SPRINGFIELD: Legislation that will increase the tracking of the state's sex offenders has been signed by the Governor, according to State Senator Chris Lauzen (R- Aurora).

Senator Lauzen is the lead Senate sponsor of House Bill 4375. The bill allows the Illinois State Police to request information from Illinois' Department of Employment Security on the current or previous employment status of anyone required to register as a sex offender on the state's database.

Under the bill, the state police would have access to the home address of any sex offender who gains employment and files the necessary paperwork to receive a paycheck.

"This bill will allow the police to locate sex offenders who break the law by not registering with the state as required," Lauzen said. "Using the resources of the Department of Employment Security will give police another tool to track these offenders down, and give citizens added piece of mind by keeping some of the most dangerous predators off our streets."

The bill was originally sponsored in the House of Representatives by Rep. Terry Parke (R- Hoffman Estates).

The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois State Police both support the bill, which goes into effect immediately.

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