(a)The Department shall, no later than 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, establish and maintain a sexual harassment and discrimination helpline. The Department shall help persons who contact the Department through the helpline find necessary resources, including counseling services, and assist in the filing of sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the Department or other applicable agencies. The Department may recommend individual seek private counsel, but shall not make recommendations for legal representation. The helpline shall provide the means through which persons may anonymously report sexual harassment and discrimination in both private and public places of employment. In the case of a report of sexual harassment
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(a) The Department shall, no later than 3 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, establish and maintain a sexual harassment and discrimination helpline. The Department shall help persons who contact the Department through the helpline find necessary resources, including counseling services, and assist in the filing of sexual harassment and discrimination complaints with the Department or other applicable agencies. The Department may recommend individual seek private counsel, but shall not make recommendations for legal representation. The helpline shall provide the means through which persons may anonymously report sexual harassment and discrimination in both private and public places of employment. In the case of a report of sexual harassment and discrimination by a person subject to Article 20 or 25 of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, the Department shall, with the permission of the reporting individual, report the allegations to the Executive Inspector General or Legislative Inspector General for further investigation. (b) The Department shall advertise the helpline on its website and in materials related to sexual harassment and discrimination, including posters made available to the public, and encourage reporting by both those who are subject to sexual harassment and discrimination and those who have witnessed it. (c) All communications received by the Department via the helpline or Internet communication shall remain confidential and shall be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. (d) As used in this Section, "helpline" means a toll-free telephone with voicemail capabilities and an Internet website through which persons may report instances of sexual harassment and discrimination. (e) The Department shall annually evaluate the helpline and report to the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate in electronic form only, in the manner that the Clerk and the Secretary shall direct, the following information: (i) the total number of calls received, including messages left during non-business hours; (ii) the number of calls reporting sexual discrimination claims; (iii) the number of calls reporting harassment claims; (iv) the number of calls reporting sexual harassment claims; (v) the number of calls that were referred to each Executive Inspector General; and (vi) the number of calls that were referred to the Legislative Inspector General.