ELGIN – Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) was honored today by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) for his work on legislation in Springfield that would make it easier for carnival owners to do background checks on their workers and enhance ride safety.

Senate Bill 1408 sponsored by Senator Noland, allows carnival owners to do background checks by any business that is a member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners. It also strengthens existing laws by requiring carnival owners to check their workers on the National Sex Offender Register instead of just the State of Illinois, remove a patron from a ride if they jeopardize the safety of others and increase the violation fines.

“Carnivals in Illinois are the backbone of local community and county fairs as well as fundraisers for churches, municipalities and other non-for profit organizations. It is important to our local communities that they are able to run as smoothly and as safe as possible,” said Sen. Noland.

Noland was given the award during Schaumburg’s Septemberfest by Jeff Blomsness, President of All-Star Amusements, whose company provided all the rides and games for the Septemberfest, as well as for the Illinois State Fair and various other carnivals throughout the state.

“We applaud Sen. Noland for his diligence and commitment to making a difference at local fairs and festivals, which families can enjoy throughout the state,” said Margaret Vaughn, Government Affairs Director for OABA in Illinois.

Since 1965, the OABA has represented carnivals and circuses as well as the concessionaires involved in the mobile amusement industry in North America to protect family business men and women, many in their fourth generation of business ownership.   Some 5,000 OABA members and over 15,000 employees make up the mobile amusement industry in United States in an estimated $2 billion dollar industry.  For more information go to www.oaba.org.