Section 375.10  Purposes

 

a)         This Americans With Disabilities Act Grievance Procedure ("Procedure") is established pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 USC Section 12101 et seq. ("ADA"), and specifically Section 35.107 of the Title II regulations, 28 CFR Part 35, requiring that a grievance procedure be established to resolve grievances asserted by qualified individuals with disabilities.  Should any individual desire to review the ADA or its regulations to understand the rights, privileges and remedies afforded by it, please contact the Designated Coordinator.

 

b)         In general, the ADA requires that each program, service and activity offered by the Office of Banks and Real Estate ("Agency"), when viewed in its entirety, be readily accessible to and usable by qualified individuals with disabilities.

 

c)         It is the intention of the Agency to foster open communication with all individuals requesting readily accessible programs, services and activities. The  Agency encourages supervisors of programs, services and activities to respond to requests for modifications before they become grievances.

 

Section 375.20  Definitions

 

            "Commissioner" is the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate.

 

            "Complainant" is an individual with a disability who files a Grievance Form provided by the Agency under this Procedure.

 

            "Designated Coordinator" is the person appointed by the Commissioner who is responsible for the coordination of efforts of the Agency to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title II of the ADA including investigation of grievances filed by complainants.  The Designated Coordinator may be contacted at Room 100, 117 S. Fifth, Reisch Building, Springfield, Illinois, 62701.  See 28 CFR 35.107.

 

            "Grievance" is any complaint under the ADA by an individual with a disability who meets the essential eligibility requirements for participation in or receipt of the benefits of a program, activity or service offered by the Agency, and who believes he or she has been excluded from participation in or denied the benefits of any program, service or activity of the Agency, or has been subject to discrimination by the Agency.

 

Section 375.30  Procedure

 

a)         Grievances must be submitted in accordance with the steps and time limits set forth in Sections 375.40 and 375.50.  It is mutually desirable and beneficial that grievances be satisfactorily resolved in a prompt manner.  Time limits established in this Procedure are in calendar days, unless otherwise stated, and may be extended by mutual agreement in writing by the complainant and the reviewer at the Designated Coordinator and Final Levels.

 

b)         A complainant's failure to submit a grievance, or to submit or appeal it to the next level of Procedure within the specified time limits shall mean that the complainant has withdrawn the grievance or has accepted the last response given in the Procedure as the Agency's last response.

 

c)         The Agency shall, upon being informed of that individual's desire to file a formal grievance, instruct the individual how to receive a copy of this Procedure and the Grievance Form.

 

Section 375.40  Designated Coordinator Level

 

a)         If an individual desires to file a formal written grievance, the individual shall promptly, but no later than 180 days after the alleged discrimination, submit the grievance to the Designated Coordinator in writing on the Grievance Form prescribed for that purpose.  The Grievance Form must be completed in full in order to receive proper consideration by the Designated Coordinator.

 

b)         Upon request, assistance shall be provided by the Agency to complete the Grievance Form.

 

c)         The Designated Coordinator, or his/her representative, shall investigate the grievance and shall make reasonable efforts to resolve it.  The Designated Coordinator shall provide a written response to the complainant and Commissioner within ten (10) business days after receipt of the Grievance Form.

 

Section 375.50  Final Level

 

a)         If the grievance has not been resolved at the Designated Coordinator Level to the satisfaction of the complainant, the complainant may submit a copy of the Grievance Form and Designated Coordinator's response to the Commissioner for final review.  The complainant shall submit these documents to the Commissioner, together with a short written statement explaining the reason(s) for dissatisfaction with the Designated Coordinator's written response, within five (5) business days after receipt by the complainant of the Designated Coordinator's response.

 

b)         The Commissioner shall appoint a 3-member panel to review the grievance at the Final Level.  One member so appointed shall be designated chairman.

 

c)         The complainant shall be afforded an opportunity to appear before the panel.  Complainant shall have a right to appoint a representative to appear on his/her behalf.  The panel shall review the Designated Coordinator's written response and may conduct interviews and seek advice as it deems appropriate.

 

d)         Upon reaching a concurrence, the panel shall make recommendations in writing to the Commissioner as to the proper resolution of the grievance.  All recommendations shall include reasons for such recommendations and shall bear the signature of the concurring panel members.  A dissenting member of the panel may make a recommendation to the Commissioner in writing and shall also sign such recommendation.

 

e)         Upon receipt of recommendations from the panel, the Commissioner shall approve, disapprove or modify the panel recommendations, shall render a decision thereon in writing, shall state the basis therefore, and shall cause a copy of the decision to be served on the parties.  The Commissioner's decision shall be final.  If the Commissioner disapproves or modifies the panel recommendations, the Commissioner shall include written reasons for such disapproval or modification.

 

f)         The Grievance Form, the Designated Coordinator's response, the statement of reasons for dissatisfaction, the recommendations of the panel and the decision of the Commissioner shall be maintained in accordance with the State Records Act [5 ILCS 160], or as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 375.60  Accessibility

 

The Agency shall ensure that all stages of the Procedure are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.

 

Section 375.70  Case-by-case Resolution

 

Each grievance involves a unique set of factors that includes but is not limited to:  the specific nature of the disability; the essential eligibility requirements, the benefits to be derived, and the nature of the service, program or activity at issue; the health and safety of others; and, whether an accommodation would constitute a fundamental alteration to the program, service or activity or undue hardship on the Agency.  Accordingly, termination of a grievance at any Level, whether through the granting of relief or otherwise, shall not constitute a precendent on which any other complainants should rely.