IL HB4324

Changes Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act to require the Department of Labor to establish an administrative procedure to adjudicate wage claims and issue final binding decisions within 30 days of filing, subject to appropriation.

Creates new wage claim escrow provision requiring employers to deposit up to 10% of disputed wages with the Department during investigation, held for up to 45 days until adjudication, then released to claimant if employer found guilty of wage theft or to employer if found not guilty.

Increases administrative fees employers must pay when ordered to pay wages from $250/$500/$1,000 to $500/$1,000/$2,000 depending on wage amount owed ($3,000 or less, $3,000-$10,000, or $10,000 or more).

Adds new enforcement tools for non-payment including judgment liens on real estate, supplementary proceedings to discover assets, and penalties of 20% to the Department and 1% per day to employees for delayed payment beyond 15-35 days.

Maintains employee rights to file civil suits without exhausting administrative remedies and allows class actions by multiple employees against the same employer.