New Illinois Laws 2020: Labor

Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act-Employee Definition (HB 253) - Removes Graduate Assistants (GAs) from the "student" classification, allowing them to be classified as employees, which grants them the same rights as other employees including the right to collectively bargain.

Worker’s Comp-Ability to Pay (HB 269) - Regarding enforcement of workers' compensation enforcement and penalties.

Labor Employee Class (HB 2301) - Requires union representatives or attorneys who have represented unions in workers compensation cases to be appointed to boards, commissions and panels that deal with workers compensation and related issues.

Youth Training and Education in the Building Trades Program (HB 2304) - Creates the Youth Training and Education in the Building Trades Program with the Department of Human Services and the Illinois Housing Development Authority to train at-risk youth for careers in the building trades.

Video Interview Act (HB 2557) - Requires employers to obtain consent from potential employees being interviewed if the interview uses artificial intelligence analysis.

Gratuities-Retention-Prohibition (HB 3405) - Provides that gratuities to employees are the property of the employees and may not be retained by an employer.

Subcontractor Payments (SB 104) - Sets requirements to ensure prompt payment of a subcontractor.

Attorney General Worker Protection Unit (SB 161) - Creates a new Worker Protection Unit within the Attorney General's office, which would be empowered to enforce employment laws.

Personnel Code-Eligibility Lists (SB 190) - Attempts to assist individuals with disabilities who want to work for the State of Illinois by requiring CMS send the Successful Disability Opportunities List to any agency that is looking to hire.

Creates Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs (SB 534) - Creates the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs within the Illinois Department of Labor and creates an advisory board of 12 legislators (three from each caucus, appointed by the caucus leader).

State Contracting Task Force (SB 1899) - Delays what is known as the "speed bump" until 2022, which would decrease unemployment benefits and increase unemployment taxes on employers.

Study on Expanding Apprenticeship Programs (SB 2024) - Requires the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to conduct a study on the potential expansion of apprenticeship programs and publish it by June 1, 2020.

Source: Illinois State Democrats