Illinois Valley Times

Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria) sponsored a bill that unanimously passed the Senate Wednesday that will allow inmates computer access to search for jobs when they are about to be released from custody.

Senate Bill 156 passed with 59 Yes votes and zero No votes. It will now move on to the House and was referred to the House Rules Committee.

"I'm excited about this bill," Weaver said on the floor. "What it does is it allows inmates access to computers on limited sites as they're about to re-enter the population."

Sen. Chuck Weaver (R-Peoria)

Weaver said he was contacted by the re-entry facility in Peoria about the issue.

"Here are these guys who want to go get jobs and have no ability to get on a computer and get these jobs," Weaver said. "With today's technology, applications and searches can all be done online."

The bill amends the Department of Innovation and Technology Act and the Unified Code of Corrections to provide that the director of corrections and the secretary of innovation and technology partner to adopt a rule or a best-practices protocol that allows inmates access to specific and approved job and career-building websites soon before they leave the custody of the prison.