant has opted out of | ||||||
26 | the investigation and may commence a civil action in the |
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1 | appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of | ||||||
2 | competent jurisdiction. Within 10 business days of receipt of | ||||||
3 | the complainant's request to opt out of the investigation, the | ||||||
4 | Director shall issue a notice to the parties stating that: (i) | ||||||
5 | the complainant has exercised the right to opt out of the | ||||||
6 | investigation; (ii) the complainant has 90 days after receipt | ||||||
7 | of the Director's notice to commence an action in the | ||||||
8 | appropriate circuit court or other appropriate court of | ||||||
9 | competent jurisdiction; and (iii) the Department has ceased | ||||||
10 | its investigation and is administratively closing the charge. | ||||||
11 | The complainant shall notify the Department that a complaint | ||||||
12 | has been filed with the appropriate circuit court by serving a | ||||||
13 | copy of the complaint on the chief legal counsel of the | ||||||
14 | Department within 21 days from the date that the complaint is | ||||||
15 | filed with the appropriate circuit court. This 21-day period | ||||||
16 | for service on the chief legal counsel shall not be construed | ||||||
17 | to be jurisdictional. Once a complainant has opted out of the | ||||||
18 | investigation under this subsection, the complainant may not | ||||||
19 | file or refile a substantially similar charge with the | ||||||
20 | Department arising from the same incident of unlawful | ||||||
21 | discrimination or harassment. | ||||||
22 | (D) Report. | ||||||
23 | (1) Each charge investigated under subsection (C) | ||||||
24 | shall be the subject of a report to the Director. The | ||||||
25 | report shall be a confidential document subject to review | ||||||
26 | by the Director, authorized Department employees, the |
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1 | parties, and, where indicated by this Act, members of the | ||||||
2 | Commission or their designated hearing officers. | ||||||
3 | (2) Upon review of the report, the Director shall | ||||||
4 | determine whether there is substantial evidence that the | ||||||
5 | alleged civil rights violation has been committed. The | ||||||
6 | determination of substantial evidence is limited to | ||||||
7 | determining the need for further consideration of the | ||||||
8 | charge pursuant to this Act and includes, but is not | ||||||
9 | limited to, findings of fact and conclusions, as well as | ||||||
10 | the reasons for the determinations on all material issues. | ||||||
11 | Substantial evidence is evidence which a reasonable mind | ||||||
12 | accepts as sufficient to support a particular conclusion | ||||||
13 | and which consists of more than a mere scintilla but may be | ||||||
14 | somewhat less than a preponderance. | ||||||
15 | (3) If the Director determines that there is no | ||||||
16 | substantial evidence, the charge shall be dismissed by the | ||||||
17 | Director and the Director shall give the complainant | ||||||
18 | notice of the complainant's right to seek review of the | ||||||
19 | notice of dismissal before the Commission or commence a | ||||||
20 | civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the | ||||||
21 | complainant chooses to have the Human Rights Commission | ||||||
22 | review the notice of dismissal, the complainant shall file | ||||||
23 | a request for review with the Commission within 90 days | ||||||
24 | after receipt of the Director's notice. If the complainant | ||||||
25 | chooses to file a request for review with the Commission, | ||||||
26 | the complainant may not later commence a civil action in a |
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1 | circuit court. If the complainant chooses to commence a | ||||||
2 | civil action in a circuit court, the complainant must do | ||||||
3 | so within 90 days after receipt of the Director's notice. | ||||||
4 | The complainant shall notify the Department that a | ||||||
5 | complaint has been filed by serving a copy of the | ||||||
6 | complaint on the chief legal counsel of the Department | ||||||
7 | within 21 days from the date that the complaint is filed in | ||||||
8 | circuit court. This 21-day period for service on the chief | ||||||
9 | legal counsel shall not be construed to be jurisdictional. | ||||||
10 | (4) If the Director determines that there is | ||||||
11 | substantial evidence, the Director shall notify the | ||||||
12 | complainant and respondent of that determination. The | ||||||
13 | Director shall also notify the parties that the | ||||||
14 | complainant has the right to either commence a civil | ||||||
15 | action in the appropriate circuit court or request that | ||||||
16 | the Department of Human Rights file a complaint with the | ||||||
17 | Human Rights Commission on the complainant's behalf. Any | ||||||
18 | such complaint shall be filed within 90 days after receipt | ||||||
19 | of the Director's notice. If the complainant chooses to | ||||||
20 | have the Department file a complaint with the Human Rights | ||||||
21 | Commission on the complainant's behalf, the complainant | ||||||
22 | must, within 30 days after receipt of the Director's | ||||||
23 | notice, request in writing that the Department file the | ||||||
24 | complaint. If the complainant timely requests that the | ||||||
25 | Department file the complaint, the Department shall file | ||||||
26 | the complaint on the complainant's behalf. If the |
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1 | complainant fails to timely request that the Department | ||||||
2 | file the complaint, the complainant may file the | ||||||
3 | complainant's complaint with the Commission or commence a | ||||||
4 | civil action in the appropriate circuit court. If the | ||||||
5 | complainant files a complaint with the Human Rights | ||||||
6 | Commission, the complainant shall notify the Department | ||||||
7 | that a complaint has been filed by serving a copy of the | ||||||
8 | complaint on the chief legal counsel of the Department | ||||||
