Local Government Law Bulletin
Seventh Circuit Punts on Union’s Challenge to Represent Nonmember Employees
In 2018, the Supreme Court decided, in Janus v. AFSCME, that employees in bargaining units did not have to pay union fees if they did not belong to the union. The decision was based on an individual’s First Amendment right to not be compelled to pay money to or...
Safe-T Act Body Camera Requirements
On February 22, 2021, Governor Pritzker signed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill referred to as the “Safe-T Act,” part of which makes body cameras mandatory for all law enforcement agencies. Counties and municipalities with a population of: more than 500,000...
Video Gaming May Return as Early as June 26
The Illinois Gaming Board has issued protocols for the return of video gaming terminals. The protocols, issued June 9, 2020, indicate that the earliest video gaming operations may return is during Phase 4-Revitalization of the Restore Illinois Plan, which could be as...
Temporary Holdup for Workers’ Compensation Commission’s Emergency Regulations
While it feels like time at home is passing slowly for many, responses to COVID-19 are changing rapidly. The Workers’ Compensation Commission’s emergency regulations, issued recently to protect first responders and front-line workers exposed to COVID-19, have been...
Workers’ Compensation Emergency Regulations Protect First Responders and Front-Line Workers Exposed to COVID-19
The State of Illinois has issued emergency regulations governing the rules of evidences for Workers’ Compensation claims related to COVID-19 First Responders and Front-Line Workers. For those parties identified in the emergency regulations, any injury or incapacity...
New DOL Regulations Address Loose Ends Regarding Federal COVID-19 Benefits
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued temporary rules pertaining to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which addresses, among other items, benefit time through the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSL) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave...
Responding to Small Business Concerns
We will soon know more about the details of the federal emergency aid package, but in the meantime, here are some other reminders of help for small business: Tax Due Date Extended to July 15, 2020: The IRS has announced that the federal income tax filing due date for...
Conducting Remote Meetings During the COVID-19 State of Emergency
Governor’s Pritzker’s March 16 Executive Order 2020-07 that allowed for remote attendance for public meetings raises new questions about how best to comply with the Open Meetings Act when holding remote meetings at which all members are attending remotely. The Public...
COVID-19: Essentials for Your Unit of Government
March 16, 2020 No Need to Reinvent the Wheel—Policies and Procedures Are Available Utilize the resources that others have been diligently working to create. For a COVID-19 operational policy, consider the policy implemented by the City of McHenry. For a COVID-19...