New Laws in Illinois Effective in 2017

Patient Rights

Senate Bill 1564

Health care personnel, physicians or health care facilities are required to provide patients with more comprehensive information that will allow him or her to make informed medical decisions for his or her personal best interest and health. The information required includes condition, prognosis, treatment options and the risks, and benefits of respective treatment options. This information requirement includes when religious or other beliefs of the medical personnel or facility inhibit the ability to permit, perform or participate in treatment options.

Extension of Sick Leave

House Bill 6162

Employees can now use personal sick leave benefits provided by his or her employer for medical appointments, illnesses or injuries of immediate family members. This extension now specifically includes children, spouse, siblings, parents, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, grandchildren, grandparents, or stepparents.

Domestic Worker’s Bill of Rights

House Bill 1288

Establishes a Bill of Rights for domestic workers and amends the definition of “employee” in The Minimum Wage Law, One Day Rest in Seven Act, Wages of Women and Minors Act and Illinois Human Rights Act to now include domestic workers.

Orders of Protection

House Bill 6109

Establishes a Supreme Court pilot program that will allow individuals to electronically file petitions for temporary orders of protection instead of requiring individuals to appear in court.

Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Training for Salon Workers

House Bill 4264

Amends the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act to provide training every two years for licensed cosmetologists, barbers, hairdressers, estheticians and nail technicians, to recognize signs of abuse as this may have an impact in helping victims. The law does not require salon workers to report abuse, but they will not be able to renew their licenses if they have not satisfied training requirements.

Right to Privacy in the Workplace

House Bill 4999

Amends the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act making it unlawful for employers to request that an employee access a personal online account in the presence of the employer or to request that the employee invite the employer to join a group affiliated with or created by the employee.

Molly’s Law

House Bill 6083

Extends to five years (from two years) the statute of limitations for bringing wrongful death lawsuits when someone is the victim of violent intentional conduct and strengthens the penalties for public bodies that violate the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. The law is named after the fatal shooting of Molly Young, which occurred in the apartment of her boyfriend, who was a Carbondale police dispatcher.