The Illinois House’s transportation panel has unanimously approved a bill that would bring the state into compliance with the USA Patriot Act’s provisions on background checks for hazmat drivers.

The bill, which previously passed the Senate, has been sent to the full House for consideration.

Sponsored by Sen. Terry Link, D-Lake Bluff, SB1825 would set up the state to conduct its portion of the fingerprint-based background checks now required of hazmat drivers, a process being led by the federal Transportation Security Administration.

However, Illinois officials are not waiting for the bill to pass to gather fingerprints and other information for the security threat assessments. Dave Druker – press secretary for Secretary of State Jesse White – says that the state started taking information from new applicants for hazmat endorsements Jan. 31, the same date that process started in the rest of the country. The checks will begin for renewal and transfer hazmat applicants May 31.

The Secretary of State’s Office requested the bill.