Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois Senate Bill SB2164 Compare Versions

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1+104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB2164 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14820 ILCS 115/20 new Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes changes to administrative fees paid to the Department of Labor. Makes changes in provisions concerning the collection of unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, and fees. Effective immediately. LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB2164 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14820 ILCS 115/20 new 820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11 820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14 820 ILCS 115/20 new Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes changes to administrative fees paid to the Department of Labor. Makes changes in provisions concerning the collection of unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, and fees. Effective immediately. LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b A BILL FOR
2+104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB2164 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3+820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14820 ILCS 115/20 new 820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11 820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14 820 ILCS 115/20 new
4+820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11
5+820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14
6+820 ILCS 115/20 new
7+Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes changes to administrative fees paid to the Department of Labor. Makes changes in provisions concerning the collection of unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, and fees. Effective immediately.
8+LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b
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10+A BILL FOR
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313 1 AN ACT concerning employment.
414 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
515 3 represented in the General Assembly:
616 4 Section 5. The Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act is
717 5 amended by changing Sections 11 and 14 and by adding Section 20
818 6 as follows:
919 7 (820 ILCS 115/11) (from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11)
1020 8 Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the Department of Labor to
1121 9 inquire diligently for any violations of this Act, and to
1222 10 institute the actions for violations and penalties herein
1323 11 provided, at the request of the employee or on motion of the
1424 12 Director of Labor, and to enforce generally the provisions of
1525 13 this Act.
1626 14 An employee may file a complaint with the Department
1727 15 alleging violations of the Act by submitting a signed,
1828 16 completed wage claim application on the form provided by the
1929 17 Department and by submitting copies of all supporting
2030 18 documentation. Complaints shall be filed within one year after
2131 19 the wages, final compensation, or wage supplements were due.
2232 20 Wage claim applications shall be reviewed by the
2333 21 Department to determine whether there is cause and sufficient
2434 22 resources for investigation.
2535 23 The Department shall have the following powers:
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39+104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB2164 Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
40+820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14820 ILCS 115/20 new 820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11 820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14 820 ILCS 115/20 new
41+820 ILCS 115/11 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-11
42+820 ILCS 115/14 from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14
43+820 ILCS 115/20 new
44+Amends the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Makes changes to administrative fees paid to the Department of Labor. Makes changes in provisions concerning the collection of unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, and fees. Effective immediately.
45+LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b LRB104 12094 SPS 22192 b
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47+A BILL FOR
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3474 1 (a) To investigate and attempt equitably to adjust
3575 2 controversies between employees and employers in respect
3676 3 of wage claims arising under this Act and to that end the
3777 4 Department through the Director of Labor or any other
3878 5 person in the Department of Labor designated by him or
3979 6 her, shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena
4080 7 and examine witnesses, to issue subpoenas duces tecum
4181 8 requiring the production of such books, papers, records
4282 9 and documents as may be evidence of any matter under
4383 10 inquiry and to examine and inspect the same as may relate
4484 11 to the question in dispute. Service of such subpoenas
4585 12 shall be made by any sheriff or any person. Any court in
4686 13 this State, upon the application of the Department may
4787 14 compel attendance of witnesses, the production of books
4888 15 and papers, and the giving of testimony before the
4989 16 Department by attachment for contempt or in any other way
5090 17 as the production of evidence may be compelled before such
5191 18 court.
5292 19 (b) To take assignments of wage claims in the name of
5393 20 the Director of Labor and his or her successors in office
5494 21 and prosecute actions for the collection of wages for
5595 22 persons financially unable to prosecute such claims when
5696 23 in the judgment of the Department such claims are valid
5797 24 and enforceable in the courts. No court costs or any fees
5898 25 for necessary process and proceedings shall be payable in
5999 26 advance by the Department for prosecuting such actions. In
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70110 1 the event there is a judgment rendered against the
71111 2 defendant, the court shall assess as part of such judgment
72112 3 the costs of such proceeding. Upon collection of such
73113 4 judgments the Department shall pay from the proceeds of
74114 5 such judgment such costs to such person who is by law
75115 6 entitled to same. The Department may join in a single
76116 7 proceeding any number of wage claims against the same
77117 8 employer but the court shall have discretionary power to
78118 9 order a severance or separate trial for hearings.
79119 10 (c) To make complaint in any court of competent
80120 11 jurisdiction of violations of this Act.
