Illinois Statutes Chapter 820. Employment § 192/30. Department responsibilities

(a) The Department shall administer and enforce this Act. The Department has the powers and the parties have the rights provided in the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act for contested cases.

(b) An employee may file a complaint with the Department alleging violations of the Act within 3 years after the alleged violation. An employer that violates this Act is liable to any affected employee for damages in the form of the actual underpayment, compensatory damages, and a penalty of not less than $500 and no more than $1,000. Employees shall also be entitled to such equitable relief as may be appropriate, in addition to reasonable attorney's fees; reasonable expert witness fees, and other costs of the action, which shall be paid by the employer to the employee.

(c) The Department has the power to conduct investigations in connection with the administration and enforcement of this Act, including the power to conduct depositions and discovery and to issue subpoenas. If the Department finds cause to believe that this Act has been violated, the Department shall notify the parties in writing, and the matter shall be referred to an Administrative Law Judge to schedule a formal hearing in accordance with hearing procedures established by rule. Administrative decisions shall be reviewed under the Administrative Review Law.

(d) The Department is authorized to impose civil penalties prescribed in Section 35 for any violation of this Act.

(e) The Department is authorized to collect and supervise the payment of any damages awarded pursuant to Section 25 and subsection (b) of this Section to an employee or employees under this Act. Any sums recovered by the Department on behalf of an employee or employees under this Act shall be paid to the employee or employees affected. The Department is not authorized to collect and supervise the payment of any awarded attorney's fees. Those fees shall be subject to collection by the attorney awarded such fees.

(f) The Attorney General may bring an action to enforce the collection of any awards made under this Act.

(g) The Department shall adopt rules necessary to administer and enforce this Act.