By a vote of 113-0, the Illinois House of Representatives passed a bill this week sponsored by Senator John Mulroe (D-10) and Representative Darlene Senger (R-96) to protect children under the supervision of minor employees at Illinois park districts. This bill passed the Senate earlier this spring by a vote of 52-0.
Over the past three years, Naperville Park District officials worked with Representative Senger, Representative Connelly, Senator Wilhelmi, and the Illinois Association of Park Districts to craft and promote the bill. Two similar bills passed in 2011 in their chambers of origin, but a final vote was delayed, preventing a single version of the bill from obtaining the necessary approval from both chambers.
The legislation will allow background checks for minors seeking employment at a park district. The bill was needed to enable park districts to comply with existing law that prohibits the employment of individuals of any age who have been convicted or adjudicated for felonies of a serious nature.
“This legislation is needed so that park districts can have limited and controlled access to information about our minor employees regarding a small set of serious, adjudicated offenses so that we can ensure a safe environment for the kids in our programs,” said Naperville Park District Executive Director Ray McGury.
For more information about the Naperville Park District please call 630-848-5000 or visit our website at www.napervilleparks.org.
