A press release from State Senator Karen McConnaughay:

McConnaughay bill provides Illinois police with real-time notifications on a person’s criminal activity

Springfield, IL… Legislation allowing Illinois to enter into the FBI’s Next Generation Identification Rap Back Program passed the Senate and now heads to the Governor’s desk.

Karen McConnaughay

State Senator Karen McConnaughay (R-St. Charles), chief sponsor of Senate Bill 2907, says the legislation will help law enforcement better track people who have been involved in illegal activity.

Administered by the Illinois State Police, SB 2907 would allow authorized agencies in Illinois that conduct or obtain national criminal history background checks to be eligible to participate in the program.

Unlike routine background checks, Rap Back programs can receive ongoing, real-time notifications and updates about someone’s run-ins with law enforcement.

“Recent national tragedies really have us thinking about what can be done to prevent mass shootings here in Illinois,” said Sen. McConnaughay.

“We don’t need legislation that just sounds good, we need legislation that makes a difference and produces results, and that’s what this legislation will do.

“Under this program, police in Illinois will be alerted whenever an Illinois resident, who is in the FBI’s database, is convicted of a crime anywhere in the United States.”

Prior to the deployment of Rap Back, the national criminal history background check system only provided a one-time snapshot view of an individual’s criminal history status.

“With Rap Back, agencies can receive on-going, updated information on a specific individual.

“This is common-sense legislation that has the potential to stop a tragedy from occurring,” said McConnaughay.

“I am thrilled that this legislation received overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate, and I encourage the Governor to sign it into law.”