New Illinois Laws 2017: BUSINESS, COMMERCE, LABOR AND REGULATION

Nearly 200 new Illinois laws scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1. Here are the new laws governing Business, Commerce, Labor, Regulation and Licensing:

• The Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (SB 0042/PA 99-0886): Allows health care workers to petition to have their licenses reinstated if they committed certain non-sexual, nonviolent felonies that happened at least 5 years ago.

• The Common Interest Community Association Act (SB 2354/PA 99-0567):Expands the topics the board of managers may discuss in closed executive meetings related to condominiums.

• State Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Act (SB 3104/PA 99-0584): Makes the failure of reporting apprenticeship reports a violation for entities subject to the State Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Act.

• Adds two members to the Illinois Electronic Recording Commission (SB 2805/PA 99-0662)

• Employee Leasing Company Act ((HB 6225/PA 99-0726): Allows small businesses that partner with outsourcing companies to maintain its own workers' compensation insurance.

• Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act ((HB 4036/PA 99-0765): Mandates employers provide unpaid work weeks of leave to any employee who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence or has a family member who is a victim; amount of allowed time off is determined based on the size of the business

• Creates a Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights (HB 1288/ PA 99-0758)

• Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act regarding departmental wage recovery; remittance to aggrieved employee (HB 3554/ PA 99-0762).

• Employee Sick Leave Act (HB 6162/PA 99-0841): Allows employees to use personal sick leave benefits for absences due to an illness, injury, or medical appointment of an employee’s direct family members.

• Illinois Freedom to Work Act (SB 3163/ PA 99-0860): Prohibits employers from requiring non-compete clauses for low-wage employees.

• Illinois Plumbing License Law (HB 5913/PA 99-0504): Requires licensed plumbers to complete 4 hours of continuing education each year.

• Right To Privacy In the Workplace Act (HB 4999/PA 99-0610): Prohibits an employer or prospective employer to request or require an employee or applicant to authenticate or access a personal online account in the presence of the employer.

• Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act ((HB 5945/PA 99-0679): Changes the word alien to undocumented immigrant when referring to someone not legally admitted to the US; adds "documented immigrants" to the provisions of the bill.

• Illinois Insurance Code (SB 2589/PA 99-0512): Provides the Director of the Insurance Department greater authority and oversight for approving risk retention groups’ corporate governance procedures and structures

• Amends the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (SB 2783/PA 99-0577)” Considers unclaimed property abandoned after 5 years.

• Makes the failure of reporting apprenticeship reports a violation for entities subject to the State Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Act (SB 3104/PA 99-0584)

• Changes the Illinois Aeronautics Act to require pilots to register their federal flying credentials with the state for a one-time $20 fee (HB 4387/PA 99-0605).

• Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code ((HB 6060/PA 99-0684): Adds the percentage of Medicaid funded residents as a factor that DHFS must consider for purposes of payment in nursing home facilities.

• Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (SB 2972/PA 99-0747): Allows retirees to choose separation benefits rather than retirement annuities if they would be less than $100 per month .

• Illinois Department of Financial Regulation may not deny a request for a professional license solely on the basis of an applicant's criminal record unless he or she was convicted of a crime directly related to the occupation for which the license is sought; loosens rules involving discipline for license holders who owe child support; shall provide annual report on applicants thereafter (HB 5973/PA 99-0876).

• Mobile Home Landlord and Tenant Rights Act (HB 6285/PA 99-0731): Requires mobile home park owners to accept rent payments even if a violation fine has been issued.

• Amends the Condominium Property Act (SB 2359/PA 99-0849): Prevents a condominium instrument from changing the ability of the board of managers to execute bank documents by a majority vote.

• Amends the Common Interest Community Association Act ((SB 2358/ PA 99-0569): Requires that any assignment of a developer's interest be received in writing and recorded before it is effective.