Later this session, the Illinois Legislature will be debating a variety of proposals that could harm small business owners. Here’s a look at six NFIB-opposed bills:
House Bill 4293: Income Tax Hike
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Welch, imposes a privilege tax on partnerships and S corporations engaged in the business of conducting investment management services. It provides that the tax shall be imposed at the rate of 20 percent of the fees calculated by reference to the performance of the investment portfolio funds and not from the investment itself. It’s currently with the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
House Bill 4572: Illinois Human Rights Act
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Will Guzzardi, amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to redefine “employer” to include any person employing one (currently 15) or more employees within Illinois during 20 or more calendar weeks within the calendar year of or preceding the alleged violation. It’s currently with the House Labor Committee.
House Bill 5334: Employee Background Fairness Act
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Sonya Harper, would create the Employee Background Fairness Act. It provides that an employer may not refuse to hire an individual and may not discharge an individual because of the individual’s criminal history unless the individual has one or more convictions and there is a direct relationship between one of more of an individual’s convictions and the specific employment sought. It’s currently unassigned.
Senate Bill 2999: Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act
This bill, Sen. Patricia Van Pelt, amends the law to provide that an employer shall reimburse an employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee directly related to services performed for the employer. It has passed out of Senate Labor Committee.
Senate Bill 3005: Administrative Review
This bill, sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul, would allow any “persons” to appeal or intervene in lawsuits challenging decisions of state agencies. This means that any person, Illinois resident or not, can be listed as an interested party in a proceeding, a power currently afforded to the agencies and plaintiff party requesting the proceeding. The legislation currently has been refined to apply only to permitting decisions by the Departments of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Transportation, Public Health, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It has passed out of Senate Judiciary committee, and the sponsor agreed to continue negotiations.
Senate Bill 3390: Equal Pay
This bill, sponsored by Sen. Christina Castro, would prohibit an employer from screening job applicants based on their wage or salary history, requiring that an applicant’s prior wages satisfy minimum or maximum criteria, and requesting or requiring as a condition of being interviewed or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment that an applicant disclose prior wages or salary. It has been assigned to the Labor Committee.
