HB 633 establishes the Vegetable Garden Protection Act, which makes Illinois the second state in the nation to enshrine the right to cultivate a vegetable garden into state law. 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. SB 01846: Requires restaurants to serve water, milk, milk alternative or juice with childrens meals as the default beverage, rather than soda. . Employers have an obligation to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. REGIONS 7 AND 8 MITIGATIONS Both Regions 7 and 8 have reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. 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. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS Reissues Executive Orders 2020-03 through 2020-31, extending most provisions through May 29, 2020. As a result, only three new laws took effect at the start of 2021 down from over 250 the prior year. HB 02790: Allows public defenders in a county with more than three million inhabitants to provide legal representation for noncitizens in immigration cases. Suspends certain requirements, including the need for an adult use cannabis dispensing organization agent to obtain an agent identification card from IDFPR prior to beginning work at a dispensary and the need for a medical or adult use cannabis dispensing organization agent to keep an agent identification card visible at all times when in the dispensary. Also new to Illinois schools in 2022, a law prohibiting rules regarding hairstyles such as braids and twists. And candidates who are accused of deception or fraud during job interviews must be given a chance to appeal. ON NOW. Employers should not implement or keep in place any bonus or incentive payments for work attendance that could encourage employees to work while sick or, alternately, any disciplinary programs that penalize employees for taking time off. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces that it is providing a one-time bulk shipment of 1 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to K-12 public school districts outside of Chicago for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. 99) January 13, 2022 WHEREAS, since early March 2020, Illinois has faced a pandemic that has caused extraordinary sickness and loss of life, infecting over 2,520,000, and taking the lives of more than 28,800 residents; and, 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. Region 10, Suburban Cook County, has had eight consecutive days of increases in test positivity and seven days of increased hospital admissions. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through June 26, 2021. In addition, requires universal masking in private long-term care facilities. Does not limit the free exercise of religion, and indoor services must not exceed more than 10 people. Nearly 300 new laws to take effect in Illinois for 2022 - FOX 32 Chicago Local governments can still pass ordinances regulating setbacks, use of fertilizer or water, and invasive species controls as long as they do not have the effect of forbidding vegetable gardens. Gatherings of 50 or more people are prohibited, including fitness centers, private clubs, and theaters. SB 1846 amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a requirement that the default beverage for kids' meals at restaurants is unsweetened water, juice or milk. ATM thieves use glue and 'tap' function to drain accounts at Chase, Downstate judge rules assault weapons ban violates state constitution, Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm. Hundreds of new laws coming to Illinois Jan. 1, 2022 - FOX 2 An employee who is not experiencing symptoms but was tested due to close contact with someone with symptoms or a COVID-19 diagnosis should follow the guidance of public health authorities and any potential work restrictions, until they receive their test results. Permits the use of early childhood block grant funding to provide child care for children of employees performing essential work. The law gives judges discretion to keep suspects they deem dangerous locked up without bail, and amendments signed by Gov. 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 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. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through April 3, 2021. REGION 2 MITIGATIONS Region 2North-Central Illinoishas reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. This Executive Order supersedes EO 2021-24 and EO 2021-25. Reissues previous Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic through October 15, 2022. For example, suspends IDPH conducting an on-site review at each facility annually. Rescinds Executive Order 2020-13. Ensures any impacted licensed professionals are aiding in the response to the disaster. VARIOUS PROVISIONS Suspends the date of each townships annual meeting for calendar year 2020. If there is prior guidance that implies different standards from these Tier 3 Mitigations, the more restrictive standards apply. BBB shares top scams of 2022 . Suspends classroom training for private security and fingerprint vendors, as any training can be conducted online. More information on the use of face coverings is available on the Illinois Department of Human Rights website. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through November 13, 2021. However, there may be circumstances in which an individual can receive unemployment insurance at the same time as paid leave. HB 03217: Amends numerous state statutes by deleting the use of Haitian or Negro and instead including terms such as Black or African-American.. Illinois' COVID-19 Response. EXTENDS MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS A person or entity may not commence a residential eviction action. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Grant Accountability and Transparency (GATA). Suspends requiring certain courses as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma for twelfth grade students who are unable to complete coursework as a result of the suspension of in-person instruction due to COVID-19. Reissues and amends previous executive orders through May 28, 2022. