SPRINGFIELD – Recognizing the humanity of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, State Senator Robert Peters championed a new law that will end the requirement of disclosing criminal background information in certain license applications.

“There’s no need to disclose criminal background information when it can’t be used against an applicant for licensure,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “Once individuals impacted by the justice system disclose this information, they often face discrimination despite rectifying their mistakes.”

Under previous law, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation would consider mitigating factors and evidence of rehabilitation contained in an applicant's record after finding that the applicant for a license, certificate, or registration was previously convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

Peters’ law forbids inquiry into criminal history by IDFPR if the licensing statute states that criminal history cannot be used against an applicant. With this new prohibition, IDFPR would only need to perform a mitigating factor analysis in limited circumstances.

“One of the goals of the justice system is to rehabilitate individuals, not blacklist them once they are released from detention centers,” Peters said. “Second chances are given endlessly to those without justice system involvement. This same opportunity should be extended to everyone seeking to improve their lives and the community around them without judgement.”

House Bill 2826 was signed into law Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Robert Peters spearheaded a new law helping those previously convicted of a felony seek an occupational license to perform non-gaming related services at a casino.

“Individuals impacted by the justice system often have a hard time seeking worthwhile employment opportunities when transitioning back into society,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “These individuals have served their time and should be able to move on with their lives. There are many non-gaming jobs within casinos, such as hospitality related positions. Connecting this vulnerable community with these good paying union jobs, will empower folks to become financially secure and stimulate the growth of safe communities.”

Senate Bill 1462 removes a prohibition on issuing occupational licenses to perform functions in a casino that do not involve gaming to individuals with felony convictions. The law also allows the Illinois Gaming Board to consider an applicant’s criminal record, reputation, associations and activities that could potentially threaten the integrity of the gaming institution.

“Instead of thinking about this as simplifying the application process, this new law should be viewed as a way to increase public safety,” said Peters. “People that make a good living are less likely to do something to sabotage their success.”

Senate Bill 1462 was signed into law Friday.

SPRINGFIELD – Temporary workers will soon have increased safety, transparency and recourse thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Robert Peters.

“Temp workers’ contributions to our economy are often overlooked and taken for granted, even though they often deal with the most unsafe work conditions,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This new law is long overdue. Temporary workers deserve to work in the same safe conditions as permanent workers.”

The Day and Temporary Labor Services Act requires staffing agencies to provide transportation and safety equipment to workers, provide an itemized list of wages due to workers and maintain records related to third party clients.

Peters’ law expands the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act to ensure safety and transparency for workers. Under the expansion, temporary laborers assigned to a third party client for more than 90 days will be paid no less than the rate of pay and equivalent benefits as the lowest paid hired employee of the client with the same level of seniority and performing the same or substantially similar work.

The measure also requires agencies to notify laborers that the assigned workplace is where a strike, lockout, or other labor trouble exists and that the laborers have a right to refuse the workplace assignment. Further, temporary and day labor service agencies must obtain information about a client company’s safety practices and provide training to workers on industry hazards they may encounter at the worksite.

“The expansion of the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act will bring an end to the hazardous workplace situations that many Black and Brown workers face,” Peters said. “A new normal is coming. I appreciate the work the Chicago Workers’ Collaborative, the Illinois AFL-CIO and State Representative Edgar Gonzalez have done to make this new normal a reality for a service sector that is often forgotten.”

House Bill 2862 was signed into law Friday and takes effect immediately.

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SPRINGFIELD – Illinoisans whose family member was killed in a violent crime will soon be able to take two weeks of unpaid leave, thanks to a new law sponsored by Senator Robert Peters.

“The pain of homicide and other violent crimes on families, from the original trauma to re-victimization from the investigation and prosecution, is unimaginable,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “We can’t expect anyone to operate as usual under these circumstances. People need time to adjust to their new normal.”

A report published by the University of California, Berkeley Law School’s International Human Rights Law Clinic found that family members of homicide victims commonly experience anxiety, depression, complicated grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms of PTSD can include nightmares, intrusive thoughts, startled reactions, and difficulty concentrating – and almost a quarter fully develop PTSD which means that they experienced intense, ongoing symptoms that interfered with day-to-day functioning.

The Victims Economic Security and Safety Leave Act provides employees who were victims of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other violent crime up to 12 weeks of leave.

Under Peters’ new law, all employees who are already eligible for leave under the Victims Economic Security and Safety Leave Act may now use up to 10-days of leave for bereavement when family members fall victim to violent crime.

“We have to remember that trauma manifests in both physical and mental ways,” Peters said. “Grief isn’t linear and there’s no set time frame in which people are able to grieve. This measure gives families something to fall back on in the event of the unthinkable.”

House Bill 2493 was signed into law Friday.