BRIDGE PHASE - Safely expands activities for businesses and organizations that were limited during prior mitigation phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. SB 00471: Requires insurers who issue or deliver group accident and health policies to ensure that insured individuals have access to treatment for emotional, mental, nervous or substance use disorders or conditions. When maintaining a 6-foot social distance may not always be possible, visitors should be encouraged to wear face coverings; and. 2022 Clay County Final Multiplier Announced. SB 512 establishes the Preventing Youth Vaping Act, which gives the attorney general's office additional authority to go after violators of e-cigarette regulations. Expanding on the anti-discrimination law that went into effect in 2021 and applies to schools, this law changes the Illinois Human Rights Act to include traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks and twists to combat hair discrimination in the workplace. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is available for up to 39 weeks for individuals whose unemployment is attributable to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for other unemployment benefits. . STAY AT HOME All individuals must stay at home, with exceptions for essential activities, essential government functions, and essential businesses and operations. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was created to help self-employed individuals, freelancers, and independent contractors who lose work as a result of specific reasons set forth in federal law attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance. If an employee reports having any COVID-19 related symptoms, the employer should encourage the employee to contact their health care provider. For example, employers should consider staggering shifts or designating groups of employees to consistently work on the same days and times as each other. SB 2122 amends the Juvenile Court Act to make confessions to crimes committed by people 17 and younger inadmissible in court whenever a law enforcement officer knowingly engaged in deception. SB 01892: An amendment to the Code of Corrections will take effect, making possession of child pornography when the child is in a household or a family member of the defendant a non-probational offense that will require jail time in sentencing. STATE FAIRS - Cancels the State Fairs in Springfield and DuQuoin scheduled for 2020, to protect the health and safety of fairgoers, entertainers, competitors, vendors, employees, and those living in the surrounding areas. SUSPENDS PROVISIONS IN THE ILLINOIS SCHOOL CODE Suspends requirements on the administration of assessments, school terms, and the calculation of daily pupil attendance. This Executive Order is effective October 25 and supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. The determination of whether work is suitable and whether there is good cause for refusing it is made on a case- by-case basis through the Illinois Department of Employment Securitys (IDES) hearing andadjudication process. Second, the PUA program has been established for individuals who are unemployed for specific reasons attributable to COVID-19 and not covered by the states regular unemployment insurance program. The EEOC has issued guidance stating that due to the acknowledgment of COVID-19 community spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities, employers may take employees temperatures. Reissues previous Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic through December 9, 2022. The law will also restore sick days used during the 2021-2022 school year. The SAFE-T Act also requires that all Illinois police officers wear body cameras by 2025, establishes a more defined system for police complaints, and requires more law enforcement training. SPORTS WAGERING - Suspends requiring an in-person creation of a sports wagering account, in order to participate in sports wagering offered over the internet or through a mobile application. HB 00226: Public universities will now be required to permit students to choose whether they submit ACT and SAT scores when applying for admission. SB 00119: Public health departments at the state and local level may not regulate the sale of lemonade or other non-alcoholic drinks or mixed beverages by a person under the age of 16. to the workplace can practice social distancing. The process for filing a charge of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation can be started by completing a Complainant Information Sheet (CIS) and forwarding it to IDHR by email, fax, or mail. Employees who believe they have been retaliated against may want to consider consulting with an attorney. HB 00122: Ends early termination fees for customers of telephone, cellphone, television, internet, energy, medical alert system or water services who die before the end of their contracts. Generally, isolation can be discontinued when all three conditions are met: 10 days have passed since symptoms started, no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever- reducing medications, and other symptoms are improving. MARRIAGE LICENSES To obtain a marriage license, couples may appear before the county clerk and conduct a marriage ceremony using two-way audio-video communication technology, if certain conditions are met. It will soon be a new year, and that means that new laws are set to go into effect, with nearly 300. To promote scheduling consistency, employers should give employees the opportunity to provide input on their preferred schedule. Suspends classroom training for private security and fingerprint vendors, as any training can be conducted online. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended many of the telehealth flexibilities authorized during the COVID-19 public health emergency through December 31, 2024. Nearly 300 new laws will take effect in Illinois at the start of the new year. Individuals must continue to practice social distancing, maintaining at least a six-foot distance, and wear a face covering in public places or when working. Such an agreement or contract would violate public policy, as expressed in public health and occupational safety laws, and would not be enforceable against the employee. For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois' response and guidance, call 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov This Executive Order is effective November 11 and supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, in a vote of 64-52 the Illinois House passed an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act (Act) that would allow employers to enforce work rules and policies relating to COVID-19 vaccinations and testing and prevent individuals from using the Act to challenge COVID-19 rules and policies. SB 1879 amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code to ban fishing for carp, catfish, buffalo, suckers, gar, bowfin, shad and drum with a pitchfork, spear gun, bow and arrow, slingshot bow, spear or gig on or across from any public right of way or highway in the state. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. In response, additional public health restrictions and mitigations will be implemented for the Metro East region for restaurants and bars, meetings and social events, gaming and casinos, and for all workplaces, effective September 2, 2020. The employer should also conduct contact tracing, notify all employees who were in close contact with the sick employee as soon as possible, and allow those employees to quarantine for 14 days. REGION 7 MITIGATIONS Region 7 has reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. Under the IHRA and federal law, employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees if, as a result of a disability, they need an accommodation to perform their jobs. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited, including fitness centers, private clubs, and theaters. Per guidance from the U.S. SB 02354: Students can now take one year of forensic speech and debate in high school as a substitute for music, art or foreign language requirements. READ MORE: Jelani Day's family looking for answers after missing ISU student found dead. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through October 16, 2021. SUSPENDS PROVISIONS IN THE ILLINOIS VEHICLE CODE Suspends the repossession of vehicles; however, individuals must still comply with any obligation they may have to a loan agreement or otherwise. Yes. BBB shares top scams of 2022 . When applying for benefits, an individual must report any paid leave to which they are entitled. Those who agree to fingerprinting are granted streamlined processes for renewing FOID and CCL cards. CHICAGO A slate of new city, county and state laws in 2022 will affect education, criminal justice, deportation and eating out for Chicagoans. Press Release - Thursday, March 02, 2023. More information about coronavirus waivers and flexibilities is available on . Requests for accommodations should be evaluated and resolved on a case-by-case basis. Chicago-based employees may. COVID-19 diagnostic testing should generally be covered by private insurance and available at no cost to individuals who do not have insurance under federal reimbursement programs or at a community based testing site. According to the Kankakee County State's Attorney, the ruling means the pre-trial release and bail reforms will not take effect on Jan. 1 in the 65 Illinois counties who challenged the law. If you are concerned that your employer is not adhering to the required state COVID-19 workplace safety guidelines, you may contact the Workplace Rights Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General at (844) 740-5076 or workplacerights@atg.state.il.us Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees ability to engage in protected concerted activity for mutual aid or protection in both union and non-union settings. Employers are required to follow the Governors Executive Orders. Filing paperwork to take your abuser to court should not be dangerous. (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. SB 539 includes amendments to Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the Lobbyist Registration Act touted as ethics reforms by members of the Democratic Party's legislative supermajority . Employers may require an employee to take a COVID-19 test or submit a medical verification clearing them to return to work after they have experienced symptoms associated with COVID-19, been in close contact with an individual who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, or tested positive for COVID- 19, been sick, or experienced COVID-19 related symptoms.