OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
October 8,2014
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the request of the Chairman of the Commission on Human Relations and the Commissioner of Family and Support Services, I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Mitts, Burnett, Graham, Ervin, Brookins, Austin, Suarez, Harris, and Moore, an ordinance amending Chapter 2-160 of the Municipal Code regarding employment discrimination.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
: I
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ORDINANCE
SECTION 1. Section 2-160-010 ofthe Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by deleting the language stricken and inserting the language underscored, as follows:
2-160-010 Declaration of city policy.
It is the policy of the City of Chicago to assure that all persons within its jurisdiction shall have equal access to public services and shall be protected in the enjoyment of civil rights, and to promote mutual understanding and respect among all who live and work within this city.
The city council of the City of Chicago hereby declares and affirms:
that prejudice, intolerance, bigotry and discrimination occasioned thereby threaten the rights and proper privileges of the city's inhabitants and menace the institutions and foundation of a free and democratic society; and
that behavior which denies equal treatment to any individual because of his or her race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military discharge status, source of income, or credit or criminal history (as to employment only),, undermines civil order and deprives persons of the benefits of a free and open society.
Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed as supporting or advocating any particular lifestyle or religious view. To the contrary, it is the intention of this ordinance that all persons be treated fairly and equally and it is the express intent of this ordinance to guarantee to all of our citizens fair and equal treatment under law.
SECTION 2. Section 2-160-020 ofthe Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
2-160-020 Definitions.
Whenever used in this chapter:
(Omitted text is not affected by this ordinance)
(aa) "Applicant" means any person pursuing employment with an employer or with or through an employment agency.
(aaa) "Credit history" means a record of an individual's past borrowing and repaying, including information about late payments and bankruptcy.
(aaaa) "Credit report" means any written or other communication of any information by a consumer reporting agency that bears on a consumer's creditworthiness, credit standing, credit capacity, or credit history.
(Omitted text is not affected by this ordinance)
(dd) "Employer" means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, or anv person or group of persons that provides employment
for one or more employees in the current or preceding calendar year, and anv agent of such an entity or person. To gualifv as an employer for purposes of this chapter, such individual, group, or entity must: (1) be subject to one or more of the license reguirements in Title 4 of this Code; and/or (2) maintain a business facility within the geographic boundaries ofthe City. The City of Chicago and its sister agencies gualifv as employers for purposes of this chapter.
(ddd) "Employment" means anv occupation or vocation.
(Omitted text is not affected by this ordinance)
(mm) "Sister agency" means the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the City Colleges of Chicago, the Chicago Housing Authority, and the Public Building Commission.
(Omitted text is not affected by this ordinance)
SECTION 2. Chapter 2-160 ofthe Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by adding a new section 2-160-054, as follows:
2-160-054 Criminal record or criminal history.
- Employers that are not subject to the Illinois Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, including the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, may not inguire about or into, consider, or reguire disclosure of an applicant's criminal record or criminal history until after the applicant has been determined Qualified for the relevant position and notified that he has been selected for an interview, or, if there is no interview, until after a conditional offer of employment is extended to the applicant.
The prohibitions set forth in this subsection 2-160-054(a) do not apply where:
- federal or state law excludes applicants with certain criminal convictions from the relevant position;
- a standard fidelity bond or an eguivalent bond is reguired for the relevant position, and an applicant's conviction of one or more specified criminal offenses would disqualify the applicant from obtaining such a bond, in which case an employer may include a Question or otherwise inguire whether the applicant has ever been convicted of anv of those offenses; or
- the relevant position requires a license under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. 210 ILCS 50/1, et seg.
This subsection 2-160-054(a) does not prohibit providing written notice of specific offenses that will disgualify an applicant from employment in a particular position.
- If the City of Chicago or a sister agency, subseguent to interviewing or extending a conditional offer of employment to an applicant, determines that he has a criminal conviction, that fact, standing alone, shall not automatically disgualify the applicant from employment. Instead, the decision whether to employ the applicant shall take into account the following factors:
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- the nature of the applicant's specific offense or offenses;
- the nature of the applicant's sentencing;
- the applicant's number of convictions;
- the length of time that has passed following the applicant's most recent
conviction;
- the relationship between the applicant's crimes and the nature ofthe relevant position;
- the age of the applicant at the time of his most recent conviction;
- anv evidence of rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, whether the applicant has completed a treatment or counseling program or received a certification of relief from disabilities or good conduct;
- the extent to which the applicant has been open, honest, and cooperative in examining his background; and
- anv other information relevant to the applicant's suitability for the relevant
position.
(c) In the event anv employer, including one subject to the Illinois Job Opportunities for Qualified Applicants Act, makes a decision not to hire an applicant that is based, entirely or partially, on the applicant's criminal record or history, the employer shall inform the applicant of this basis at the time he is informed of the decision.
SECTION 3. Section 2-160-120 ofthe Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the language underscored, as follows:
2-160-120 Violation - Penalty.
Unless another fine or penalty is specifically provided in this Code, any person who violates any provision of this ordinance as determined by this commission shall be fined not less than $100.00 and not more than $1,000.00 for each offense. In addition, anv city licensee who violates any provision of this section or anv rule or regulation promulgated thereunder may be subject to license discipline pursuant to Section 4-4-280 of this Code. Every day that a violation shall continue shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
SECTION 4. As applicable to the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, this ordinance shall take effect upon passage and approval. As applicable to all other employers, the ordinance shall take effect on January 1, 2015.
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