103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2818 Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation: (1) to inquire into a person's conviction record before making a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property; (2) for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of conviction record, to refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; (3) use a conviction record as a basis to rescind a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property, unless there is a substantial relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the offer made, the granting or continuation of the offer would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public, or the use is otherwise authorized by law; and (4) for a third-party loan modification service provider, because of a conviction record to refuse to engage in loan modification services, alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such services, or discriminate in making such services available. Provides that nothing shall prohibit: the owner of an owner-occupied residential building with 4 or fewer units from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's conviction record; inquiry into or the use of a conviction record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by State or federal law; and use of a criminal conviction that results in a current sex offender registration requirement or a current child sex offender residency restriction. LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2818 Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation: (1) to inquire into a person's conviction record before making a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property; (2) for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of conviction record, to refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; (3) use a conviction record as a basis to rescind a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property, unless there is a substantial relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the offer made, the granting or continuation of the offer would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public, or the use is otherwise authorized by law; and (4) for a third-party loan modification service provider, because of a conviction record to refuse to engage in loan modification services, alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such services, or discriminate in making such services available. Provides that nothing shall prohibit: the owner of an owner-occupied residential building with 4 or fewer units from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's conviction record; inquiry into or the use of a conviction record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by State or federal law; and use of a criminal conviction that results in a current sex offender registration requirement or a current child sex offender residency restriction. LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b A BILL FOR 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2818 Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index See Index Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation: (1) to inquire into a person's conviction record before making a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property; (2) for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of conviction record, to refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; (3) use a conviction record as a basis to rescind a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property, unless there is a substantial relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the offer made, the granting or continuation of the offer would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public, or the use is otherwise authorized by law; and (4) for a third-party loan modification service provider, because of a conviction record to refuse to engage in loan modification services, alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such services, or discriminate in making such services available. Provides that nothing shall prohibit: the owner of an owner-occupied residential building with 4 or fewer units from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's conviction record; inquiry into or the use of a conviction record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by State or federal law; and use of a criminal conviction that results in a current sex offender registration requirement or a current child sex offender residency restriction. LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b A BILL FOR SB2818LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 AN ACT concerning civil law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Human Rights Act is amended by 5 changing Sections 3-102.10 and 3-106 and by adding Section 6 3-102.2 as follows: 7 (775 ILCS 5/3-102.2 new) 8 Sec. 3-102.2. Civil rights violations; conviction record. 9 (A) It is a civil rights violation to inquire into a 10 person's conviction record as defined under subsection (G-5) 11 of Section 1-103 prior to making a conditional offer to sell, 12 lease, or rent real property. As used in this Section, 13 "conditional offer" means an offer to sell, lease, or rent 14 real property contingent on conducting a criminal history 15 check or criminal background check. 