(a) Except with respect to law enforcement agencies, the Department of Corrections, State‘s Attorneys, or other prosecutors, and as provided in Section 13 of this Act, an expunged or sealed record may not be considered by any private or public entity in employment matters, certification, licensing, revocation of certification or licensure, or registration. Applications for employment must contain specific language which states that the applicant is not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest. The entity authorized to grant a license, certification, or registration shall include in an application for licensure, certification, or registration specific language stating that the applicant is not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of a conviction or arrest; however, if the inclusion of that language in an application for licensure, certification, or registration is not practical, the entity shall publish on its website instructions specifying that applicants are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of a conviction or arrest. Employers may not ask if an applicant has had records expunged or sealed.
     (b) A person whose records have been sealed or expunged is not entitled to remission of any fines, costs, or other money paid as a consequence of the sealing or expungement. This amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly does not affect the right of the victim of a crime to prosecute or defend a civil action for damages. Persons engaged in civil litigation involving criminal records that have been sealed may petition the court to open the records for the limited purpose of using them in the course of litigation.