NOTARY AND WITNESS GUIDELINES - any act of notarization or witnessing required by Illinois law may be completed remotely by via two-way audio-video communication technology provided that the acts follows specific guidelines set forth in the Order and by the Secretary of State. From Fairgrounds To Museums, Explore The Unique History of Springfield, Camp I Am Me Highlights Burn Awareness Week, T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week, Dentists - Opportunities Springing Up All Over IL, Springfield Area Pets Up For Adoption: Pharaoh, Jawa, Layla & More, Springfield Job Listings: See Who's Hiring In The Area, 5 New Springfield Area Properties On The Market. Generally, isolation can be discontinued when all three conditions are met: 10 days have passed since symptoms started, no fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever- reducing medications, and other symptoms are improving. REGION 1 MITIGATIONS Region 1 has reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. SUSPENDS PROVISIONS IN THE ILLINOIS VEHICLE CODE Suspends the repossession of vehicles; however, individuals must still comply with any obligation they may have to a loan agreement or otherwise. SUSPENDS VARIOUS PROVISIONS Suspends provisions in the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, the Nursing Home Care Act and the Community Care Act. The two-week extension allows for hospitals and schools to implement their own testing, vaccine and accountability protocols. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through April 30, 2022. Illinois school employees across the state will receive paid COVID sick leave if they are fully vaccinated under new law signed by Gov. This Executive Order supersedes Executive Order 2021-10. Employers will want to ensure that all workers who perform work on-site, including employees, temporary employees and independent contractors, receive workplace safety training that includes training on COVID-19 symptoms and how to self-assess for symptoms. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through April 3, 2021. An employee who tests positive should make their employer aware of the positive test. Suspends provisions regarding pest control, milk production, mobile homes, body piercing and speech language pathology. SB 512 establishes the Preventing Youth Vaping Act, which gives the attorney general's office additional authority to go after violators of e-cigarette regulations. For general questions about COVID-19 and Illinois' response and guidance, call 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov Specific health and safety factors will be taken into account when determining the process for transfers to IDOC. Such an agreement or contract would violate public policy, as expressed in public health and occupational safety laws, and would not be enforceable against the employee. Yes. PUA payments are available for claimants who lost work due to specific COVID-19 related reasons provided for in the federal law beginning the week of February 2, 2020. HB 00605: Prohibits state institutions from buying Illinois and American flags not produced in the U.S. HB 03027: Allows expectant mothers to use a disabilities motor decal or device for no more than 90 days during their third trimester. SB 00968: Requires all health insurance plans, the Public Aid Code and public health benefits in Illinois to provide coverage for medically-necessary pancreatic cancer screening. Alert Message: Anyone, 6 months of age and older, is eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is available for up to 39 weeks for individuals whose unemployment is attributable to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for other unemployment benefits. Employees who believe they have been retaliated against may file a, The Illinois Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2015 protects state and local government employees who raise safety and health concerns with their employer or a government agency. The federal Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act of 2004 allows retirees - up to 10,000 in Illinois - who spent at least 10 years as law enforcement officers with arrest powers to carry concealed . This is a rapidly evolving situation and information will be updated as needed here and on the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. New Illinois laws in 2023 include the SAFE-T Act, Worker's Rights Amendment, improvements to health care and food access, and more. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was created to help self-employed individuals, freelancers, and independent contractors who lose work as a result of specific reasons set forth in federal law attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance. Health Care Workers Individuals who are certified as a nurse assistant, but are currently inactive on the Health Care Worker Registry, may be hired under certain provisions, such as the inactive status being no more than five years and limiting conditional employment to three months pending the result of a more extensive background check. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through July 24, 2021. