Law Alerts
We cultivate a collaborative, inclusive culture where our team shares knowledge and stays informed on legal developments. We value diversity, as different perspectives strengthen our ability to solve problems and advocate effectively. Beyond our legal services, we prioritize building relationships through internal events that promote camaraderie and a positive environment. This culture empowers us to deliver exceptional legal services and contributions to our clients and communities.
Law Alerts
New Law Requires “Open Session” Discussion of Certain Wage Payments to IMRF Participating Employees
By Robbins Schwartz |
Effective immediately, the Local Government Wage Increase Transparency Act (PA 99-0646/HB5684) (the “Act”) prohibits units of local government from making a “disclosable payment” to certain IMRF participating employees unless the local government’s…
New Requirement for Child Bereavement Leave
By Robbins Schwartz |
On July 29, 2016, Governor Rauner signed into law the Child Bereavement Leave Act, Public Act 99-0703. The Act provides a maximum of two weeks (10 work days) of unpaid…
New FOIA Penalties for Failing to Comply with Binding PAC Opinions and Court Orders
By Robbins Schwartz |
Effective January 1, 2017, public bodies that fail to comply with binding decisions issued by the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) may face additional fines and penalties. On…
Effective Date for Local Government Travel Expense Control Act
By Robbins Schwartz |
On July 22, 2016, Governor Rauner signed the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act. In a Law Alert yesterday we described that the law, among other things, requires all school…
New Law Requires Board Regulation of Travel Reimbursement and Prohibits Certain “Entertainment” Expenditures
By Robbins Schwartz |
On July 22, 2016, Governor Rauner signed into law the Local Government Travel Expense Control Act. The law requires all school districts, community colleges and units of local government other…
Fifth District Appellate Court Rules that the Private Illinois High School Association (“IHSA”) is Not Subject to FOIA
By Robbins Schwartz |
On June 24, 2016, the Illinois Appellate Court held the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), because the IHSA is a…
TRS Early Retirement Option (ERO) Sunsets
By Robbins Schwartz |
On July 1, 2016, the TRS Early Retirement Option (ERO) provision expired. The TRS ERO provision had been in place since July 1, 2005. The ERO allowed qualified TRS members…
OMA Amended to Provide Elected and Appointed Officials Access to Closed Session Minutes and Verbatim Recordings
By Robbins Schwartz |
This question of accessibility to closed session records by members of a public body’s governing board has come up from time to time. On June 30, 2016, Governor Rauner signed…
Data Security Breaches: What You Need to Know about the Recent Amendment to the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act
By Robbins Schwartz |
The Illinois Personal Information Protection Act, which obligates “data collectors” (defined to include any public or private entity, including school districts, colleges, townships, park districts, and other local governmental entities…
DOL Issues Final Rule Raising Salary Test For Overtime Exemption To $47,476
By Robbins Schwartz |
This morning, the United States Department of Labor issued its final rule under the Fair Labor Standard Act (“FLSA”) which, among other things, raises the annual salary test from $23,000…