Labor & Employment

Amends the First Responders Suicide Prevention Act. Provides that confidentiality protections under the Act apply regardless of whether the peer support person is employed by, or affiliated with, the same agency as the first responder receiving support. Provides that, except in specified circumstances, all communications, records, notes, reports, or information disclosed during, or in connection with, a critical incident stress management session is confidential and may not be disclosed by any CISM practitioner. Provides that a CISM practitioner may not be compelled to testify or disclose any communication, record, note, report, or information disclosed during, or in connection with, a critical incident stress management session in any administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding. Provides that the confidentiality protections under the provisions apply whether or not the CISM practitioner is affiliated with the same agency as the individual receiving services. Provides that any communication described in the provisions is subject to subpoena for good cause shown. Provides that the confidentiality protections under the provisions do not apply to (1) any threat of suicide or homicide made by a participant in a peer support counseling session or any information conveyed in a peer support counseling session related to a threat of suicide or homicide; (2) any information mandated by law or agency policy to be reported, including, but not limited to, domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, or elder abuse or neglect; (3) any admission of criminal conduct; or (4) an admission or act of refusal to perform duties to protect others or the employee of the emergency services provider or law enforcement agency. Defines "CISM practitioner" and "CISM services".

Amends the Equal Pay Act of 2003. Provides that it is unlawful for an employer with 15 or more employees to fail to include the base pay scale and variable pay scale (rather than the pay scale and benefits) for a position in any specific job posting. Provides that the base pay scale and variable pay scale shall be provided as separate ranges on the job posting. Defines "base pay scale" and "variable pay scale".

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: Other State Funds $4,465,600.

Creates the Illinois Creative Workforce Development Act. Establishes a program within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide skills training, business development, financial literacy, contract education, and career transition support for independent and project-based creative workers. Includes a pilot program to test portable, worker-controlled benefits without reclassifying workers. Sets minimum compensation guidelines, timely payment requirements, and written contract standards for publicly funded creative work. Requires regional balance, targeted outreach to underrepresented communities, and data collection disaggregated by race, gender, and geography. Authorizes grants for cross-sector integration of creative skills into education, health, technology, and tourism. Creates the Illinois Creative Workforce Fund. Grants rulemaking authority. Makes a conforming change to the State Finance Act.

Amends the Attorney General Act. Provides that, prior to initiating an action, the Attorney General shall conduct an investigation and, in addition to other powers, may: (1) issue subpoenas for documents; (2) require written answers under oath to written interrogatories; (3) inspect the premises of an employer and inspect and make copies of employment-related records kept at the premises; and (4) conduct interviews with workers at an employer's premises during normal business or working hours. Sets forth additional provisions concerning investigations; interviews; subpoenas; obstruction; and search warrants.

Creates the Work Always Pays Act. Provide that a State-administered benefit program shall not reduce benefits by more than $0.50 for each $1.00 increase in a household's earned income. If an increase in earned income results in a reduction of net household resources compared to the level in effect immediately prior to the increase, then the household shall be eligible for a bridge credit. Provides that the amount of the bridge credit shall equal the difference between: (i) the household's net household resources immediately prior to the increase in earned income; and (ii) the household's net household resources after the increase in earned income and corresponding benefit adjustments. Provides that a household that experiences an increase in earned income shall be subject to a 90-day earnings buffer period. Amends the State Finance Act to make a conforming change. Effective January 1, 2027.

Makes appropriations for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the Illinois Labor Relations Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, as follows: General Funds $2,855,100.

Amends the Prevailing Wage Act. Restores certain provisions of the Act to the form in which they existed before Public Act 104-17 took effect. Provides that nothing in the Act prohibits the payment of wages and fringe benefits for work performed under the Act that is based upon the craft and the skill level of the laborers, mechanics, or other employees who perform the work if the wages and fringe benefits are established and are paid in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement or understanding between an employer or an employer association and a bona fide labor organization for work performed of a similar character in the locality in which the work is performed. Effective July 1, 2026.

Creates the New Child Bonding Leave Act. Provides that an employee who has gained custody of a child within the previous 4 weeks, either through birth, adoption, foster care placement, or otherwise, is entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Provides that an employer shall not require that an employee use any paid leave available to the employee for any reason instead of leave the employee is entitled to under the Act. Provides that, upon the conclusion of leave taken under the Act, an employee shall be reinstated to the employee's former position or a substantially equivalent one with no loss of benefits held or accrued prior to taking leave. Allows an employer to require an employee submit documentation to demonstrate that they are entitled to leave under the Act. Sets forth provisions concerning unlawful employer practices; Department of Labor responsibilities; and enforcement of the Act.

Amends the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act by restoring certain provisions of the Act to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 103-437 through December 31, 2027. Makes the amendatory provisions to the Act that were made by Public Act 103-437 operative on and after January 1, 2028. Effective immediately.