Article 15 - Whistle Blower Protection
(5 ILCS 430/Art. 15 heading) ARTICLE 15 WHISTLE BLOWER PROTECTION (Source: P.A. 93‑615, eff. 11‑19‑03.)
(5 ILCS 430/15‑5)
Sec. 15‑5. Definitions. In this Article:
"Public body" means (1) any officer, member, or State agency; (2) the federal government; (3) any local law enforcement agency or prosecutorial office; (4) any federal or State judiciary, grand or petit jury, law enforcement agency, or prosecutorial office; and (5) any officer, employee, department, agency, or other division of any of the foregoing.
"Supervisor" means an officer, a member, or a State employee who has the authority to direct and control the work performance of a State employee or who has authority to take corrective action regarding any violation of a law, rule, or regulation of which the State employee complains.
"Retaliatory action" means the reprimand, discharge, suspension, demotion, denial of promotion or transfer, or change in the terms or conditions of employment of any State employee, that is taken in retaliation for a State employee's involvement in protected activity, as set forth in Section 15‑10.
(Source: P.A. 96‑555, eff. 8‑18‑09.)
(5 ILCS 430/15‑10)
Sec. 15‑10. Protected activity. An officer, a member, a State employee, or a State agency shall not take any retaliatory action against a State employee because the State employee does any of the following:
(1) Discloses or threatens to disclose to a
| supervisor or to a public body an activity, policy, or practice of any officer, member, State agency, or other State employee that the State employee reasonably believes is in violation of a law, rule, or regulation. | |
(2) Provides information to or testifies before any |
| public body conducting an investigation, hearing, or inquiry into any violation of a law, rule, or regulation by any officer, member, State agency, or other State employee. | |
(3) Assists or participates in a proceeding to |
| enforce the provisions of this Act. | |
(Source: P.A. 93‑615, eff. 11‑19‑03; 93‑617, eff. 12‑9‑03.) |
(5 ILCS 430/15‑20)
Sec. 15‑20. Burden of proof. A violation of this Article may be established only upon a finding that (i) the State employee engaged in conduct described in Section 15‑10 and (ii) that conduct was a contributing factor in the retaliatory action alleged by the State employee. It is not a violation, however, if it is demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the officer, member, other State employee, or State agency would have taken the same unfavorable personnel action in the absence of that conduct.
(Source: P.A. 93‑615, eff. 11‑19‑03; 93‑617, eff. 12‑9‑03.)
(5 ILCS 430/15‑25)
Sec. 15‑25. Remedies. The State employee may be awarded all remedies necessary to make the State employee whole and to prevent future violations of this Article. The circuit courts of this State shall have jurisdiction to hear cases brought under this Article. Remedies imposed by the court may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(1) reinstatement of the employee to either the same
| position held before the retaliatory action or to an equivalent position; | |
(2) 2 times the amount of back pay;
(3) interest on the back pay;
(4) the reinstatement of full fringe benefits and |
| |
(5) the payment of reasonable costs and attorneys' |
| |
(Source: P.A. 96‑555, eff. 8‑18‑09.) |
(5 ILCS 430/15‑35)
Sec. 15‑35. Preemption. Nothing in this Article shall be deemed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of a State employee under any other federal or State law, rule, or regulation or under any collective bargaining agreement or employment contract.
(Source: P.A. 93‑615, eff. 11‑19‑03.)
(5 ILCS 430/15‑40)
Sec. 15‑40. Posting. All officers, members, and State agencies shall conspicuously display notices of State employee protection under this Act.
(Source: P.A. 93‑617, eff. 12‑9‑03.)