101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2684

 

Introduced , by Rep. Carol Ammons

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Illinois New Business Owner Act. Provides that no application for a license for any State or local department, agency, board, or commission shall be denied or acted on adversely because the applicant has been previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses or because of a finding of lack of good moral character, unless certain determinations are made. Sets forth factors to be considered concerning a previous criminal conviction. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Illinois New Business Owner Act.
 
6    Section 5. Purpose. The public policy of this State is to
7promote transparency in government and remove the unnecessary
8barriers in place that prevent hard-working people from
9excelling in their profession and starting businesses. It is
10also the public policy of this State to prohibit discrimination
11on account of race; color; religion; sex, including sexual
12harassment; national origin; ancestry; military status; age,
13specifically the age of 40 or more; order of protection status;
14marital status; sexual orientation, including gender-related
15identity; unfavorable military discharge; and physical and
16mental disability. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
17found that blanket restrictions can result in the violation of
18an individual's civil rights. This Act is intended to ensure
19that the State is removing unnecessary barriers to business
20ownership, ensuring a transparent license application review
21process, and properly considering all applicants.
 
22    Section 10. Definitions. For the purposes of this Act, the

 

 

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1following terms shall have the following meanings:
2    "Direct relationship" means that the nature of criminal
3conduct for which the person was convicted has a direct bearing
4on his or her fitness or ability to perform one or more of the
5duties or responsibilities necessarily related to the license
6in question.
7    "License" means any certificate, license, permit, or grant
8of permission required by the laws of this State and its
9political subdivisions or instrumentalities as a condition for
10the lawful practice of any occupation, employment, trade,
11vocation, business, or profession.
12    "Public agency" means the State, or any local subdivision
13thereof, or any State or local department, agency, board, or
14commission.
 
15    Section 15. Applicability. This Act applies to any person
16who applies for a license from any public agency who has been
17convicted of one or more criminal offenses in any jurisdiction.
 
18    Section 20. Blanket discrimination against persons
19previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses
20prohibited. No application for any license to which the
21provisions of this Act are applicable shall be denied or acted
22upon adversely by reason of the applicant having been
23previously convicted of one or more criminal offenses or by
24reason of a finding of lack of good moral character if such a

 

 

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1finding is based upon the fact that the individual has
2previously been convicted of one or more criminal offenses,
3unless, after carefully considering the factors specified in
4Section 25, the public agency determines that:
5        (1) there is a direct relationship between one or more
6    of the previous criminal offenses and the specific license
7    sought or held by the individual; and
8        (2) the issuance or continuation of the license would
9    involve a substantial risk to property or the general
10    public.
 
11    Section 25. Factors to be considered concerning a previous
12criminal conviction.
13    (a) In making a determination pursuant to Section 20, the
14public agency shall consider the following factors:
15        (1) the public policy of this State to prohibit
16    discrimination and encourage the growth and creation of
17    businesses;
18        (2) the specific duties and responsibilities
19    necessarily related to the license sought;
20        (3) the bearing, if any, the criminal offense or
21    offenses for which the person was previously convicted will
22    have on his or her fitness or ability to perform one or
23    more of the duties or responsibilities necessarily related
24    to the license in question;
25        (4) any evidence demonstrating the ability of the

 

 

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1    applicant to perform the responsibilities of the license in
2    question;
3        (5) the time that has elapsed since the occurrence of
4    the criminal offense or offenses;
5        (6) the age of the person at the time of occurrence of
6    the criminal offense or offenses;
7        (7) the seriousness of the offense or offenses;
8        (8) the circumstances surrounding the offense or
9    offenses;
10        (9) any information produced by the person, or produced
11    on the person's behalf, regarding the person's
12    rehabilitation and good conduct; and
13        (10) the legitimate interest of the public agency in
14    protecting property and public safety.
15    (b) In making a determination pursuant to Section 20, the
16public agency shall also give consideration to a certificate of
17relief from disabilities or a certificate of good conduct
18issued to the applicant, which shall create a presumption of
19rehabilitation regarding the offenses or offenses specified
20therein.
 
21    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
22becoming law.