16 (B) Unless otherwise authorized by law, it is a civil 17 rights violation for an owner or any other person engaging in a 18 real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or 19 salesman, because of conviction record, to: 20 (1) refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with 21 a person or to discriminate in making available such a 22 transaction; 23 (2) alter the terms, conditions, or privilege of a 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 SB2818 Introduced 1/17/2024, by Sen. Rachel Ventura SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: See Index See Index See Index Amends the Illinois Human Rights Act. Provides that it is a civil rights violation: (1) to inquire into a person's conviction record before making a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property; (2) for an owner or any other person engaging in a real estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesman, because of conviction record, to refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with a person or to discriminate in making available such a transaction; (3) use a conviction record as a basis to rescind a conditional offer to sell, lease, or rent real property, unless there is a substantial relationship between one or more of the previous criminal offenses and the offer made, the granting or continuation of the offer would involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety or welfare of specific individuals or the general public, or the use is otherwise authorized by law; and (4) for a third-party loan modification service provider, because of a conviction record to refuse to engage in loan modification services, alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such services, or discriminate in making such services available. Provides that nothing shall prohibit: the owner of an owner-occupied residential building with 4 or fewer units from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a person based upon that person's conviction record; inquiry into or the use of a conviction record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by State or federal law; and use of a criminal conviction that results in a current sex offender registration requirement or a current child sex offender residency restriction. LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b A BILL FOR See Index LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 2 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 2 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 2 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 real estate transaction or in the furnishing of facilities 2 or services in connection therewith; 3 (3) refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona 4 fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from a 5 person; 6 (4) refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction 7 with a person; 8 (5) represent to a person that real property is not 9 available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when in 10 fact it is so available, or to fail to bring a property 11 listing to his or her attention, or to refuse to permit him 12 or her to inspect real property; 13 (6) make, print, circulate, post, mail, publish, or 14 cause to be made, printed, circulated, posted, mailed, or 15 published any notice, statement, advertisement, or sign, 16 or use a form of application for a real estate 17 transaction, or make a record or inquiry in connection 18 with a prospective real estate transaction, that indicates 19 any preference or limitation, or an intention to make any 20 such preference, limitation, or discrimination; or 21 (7) offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing 22 of real property with knowledge that discrimination in a 23 real estate transaction is intended. 24 (C) Nothing in this Article shall be construed to require 25 an owner or any other person to conduct a criminal history 26 check or criminal background check after making a conditional SB2818 - 2 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 3 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 3 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 3 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 offer to sell, lease, or rent real property. Unless otherwise 2 authorized by law, it is a civil rights violation to use a 3 conviction record as a basis to rescind a conditional offer to 4 sell, lease, or rent real property, unless: 5 (1) there is a substantial relationship between one or 6 more of the previous criminal offenses and the offer made; 7 (2) the granting or continuation of the offer would 8 involve an unreasonable risk to property or to the safety 9 or welfare of specific individuals or the general public; 10 or 11 (3) the use is otherwise authorized by law. 12 As used in this subsection, "substantial relationship" 13 means a consideration of whether the conditional offer 14 presents an opportunity for the same or a similar offense to 15 occur and whether the circumstances leading to the conduct for 16 which the person was convicted will recur as a result of the 17 offer. 18 (D) In making a determination pursuant to subsection (C), 19 an owner or any other person who elects to, or is otherwise 20 required to, consider a person's conviction record in 21 connection with a conditional offer shall consider the 22 following factors before making a preliminary decision that 23 the conviction record is disqualifying: 24 (1) the nature and severity of the conduct underlying 25 the conviction; 26 (2) whether the nature of the conviction presents a SB2818 - 3 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 4 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 4 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 4 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 direct threat to the health or safety of other tenants or 2 to the property; 3 (3) the terms of the sentence; 4 (4) the number of convictions on the person's record; 5 (5) the age of the person at the time of the 6 conviction; 7 (6) the length of time since the conviction; and 8 (7) evidence of rehabilitation. 9 (E) If, after considering the factors in subsection (C), 10 the owner or any other person making the conditional offer 11 makes a preliminary decision that the conviction record is 12 disqualifying, the owner or person making the conditional 13 offer shall provide written notification to the disqualified 14 person within 5 business days which shall contain the 15 following: 16 (1) notice of the disqualifying conviction or 17 convictions that are the basis of the preliminary decision 18 and the reasons for the disqualification; 19 (2) a copy of the conviction record or other 20 information relied upon to make the preliminary decision 21 to disqualify; and 22 (3) an explanation of the disqualified person's right 23 to respond to the decision of the owner or any other person 24 making the conditional offer before the preliminary 25 decision becomes final. The explanation shall inform the 26 disqualified person that the response may include, but is SB2818 - 4 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 5 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 5 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 5 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 not limited to, submission of evidence challenging the 2 accuracy of the conviction record that is the basis for 3 the disqualification, or evidence of mitigation, such as 4 rehabilitation. 