Earlier this week, Governor Bruce Rauner signed a new law requiring Illinois elementary schools and daycare centers to test their drinking water sources for lead contamination and notify parents of the results of that testing. Public Act 99-992 comes in response […]
The Final Four Binding PAC Opinions of 2016 Remind School Districts of FOIA and OMA Requirements
In the final days of the year, the Illinois Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued four binding opinions that reiterate the requirements of both the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA). Below is a discussion of […]
At the end of 2016, the Illinois appellate court reversed and remanded a PTAB decision that excluded one party’s evidence because the appraiser who authored the appraisal died prior to the hearing. The case at issue, 1411 North State Condominium v. […]
Federal Court Strikes Down Lincolnshire’s “Right to Work” Ordinance
Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois held that the Village of Lincolnshire’s municipal ordinance regulating union activities was invalid under federal law. The ruling is a defeat for Governor Bruce Rauner in his efforts to work […]
New Guidance Issued by the Department of Education on the Rights of Students with Disabilities
At the end of last month, the Department of Education released three new sets of guidance on the federal civil rights laws that govern students with disabilities. All three offer valuable information about current and evolving issues regarding disability accommodation. […]
Matter of Dhanasar: A New Standard for National Interest Waivers in the United States
On December 27, 2016, the AAO issued a decision that modifies the standards for granting a National Interest Waiver (NIW) in Matter of Dhanasar. This decision will impact thousands of applicants seeking U.S. permanent residency based solely upon the importance of […]
U.S. Supreme Court to Consider ERISA Church Plan Exemption
In a decision that may have profound consequences for the funding and continued operation of defined benefit retirement plans covering employees at religiously affiliated organizations, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided to hear consolidated appeals from the Third, Seventh and Ninth Circuits to determine the […]
OCR Complaints – Trends and Predictions
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued two reports highlighting its work during both fiscal year (FY) 2016 and President Obama’s entire eight-year term of office. The number of OCR complaints filed during FY 2016 […]