HB0786eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB0786 Engrossed LRB100 06215 AWJ 16249 b

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Park District Code is amended by adding Section 8-23a as follows:

(70 ILCS 1205/8-23a new)

Sec. 8-23a. Application for volunteers; disclosure of child sex offenses; penalty for failure to disclose.

(a) For purposes of this Section:

"Child sex offender" has the meaning provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of Section 11-9.3 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

"Volunteer" means any individual who without compensation or benefits reports to, and is under the direct supervision of, a park district's administrative staff and provides personal services to a park district recreational program that is offered to children.

(b) Every park district shall require volunteers to complete an application prior to beginning any work as a volunteer. The application shall include, but shall not be limited to, a question for the applicant to answer concerning whether they have been convicted of or found to be a child sex offender. No park district shall knowingly engage a volunteer who has been convicted of or found to be a child sex offender and shall terminate the services of the volunteer upon discovery of such an offender.

(c) If a current volunteer with a park district is convicted of or found to be a child sex offender, the volunteer shall immediately disclose the conviction or finding to the park district.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.