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…
Category: Schools and Education
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 FOIA prohibits disclosure of disciplinary records older than 4 years
Disciplinary Records Older Than 4 Years Prohibited from Disclosure in Response to FOIA Request By: Robert B. McCoy robert.mccoy@mhtlaw.com Public employers have sometimes attempted to prevent the disclosure of an employee’s disciplinary records in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request under the theory that a request for such records is an unwarranted invasion…
Janus vs. AFSCME: Unions Lose Fair Share and Agency Fees
What must public employers do after Janus? By Joshua Herman email: joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com Janus v. AFSCME, a 5-4 decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”) issued June 27, 2018, reversed 40 years of law allowing governments and unions to withhold “fair share” deductions from non-union public employees without their consent to subsidize union…
Ashley’s Law: What Does It Mean for Medical Marijuana in Schools?
Illinois lawmakers pass Ashley’s Law to allow students to use medical marijuana on school grounds. By: Kateah M. McMasters kateah.mcmasters@mhtlaw.com On May 17, 2018, the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 4870 (HB 4870) which, if signed by Governor Rauner, will allow students with a valid prescription for medical marijuana to administer, consume or use…
Court Orders New Overtime Rules Delayed
Employers Question How To Pay Overtime Now That New Overtime Rules Delayed By Joshua Herman email: joshua.herman@mhtlaw.com For now, implementation of new federal overtime regulations has been delayed. A federal court halted the December 1, 2016, implementation of the Department of Labor’s (“DOL’s”) new regulations doubling the minimum annual salary from $23,660 ($455 weekly) to…
What Schools Need to Know Now about the New FLSA Overtime Regulations and Other Legal Developments
We invite school administrators, board members and other interested parties to review how new Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime rules will automatically extend overtime pay to over 4 million newly eligible employees. The October 26, 2016 lunch-and-learn seminar will also address new travel and expense reimbursement rules, as well as practical advice on implementing…