Illinoisans with a criminal record now have more job opportunities, as House Bill 2760 took effect on January 1st. This new law reduces restrictions on applying for professional licenses. It’s essentially a very productive afterthought to a 2017 bill created for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to use when deciding if an applicant is fit for a job. The law declares that a criminal record should not prevent someone from acquiring a license.
While the department doesn’t exactly deny too many people—a recent study found fewer than 1 percent of eligible license applicants were denied because of past convictions—this law addresses public perception that would cause someone to not apply for fear of rejection.
An increase in people receiving professional licenses and opening new businesses are great indicators of economic prosperity in Illinois. This law will grant reformed convicts the opportunity to provide for loved ones, hire employees, pay taxes, and stimulate the local economy. Illinois is attempting to help put people to work and increase its tax base.
The IDFPR welcomes all applications but uses mitigating factors to choose who will be accepted. Some of these factors include the completion of a sentence, a progress report from a probation or parole officer, evidence of rehabilitation, and the lack of relation between the person’s conviction and duties of the job sought. If they do reject an applicant, rest assured that they must explain the reason for denial.
