Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois v. Human Rights Commission

PRESIDING JUSTICE GREEN

delivered the opinion of the court:

The Illinois Human Rights Act (Ill. Rev. Stat., 1980 Supp., ch. 68, par. 1 — 101 et seq.) became effective July 1, 1980, superseding the Fair Employment Practices Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 48, pars. 851 through 867). Section 3(a) of the latter Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 48, par. 853(a)) provided that an employer committed an unfair employment practice if the employer refused to hire an individual because of a “physical or mental handicap unrelated to” the ability of the individual to perform the work involved. We are concerned…