Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) –  Legislation is expected to be filed this week that could give non-violent and potentially first-time offenders a chance to get back into the workforce.

The legislation is being named after an organization called “Clean Slate” — helping to clean up someone’s record after three years of being on the right track.

“When you live in a community where individuals are completely excluded from the primary drivers of those local economies, it calcifies those individuals in poverty,” said Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, Assistant Majority Leader.

Gordon-Booth says Springfield and her home city of Peoria especially could benefit from having more people eligible for work.  She went to the All-One Laundromat in Springfield Monday morning, where CEO Pamela Frazier already hires non-violent offenders, and helps them find resources through local organizations.  Her entity is described as both a non-profit entity, and a for-profit entity.

“We help seniors, we help individuals at school-age as they come in and utilize the program.  When they come in, you can hear their story.  A lot of times, that missing component is, ‘I want to fill out an application (for a job), but I’m not sure.'”

While employers would not have access to an applicant’s history under the Clean Slate program, Gordon-Booth says law enforcement and state’s attorneys still would, should they re-offend.  But, the legislation would have the potential, if approved, to put many Illinois people back to work at a time when more people to fill jobs is needed.

“It’s so critical that we frame this in the context of really what it is,” said Gordon-Booth.  “It’s not about getting rid of anyone’s record.  It’s really about taking those two million people off the rolls and putting them squarely back into a rigorous, putting them back into having rigorous opportunity within the Illinois workforce.”

Among the groups supporting the proposal is the Illinois Retail Merchants Association.