81121 12 (d) In addition to the aforementioned powers, subject
82122 13 to appropriation, the Department may establish an
83123 14 administrative procedure to adjudicate claims and to issue
84124 15 final and binding administrative decisions on such claims
85125 16 subject to the Administrative Review Law. To establish
86126 17 such a procedure, the Director of Labor or her or his
87127 18 authorized representative may promulgate rules and
88128 19 regulations. The adoption, amendment or rescission of
89129 20 rules and regulations for such a procedure shall be in
90130 21 conformity with the requirements of the Illinois
91131 22 Administrative Procedure Act. If a final and binding
92132 23 administrative decision issued by the Department requires
93133 24 an employer or other party to pay wages, penalties, or
94134 25 other amounts in connection with a wage claim, and the
95135 26 employer or other party has neither: (i) made the required
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106146 1 payment within 35 days of the issuance of the final and
107147 2 binding administrative decision; nor (ii) timely filed a
108148 3 complaint seeking review of the final and binding
109149 4 administrative decision pursuant to the Administrative
110150 5 Review Law in a court of competent jurisdiction, the final
111151 6 and binding administrative decision is a debt due and owed
112152 7 to the State and may be collected using all remedies
113153 8 available under the law, including, but not limited to,
114154 9 those found in Article XII of the Code of Civil Procedure.
115155 10 The findings, decision, and order of the Department may be
116156 11 enforced in the same manner as any civil judgment entered
117157 12 by a court of competent jurisdiction Department may file a
118158 13 verified petition against the employer or other party to
119159 14 enforce the final administrative decision and to collect
120160 15 any amounts due in connection therewith in the circuit
121161 16 court of any county where an official office of the
122162 17 Department is located.
123163 18 Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any employee
124164 19 from making complaint or prosecuting his or her own claim for
125165 20 wages. Any employee aggrieved by a violation of this Act or any
126166 21 rule adopted under this Act may file suit in circuit court of
127167 22 Illinois, in the county where the alleged violation occurred
128168 23 or where any employee who is party to the action resides,
129169 24 without regard to exhaustion of any alternative administrative
130170 25 remedies provided in this Act. Actions may be brought by one or
131171 26 more employees for and on behalf of themselves and other
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142182 1 employees similarly situated.
143183 2 Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the authority
144184 3 of the State's Attorney of any county to prosecute actions for
145185 4 violation of this Act or to enforce the provisions thereof
146186 5 independently and without specific direction of the Department
147187 6 of Labor.
148188 7 (Source: P.A. 103-201, eff. 1-1-24.)
149189 8 (820 ILCS 115/14) (from Ch. 48, par. 39m-14)
150190 9 Sec. 14. Penalties.
151191 10 (a) Any employee not timely paid wages, final
152192 11 compensation, or wage supplements by his or her employer as
153193 12 required by this Act shall be entitled to recover through a
154194 13 claim filed with the Department of Labor or in a civil action,
155195 14 but not both, the amount of any such underpayments and damages
156196 15 of 5% of the amount of any such underpayments for each month
157197 16 following the date of payment during which such underpayments
158198 17 remain unpaid. In a claim filed with the Department and
159199 18 adjudicated through an administrative hearing, the damages of
160200 19 5% shall accrue for each month that the underpayments remain
161201 20 unpaid until the date the final order and decision of the
162202 21 Department becomes a debt due and owed to the State. In a civil
163203 22 action, such employee shall also recover costs and all
164204 23 reasonable attorney's fees.
165205 24 (a-5) In addition to the remedies provided in subsections
166206 25 (a), (b), and (c) of this Section, any employer or any agent of
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177217 1 an employer, who, being able to pay wages, final compensation,
178218 2 or wage supplements and being under a duty to pay, willfully
179219 3 refuses to pay as provided in this Act, or falsely denies the
180220 4 amount or validity thereof or that the same is due, with intent
181221 5 to secure for himself or other person any underpayment of such
182222 6 indebtedness or with intent to annoy, harass, oppress, hinder,
183223 7 delay or defraud the person to whom such indebtedness is due,
184224 8 upon conviction, is guilty of:
185225 9 (1) for unpaid wages, final compensation or wage
186226 10 supplements in the amount of $5,000 or less, a Class B
187227 11 misdemeanor; or
188228 12 (2) for unpaid wages, final compensation or wage
189229 13 supplements in the amount of more than $5,000, a Class A
190230 14 misdemeanor.
191231 15 Each day during which any violation of this Act continues
192232 16 shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
193233 17 Any employer or any agent of an employer who violates this
194234 18 Section of the Act a subsequent time within 2 years of a prior
195235 19 criminal conviction under this Section is guilty, upon
196236 20 conviction, of a Class 4 felony.
