Bill > HB5914

This bill creates the Enslavement Era Disclosure and Redress Act, which requires companies bidding on state contracts to investigate and disclose their historical involvement in slaveholding or the slave trade. Specifically, contractors must review their records and submit an affidavit detailing any past participation in slavery, including information about enslaved persons, transactions, and profits. The bill establishes an Administrator within the Illinois Office of Equity to oversee the process, including publishing public reports and holding hearings about the disclosed information. Companies found to have participated in slavery must contribute to a newly created Redress Fund, which will support educational and economic development projects in communities impacted by historical racial injustices. The legislation imposes significant penalties for non-compliance, including potential debarment from state contracts and contract termination. The bill's broader purpose is to promote transparency, accountability, and healing by acknowledging the economic impacts of slavery and providing a mechanism for partial redress to descendants of enslaved persons. The comprehensive definitions and requirements aim to create a thorough process for investigating and addressing historical connections to slavery among businesses seeking to work with the state of Illinois.