98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB2521

 

Introduced , by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Public Safety Officer Protection Act. Provides that a public employer shall reimburse a public safety officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless, in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies: (1) the officer is convicted of a crime; (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred. Provides that a public employer, including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of the Act.


LRB098 09211 RLC 39350 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB2521LRB098 09211 RLC 39350 b

1    AN ACT concerning public safety officers.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public
5Safety Officer Protection Act.
 
6    Section 5. Declaration of State interest. The General
7Assembly determines and declares that the provisions of this
8Act fulfill an important State interest.
 
9    Section 10. Definitions. In this Section:
10    "Criminal proceeding" means any criminal action or
11proceeding brought in State or federal court.
12    "Public employer" means the State of Illinois or any unit
13of local government (including any home rule unit), any State
14supported college or university, or any other public entity
15granted the power to employ public safety officers.
16    "Public safety officer" means a peace officer, law
17enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, first
18responder, fire fighter, or correctional officer.
 
19    Section 15. Public employer reimbursement of public safety
20officer. A public employer shall reimburse a public safety
21officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer

 

 

HB2521- 2 -LRB098 09211 RLC 39350 b

1in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the
2officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless,
3in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies:
4    (1) the officer is convicted of a crime;
5    (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or
6    (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement
7or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred.
 
8    Section 20. Home rule preemption. A public employer,
9including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public
10safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a
11manner inconsistent with the requirements of this Act. This Act
12is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article
13VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise of
14powers and functions exercised by the State.