5 (F) The disqualified person shall have at least 5 business 6 days to respond to the notification as provided under 7 subsection (D). 8 (G) The owner or person making the conditional offer shall 9 consider information submitted by the disqualified person 10 before making a final decision. If an owner or any other person 11 making the conditional offer makes a final decision based on 12 the disqualified person's conviction record, the owner or any 13 other person making the conditional offer shall provide 14 written notification to the disqualified person within 5 15 business days which shall contain the following: 16 (1) notice of the disqualifying conviction or 17 convictions that are the basis of the final decision and 18 the reasons for the disqualification; 19 (2) any existing procedure the owner or any other 20 person making the conditional offer has for the 21 disqualified person to challenge the decision or request 22 reconsideration; and 23 (3) the right to file a charge with the Department. 24 (775 ILCS 5/3-102.10) 25 Sec. 3-102.10. Third-party loan modification service SB2818 - 5 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 6 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 6 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 6 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 provider. 2 (A) It is a civil rights violation for a third-party loan 3 modification service provider, because of unlawful 4 discrimination, familial status, immigration status, source of 5 income, or an arrest record, or a conviction record, to: 6 (1) refuse to engage in loan modification services; 7 (2) alter the terms, conditions, or privileges of such 8 services; or 9 (3) discriminate in making such services available, 10 including, but not limited to, by making a statement, 11 advertisement, representation, inquiry, listing, offer, or 12 solicitation that indicates a preference or the intention 13 to make such a preference in making such services 14 available. 15 (B) For purposes of this Section, "third-party loan 16 modification service provider" means a person or entity, 17 whether licensed or not, who, for or with the expectation of 18 receiving consideration, provides assistance or services to a 19 loan borrower to obtain a modification to a term of an existing 20 real estate loan or to obtain foreclosure relief. "Third-party 21 loan modification service provider" does not include lenders, 22 brokers or appraisers of mortgage loans, or the servicers, 23 subsidiaries, affiliates, or agents of the lender. 24 (Source: P.A. 102-362, eff. 1-1-22; 103-232, eff. 1-1-24.) 25 (775 ILCS 5/3-106) (from Ch. 68, par. 3-106) SB2818 - 6 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 7 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 7 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 7 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 Sec. 3-106. Exemptions. Nothing contained in Sections 2 Section 3-102 and 3-102.2 shall prohibit: 3 (A) Private Sales of Single Family Homes. 4 (1) Any sale of a single family home by its owner so 5 long as the following criteria are met: 6 (a) The owner does not own or have a beneficial 7 interest in more than 3 single family homes at the time 8 of the sale; 9 (b) The owner or a member of the owner's family was 10 the last current resident of the home; 11 (c) The home is sold without the use in any manner 12 of the sales or rental facilities or services of any 13 real estate broker or salesman, or of any employee or 14 agent of any real estate broker or salesman; 15 (d) The home is sold without the publication, 16 posting or mailing, after notice, of any advertisement 17 or written notice in violation of paragraph (F) of 18 Section 3-102. 19 (2) This exemption does not apply to paragraph (F) of 20 Section 3-102. 21 (B) Apartments. Rental of a housing accommodation in a 22 building which contains housing accommodations for not more 23 than 4 families living independently of each other, if the 24 owner resides in one of the housing accommodations. This 25 exemption does not apply to paragraph (F) of Section 3-102. 26 (C) Private Rooms. Rental of a room or rooms in a private SB2818 - 7 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 8 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 8 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 8 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 home by an owner if the owner or a member of the owner's family 2 resides therein or, while absent for a period of not more than 3 12 months, if the owner or a member of the owner's family 4 intends to return to reside therein. This exemption does not 5 apply to paragraph (F) of Section 3-102. 6 (D) Reasonable local, State, or Federal restrictions 7 regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy 8 a dwelling. 9 (E) Religious Organizations. A religious organization, 10 association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or 11 organization operated, supervised or controlled by or in 12 conjunction with a religious organization, association, or 13 society, from limiting the sale, rental or occupancy of a 14 dwelling which it owns or operates for other than a commercial 15 purpose to persons of the same religion, or from giving 16 preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion 17 is restricted on account of race, color, or national origin. 