Contact Us NowDon’t Hit Pause! – Illinois Attorney General Issues PAC Formal Opinion 20-007 Clarifies Requirements for Livestreamed Remote Public Meetings under the Open Meetings Act By: Scott Brunton scott.brunton@mhtlaw.com During the global COVID-19 pandemic, American society has proven resilient in many ways. We have substantially altered the ways in which we carry out business transactions and…
ILLINOIS APPELLATE COURT PROVIDES GUIDANCE AS TO WHEN MUNICIPALITIES MAY PARTICIPATE IN POLICE OR FIREFIGHTER PENSION BOARD HEARINGS
Court affirms Pension Board’s denial of City’s request to intervene in firefighter line of duty disability hearing. By: Robert B. McCoy robert.mccoy@mhtlaw.com Illinois municipalities with a population of 5,000 or more are required to create a pension fund for firefighters or police officers in their employ. Those municipalities have a substantial financial interest in the…
Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies use of Paid Sick Leave Following Birth of a Child
Teacher denied right to continue paid maternity leave following intervening summer break. By: Katherine L. Swise katherine.swise@mhtlaw.com In the case of Dynak v. Board of Education of Wood Dale School District No.7 (2020 IL 125062), the Illinois Supreme Court was asked whether accrued paid sick leave may be used to extend a teacher’s maternity leave…
New Labor Law SB 1754 Requires Illinois Public Bodies To Give Unions Employee Information and Creates New FOIA Exemptions and Unfair Labor Practices
By: Joshua D. Herman joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com On December 20, 2019, Illinois passed SB 1754 into law, imposing new obligations on public employers. Illinois public employers (governments, school districts, park districts and other public organizations) will now have to provide regular updates and information regarding their employees to public labor unions, as well as face new obligations…
Illinois Workplace Transparency Act Imposes New Requirements on Employers
By: Joshua D. Herman joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com The new Workplace Transparency Act imposes significant obligations on Illinois employers beginning January 1, 2020. The Act significantly changes the legal obligations of most employers throughout Illinois, including governments and elected and appointed officials. The Act was passed to ensure workplaces are free from unlawful discrimination and harassment by, among…
Employers must tackle new Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act
Recent Amendments Clarify Employer Right to Discipline for Off-Duty Use and Possession of Cannabis By: Joshua D. Herman joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com Beginning January 1, 2020, it will be lawful for adults in Illinois over the age of 21 to consume and possess cannabis in accordance with the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (“CRTA”). The CRTA limits…
Equal Pay Act prohibits salary history inquiries
Employers Can No Longer Ask About or Look into Salary History By: Joshua D. Herman joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com Effective September 29, 2019, Public Act 101-0177 (the “Act”) made significant changes to the Illinois Equal Pay Act affecting the equality of pay and the types of inquiries employers may make of employees. Generally, the Act makes it unlawful…
Changes to Ashley’s Law: What Does It Mean for Medical Marijuana in Schools?
Governor signs bill expanding the administration of medical marijuana to students. By: Kateah M. McMasters kateah.mcmasters@mhtlaw.com On August 12, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 455 expanding “Ashley’s Law”, which currently allows a parent, guardian or designated caregiver to administer medical marijuana to a student with a valid prescription on school grounds and on school…
Illinois Human Rights Act will apply to almost all employers in July of 2020
By: Joshua D. Herman joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com On August 21, 2019, Governor Pritzker signed Public Act 101-0430 into law, amending the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”). Previously, the IHRA applied only to employers having 15 or more employees, except in cases of pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and disability discrimination. Effective July 1, 2020, the IHRA’s provisions apply…
2019 Elected and Appointed Officials Municipal Law Seminar – May 11, 2019
On May 11, 2019, lawyers of Miller, Hall & Triggs, LLC will host the firm’s twelfth biennial Municipal Law Seminar for Elected and Appointed Officials from 8:30 am until noon, with lunch served thereafter. Register here. This seminar focuses upon topics of interest to current and newly elected Mayors and council members, Presidents and Trustees,…