625 ILCS 5/5-105
Every person seeking a license under Chapter 5 of this Act, as part of the application process, authorizes an investigation to determine if the applicant has ever been convicted of a crime and if so, the disposition of those convictions. This authorization shall indicate the scope of the inquiry and the agencies which may be contacted. Upon this authorization the Secretary of State may request and receive information and assistance from any Federal, State or local governmental agency as part of the authorized investigation. The Illinois State Police shall provide information concerning any criminal convictions and their disposition brought against the applicant upon request of the Secretary of State when the request is made in the form and manner required by the Illinois State Police. The information derived from this investigation, including the source of this information, and any conclusions or recommendations derived from this information by the Secretary of State shall be provided to the applicant or his designee. Upon request to the Secretary of State prior to any final action by the Secretary of State on the application, no information obtained from such investigation may be placed in any automated information system. Any criminal convictions and their disposition information obtained by the Secretary of State shall be confidential and may not be transmitted outside the Office of the Secretary of State, except as required herein, and may not be transmitted to anyone within the Office of the Secretary of State except as needed for the purpose of evaluating the application. All criminal convictions and their disposition and information obtained by the Division of Investigation shall be destroyed no later than 60 days after the Division of Investigation has made a final ruling on the application, and all rights of appeal have expired and pending appeals have been completed. The only physical identity materials which the applicant can be required to provide the Secretary of State are photographs or fingerprints. Only information and standards which bear a reasonable and rational relation to the performance of a licensee shall be used by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall adopt rules and regulations for the administration of this Section. Any employee of the Secretary of State who gives or causes to be given away any confidential information concerning any criminal convictions and their disposition of an applicant shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
625 ILCS 5/5-105