<tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><p> </p> </td></tr></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0290</td><td class="xsl" align="center"></td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13398 MST 25742 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><center><code>HOUSE RESOLUTION</code></center> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Second Chance Month is observed each April to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>raise awareness of the barriers faced by individuals with </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>criminal records and to highlight the importance of second </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>chances in strengthening families, communities, and the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>economy; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, As of March 2025, Illinois had a labor force </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>participation rate of 64.9% and an unemployment rate of 4.8%, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>exceeding the national average of 4.2%, while simultaneously </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>facing severe worker shortages across key sectors; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, These shortages impact vital industries, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>including construction, where over 20% of the skilled </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>workforce is projected to retire, healthcare, where providers </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>report significant gaps in staffing, and education, which </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>faces critical shortages in special education, bilingual </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>education, and school leadership positions; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, The agriculture sector, vital to Illinois' </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>economy and food security, continues to struggle with labor </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>availability in both farming and processing operations; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, These persistent shortages pose a substantial </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>risk to the long-term economic resilience, infrastructure </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0290</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 2 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13398 MST 25742 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>stability, and competitiveness of the State of Illinois; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Removing outdated barriers that prevent </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>individuals with criminal records from accessing meaningful </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>employment offers a practical, evidence-based solution to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>expand the labor pool, support reentry, and promote public </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>safety; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">7</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Second chance policies promote successful </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">8</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>reintegration by enabling access to employment, housing, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">9</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>education, and entrepreneurship, thereby reducing recidivism </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">10</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>and advancing economic inclusion; and</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">11</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>WHEREAS, Second Chance Month provides an opportunity to </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">12</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>affirm the value of fair chance policies and practices in </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">13</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>building stronger communities and a more inclusive economy; </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">14</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>therefore, be it</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">15</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">16</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">17</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>we declare April 2025 as Second Chance Month in Illinois; and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">18</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>be it further</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">19</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, That we encourage leaders in both the public and </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">20</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>private sectors to adopt policies that remove unnecessary </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">21</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>barriers to employment and reintegration for individuals with </code></td></tr></table><table class="xsl" width="650"><tr><td class="lineNum" colspan="3"><p> </p><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl" colspan="3"><table class="xsl" width="100%"><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="5%"></colgroup><colgroup width="30%"></colgroup><colgroup width="20%"></colgroup><colgroup width="40%"></colgroup><tr><td class="number"></td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" align="left">HR0290</td><td class="xsl" align="center">- 3 -</td><td class="xsl" align="right">LRB104 13398 MST 25742 r</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="xsl"> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">1</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>criminal records; and be it further</code> </td></tr><tr><td class="number">2</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code> </code><code>RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">3</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>delivered to the Illinois Department of Employment Security, </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">4</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">5</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>Governor of Illinois as a call to action in support of second </code></td></tr><tr><td class="number">6</td><td class="junk"></td><td class="xsl" ><code>chances and workforce reintegration efforts statewide.</code>