CHICAGO – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, that creates a stronger screening process for park district volunteers to ensure that sex offenders are not working with or near children was recently signed into law.

“I often take my children to local park districts for family time or for them to participate in park district programs,” Andrade said. “When it comes to the safety of our children, there can never be enough safeguards in place to ensure their protection.”

Andrade’s House Bill 786 requires park districts in Illinois to create an application process for volunteers that includes a question regarding the individual’s status as a child sex offender. Currently, an applicant for employment with a park district is required to authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any sexual offense. Andrade’s legislation aims to hold volunteers at park districts to a similar standard.

“This proposal ensures that volunteers are held to the same scrutiny as park district employees,” Andrade said. “I’m proud of the work that we accomplished to make park districts safer for children in Illinois and I would like to thank my colleagues in the legislature and the governor for their help in this bipartisan effort.”