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending the provisions through February 5, 2022. If two or more employees report having COVID-19 related symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, the employer must notify their local health department within 24 hours of being informed of the presence of COVID-19 symptoms or positive test results. NEW STAY AT HOME ORDER This new order allows Illinoisans to leave their home for essential activities, including for health and safety, for necessary supplies and services, for outdoor activity, for certain types of work, to take care of others, and to engage in the free exercise of religion, but otherwise requires them to stay at home or their place of residence to prevent spread of COVID-19. Further guidance concerning the use of face coverings is available on IDHRs website. Suspends requiring the director of any State facility in custody of an unclaimed cadaver to donate the cadaver to a qualified medical science institution for the advancement of medical science, for cadavers testing positive for COVID-19. Requires schools to exclude students and school personnel who are confirmed cases, probable cases, or close contacts. PDF NEWS - Illinois Yes. Additional frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and wages, benefits, and layoffs are available on IDOLs website. Permits service of pleadings to be conducted personally, by first-class mail, or by electronic mail. 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. An employer is not required to provide an accommodation that would be prohibitively expensive or unduly disruptive to the business. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS Reissues Executive Orders 2020-03 through 2020-37, extending most provisions through June 27, 2020. REGIONS 5, 7, AND 8 TIER 2 MITIGATIONS Region 5 (Southern Illinois) has been under Tier 1 of the state's resurgence mitigation plan since October 22 and Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties) and Region 8 (Kane and DuPage counties) since October 23, after seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days. The ISP can now issue combined FOID and CCL cards to qualified applicants. All employers are required to: DCEO has provided additional COVID-19 guidance for businesses, workers and residents on its website, https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/Pages/default.aspx. This law allows women who have a miscarriage, still birth, or other diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility to take 10 days of unpaid leave. SB 01673: Changes the Animal Control Act to remove the terms spayed and neutered and replace them with the word sterilized.. Executive Order 2022-11 (HTML) English Arabic However, employers are required to ensure the confidentiality of any medical information provided by an employee. TELEHEALTH All health insurers regulated by the Department of Insurance are required to cover telehealth services and reimburse providers at the same rate as in-person visits and are prohibited from imposing any cost-sharing for in-network providers. The IHRA and federal law prohibit an employer from treating employees differently based on their age or an actual or perceived disability. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through February 6, 2021. For example, employers should consider staggering shifts or designating groups of employees to consistently work on the same days and times as each other. IDES will backdate claims to the first week of unemployment due to the COVID-19-related reason. SB 58: Lowers the registration fee for trailers weighing less than 3,000 lbs. WARNING: Site will be down from 8-12PM CT. INFORMATION: Il.gov is a great site to visit. AMENDS PROVISIONS IN THE ILLINOIS SCHOOL CODE Suspends provisions in the teacher preparation programs. In response, public health restrictions and mitigations are instituted for Region 1, comprised of Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties, for restaurants and bars, meetings and social events, gaming and casinos and for all workplaces, effective October 3, 2020. SB 00968: Requires all health insurance plans, the Public Aid Code and public health benefits in Illinois to provide coverage for medically-necessary pancreatic cancer screening. HB 226: Allows students to choose whether to submit their ACT/SAT score when applying to Illinois . Suspends the requirement that a marriage license becomes effective one day after the date of issuance. Coronavirus | Law and the Workplace If an employee has a disability that affects the employees risk of contracting COVID-19 or increases the harm if the employee does contract the virus, they should request a reasonable accommodation from their employer. Employers should not assume that an older employee, or an employee with an underlying health condition, is in need of special protection or accommodation. An employer is not required to provide an accommodation that would be prohibitively expensive or unduly disruptive to the business. Also new to Illinois schools in 2022, a law prohibiting rules regarding hairstyles such as braids and. Alert Message: Anyone, 6 months of age and older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It will increase $1 per hour every year until it reaches $15 an hour. All state, county, and local law enforcement officers are instructed to cease enforcement of orders of eviction for residential premises. SCHOOL SAFETY Schools must take specific measures to ensure the safety of students and schools, including investigating the occurrence of cases, close contacts, and symptomatic individuals. HB 03097: Provides that police procedures and appropriate interactions with law enforcement during traffic stops be added to Illinois adult driver education course curriculum and the State Board of Educations curriculum. SB 01681: Adds probation officers to the list of individuals that qualify for death benefits if they are killed in the line of study. (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. Press Release - Thursday, March 02, 2023. New Illinois Laws 2022: Nearly 300 Laws Take Effect Jan. 1 - NBC Chicago Instead, a verbal attestation documented by the State constitutes