WPBN: Within the first year of the new year, the Illinois Department of Human Rights will expand the amount of time that individuals have to submit cases with the agency.
When it comes to incidents that are not related to housing, the statute of limitations for filing a charge of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation will be increased from 300 days to two years.
Included in this category is discrimination in the areas of employment, financial credit services, public services, and accommodations available to the public.
“Illinois has one of the strongest sets of civil rights protections of any state,” IDHR Director Jim Bennett stated. “By extending the deadline to file from 300 days to two years, Illinois joins 11 other states that have provided a greater opportunity to seek the protections and redress afforded by the Human Rights Act.”
People who have been subjected to discrimination, according to the leaders of the state, frequently require additional time to recover from the trauma, come to terms with the fact that what occurred to them was a civil rights negotiation, or begin the process of settlement discussions first.
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“This legislative change is about giving survivors the time and support they need to come forward,” Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton stated. “We recognize that healing is not linear, and extending the statute of limitations reflects our commitment to empowering those seeking accountability and ensuring their voices are heard.”
Regarding housing discrimination situations, the period of time that is available to register a complaint or file a charge with the IDHR stays the same: one year for filing a charge with IDHR and two years for filing a complaint in circuit court.
You can obtain additional information regarding the Human Rights Act of Illinois or the rules and regulations of the department by calling the number (312) 814-6262 or by filling out the online form that is provided by the Contact IDHR.
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