IL SB2347

Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to evaluate whether criminal convictions are "directly related" to an applicant's ability to safely perform job duties, rather than whether convictions "impair" the ability to practice

Prohibits the Department from using vague terms like "good moral character," "moral turpitude," or "character and fitness" when evaluating criminal records for licensure decisions, and removes the requirement that licensees be of "good moral character"

Expands the list of criminal records applicants are not required to disclose, including nonviolent misdemeanors and most convictions older than 3 years (with exceptions for serious felonies like sexual offenses, murder, kidnapping, and arson)

Requires applications from incarcerated individuals to be processed without additional delays or automatic holds, and allows supervised practice while incarcerated to count toward license qualifications under the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act

Mandates written findings in denial decisions that explain how a conviction directly relates to the position, along with a list of disqualifying convictions and information about appeal rights