Law Alerts

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Law Alerts

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Finds that Oakton Community College’s Decision to Discontinue Employment of SURS Annuitants Was Not Age Discriminatory

On October 11, 2018, a three-judge panel on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision affirming the award of summary judgment to Oakton Community College (“Oakton”) by the…

Township Clerks Must Attest to Payouts

Effective January 1, 2019, the Illinois legislature enacted Public Act 100-0983 (the “Act”) requiring township clerks to “attest” to all payouts made by a township supervisor from a township treasury…

Recent Amendment Increases Rights of Nursing Mothers

Effective August 21, 2018, the Illinois legislature amended the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act (the “Act”) 820 ILCS 260/10 for the purpose of enhancing the rights of nursing mothers…

New Requirements for Employment Contracts That Contain a Provision for Severance Pay

Effective January 1, 2019, and pursuant to the new Government Severance Pay Act, contracts or employment agreements entered into by units of local government that contain a provision for severance pay…

New Law Exempts Certain Committee Meetings and Bargaining Strategy Sessions from Open Meetings Act Requirements

Effective January 1, 2019, Public Act 100-0768 amends the Illinois School Code to exempt meetings of the RIF Joint Committee and the PERA Joint Committee from the requirements of the Open Meetings…

New Laws Designed to Address Illinois’ Teacher Shortage

In recent weeks, Governor Rauner signed several important pieces of legislation relating to school districts’ recruitment and employment of substitute teachers. Below are a summary of these new laws. 1.…

#MeToo Movement’s Impact on Local Governments: Severance Agreements Related to Sexual Harassment or Discrimination Must be Published

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, on August 23, 2018, Public Act 100-1040 (the “Act”) was signed into law, amending the Local Records Act and establishing a new transparency requirement for…

Appellate Court Affirms That Discipline Records More Than Four Years Old Are Exempt Under FOIA

In Johnson v. Joliet Police Department, 2018 IL App (3d) 170726, the City of Joliet partially denied a FOIA request seeking an employee’s disciplinary history that was more than four years…

Supreme Court Invalidates Fair Share

The Supreme Court issued its decision in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, et al. on June 27, 2018.  The question before the Court was…

Budget Bill to Limit End of Career Salary Increases to Three Percent

The Illinois Senate and House of Representatives have passed a bipartisan budget bill (HB 3342) that Governor Rauner has pledged to sign today on Monday, June 4, 2018.  Of particular…