1.
Employment Sick Leave
. For those who are particularly bad at faking a cough, this law authorizes employees to use half of each year's sick leave accrual for absences due to the illness, injury or medical appointment of a child, spouse, sibling, parent, mother/father-in-law, grandchild, grand parent, or stepparent. 820 ILCS 191/10.
2.
Vehicle Registration Expiration
. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, read as, time to pay Illinois Secretary of State because your vehicle registration has expired. In an apparent attempt to remind motorists of when their vehicle registration expires each year, this new law allows the Secretary of State to require a vehicle owner to select his/her birthday as the vehicle's registration expiration date. 625 ILCS 5/3-414.
3.
Drivers Approaching Disabled Vehicles
. Similar to Scott's Law, enacted in 2009, that requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching an emergency vehicle with its emergency lights activated, this law requires drivers to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching any disabled vehicle on the shoulder of a highway with hazard lights displayed. 625 ILCS 5/11-907.5.
4.
Prohibited Employment Requests Regarding Social Media
. While everyone needs to be mindful of their social media activity, this bill makes it unlawful for an employer or prospective employer to request or require an employee or applicant for access to or authentication of a personal online account in the presence of an employer. 820 ILCS 55/10.
5. Theft of Rental Property. Don't forget to return the rented giant inflatable gorilla your child HAD to have for his/her 5th birthday! A new law makes it a felony if a person rents property greater than $500 in value (i.e. construction equipment or party essentials like tents, tables and chairs) and fails to return the property within the time specified by written contract and three days after mailed notice. 720 ILCS 5/16-3.
