IL SB2487

Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to make fact finding conferences discretionary for the Department of Human Rights rather than mandatory, allowing the Department to conduct such conferences "in its discretion"

Requires the Department to hold a fact finding conference only when both the complainant and respondent submit written requests within 90 days of the charge filing date, and only if the Department has not already issued its report

Parties requesting a fact finding conference must agree in writing to grant the Department a 120-day extension to issue its report

Adds civil penalty provisions for civil rights violations: up to $16,000 for first-time violators, up to $42,500 for those with one prior violation in 5 years, and up to $70,000 for those with 2 or more violations in 7 years

Applies to charges pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory act