IL HB3491

Creates the Securing All Futures through Equitable Reinvestment (SAFER) Communities Act, establishing a pilot program through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to provide wage reimbursements to employers who hire formerly incarcerated individuals

Employers receive 50% wage reimbursement for hiring eligible participants, or 75% if the job site is located in a disproportionately impacted area (R3 Areas designated under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act), for up to 12 consecutive months per participant

Eligible participants must be Illinois residents who were unemployed or underemployed, served a sentence in state or federal prison ending within 10 years prior to program acceptance, and work at least 30 hours per week in positions paying at or above average wage

Grants to certified "Navigators" (nonprofits, workforce development entities, or educational institutions) fund wage reimbursements, barrier reduction services including transportation, housing, child care, and retention coaching programs

Department of Corrections must promote program awareness in correctional facilities, parole offices, and re-entry programs; the Act is subject to appropriation and repeals on December 31, 2035