197237 21 (b) Any employer who has been demanded or ordered by the
198238 22 Department or ordered by the court to pay wages, final
199239 23 compensation, or wage supplements due an employee shall be
200240 24 required to pay a non-waivable administrative fee to the
201241 25 Department of Labor in the amount of $500 $250 if the amount
202242 26 ordered by the Department as wages owed is $3,000 or less; $750
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213253 1 $500 if the amount ordered by the Department as wages owed is
214254 2 more than $3,000, but less than $10,000; and $1,250 $1,000 if
215255 3 the amount ordered by the Department as wages owed is $10,000
216256 4 or more. Any employer who has been so demanded or ordered by
217257 5 the Department or ordered by a court to pay such wages, final
218258 6 compensation, or wage supplements and who fails to seek timely
219259 7 review of such a demand or order as provided for under this Act
220260 8 and who fails to comply within 15 calendar days after such
221261 9 demand or within 35 days of an administrative or court order is
222262 10 entered shall also be liable to pay a penalty to the Department
223263 11 of Labor of 20% of the amount found owing and a penalty to the
224264 12 employee of 1% per calendar day of the amount found owing for
225265 13 each day of delay in paying such wages to the employee. In a
226266 14 claim filed with the Department and adjudicated through an
227267 15 administrative hearing, the penalty of 1% shall accrue for
228268 16 each calendar day that the underpayments remain unpaid until
229269 17 the date the final order and decision of the Department
230270 18 becomes a debt due and owed to the State. All moneys recovered
231271 19 as fees and civil penalties under this Act, except those owing
232272 20 to the affected employee, shall be deposited into the Wage
233273 21 Theft Enforcement Fund, a special fund which is hereby created
234274 22 in the State treasury. Moneys in the Fund may be used for
235275 23 enforcement of this Act and for outreach and educational
236276 24 activities of the Department related to the recovery of unpaid
237277 25 or underpaid compensation and the disbursement of moneys to
238278 26 affected parties.
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249289 1 (b-5) Penalties and fees under this Section may be
250290 2 assessed by the Department and recovered in a civil action
251291 3 brought by the Department in any circuit court or in any
252292 4 administrative adjudicative proceeding under this Act. In any
253293 5 such civil action or administrative adjudicative proceeding
254294 6 under this Act, the Department shall be represented by the
255295 7 Attorney General.
256296 8 (c) Any employer, or any agent of an employer, who
257297 9 discharges or in any other manner discriminates against any
258298 10 employee because that employee has made a complaint to his or
259299 11 her employer, to the Director of Labor or his or her authorized
260300 12 representative, in a public hearing, or to a community
261301 13 organization that he or she has not been paid in accordance
262302 14 with the provisions of this Act, or because that employee has
263303 15 caused to be instituted any proceeding under or related to
264304 16 this Act, or because that employee has testified or is about to
265305 17 testify in an investigation or proceeding under this Act, is
266306 18 guilty, upon conviction, of a Class C misdemeanor. An employee
267307 19 who has been unlawfully retaliated against shall be entitled
268308 20 to recover through a claim filed with the Department of Labor
269309 21 or in a civil action, but not both, all legal and equitable
270310 22 relief as may be appropriate. In a civil action, such employee
271311 23 shall also recover costs and all reasonable attorney's fees.
272312 24 (d) Except as provided under subsections (a), (b), and
273313 25 (c), an employer who fails to furnish an employee or former
274314 26 employee with a pay stub as required by this Act or commits any
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285325 1 other violation of this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty
286326 2 of up to $500 per violation payable to the Department. In
287327 3 determining the amount of the penalty under this subsection,
288328 4 the Department shall consider the appropriateness of the
289329 5 penalty to the size of the business of the employer charged and
290330 6 the gravity of the violation.
291331 7 (e) Any unpaid wages, penalties, damages, fines, or fees
292332 8 remaining unpaid after the judicial review of the Department's
293333 9 final decision, or the failure to pursue judicial review
294334 10 procedures under the Administrative Review Law, is a debt due
295335 11 and owed to the State and may be collected using all remedies
296336 12 available under the law.
297337 13 (f) After the expiration of the period in which judicial
298338 14 review under the Administrative Review Law may be sought for a
299339 15 final administrative decision, unless stayed by a court of
300340 16 competent jurisdiction, the findings, decision, and order of
301341 17 the Department may be enforced in the same manner as a judgment
302342 18 entered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
303343 19 (Source: P.A. 102-50, eff. 7-9-21; 103-182, eff. 6-30-23;
304344 20 103-953, eff. 1-1-25.)
305345 21 (820 ILCS 115/20 new)
306346 22 Sec. 20. Procedural changes from prior law. In accordance
307347 23 with Section 4 of the Statute on Statutes, any procedural
308348 24 change as compared to prior law affected by this amendatory
309349 25 Act of the 104th General Assembly shall be applied
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320360 1 retroactively. Any substantive change as compared to prior law
321361 2 affected by this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly
322362 3 shall be applied prospectively only. Any changes to the
323363 4 remedies available to redress a legal violation are procedural
324364 5 in nature.
325-6 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
326-7 becoming law.
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