Bill > HB1227

This bill establishes the Enslavement Era Disclosure and Redress Act, which requires companies bidding on state contracts to investigate and disclose their historical connections to slavery. Specifically, contractors must review their records and submit an affidavit detailing any past participation in slaveholding or the slave trade, including information about enslaved persons, transactions, and profits. The bill mandates that the Illinois Office of Equity appoint an administrator to oversee the disclosure process, which includes public hearings and annual reports documenting companies' historical involvement with slavery. Companies found to have participated in slavery must contribute to a newly created Redress Fund, which will support educational and economic development initiatives in areas historically impacted by racial discrimination. The legislation imposes significant penalties for non-compliance, including potential debarment from state contracts and contract termination. The broader purpose of the bill is to promote transparency, accountability, and healing by requiring corporations to acknowledge their historical connections to slavery and contribute to addressing its long-lasting economic and social consequences. The bill aims to provide descendants of enslaved persons with a comprehensive understanding of how various industries profited from slavery and to support efforts to rectify these historical injustices.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1227&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104