Equal Pay Act
On August 20, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation (H.B. 3619) which expands coverage of the Equal Pay Act of 2003 to all employers. The bill also increases the maximum civil penalty for all violations, as follows:
- For an employer with fewer than four employees:
- For a first offense, a fine not to exceed $500.
- For a second offense, a fine not to exceed $2,500.
- For a third or subsequent offense, a fine not to exceed $5,000.
- For an employer with four or more employees:
- For a first offense, a fine not to exceed $2,500.
- For a second offense, a fine not to exceed $3,000.
- For a third or subsequent offense, a fine not to exceed $5,000.
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2016.
Read 2015 IL H.B. 3619
Mandated Health Benefits – Infertility
On August 20, 2015, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed legislation (S.B. 1764) requiring group health plans covering more than 25 employees to provide coverage for infertility treatments to covered individuals unable to attain a viable pregnancy or maintain a viable pregnancy. The bill also expands the definition of infertility to include individuals unable to conceive after one year of attempting to produce conception and those unable to conceive after diagnosis with a condition affecting fertility.
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2016.