18 (F) Sex. Restricting the rental of rooms in a housing 19 accommodation to persons of one sex. 20 (G) Persons Convicted of Drug-Related Offenses. Conduct 21 against a person because such person has been convicted by any 22 court of competent jurisdiction of the illegal manufacture or 23 distribution of a controlled substance as defined in Section 24 102 of the federal Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802). 25 (H) Persons engaged in the business of furnishing 26 appraisals of real property from taking into consideration SB2818 - 8 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 9 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 9 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 9 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 factors other than those based on unlawful discrimination or 2 familial status or source of income in furnishing appraisals. 3 (H-1) The owner of an owner-occupied residential building 4 with 4 or fewer units (including the unit in which the owner 5 resides) from making decisions regarding whether to rent to a 6 person based upon that person's sexual orientation or 7 conviction record. 8 (I) Housing for Older Persons. No provision in this 9 Article regarding familial status shall apply with respect to 10 housing for older persons. 11 (1) As used in this Section, "housing for older 12 persons" means housing: 13 (a) provided under any State or Federal program 14 that the Department determines is specifically 15 designed and operated to assist elderly persons (as 16 defined in the State or Federal program); or 17 (b) intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 18 62 years of age or older; or 19 (c) intended and operated for occupancy by persons 20 55 years of age or older and: 21 (i) at least 80% of the occupied units are 22 occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of 23 age or older; 24 (ii) the housing facility or community 25 publishes and adheres to policies and procedures 26 that demonstrate the intent required under this SB2818 - 9 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 10 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 10 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 10 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 subdivision (c); and 2 (iii) the housing facility or community 3 complies with rules adopted by the Department for 4 verification of occupancy, which shall: 5 (aa) provide for verification by reliable 6 surveys and affidavits; and 7 (bb) include examples of the types of 8 policies and procedures relevant to a 9 determination of compliance with the 10 requirement of clause (ii). 11 These surveys and affidavits shall be admissible in 12 administrative and judicial proceedings for the purposes 13 of such verification. 14 (2) Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements 15 for housing for older persons by reason of: 16 (a) persons residing in such housing as of the 17 effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989 who do 18 not meet the age requirements of subsections (1)(b) or 19 (c); provided, that new occupants of such housing meet 20 the age requirements of subsections (1)(b) or (c) of 21 this subsection; or 22 (b) unoccupied units; provided, that such units 23 are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet the age 24 requirements of subsections (1)(b) or (c) of this 25 subsection. 26 (3)(a) A person shall not be held personally liable SB2818 - 10 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 11 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 11 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 11 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 for monetary damages for a violation of this Article if 2 the person reasonably relied, in good faith, on the 3 application of the exemption under this subsection (I) 4 relating to housing for older persons. 5 (b) For the purposes of this item (3), a person may 6 show good faith reliance on the application of the 7 exemption only by showing that: 8 (i) the person has no actual knowledge that the 9 facility or community is not, or will not be, eligible 10 for the exemption; and 11 (ii) the facility or community has stated 12 formally, in writing, that the facility or community 13 complies with the requirements for the exemption. 14 (J) Child Sex Offender Refusal to Rent. Refusal of a child 15 sex offender who owns and resides at residential real estate 16 to rent any residential unit within the same building in which 17 the child sex offender resides to a person who is the parent or 18 guardian of a child or children under 18 years of age. 19 (K) Arrest Records. Inquiry into or the use of an arrest 20 record if the inquiry or use is otherwise authorized by State 21 or federal law. 22 (K-5) Conviction Record. Inquiry into or the use of a 23 conviction record if the inquiry or use is otherwise 24 authorized by State or federal law. 25 (K-10) Sex Offender Conviction Records. Use of a criminal 26 conviction that results in a current sex offender registration SB2818 - 11 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 12 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 12 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 12 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 requirement pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act, or 2 similar law in another jurisdiction, or a current child sex 3 offender residency restriction. 4 (L) Financial Institutions. A financial institution as 5 defined in Article 4 from considering source of income or 6 immigration status in a real estate transaction in compliance 7 with State or federal law. 8 (M) Immigration Status. Inquiry into or the use of 9 immigration status if the inquiry or use is in compliance with 10 State or federal law. 11 (Source: P.A. 102-896, eff. 1-1-23; 103-232, eff. 1-1-24.) SB2818- 13 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance SB2818- 13 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance SB2818- 13 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance SB2818 - 12 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818- 13 -LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b 1 INDEX 2 Statutes amended in order of appearance SB2818 - 13 - LRB103 37250 JRC 67370 b