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through August 21, 2021. For further information or to contact the Illinois Department of Labor, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Pages/contact.aspx. 71.40 no longer necessary. State law prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to pay for the cost of medical examinations or records that the employer requires as a condition (or precondition) of employment. Find your nearest vaccination location at. https://www2.illinois.gov/ides/aboutides/Pages/Contact_IDES.aspx. SB 01681: Adds probation officers to the list of individuals that qualify for death benefits if they are killed in the line of study. REGIONS 5, 7, AND 8 TIER 2 MITIGATIONS Region 5 (Southern Illinois) has been under Tier 1 of the state's resurgence mitigation plan since October 22 and Region 7 (Will and Kankakee counties) and Region 8 (Kane and DuPage counties) since October 23, after seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8 percent or above for three consecutive days. In response, public health restrictions and mitigations are implemented for restaurants and bars, meetings and social events, gaming and casinos and for all workplaces, effective November 4, 2020. Then, in January, after a group of 19 Democratic state representatives refused to support Madigan's bid for a 19th term as speaker, House Democrats picked Hillside state Rep. Chris Welch to succeed him. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. CHICAGO (AP) Four years ago, Paul Vallas finished toward the bottom of the pack in a crowded race for Chicago mayor. In order to prevent osteoporosis and other medical conditions, this law requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary hormone therapy treatments for women who have undergone a hysterectomy and therefore induced menopause. HB 576 amends the School Code to allow for up to five days of excused mental or behavioral health absence for students without the need to provide a medical note. However, the positivity rate has continued to significantly increase in these regions. Dozens of other states have similar laws on the books. On March 14, 2022, the EEOC released new guidance regarding caregiver discrimination and the COVID-19 pandemic, in light of many workplaces returning to in-person work. More information on the use of face coverings is available on the Illinois Department of Human Rights website. January 13, 2022. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on May 17 signed the state's "COVID-19 Emergency Housing Act" (HB 2877) into law, providing robust protections for Illinois renters and homeowners. SUSPENDS REQUIREMENTS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS - Suspends certain requirements for restoration of an inactive or expired license of five years or less for professional counselors, social workers, and clinical psychologists. As Welch's first year as House speaker comes to a close, new requirements for schools, state ethics rules, criminal justice and animal ownership are among the 296 laws taking effect Jan. 1, according to a list prepared by Senate Democrats. DAYCARE CENTER STAFF VACCINE MANDATE - Daycare center staff statewide are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they have not done so already. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS - Reissues several executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through February 5, 2022. CANNABIS REGSITRY INDENTIFICATION RENEWALS Suspends provisions in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act regarding renewal applications and renewal fees for registry identification cards. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through August 22, 2020. The law restores sick days to school staff who had to take time off due to COVID-related reasons during the 2021-2022 school year and provides paid leave in the future. To promote scheduling consistency, employers should give employees the opportunity to provide input on their preferred schedule. ON NOW. HB 2553 establishes the Protecting Household Privacy Act, which forbids law enforcement agencies from obtaining data collected, stored or shared by household electronic devices without a warrant, a court order, the permission of the owner or in an emergency situation. SB 00512: The Preventing Youth Vaping Act aims to prevent vaping by children, placing additional restrictions on e-cigarettes, including imposing additional civil and criminal penalties. IDPH will continue to conduct on-site reviews to the extent feasible. All state, county, and local law enforcement officers are instructed to cease enforcement of orders of eviction for residential premises. This Executive Order supplements the Community Revitalization Order, Executive Order 43. If you are concerned that your employer is not adhering to the required state COVID-19 workplace safety guidelines, you may contact the Workplace Rights Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General at (844) 740-5076 or workplacerights@atg.state.il.us In order to qualify, an area must show that the area is at risk of losing its cultural identity due to COVID-19, displacement or gentrification, that it has had a history of economic disinvestment and that there is strong community support for the designation, which is aimed at promoting economic development, entrepreneurship and growth without also generating displacement or expanding inequality. Public employees who believe they have been retaliated against may file a. However, masks are still required for everyone in healthcare settings, in congregate settings and on transit. Illinois' ban on assault weapons comes after last year's Highland Park shooting, as well as the rising violent crime in Chicago, which experienced a 41% overall increase in 2022. The law does not apply to tobacco cessation products or cannabis paraphernalia. Instead, a verbal attestation documented by the State constitutes a valid signature. METRO EAST MITIGATIONS The Metro East region has reported three consecutive days of a test positivity rate of 8 percent or higher. More than 180 new laws are set to take effect on January 1, 2023, covering a range of issues big and small that affect Illinoisans. 