---
type: "Bill"
title: "EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECK"
description: "Creates the Best Candidate for the Job Act. Provides that an employer may not inquire into or require disclosure of a job applicant's criminal record or criminal history before the candidate has been notified that the candidate has been selected for a job interview or has been offered a conditional offer of employment. Requires consideration of the nature and gravity of a candidate's conviction record, the time elapsed since the conviction, and whether the conviction has a direct bearing on the candidate's fitness before excluding a candidate. Authorizes civil remedies. Provides that the Department of Labor may impose penalties for violations. Effective January 1, 2015."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "98th"
identifier: "HB 5701"
citation: "Illinois HB 5701 (98th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 102
vote_count: 4
first_action: "2014-02-14"
last_action: "2014-07-21"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/e6f61a12-80f0-4fb9-9724-6cc16d0b02d3"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5701&GAID=12&DocTypeID=HB&LegId=80913&SessionID=85&GA=98"
source_hash: "94c8e9e3a4217a71ec7d5fa9c142edbfd352f2dea636084314d2cb36a6c80a61"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois HB 5701 (98th) — EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECK

Creates the Best Candidate for the Job Act. Provides that an employer may not inquire into or require disclosure of a job applicant's criminal record or criminal history before the candidate has been notified that the candidate has been selected for a job interview or has been offered a conditional offer of employment. Requires consideration of the nature and gravity of a candidate's conviction record, the time elapsed since the conviction, and whether the conviction has a direct bearing on the candidate's fitness before excluding a candidate. Authorizes civil remedies. Provides that the Department of Labor may impose penalties for violations. Effective January 1, 2015.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09800HB5701&GA=98&SessionId=85&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=80913&DocNum=5701&GAID=12&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09800HB5701eng&GA=98&SessionId=85&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=80913&DocNum=5701&GAID=12&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09800HB5701enr&GA=98&SessionId=85&DocTypeId=HB&LegID=80913&DocNum=5701&GAID=12&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Concurrence — **67–47** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **63–53** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **40–12** (pass) · upper
- Concurrence, Amendment 3 — **67–47** (pass) · lower

## Sponsors

- Daniel Biss — cosponsor (person)
- Donne E. Trotter — cosponsor (person)
- Ira I. Silverstein — cosponsor (person)
- John G. Mulroe — cosponsor (person)
- John J. Cullerton — cosponsor (person)
- Kimberly A. Lightford — cosponsor (person)
- Linda Holmes — cosponsor (person)
- Melinda Bush — cosponsor (person)
- Napoleon Harris, III — cosponsor (person)
- Rita Mayfield — primary (person)
- Steve Stadelman — cosponsor (person)
- Steven M. Landek — cosponsor (person)
- William Delgado — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2014-02-14** Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `filing`
- **2014-02-14** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2014-02-14** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-03-03** Assigned to Labor & Commerce Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-03-05** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-03-05** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-03-13** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee
- **2014-03-18** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-03-18** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-03-19** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. William Davis
- **2014-03-20** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy
- **2014-03-20** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez
- **2014-03-20** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee
- **2014-03-24** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-03-24** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-03-25** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to Labor & Commerce Committee
- **2014-03-26** House Committee Amendment No. 3 Adopted in Labor & Commerce Committee; by Voice Vote `amendment-passage`
- **2014-03-26** Do Pass as Amended / Short Debate Labor & Commerce Committee; 011-003-000 `committee-passage`
- **2014-03-26** House Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2014-03-26** House Committee Amendment No. 2 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2014-03-27** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2014-03-27** Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly
- **2014-03-31** House Floor Amendment No. 4 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-03-31** House Floor Amendment No. 4 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-04-01** House Floor Amendment No. 5 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Rita Mayfield `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-04-01** House Floor Amendment No. 5 Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-04-02** House Floor Amendment No. 5 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000 `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2014-04-04** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2014-04-04** House Floor Amendment No. 5 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2014-04-04** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2014-04-07** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Christian L. Mitchell
- **2014-04-07** Chief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Christian L. Mitchell
- **2014-04-10** Third Reading - Consideration Postponed `reading-3`
- **2014-04-10** Placed on Calendar - Consideration Postponed
- **2014-04-11** Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. La Shawn K. Ford
- **2014-04-11** Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-04-29** Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 003-000-000
- **2014-04-29** Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2014
- **2014-04-29** Placed on Calendar - Consideration Postponed
- **2014-04-30** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2014-04-30** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 063-053-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2014-04-30** House Floor Amendment No. 4 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 40 `amendment-failure`
- **2014-04-30** Arrive in Senate `introduction`
- **2014-04-30** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading May 1, 2014 `reading-1`
- **2014-04-30** Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Antonio Muñoz
- **2014-05-01** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2014-05-01** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-01** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Iris Y. Martinez
- **2014-05-01** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt
- **2014-05-06** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins
- **2014-05-06** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Linda Holmes
- **2014-05-06** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Daniel Biss
- **2014-05-06** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Melinda Bush
- **2014-05-07** Added as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Kwame Raoul
- **2014-05-07** Assigned to Executive `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-08** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. John J. Cullerton
- **2014-05-08** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steve Stadelman
- **2014-05-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Antonio Muñoz `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-05-09** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-09** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. John G. Mulroe
- **2014-05-12** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. William Delgado
- **2014-05-12** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Executive
- **2014-05-13** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford
- **2014-05-13** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Ira I. Silverstein
- **2014-05-13** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Steven M. Landek
- **2014-05-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Antonio Muñoz `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-05-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Assignments Refers to Executive
- **2014-05-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - Executive
- **2014-05-14** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2014-05-14** Do Pass as Amended Executive; 012-002-000 `committee-passage`
- **2014-05-14** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 15, 2014
- **2014-05-16** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Antonio Muñoz `amendment-introduction`
- **2014-05-16** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-16** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-19** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Donne E. Trotter
- **2014-05-19** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Assignments Refers to Executive
- **2014-05-22** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt Executive; 011-000-000
- **2014-05-22** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2014-05-22** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Muñoz `amendment-passage`
- **2014-05-22** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 23, 2014
- **2014-05-23** Third Reading - Passed; 040-012-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2014-05-23** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Tabled Pursuant to Rule 5-4(a) `amendment-failure`
- **2014-05-23** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2014-05-23** Placed on Calendar Order of Concurrence Senate Amendment(s) 2, 3
- **2014-05-26** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Rita Mayfield
- **2014-05-26** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion Filed Concur Rep. Rita Mayfield
- **2014-05-26** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-26** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-26** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Labor & Commerce Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-26** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Rules Referred to Labor & Commerce Committee `referral-committee`
- **2014-05-27** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Labor & Commerce Committee; 013-000-000
- **2014-05-27** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Motion to Concur Recommends Be Adopted Labor & Commerce Committee; 013-000-000
- **2014-05-29** Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 House Concurs 067-047-000
- **2014-05-29** Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 House Concurs 067-047-000
- **2014-05-29** House Concurs
- **2014-05-29** Added as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris, III
- **2014-05-29** Passed Both Houses
- **2014-06-27** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2014-07-21** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2014-07-21** Effective Date January 1, 2015
- **2014-07-21** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 98-0774 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/e6f61a12-80f0-4fb9-9724-6cc16d0b02d3`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).