Office of the City Clerk - Record #: O2017-8684

• Record #: O2017-8684
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• Intro date: 12/13/2017
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Workforce Development and Audit
• Final action: 2/28/2018
• Title: Amendment of Municipal Code Sections 2-156-010 and 2-156-149 regarding definition of sexual harassment as related to interaction with government entities
• Sponsors: Laurino, Margaret, Hairston, Leslie A., Harris, Michelle A., Smith, Michele, Mell, Deborah, Mitts, Emma, Sadlowski Garza, Susan, Silverstein, Debra L., O'Connor, Patrick, Sposato, Nicholas, Lopez, Raymond A., Foulkes, Toni, Valencia, Anna M.
• Topic: MUNICIPAL CODE AMENDMENTS - Title 2 - City Government & Administration - Ch. 156 Governmental Ethics

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
2/28/2018	68393	City Council	Passed	Pass
2/23/2018		Committee on Workforce Development and Audit	Recommended to Pass
12/13/2017	64080	City Council	Referred

ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and

WHEREAS, sexual harassment has long been an abhorred tool of subjugation and abuse in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, a spate of recent high-profile allegations against seemingly unassailable and powerful individuals has culminated in a clamor to hold all aggressors accountable for their actions regardless of their status; and

WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has recently enacted ordinances to ensure that prohibited sexual harassment by all elected City officials of any other City official or employees; and

WHEREAS, though these laws and internal policies govern sexual harassment in the workplace, some victims fall outside of the protections afforded to employees; and

WHEREAS, for lobbyists, vendors, contractors, and members of the general public that interact with governmental bodies on a daily basis, there is a protection gap with respect to sexual harassment in these interactions; and

WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council continues to lead the charge to close the gap in protecting all from sexual harassment; now therefore,

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHICAGO:

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SECTION 1. Section 2-156-010 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by inserting the underscored language as follows:

(Omitted sections are unaffected by this ordinance.)

(z) "Sexual harassment" means any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or conduct of a sexual nature when (i) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or of any governmental decision: or (ii) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for any employment or other governmental decision affecting the individual or the individual's client or employer: or (iii) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

SECTION 2. Section 2-156-149 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by deleting the struck through language as follows:

2-156-149 Sexual Harassment by Officials.

No official holding any elected office of the city shall engage in. encourage, or permit - by action or inaction - behavior constituting sexual harassment of any-other City official or employee. This requirement does not limit or replace any other applicable law, rule, regulation, process, or policy regarding such conduct.

SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and publication

Alderman, 5^lh Ward

Margaret Laurino Alderman, 39^th Ward

Ma Hi

Michelle A. Harris Alderman, 8^th Ward ■

Michele Smnrf~ Alderman, 43^rd Ward

Carrie M. Austin Alderman, 34^th Ward

Pat Dowell Alderman, 3^rd Ward

Sophia King Alderman, 4^th Ward

Deborah Mell Alderman, 33^rd Ward

Toni Foulkes Alderman, 16^th Ward

Smma Mitts Alderman, 37^,h Ward

Alderman,   Ward                     Alderman, Ward

Alderman,    Ward                     Alderman, Ward

Alderman,    Ward                     Alderman, Ward