a valid signature. More than 180 new laws are set to take effect on January 1, 2023, covering a range of issues big and small that affect Illinoisans. REGION 1 TIER 2 MITIGATIONS Mitigation measures were initially implemented in Region 1 on October 3, 2020. Any information collected in cases where no criminal charges are filed must be destroyed within 60 days unless there is reasonable suspicion that it contains evidence or a crime or unless it is deemed relevant to an ongoing investigation. It establishes some limitations on lawmakers' ability to lobby their former co-workers immediately after leaving office, adds some restrictions to compensated lobbying by state and local officials, and expands lobbyist registration requirements. POLITICS SPRINGFIELD GENERAL ASSEMBLY CORONAVIRUS ILLINOIS COVID 19 VACCINE LAWS. J.B. Pritzker's office announced Monday night he signed into law changes to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act. Alongside SAFE-T Act and Workers Rights Amendment, new Illinois laws address latex allergies, carjackings, miscarriages and more. The employer should also notify its employees that there has been a confirmed COVID-19 case in the workplace, while keeping the name of the sick employee confidential. Guidance regarding the ADA and the COVID-19 pandemic issued by the EEOC is available here. (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. However, the positivity rate has continued to significantly increase in these regions. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have also published guidelines and requirements for employers to follow in order to maintain a safe workplace during the pandemic. J.B. Pritzker's COVID-19 disaster declaration last year, Madigan opted to convene the Illinois House for a just single four-day emergency session. CANNABIS APPLICATIONS The deadline for cannabis grower, infuser and transporter license applications is extended, and applicants are now allowed to mail completed applications, rather than submitting in person. Requires face coverings for all Illinois residents over age 2 in indoor settings beginning Monday, August 30, 2021. IDPH filed emergency rulemakings currently in effect related to the COVID-19 pandemic for the following Parts, all of which became effective February 14, 2022 for a maximum of 150 days: Hospital Licensing Requirements, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 250 Statutory Authority: Hospital Licensing Act [210 ILCS 85] Laws that take effect in 2022: From minimum wage hikes to a ban - CNN Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on May 17 signed the state's "COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act" (HB 2877) into law, providing robust protections for Illinois renters and homeowners. 265, 268 and 42 C.F.R. M.C.C.1-24. Governor Pritzker's Executive Orders and Rules - Illinois 820 ILCS 115/5. K-12 SCHOOLS All public and private K-12 schools must close for educational purposes; however, this will not affect the availability of school buildings to supply food for students in need. To begin the process of filing a charge, individuals should complete and submit the Complainant Information Sheet located on IDHRs website. Additional resources and frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and civil rights protections under the IHRA are available on IDHRs website. HB 00155 and HB 00310: Provides that SNAP and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant and Childrens Programs may use their benefits to purchase menstrual hygiene products. The Stalking/No Contact Order law in Illinois has been amended to include a prohibition on contact made via email or social media. HB 03914: Requires Illinois Central Management Services to take positive action toward addressing systemic racism in the states hiring practices. CANNABIS IDENTIFICATION CARDS Suspends the requirement that a medical or adult use cannabis cultivation center agent must have a completed background check when applying for an agent identification card. REGIONS 2, 3, AND 5 RESUME TIER 2 MITIGATIONS Region 2 (Northern Illinois), Region 3 (North-Central Illinois), and Region 5 (Southern Illinois) have met the metrics for a reduction of mitigations. For further information or to contact the Illinois Department of Labor, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Pages/contact.aspx. 2022 Brings New Laws To Illinois: Here's What You Need To Know This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. 2022 Clay County Final Multiplier Announced. HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, PROFESSIONALS, AND VOLUNTEERS Defines healthcare facilities, health care professionals and health care volunteers. REVISES ELECTIVE SURGERIES Defines and renders assistance in support of the States response to hospitals, health care facilities, health care professionals, and health care volunteers. Executive Order 2022-04 - coronavirus.illinois.gov AMENDS EXECUTIVE ORDER 24 - Makes specific amendments to Executive Order 2021-24, to provide more detail regarding the measures schools must take to ensure the safety of students and school personnel. It also requires counties with populations above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing. Workers who have paid out-of-pocket for employer-mandated COVID-19 testing may file a claim with the Illinois Department of Labor and use the box marked Other to describe the amount of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the employee for mandatory COVID-19 testing. At a minimum, employers should follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting facilities with cases of COVID-19. HB 2790 allows public defenders to provide legal representation for non-citizens facing deportation in immigration court, but only in Cook County. Related: Illinois 1st State To Ban Lying To Minors During Interrogation. New laws in Illinois 2023: Full list of laws taking effect January 1 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. READ MORE | Illinois SAFE-T Act 2023: Pritzker signs revised version of controversial bill about cash bail. State and federal law requires exemptions for certain medical and religious reasons.