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 “We have clear goals in Illinois: reduce crime overall, reduce
prison populations, reduce recidivism and help those who have paid
for their crime find a positive path in life after serving their
sentence,” said Governor Rauner. “Unfortunately we hear stories like
Lisa Creason’s often. There are too many people who have served
their time and turned their lives around only to be punished by
hurdles that prevent them from finding a good paying job. Finding
and keeping a job is the best antidote to going back to prison, and
this new law will make it easier to do just that.”
Decatur resident and mother of three, Lisa Creason, will benefit
from the new law. Creason, who hopes to be a registered nurse, does
not qualify for a license under current law because she served time
for a felony committed more than twenty years ago.
“The signing of Senate Bill 42 into law lifts lifelong restrictions
and allows individuals to be financially self-sufficient and not
dependent on government,” said Lisa Creason.
Senate Bill 42 provides a health care worker who has been convicted
of a forcible felony--other than a felony requiring registration
under the Sex Offender Registration Act or involuntary sexual
servitude of a minor--and whose license was revoked or denied, may
petition the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional
Regulation to restore the license if more than 5 years have passed
since the conviction or more than 3 years have passed since the
health care worker's release from confinement for that conviction,
whichever is later.
This legislation provides that the Department may also consider
other evidence of rehabilitation, along with any voluntary remedial
actions taken by the health care worker, when determining whether a
license shall be restored.
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“I applaud this legislation. The bill will allow offenders who have completed
their sentence and clearly demonstrated their commitment to making a positive
contribution to Illinois to work in an area of study that they are trained and
licensed in,” said John Baldwin, Illinois Department of Corrections Acting
Director. “This legislation will bring Illinois in line with most states on the
issue of rehabilitation and recidivism.”
“As the state’s regulator for licensed professionals, we are committed to
creating viable licensure pathways for qualified individuals,” said Bryan A.
Schneider, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Secretary. “With the enactment of this new law, IDFPR will have the flexibility
to consider the totality of applicants’ qualifications and experiences, not
ignoring their criminal background but balancing it with evidence of their
rehabilitation. This regulatory revision provides a common sense approach for
applicants that may have otherwise been prevented health care licensure in the
past while still allowing our team to consider appropriate concerns for public
health and safety.”
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner]
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