The legislator in Illinois moves with a comprehensive measure to block the security and work standards at the workplace, even if the protection of the federal government is weakened or lifted in the future. The Senate Act of 1976, sponsored by Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), has released the Labor Committee of the Senate this week and is now ready for further debates in the General Assembly.
The draft law, which is referred to as Illinois Workers' Rights and Worker Safety Act, would prevent state authorities from weakening their rules for the protection of employees according to the standards set by the Federal Law until January 19, 2025. The legislation also enables state agencies to say goodbye to even stricter standards, and Illinois ensures that Illinois can remain in the fields of work regardless of the federal changes.
Important provisions of SB 1976
- Minimum standards: The state authorities must at least maintain the same protection of the employee caused by federal laws, including the law on Fair Labor Standard, the Law on Occupational Health and Safety (OSHA) and the Law on the Health and Security Act on the Law of the Bundeskohlenberg mine, and they are available on January 19, 20251.
- No rollbacks: Agencies are forbidden to change or revise rules so that they are less protective than these federal standards, unless this is approved by the new state law.
- Restoration of canceled rules: If the federal professional security regulations are lifted and not already legally recorded, Illinois would have to restore these protective measures.
- Stronger government standards allowed: State agencies can define stricter standards than those at the federal level.
- Report request: Agencies must report to the general assembly annually on compliance with the law.
“This is an initiative of the state FEDS to ensure that all protective measures that have been fought in the past 50 years will remain in Illinois, regardless of everything that is done by the state,” said Frances Orenic, legally Legal Director of Illinois AFL-CIO. “We have worked hard with the Ministry of Labor, especially in the past few months, and have come to a place of the agreement with you.”