LOCAL CRIME-FREE HOUSING ORD

Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code. Repeals provisions prohibiting ordinances penalizing tenants who contact the police or other emergency services. Adds provisions prohibiting a county or municipality from enacting a program, ordinance, resolution, or other regulation that: (1) penalizes landlords or tenants, guests, or others for contact with a law enforcement agency; (2) requires or encourages landlords to evict or penalize tenants or household members for contact with a law enforcement agency, a criminal conviction, or alleged unlawful conduct, including through cooperating agreements with law enforcement agencies; (3) requires or promotes the use of criminal background checks of prospective and current tenants; (4) defines nuisance behavior to include contact with a law enforcement agency; (5) requires tenants to secure certificates of occupancy as a condition of leasing rental housing or turning on utilities; (6) creates or promotes the use of a registry of individual tenants for the purpose of discouraging landlords from renting to those tenants or otherwise excluding such individuals from rental housing within the subject jurisdiction; (7) penalizes tenants, guests, or others for contact made to police or other emergency services; or (8) requires or promotes the use of a lease addendum that penalizes tenants, guests or others for any of the above-listed conditions or is contrary to or inconsistent with requirements under federal law. Provides that a program, ordinance, resolution, or other regulation that violates the provisions is void and must be repealed no later than one year after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Allows for legal action to enforce the provisions. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Amends the Housing Authorities Act to make similar changes for housing authorities. Effective immediately.

• Camille Y. LillyD
• Joyce MasonD
• Kelly M. CassidyD
• Maura HirschauerD
• Will GuzzardiD