Law Alerts
Robbins Schwartz has pioneered defining the practice of education law as a singular discipline. As we continue to expand our services, we stay involved in the ongoing development and evolution of the law.
Law Alerts
Department of Labor Final Rule Expands Employees’ Entitlement to Military Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act
By Robbins Schwartz |
On February 6, 2013, the United States Department of Labor issued a Final Rule implementing the amendments to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the National Defense Authorization Act of…
DOL Issues New Administrator’s Interpretation of Family and Medical Leave Act Leave to Care for a Disabled Adult Child
By Robbins Schwartz |
On January 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an Administrator’s Interpretation clarifying several aspects of the FMLA’s application to FMLA leave taken by an employee to take care of an…
OCR Reminds Districts That They must Provide Disabled Students with Equal Opportunities in Athletics
By Robbins Schwartz |
On January 25, 2013 the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reminding public school districts of their existing obligation to provide disabled…
Amendment to the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act Allows Governmental Units to Conduct Joint Purchases by Competitive Solicitation
By Robbins Schwartz |
The Governmental Joint Purchasing Act[1] (the “Act”) was amended in late 2012 by Public Act 97-895, and it now allows joint purchases with in-state or out-of-state cooperatives to be conducted by competitive…
Federal Court of Appeals Determines That Village May Be Liable for $80 Million for Placing Personally Identifiable Information on Parking Tickets
By Robbins Schwartz |
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Senne v. Village of Palatine, Illinois, 695 F.3d 597 (7th Cir. 2012) (en banc), determined that the Village of Palatine may have violated the…
Correction to 2013 Consolidated Election Calendar
By Robbins Schwartz |
The 2013 Consolidated Election Calendar incorrectly identified Thursday, February 7, 2013 as the last day for local election officials to certify to the election authority all public questions to be…
Illinois Supreme Court Rejects Latest Challenge to the Illinois Public School Funding System
By Robbins Schwartz |
In February 2012, we issued a Law Alert regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s education funding system. On November…
Public Act 97-1134 Relieves Local Government Clerks and School and College Board Secretaries of Election Duties on Christmas Eve
By Robbins Schwartz |
On December 3, 2012, Governor Quinn signed into law Public Act 97-1134, amending Section 1-4 of the Illinois Election Code to provide much sought-after relief to school and college board…
Compliance Reminder: Training Requirements for FOIA Officers, OMA Designees, and Elected Officials
By Robbins Schwartz |
The Open Meetings Act (OMA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) mandate training for FOIA Officers, OMA Designees, and elected/appointed officials. With a new year on the horizon, the various training requirements are…
New Law Furthers Religious Accommodations for College Students
By Robbins Schwartz |
Since January 1, 1996, Illinois’ University Religious Observances Act (the “Act”) has required public institutions of higher education to have a policy which reasonably accommodates individual students’ religious observances in…