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. For example, employers should consider staggering shifts or designating groups of employees to consistently work on the same days and times as each other. Those that continue to cancel or postpone all elective surgeries or procedures, or begin elective surgeries on or after May 11th, in order to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak shall be immune from civil liability for any alleged injury or death relating to COVID-19. SB 817, also known as the Jett Hawkins Law, forbids public or private schools from applying school uniform or dress codes to hairstyles and requires the state board of education to provide hairstyle resource materials to schools. You shouldn't be on the hook for tickets when your car gets stolen. Outlines public health requirements for individuals, businesses, retail stores, manufacturers, office buildings, restaurants and bars, gyms, personal service facilities, youth sports, and public amusement. If two or more employees report having COVID-19 related symptoms or test positive for COVID-19, the employer must notify their local health department within 24 hours of being informed of the presence of COVID-19 symptoms or positive test results. An employer is not required to provide an accommodation that would be prohibitively expensive or unduly disruptive to the business. A list of LHDs can be found at http://www.dph.illinois.gov/LHD Federal and Illinois law require employers to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. The city of Chicago prohibits retaliation, including termination, against employees who work within the city for obeying a stay-at-home, quarantine, or self-isolation order. Illinois school districts do not need approval by the school board for an e-learning curriculum. Further guidance concerning the use of face coverings is available on IDHRs website. With 2022 upon us, here are some of the new laws that went into effect January 1. During the COVID- 19 pandemic, employers may ask employees who work on-site if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, chills, cough, and shortness of breath. Governor Pritzker Announces New Partnership Between Illinois Universities and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. This guidance is intended to help both employers and employees educate themselves about minimum required workplace safety requirements, as well as best practices to promote a safe and well-functioning workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to provide guidance on some frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the workplace. There is currently no state or federal law that provides job protection to a healthy employee who refuses to work out of fear of contracting COVID-19. If an employee reports having any COVID-19 related symptoms, the employer should encourage the employee to contact their health care provider. More information about coronavirus waivers and flexibilities is available on . Employers are prohibited from retaliating against an employee for raising concerns about COVID-19, or their overall safety and health, either internally or to a government agency. Some of these individuals should have been classified as employees and therefore would be eligible for unemployment insurance. REISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS Reissues most executive orders, extending a majority of the provisions through December 12, 2020. Therefore, Executive Order 51 and Executive Order 54 are rescinded and Region 4 can return to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan. HB 03097: Provides that police procedures and appropriate interactions with law enforcement during traffic stops be added to Illinois adult driver education course curriculum and the State Board of Educations curriculum. WHEREAS, on October 14, 2022, considering the expected continuing spread of COVID-19 and the ongoing health and economic impacts that will be felt over the coming month by people across the State, I declared all counties in the State of Illinois as a disaster area; and, 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. Housing providers will also not be held liable for injuries caused by a pet on their properties. In general, individuals not authorized to work in the United States are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits or benefits under the PUA. When maintaining a 6-foot social distance may not always be possible, visitors should be encouraged to wear face coverings; and. Driven by the death of Jelani Day, this law requires a coroner or medical examiner to notify the FBI if human remains in their custody are not identified within 72 hours of discovery. Paul.Cicchini@illinois.gov New Laws Taking Effect in 2022 Impact Employers, Employees SPRINGFIELD - As we prepare for the new year, employers and employees should be aware of new laws taking effect January 1st, as well as those already in effect due to action by the General Assembly and signature of Governor JB Pritzker.