By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation to automate the state’s record-sealing process for individuals with certain criminal convictions.

The governor signed the Clean Slate Act in Chicago on Friday and said the new law would help 2 million people in Illinois get a fresh start, with increased access to employment, housing and educational opportunities.

“There is no reasonable public safety justification for making it hard for returning citizens to get a job or housing or an education. It’s a policy guided by punishment rather than rehabilitation,” Pritzker said.

According to the governor’s office, eligible individuals’ records will be automatically sealed after completion of sentence plus a two-waiting period for misdemeanors and a three-year period for felonies.

The governor said individuals with murder, domestic battery, DUI and sex crime convictions are not eligible for record sealing.

According to Pritzker, House Bill 1836 is not just good for the formerly incarcerated.

“This is also good for the Illinois economy. This law will unlock $4.7 billion in lost wages,” the governor asserted.

State Sen. Elgie Sims, D-Chicago, said the Clean Slate Act maintains strong public safety protections.

“Violent crimes, sex crimes, DUIs and human trafficking are excluded from automatic sealing. We’ve been very deliberate in balance redemption with public safety, because both are essential to thriving communities,” Sims said.

Sims said courts, law enforcement and relevant agencies would continue to have access to sealed records.

HB 1836 passed the General Assembly Oct. 30. Some Republican lawmakers voted in favor of the bill but others opposed it.

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, expressed concern about one of the bill’s provisions

“It seems somewhat counterintuitive that we would say those subsequent felonies would still be subject sealing even though the prior law did not allow them to be subject to sealing,” Windhorst said on the House floor.

Clean Slate Initiative CEO Sheena Meade said Illinois is the 13th state to pass Clean Slate legislation.

Representatives from the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association attended Friday’s press conference and expressed their support and appreciation for the new law.

HB 1836 takes effect June 1.

Greg Bishop contributed to this story.