Suspends specific provisions in the Hospital Licensing Act, the Hospital Report Card Act, the Department of Public Health Powers and Duties Law, the Illinois Adverse Health Care Events Reporting Law of 2005, and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. REGIONS 11 MITIGATIONS Region 11, the City of Chicago, has triggered both a sustained increase in COVID-19 related hospitalizations over the last 10 days and averaged greater than or equal to an 8 percent positivity rate for three consecutive days. The change permits the creation of five cultural districts every year and a total of 15 at any given time. Employers are further prohibited from retaliating against an employee when the employee discloses information that they have reasonable cause to believe is a violation of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation. SB 539 includes amendments to Illinois Governmental Ethics Act and the Lobbyist Registration Act touted as ethics reforms by members of the Democratic Party's legislative supermajority . You shouldn't be on the hook for tickets when your car gets stolen. . REGION 2 MITIGATIONS Region 2North-Central Illinoishas reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. Minimum wage bump coming, Juneteenth to become a state holiday: Here REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through January 8, 2022. JB Pritzker in December expanded the list of detainable offenses and included some non-violent crimes. If an employee believes they have been fired, demoted, or harassed because they are being treated for, or recovering from, COVID- 19, they may file a charge with IDHR. A complete list of all new Illinois laws taking effect next year can be found here. SB 00139: Allows a person currently married to request a copy of their marriage license with the term spouse rather than any gender-identifying language. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announces that it is providing a one-time bulk shipment of 1 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to K-12 public school districts outside of Chicago for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year. Extends the suspension of on-site learning in K-12 schools, with schools transitioning from Act of God Days to Remote Learning Days. (COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. ON NOW. The determination of whether work is suitable and whether there is good cause for refusing it is made on a case- by-case basis through the Illinois Department of Employment Securitys (IDES) hearing andadjudication process. HB 226: Allows students to choose whether to submit their ACT/SAT score when applying to Illinois . The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) have also published guidelines and requirements for employers to follow in order to maintain a safe workplace during the pandemic. One of the most comprehensive, and likely the most contentious, laws to be signed into law this year was the Illinois SAFE-T Act, a massive criminal justice reform legislative package updating rules governing jail time while awaiting trial and the use of force by police. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through February 5, 2022. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through August 21, 2021. SECRETARY OF STATE OPERATIONS During the duration of the disaster proclamation and 30 days thereafter, the urgent need to address the expiration of vehicle registrations, driver's licenses, permits, parking decals, Illinois identification cards and hearings pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code is suspended, as are the filing of statements of economic interest. The SAFE-T Act also requires that all Illinois police officers wear body cameras by 2025, establishes a more defined system for police complaints, and requires more law enforcement training. This shall not be construed as relieving any individual of the obligation to pay rent or comply with a lease or rental agreement. ADDITIONAL METRO EAST MITIGATIONS The Metro East regions positivity rate has continued to increase to over 10 percent, despite mitigation steps put in place through Executive Order 51. Business can continue with employees working from home. For example, suspends IDPH conducting an on-site review at each facility annually. If there is prior guidance that implies different standards from these Tier 3 Mitigations, the more restrictive standards apply. ", Related: Another Watchdog Vacancy Means Complaints Against Lawmakers Won't Be Addressed. Watch Live. Employees can contact their local health department or IDPH at 1-800-889-3931 or by emailing dph.sick@illinois.gov. CHICAGO (WLS) -- With the start of the New Year, there is always a new set of laws going into effect. Gov. Pritzker Announces Change to COVID-19 Requirements in Illinois ISP will now have a public database of all guns reported stolen that can be checked prior to the transfer of any firearm to prevent inadvertent transfers of stolen weapons. Nearly 300 new laws will take effect in Illinois at the start of the new year. The process for filing a charge of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation can be started by completing a Complainant Information Sheet (CIS) and forwarding it to IDHR by email, fax, or mail. STAY AT HOME All individuals must stay at home, with exceptions for essential activities, essential government functions, and essential businesses and operations. Nearly 300 new laws will take effect in Illinois at the start of the new year. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. Those who agree to fingerprinting are granted streamlined processes for renewing FOID and CCL cards. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. For further information or to contact the Illinois Department of Labor, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Pages/contact.aspx. Includes Executive Order 2020-30, which prohibits residential evictions. Employers should wait 24 hours before cleaning or disinfecting where feasible, and proceed to disinfect the area using proper precautions, such wearing gloves and masks. However, employees may be entitled to use vacation or other paid time off in accordance with their employers established leave program. LARGE GATHERINGS Gatherings of 1,000 or more people are prohibited, including concerts, conferences and sporting events as well as closes the James R. Thompson Center to the public, except for necessary state business. Courts are not required grant such requests from state's attorneys. Permits the use of early childhood block grant funding to provide child care for children of employees performing essential work. REGIONS 7 AND 8 MITIGATIONS Both Regions 7 and 8 have reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. With 2022 upon us, here are some of the new laws that went into effect January 1. At a minimum, employers should follow CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting facilities with cases of COVID-19. MEDICAL SCIENCE INSTITUTIONS Suspends medical science institutions from holding indigent cadavers for 30 days after receipt from the State facility, for cadavers testing positive for COVID-19. Employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 can be asked to leave the workplace and stay at home until it has been 10 days since their symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications) and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving.3An employee with a medical condition that causes symptoms similar to COVID-19 may provide their employer with medical documentation that their symptoms are due to a different condition in order to continue reporting to work. The new state law establishes eviction-sealing provisions for cases filed before and during the coronavirus pandemic and prohibits tenant screening companies from reporting sealed eviction records. Other potential accommodations could include moving the employees workstation to a less crowded or better ventilated area or re-examining job duties to minimize interaction with other coworkers or members of the public. REGION 5 MITIGATIONS Region 5 has reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. An individual temporarily laid off in this situation can qualify for benefits if the individual is available for and actively seeking work. All state agencies must submit annual reports showing how they have worked to increase the diversity of their workforce. State and federal law requires exemptions for certain medical and religious reasons. On January 7, 2022, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) filed peremptory rules adopting the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). And candidates who are accused of deception or fraud during job interviews must be given a chance to appeal. HB 03445: A person who seeks medical assistance for an opioid overdose will have immunity from prosecution for possession. Illinois reported 735 new COVID cases and 0 related deaths Monday as statewide seven-day test positivity dropped to 1.5%. SB 00500: Prevents hospitals, physicians, surgeons or procurement group from discriminating against individuals solely on the basis of having a mental or physical disability by deeming that person ineligible to receive an anatomical gift or organ transplant. SB 00154: Allows tenants in Illinois Housing Development Authority-funded housing to keep at least two cats, or one dog that weighs under 50 pounds, regardless of breed or height. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through May 1, 2021. Applying for and being denied benefits under the regular program is the first step in establishing eligibility under the new temporary program. The Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act requires that, after separation from employment, employees must be paid all final compensation, including bonus payments, vacation pay, wages and commissions on their next regularly scheduled payday. For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois' response and guidance, call 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov 265, 268 and 42 C.F.R. SPORTS WAGERING - Suspends requiring an in-person creation of a sports wagering account, in order to participate in sports wagering offered over the internet or through a mobile application. Illinois is a strong union state and just got stronger after voters approved the Workers Rights Amendment in the 2022 midterm election. These laws also protect employees from retaliation when they engage in conduct to oppose discrimination or harassment, or when they raise safety and health concerns with their employer or coworkers.