House Bill 4758 passed the Illinois Senate Labor Committee on Tuesday, moving forward a proposal to block employers from demanding a valid driver’s license unless driving is essential to the job.
The measure targets hiring practices that advocates say screen out qualified applicants, especially people with disabilities who use public transit, paratransit, caregivers or family rides instead of driving.
Nearly 1.85 million Illinoisans face employment barriers because they do not have a driver’s license, according to advocates cited in the bill’s push.
State Sen. Christopher Belt said the legislation is meant to replace outdated job-posting standards with requirements tied to actual business necessity and equal access to work.
Illinois' new law hinges on 'essential' driving. Who will hold employers accountable for their interpretation of this rule?
As this hiring law passes, are tomorrow's self-driving cars being designed to include the workers it aims to help?