SPRINGFIELD—A new plan to hold businesses that publish criminal history records accountable is headed to the Senate floor for debate.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) is sponsoring the bill, which requires companies that make errors on criminal history reports to correct them within five business days.

“These inaccuracies have a real impact on people’s lives,” Sims said. “Errors on a criminal history report can cost someone a job or affect their ability to find proper housing. We must ensure companies that publish this information swiftly fix any mistakes or face consequences for their actions.”

Senate Bill 1599 expands the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act so that a person or entity that publishes a person's criminal record information on a criminal history report that charges a fee for removal or correction of the information must correct any errors within five business days after notification of the error.

A person who faces harm as a result of a failure to correct published criminal record information within that time frame is entitled to damages of $100 per day, plus attorney's fees. 

“We cannot take this issue lightly when Illinoisans have so much to lose,” Sims said. “I know this plan will help people around the state better protect their reputation and quickly correct any issues.”

The plan passed through the Senate Criminal Law Committee and now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.