SB3547 Summary: Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

• Creates the Illinois Service Member Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (ISERRA) to consolidate and expand state-level protections for service members, incorporating federal Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) standards and providing additional state benefits.

• Requires public employees who are reserve component members to receive concurrent compensation (full public employee pay) for up to 30 days of annual training per calendar year and differential compensation (the difference between public employee pay and military pay) for other active service periods.

• Prohibits employers from denying military leave, imposing conditions on military leave, or discriminating against service members; requires advance notice of military service except in military emergencies; and mandates that service members receive minimum performance ratings based on their three-year average while on military leave.

• Establishes private right of action for service members to sue for violations; authorizes Attorney General enforcement actions with civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and punitive damages up to $50,000 for discrimination cases; creates ISERRA Advocate position within Attorney General's office for training, education, and investigation.

• Repeals five prior military employment acts (Military Leave of Absence Act, Public Employee Armed Services Rights Act, Municipal Employees Military Active Duty Act, Local Government Employees Benefits Continuation Act, and related provisions) and amends multiple other state laws to reference ISERRA.