IL HB3959

Amends the Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987 to add criminal justice as an acceptable bachelor's degree for child protective investigator certification applicants.

Requires candidates to pass a Department-approved examination, be at least 18 years old, and complete an approved curriculum of study or training in addition to holding a bachelor's degree.

Specifies that acceptable degree fields include law enforcement, police science, criminology, social work, early childhood development, psychology, or criminal justice.

Exempts persons employed by the Department prior to the effective date of this Act from the bachelor's degree requirement.

Allows the Department to consider felony convictions in certification decisions but prohibits automatic denial based solely on a felony conviction.