9 | within 21 days from the date that the complaint is filed | ||||||
10 | with the Human Rights Commission. This 21-day period for | ||||||
11 | service on the chief legal counsel shall not be construed | ||||||
12 | to be jurisdictional. | ||||||
13 | (E) Conciliation. | ||||||
14 | (1) When there is a finding of substantial evidence, | ||||||
15 | the Department may designate a Department employee who is | ||||||
16 | an attorney licensed to practice in Illinois to endeavor | ||||||
17 | to eliminate the effect of the alleged civil rights | ||||||
18 | violation and to prevent its repetition by means of | ||||||
19 | conference and conciliation. | ||||||
20 | (2) When the Department determines that a formal | ||||||
21 | conciliation conference is necessary, the complainant and | ||||||
22 | respondent shall be notified of the time and place of the | ||||||
23 | conference by registered or certified mail at least 10 | ||||||
24 | days prior thereto and either or both parties shall appear | ||||||
25 | at the conference in person or by attorney. | ||||||
26 | (3) The place fixed for the conference shall be within |
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1 | 35 miles of the place where the civil rights violation is | ||||||
2 | alleged to have been committed. | ||||||
3 | (4) Nothing occurring at the conference shall be | ||||||
4 | disclosed by the Department unless the complainant and | ||||||
5 | respondent agree in writing that such disclosure be made. | ||||||
6 | (5) The Department's efforts to conciliate the matter | ||||||
7 | shall not stay or extend the time for filing the complaint | ||||||
8 | with the Commission or the circuit court. | ||||||
9 | (F) Complaint. | ||||||
10 | (1) When the complainant requests that the Department | ||||||
11 | file a complaint with the Commission on the complainant's | ||||||
12 | behalf, the Department shall prepare a written complaint, | ||||||
13 | under oath or affirmation, stating the nature of the civil | ||||||
14 | rights violation substantially as alleged in the charge | ||||||
15 | previously filed and the relief sought on behalf of the | ||||||
16 | aggrieved party. The Department shall file the complaint | ||||||
17 | with the Commission. | ||||||
18 | (1.5) If the complainant chooses to file a complaint | ||||||
19 | with the Commission without the Department's assistance, | ||||||
20 | the complainant shall notify the Department that a | ||||||
21 | complaint has been filed by serving a copy of the | ||||||
22 | complaint on the chief legal counsel of the Department | ||||||
23 | within 21 days from the date that the complaint is filed | ||||||
24 | with the Human Rights Commission. This 21-day period for | ||||||
25 | service on the chief legal counsel shall not be construed | ||||||
26 | to be jurisdictional. |
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1 | (2) If the complainant chooses to commence a civil | ||||||
2 | action in a circuit court: | ||||||
3 | (i) The complainant shall file the civil action in | ||||||
4 | the circuit court in the county wherein the civil | ||||||
5 | rights violation was allegedly committed. | ||||||
6 | (ii) The form of the complaint in any such civil | ||||||
7 | action shall be in accordance with the Code of Civil | ||||||
8 | Procedure. | ||||||
9 | (iii) The complainant shall notify the Department | ||||||
10 | that a complaint has been filed by serving a copy of | ||||||
11 | the complaint on the chief legal counsel of the | ||||||
12 | Department within 21 days from date that the complaint | ||||||
13 | is filed in circuit court. This 21-day period for | ||||||
14 | service on the chief legal counsel shall not be | ||||||
15 | construed to be jurisdictional. | ||||||
16 | (G) Time Limit. | ||||||
17 | (1) When a charge of a civil rights violation has been | ||||||
18 | properly filed, the Department, within 365 days thereof or | ||||||
19 | within any extension of that period agreed to in writing | ||||||
20 | by all parties, shall issue its report as required by | ||||||
21 | subparagraph (D). Any such report shall be duly served | ||||||
22 | upon both the complainant and the respondent. | ||||||
23 | (2) If the Department has not issued its report within | ||||||
24 | 365 days after the charge is filed, or any such longer | ||||||
25 | period agreed to in writing by all the parties, the | ||||||
26 | complainant shall have 90 days to either file the |
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1 | complainant's own complaint with the Human Rights | ||||||
2 | Commission or commence a civil action in the appropriate | ||||||
3 | circuit court. If the complainant files a complaint with | ||||||
4 | the Commission, the form of the complaint shall be in | ||||||
5 | accordance with the provisions of paragraph (F)(1). If the | ||||||
6 | complainant commences a civil action in a circuit court, | ||||||
7 | the form of the complaint shall be in accordance with the | ||||||
8 | Code of Civil Procedure. The aggrieved party shall notify | ||||||
9 | the Department that a complaint has been filed by serving | ||||||
10 | a copy of the complaint on the chief legal counsel of the | ||||||
11 | Department with 21 days from the date that the complaint | ||||||
12 | is filed with the Commission or in circuit court. This | ||||||
13 | 21-day period for service on the chief legal counsel shall | ||||||
14 | not be construed to be jurisdictional. If the complainant | ||||||
15 | files a complaint with the Commission, the complainant may | ||||||
16 | not later commence a civil action in circuit 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 | ||||||
20 | subsection, or if the time period for filing a complaint | ||||||
21 | has expired, the Department shall immediately cease its | ||||||
22 | investigation and dismiss the charge of civil rights | ||||||
23 | violation. Any final order entered by the Commission under | ||||||
24 | this Section is appealable in accordance with paragraph | ||||||
25 | (B)(1) of Section 8-111. Failure to immediately cease an | ||||||
26 | investigation and dismiss the charge of civil rights |
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