2019 Articles

Hemingway’s Way

By Justice Michael B. Hyman
March
2019
Column
, Page 46
We can learn much from Hemingway's sparse, crisp prose, which did not come naturally to him either.

Higher Education Student Assistance Act requires universities to disclose information to students and parents

October
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission adopted an amendment to the Part titled General Provisions, implementing the Higher Education Student Assistance Act, which requires that public universities and community colleges that enroll financial aid-eligible students annually disclosure certain information to students or to their parents or guardians.

Home Care Consumer Bill of Rights created

April
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Department of Human Services (DHS) adopted amendments to Appeals and Hearings (89 Ill. Adm. Code 510); Program Description (89 Ill. Adm. Code 676); Customer Rights and Responsibilities (89 Ill. Adm. Code 677); Determination of Need (DON) and Resulting Cost Service Maximums (89 Ill. Adm. Code 679); Eligibility (89 Ill. Adm. Code 682); Service Planning and Provision (89 Ill. Adm. Code 684); and Provider Requirements, Type Services, and Rates of Payment (89 Ill. Adm. Code 686), all effective Jan. 24, 2019.

Hospital must follow Mental Health Code in detaining suicidal patient

July
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Anita Irvin went into the emergency room for swelling and pain in her leg. During her visit, her primary care physician informed the emergency-room doctor that she had recently made suicidal ideations.

Houston, We Have a Problem … Top 10 Signs You Have a Virus or Malware

By Kevin Payne
April
2019
Column
, Page 46
Everyone dreads the prospect of a computer virus or malware. Here are tips for spotting whether your computer might be infected.

How Are You?

By Shelley Sandoval
June
2019
Column
, Page 48
Mental well-being, everyday conversations, and achieving your best practice.

How Safe Is Your PII?

By Erica Fujimoto
October
2019
Column
, Page 51
It’s time to assess the strength of your passwords. Now.

How to Appeal Final Judgments in Ongoing Litigation

By Don R. Sampen
April
2019
Article
, Page 36
A judgment is entered as to part of your case, but other matters still remain. Can you appeal? The answer is "yes" under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 304(a), but only if you follow the guidelines.

Human trafficking now part of some state training

September
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Department of Human Services director and board must conduct or approve an in-service training program in the detection and investigation of all forms of human trafficking, including, but not limited to, “involuntary servitude” under subsection (b) of section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012, “involuntary sexual servitude of a minor” under subsection (c) of section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012, and “trafficking in persons” under subsection (d) of section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

Husband to provide permanent maintenance and half of private school tuition for daughter

September
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Fifth District Appellate Court affirmed a lower court order requiring a husband to pay half of the expenses for his daughter’s private school tuition.

Illinois bans local right-to-work laws

July
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
Under a new Illinois law, local governments will no longer be able to pass right-to-work ordinances. Gov. Pritzker signed into law the Collective Bargaining Freedom Act, which became effective April 12, 2019.

Illinois drivers to learn about the “zipper merge” 

October
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois General Assembly amended the Illinois Vehicle Code to require the Secretary of State to include additional information in the Illinois Rules of the Road publication.

Illinois foal registration requirements updated

October
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
Amendments to the Part titled Standardbred, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse Breeding and Racing Program implemented provisions of the Horse Racing Act, establishing whether a foal can be registered as Illinois foaled and conceived for purposes of racing eligibility.

Illinois food rules correspond with FDA rules

March
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Department of Public Health repealed 41 sections of the existing food code and simultaneously introduced new provisions in Illinois that align Illinois' grading system methods with those of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (77 Ill. Adm. Code 750 (effective Dec. 7, 2018)).

Illinois minimum wage gradually increased to $15 per hour

May
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
This Act may be referred to as the Lifting Up Illinois Working Families Act. The Minimum Wage Law is amended by changing sections 4, 7, 10, 11, and 12 to provide for emergency rulemaking, establish penalties for employers who fail to comply with this Act, empower the director to perform random audits of employers in any industry subject to this Act to determine compliance with this Act, and enact other similar amendments.

Illinois’ New Attorney General

By Pete Sherman
February
2019
LawPulse
, Page 10
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul would like to address public-access and gun-violence issues early in his term. Raoul also discusses his desire to retain high-quality staff.

Illinois Pension Code amended to allow for reconsideration of applications for credit for service

March
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
The Illinois Pension Code is amended by changing section 5-214 of the code.

Illinois State Police officers must be trained on the Health Care Violence Prevention Act

June
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The State Police Act was amended by requiring the department to provide an appropriate level of training for its officers concerning the Health Care Prevention Act.

The Illinois Supreme Court’s About Face in In re N.G.

By Benjamin Lawson
December
2019
Article
, Page 38
In 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court held that unconstitutionally obtained gun convictions could be used for charging and enhancement purposes unless the defendant vacated the conviction. Two years later, the court admitted it got it wrong.

Increased cybersecurity for state elections

September
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
On May 21, 2019, the State Board of Elections (BoE) adopted a new Part titled Cyber Navigator Program (26 IAC 213; 43 Ill. Reg. 1733).

Increased procurement limit for small purchases

May
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 14
The Illinois State Treasurer's office adopted amendments to the Part titled Procurement (44 Ill. Adm. Code 1400 (effective Jan. 31, 2019)), implementing Public Act 100-43.

Introducing the ISBA’s completely redesigned website

October
2019
Column
, Page 56
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Introduction of other-crimes evidence from prior conviction involving a different drug

March
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 20
On Dec. 14, 2018, after a jury trial, the defendant was convicted for the unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. It was also alleged that the defendant was within 1,000 feet of a school at the time of the offense.

Inverse condemnation sufficiently alleged when city causes high levels of lead

August
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
On May 22, 2019, the First District Appellate Court of Illinois reversed a circuit court decision to dismiss a class-action complaint alleging negligence and inverse condemnation against the City of Chicago.

Investigators of abuse or neglect at state’s community agencies to receive ongoing training

January
2019
Illinois Law Update
, Page 16
An amendment to the Department of Human Services Act requires the inspector general of that department to institute new training programs to ensure that those investigating abuse and neglect at locations serving the developmentally and mentally disabled are fully aware of the state's related regulations and standards.

Is Cryptocurrency the New Swiss Bank Account?

May
2019
Article
, Page 18
Why bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are easy to hide and difficult to value.

ISBA Launches New Food Law Section

By Rhys Saunders
August
2019
LawPulse
, Page 12
Urban farming, craft brewing, and innovative food products will be among the section’s many topics of interest.

ISBA Launches Revamped “Illinois Lawyer Now”

May
2019
Column
, Page 48
The new blog aggregation site will feature ISBA member blogs and ISBA content.

ISBA Pursues Health Insurance for Members

By Rhys Saunders
December
2019
LawPulse
, Page 12
Illinois Supreme Court rules that “revenge porn” statute is constitutional, but the dissent suggests some flaws in the law.

ISBA Pursues Health Insurance for Members

By Rhys Saunders
November
2019
LawPulse
, Page 10
ISBA-sponsored health insurance for members, families, and employees being explored for 2020.