IL HB2771

Prohibits employers from screening job applicants based on wage or salary history, including setting minimum or maximum salary criteria or requiring applicants to disclose prior wages as a condition of interview, employment consideration, or employment.

Prohibits employers from seeking wage or salary history information (including benefits and compensation) from current or former employers, except when salary history is public record or applicant is applying internally with the same employer.

Expands Equal Pay Act protections to include pay discrimination based on race in addition to existing sex-based discrimination protections, requiring substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility for equal pay.

Strengthens employee protections by prohibiting employer retaliation against employees who discuss wages and prohibiting wage suppression contracts; adds special damages up to $10,000 for wage history violations recoverable within 5 years.

Establishes civil penalties up to $5,000 per employee for violations, with enforcement authority granted to the Department; provides for injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees when employers violate the wage history restrictions.