The Illinois House voted to give certain felons the opportunity to erase their criminal records if they join the military. Sex offenders or anyone convicted of a violent crime wouldn't be eligible.
Representative Mike Bost proposes allowing other felons the chance for a clean slate.
If the military accepts them, and they're discharged honorably, they'd be eligible to get their record expunged.
"I'm from the military. I know what's involved with being trained in the military. I know what you've got to do ." -Rep. Mike Bost
The Illinois legislature debates a lot of measures intended to give criminals a second chance - but they're usually introduced by Democrats from Chicago. Bost is a Republican from Murphysboro, in Southern Illinois.
That wasn't lost on one of those Chicago Democrats - Representative Will Davis - as heard in this exchange:
DAVIS: "So when there have been expungement bills that have come through here before - do you remember how you might have voted on some of those?"
BOST: "Yeah, I didn't vote for them."
DAVIS: So what do you think was wrong with those bills that all of a sudden, we should support this one?"
BOST: "I didn't necessarily agree with the litmus test."
This measure got a mix of Republican and Democratic support and won approval on a 67 to 41 vote.
Illinois Public Radio's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.