HB0297 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 06432 RLJ 46514 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB0297

Introduced 01/28/11, by Rep. Constance A. Howard

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 5000/15

Amends the Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions Act. Requires that the Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions submit to the Governor and the General Assembly findings and recommendations concerning employment restrictions that are not reasonably related to public safety. Provides that the findings and recommendations must be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly by February 1, 2012. Provides that the Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall serve as an ex officio member of the Task Force. Provides that on or before August 1, 2011 (now, September 1, 2010), all State agencies shall produce a report for the Task Force that describes the employment restrictions that are based on criminal records for each occupation under the agency's jurisdiction and that of its boards. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning State government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions Act is amended by changing Section 15 as follows:

(20 ILCS 5000/15)

Sec. 15. Task Force.

(a) The Task Force on Inventorying Employment Restrictions is hereby created in the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The purpose of the Task Force is to review the statutes, administrative rules, policies and practices that restrict employment of persons with a criminal history, as set out in subsection (c) of this Section, and to report to the Governor and the General Assembly those employment restrictions and their impact on employment opportunities for people with criminal records. The report shall also identify any employment restrictions that are not reasonably related to public safety.

(b) Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly Act, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 2 members of the General Assembly to the Task Force. The term of office of any member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Senate, or the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives serving on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall end on that date. The Governor shall appoint the Task Force chairperson. In addition, the Director or Secretary of each of the following, or his or her designee, are members: the Department of Human Services, the Department of Corrections, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Human Rights, the Department of Central Management Services, the Department of Employment Security, the Department of Public Health, the Department of State Police, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois Community College Board, and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Members shall not receive compensation. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall provide staff and other assistance to the Task Force.

(c) On or before August 1, 2011 September 1, 2010, all State agencies shall produce a report for the Task Force that describes the employment restrictions that are based on criminal records for each occupation under the agency's jurisdiction and that of its boards, if any, including, but not limited to, employment within the agency; employment in facilities licensed, regulated, supervised, or funded by the agency; employment pursuant to contracts with the agency; and employment in occupations that the agency licenses or provides certifications to practice. For each occupation subject to a criminal records-based restriction, the agency shall set forth the following:

(1) the job title, occupation, job classification, or restricted place of employment, including the range of occupations affected in such places;

(2) the statute, regulation, policy, and procedure that authorizes the restriction of applicants for employment and licensure, current employees, and current licenses;

(3) the substance and terms of the restriction, and

(A) if the statute, regulation, policy or practice enumerates disqualifying offenses, a list of each disqualifying offense, the time limits for each offense, and the point in time when the time limit begins;

(B) if the statute, regulation, policy or practice does not enumerate disqualifying offenses and instead provides for agency discretion in determining disqualifying offenses, the criteria the agency has adopted to apply the disqualification to individual cases. Restrictions based on agency discretion include, but are not limited to, restrictions based on an offense "related to" the practice of a given profession; an offense or act of "moral turpitude"; and an offense evincing a lack of "good moral character".

(4) the procedures used by the agency to identify an individual's criminal history, including but not limited to disclosures on applications and background checks conducted by law enforcement or private entities;

(5) the procedures used by the agency to determine and review whether an individual's criminal history disqualifies that individual;

(6) the year the restriction was adopted, and its rationale;

(7) any exemption, waiver, or review mechanisms available to seek relief from the disqualification based on a showing of rehabilitation or otherwise, including the terms of the mechanism, the nature of the relief it affords, and whether an administrative and judicial appeal is authorized;

(8) any statute, rule, policy and practice that requires an individual convicted of a felony to have his civil rights restored to become qualified for the job; and 9 copies of the following documents:

(A) forms, applications, and instructions provided to applicants and those denied or terminated from jobs or licenses based on their criminal record;

(B) forms, rules, and procedures that the agency employs to provide notice of disqualification, to review applications subject to disqualification, and to provide for exemptions and appeals of disqualification;

(C) memos, guidance, instructions to staff, scoring criteria and other materials used by the agency to evaluate the criminal histories of applicants, licensees, and employees; and

(D) forms and notices used to explain waiver, exemption and appeals procedures for denial, suspensions and terminations of employment or licensure based on criminal history.

(d) Each State agency shall participate in a review to determine the impact of the employment restrictions based on criminal records and the effectiveness of existing case-by-case review mechanisms. The information required under this subsection (d) shall be limited to the data and information in the possession of the State agency on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly. With respect to compliance with the requirements of this subsection (d), a State agency is under no obligation to collect additional data or information. For each occupation under the agency's jurisdiction for which there are employment restrictions based on criminal records, each State agency must provide the Task Force with a report, on or before November 1, 2011 March 1, 2010, for the previous 2-year period, setting forth:

(1) the total number of people currently employed in the occupation whose employment or licensure required criminal history disclosure, background checks or restrictions;

(2) the number and percentage of individuals who underwent a criminal history background check;

(3) the number and percentage of individuals who were merely required to disclose their criminal history without a criminal history background check;

(4) the number and percentage of individuals who were found disqualified based on criminal history disclosure by the applicant;

(5) the number and percentage of individuals who were found disqualified based on a criminal history background check;

(6) the number and percentage of individuals who sought an exemption or waiver from the disqualification;

(7) the number and percentage of individuals who sought an exemption or waiver who were subsequently granted the exemption or waiver at the first level of agency review (if multiple levels of review are available);

(8) the number and percentage of individuals who sought an exemption or waiver who were subsequently granted the exemption or waiver at the next level of agency review (if multiple levels of review are available);

(9) the number and percentage of individuals who were denied an exemption or waiver at the final level of agency review, and then sought review through an administrative appeal;

(10) the number and percentage of individuals who were denied an exemption or waiver at the final level of agency review, and then sought review through an administrative appeal and were then found qualified after such a review;

(11) the number and percentage of individuals who were found disqualified where no waiver or exemption process is available;

(12) the number and percentage of individuals who were found disqualified where no waiver or exemption process is available and who sought administrative review and then were found qualified; and

(13) if the agency maintains records of active licenses or certifications, the executive agency shall provide the total number of employees in occupations subject to criminal history restrictions.

(e) The Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 31, 2010.

(f) The Task Force shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly its findings and recommendations as to any employment restrictions that are not reasonably related to public safety by February 1, 2012.

(Source: P.A. 96-593, eff. 8-18-09; 96-1360, eff. 7-28-10.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.