Updated
September 13, 2023
If you applied for or worked as an Illinois police officer, firefighter, or city service worker and were asked about your family medical history, a GIPA investigation may affect you.
Illinois firemen, police, and city service workers
Attorneys have been investigating police, fire departments, and city service workers' rights regarding claims from Illinois residents that they were asked about their family medical history during either the application process or their employment.• Firemen,
• Police,
• Illinois City Service Workers
The Illinois Genetic Information Protection Act (also known as GIPA) does not allow an employer to ask about your family's health history, since it violates the privacy rights of the individuals in your family who have not given consent to their medical conditions being shared.
Status
Active Investigation
Attorneys are reviewing potential GIPA claims · no settlement yet
Claim Deadline
Ongoing
intake is open on a rolling basis for Illinois residents
Estimated Payout
Varies
GIPA allows statutory damages per violation, subject to proof
Proof Required
Yes
records of your application or employment with the department or city
What are GIPA and GINA? What's the Difference?
• GIPA - Illinois Genetic Information Protection Act
GIPA, or the Genetic Information Protection Act, is an Illinois law that seeks to protect genetic information of Illinoisians. The protection is provided for individuals' privacy and non-discrimination based on their "genetic" information, as defined by HIPAA. Generally, the law does not allow employers to make decisions based on certain HIPAA defined "genetic" factors such as RNA, DNA, proteins, chromosomes, metabolites, mutations, or chromosomal changes. It also prohibits the release of some of this private information to anyone other than the person being genetically tested. This is similar to how personally identifiable information is protected.
• GINA - Illinois Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
What is the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act? Also known as GINA - the law aims to protect the rights of all United States citizens from employers who might otherwise fire, not hire, or otherwise treaty unfairly on the basis of genetic information or family medical history. According to the national "GINA" law, "genetic" information can be data about a gene test, historical medical information in your family, gene tests of a family member, genetic information about fetus, embryo or reproductive information of an individual.
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Status
Active Investigation
No settlement · attorneys reviewing potential GIPA claims
Who Is Investigated
Illinois police, fire & city service employers
Law at Issue
Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA)
Location
Illinois
Type
Genetic Privacy Investigation
Proof Required
Yes
employment or application records
