A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, continues.
Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.
However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.
A listing of all new laws scheduled to go into effect on January 1, follows.
Not all measures approved by the General Assembly go into effect on the first of the year. Bills which contain a specific effective date within the language of the measure and bills that carry an “immediate” effective date can go into effect at other times of the year.
However, January 1 is the default date for a new law to become effective if there is no specific language specifying when it will become effective.
Under the Illinois Constitution, the legislature must set a “uniform effective date” for laws passed prior to June 1 of a calendar year. That uniform effective date, which is January 1, applies if the legislation does not otherwise specify when the law becomes effective.
More Business, Commerce, Labor and Licensure
Electronic Signatures (SB 1826/PA 98-0289):
This measure allows for the use of an electronic signature for plans submitted by architects, engineers and land surveyors when submitting computer-prepared plans.
EMT/Paramedics (SB 1847/PA 98-0291): Amends the Workers’ Compensation Act. Provides that the rebuttable presumption that certain health conditions arose out of and in the course of employment that applies to paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) applies only to public employees that spend their time responding to emergencies.
Hispanic Employment (HB 3270/PA 98-0329): Creates the Hispanic Employment Advisory Council in the Department of Central Management Services. Aimed at increasing Hispanic hiring.
Motorcycle Dealers (HB 2508/PA 98-0424): Prohibits motorcycle manufacturers from requiring motorcycle dealers to use manufacturer approved floor fixtures for the display of any product that is not a product of the manufacturer; purchase lighting fixtures that are to be installed in the dealership only from the manufacturer’s approved vendors; or relocate to a new or alternate facility.
Workplace Violence (HB 2590/PA 98-0430): Creates the Workplace Violence Prevention Act. Allows an employer to seek an order of protection to prevent further violence or threats of violence to an employee. This would be used in cases where the employee has been threatened or attacked at their place of work or there is a credible threat of violence at the workplace. This could include cases where domestic violence spills over to the workplace and cases where a worker is threatened by a disgruntled customer or former employee, but it also would include instances where the person making the threat has no connection to either the business or the employee.
Funeral Directors (HB 2616/PA 98-0432): Allows an owner who is not licensed under the
Funeral Directors and Embalmers Licensing Code to interact with clients while a licensed
funeral director is present.
Prevailing Wage Records (HB 3223/PA 98-0482): Imposes a number of new burdens on
non-union contractors requiring them (but not union contractors) to track and submit a
significant amount of new information on their certified payroll for work performed on a public
works project. These added reporting requirements will discourage competition for publicly financed projects, which could be more costly for taxpayers.
Commercial Code (SB 2186/PA 98-0498): Brings the state’s Uniform Commercial Code into
conformance with the federal Electronic Funds Transfer Act.
Facebook Privacy (SB 2306/PA 98-0501): The bill creates a very narrow exception for employers in the insurance industry to monitor a business-related social media website created by an employee. The legislation was needed to allow an employer to access an employee’s social media account when the employer is required under Illinois insurance laws or federal law to monitor employee communications.
Home Office Cost Statement Submission (SB 2353/PA 98-0505): Requires corporations that own chains of nursing homes to submit a copy of the federal Home Office Cost Statement to the Department of Public Health. Requests for the statement would be accessible under the Freedom of Information Act.
Wage Claims (SB 1568/PA 98-0527): Increases penalties for employers that violate the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act. Also expands the Department of Labor’s jurisdiction over claims under the Wage Payment and Collection Act, including claims of $3,000 or less.