Public Act No. 21-109 Summary

• State agency equal employment opportunity officers must mitigate discriminatory conduct, investigate discrimination complaints (unless filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities or EEOC), and report findings to agency leadership, effective October 1, 2021.

• Witness statements and investigation documents cannot be disclosed until investigation conclusion, except to personnel investigating or adjudicating the complaint or to the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

• Hearing conferences on discrimination complaints must begin within 45 days of certification (or 20 days for certain complaints), and hearings must be de novo on the merits rather than appeals of prior commission processing.

• Contractors with 50+ employees awarded public works contracts exceeding $50,000 must develop affirmative action plans approved within 120 days; failure to obtain approval (or deemed deficiency) bars future contract bidding, and approval certificates are valid for two years.

• Employers with three or more employees must post sexual harassment information, email it to employees within three months of hire, provide two hours of training within one year, and conduct periodic supplemental training at least every ten years; discrimination complaint filing deadlines extended to 300 days for violations occurring on or after October 1, 2021.