Park district wants access to minor sex offender lists

The Naperville Park District is pushing state lawmakers to give them access to lists of minors who have been arrested for a sex offense.

The district is also seeking permission to keep program participation lists private and an amendment to property tax laws to get them off the hook for paying back taxes on land donations from developers who go bankrupt.

Park commissioners met with state Rep. Mike Connelly, a Lisle Republican, and Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican, on Tuesday to discuss their legislative wish list as the clock in Springfield winds down.

Among their priorities is for the district to be able to access lists of minors who have been arrested for sex crimes so that the district can do a check on teens applying for jobs such as lifeguards and instructors. School districts are already able to access these lists from local law enforcement agencies.

"We should have superior safety like our schools do," Commissioner Suzanne Hart said. "That's why to me it seemed a no-brainer."

Connelly introduced the legislation in January but it was voted down in a committee hearing He plans to continue to work on the issue.

The park district also is unhappy with a provision in the newly revised Freedom of Information Act that makes program registration lists public documents. Commissioners say they are concerned the lists will allow criminals to know the whereabouts of participants.

"I don't see how knowing ... a fifth grader or a college students' schedule leads to better government," said Derke Price, attorney for the park district.

He said the public lists allow people to be solicited for commercial purposes and that proponents of keeping them public say the park district doesn't want competition.

He and some of the park board members argue keeping the lists private is about safety.

"The unintended consequences of something that seeks to make government more open and transparent can cause a problem that again goes right back to safety of people," board President Mike Reilly said.

Connelly proposed a change to the legislation to keep the lists private but it did not get called in committee.

Also among the park district's legislative priorities is a change in the property tax code to make sure the park district doesn't get stuck paying back taxes on land donated to it by a developer that goes bankrupt. Connelly's legislation on the matter passed the House last month and is now in a Senate committee.