HB 5516

Abstract

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections relating to relief from disabilities automatically imposed by law. Provides that the court may grant relief from forfeitures. Defines "eligible offender" for the purposes of relief from disabilities and forfeitures as a person who has been convicted of a crime that does not include an offense or attempted offense that would subject the person to registration under the Sex Offender Registration Act, the Arsonist Registration Act, or the Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act (rather than an offense that is not a crime of violence, a Class X or a nonprobationable offense, or a violation of the Sex Offenses or Bodily Harm Articles of the Criminal Code of 1961, but who has not been convicted more than twice of a felony). Provides that "eligible offender" does not include a person who has been convicted of committing or attempting to commit first degree murder. Provides that a certificate of good conduct may be granted to relieve an eligible offender of any employment-related disability, or to remove any bar to his or her employment, automatically imposed by law by reason of his or her conviction of the crime or of the offense specified in the certificate. Provides that the certificate may be limited to one or more enumerated disabilities or bars or may relieve the individual of all disabilities and bars. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, a conviction of a crime or of an offense specified in a certificate of good conduct may not be deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of any provision of law that imposes, by reason of a conviction, a bar to any employment, a disability to exercise any right or a disability to apply for or to receive any license, permit, or other authority or privilege covered by the certificate. Provides that a certificate of good conduct does not relieve an offender of any employment-related disability imposed by law by reason of his or her conviction of a crime that would prevent his or her employment by the Department of Corrections. Effective June 1, 2008.