99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4550

 

Introduced , by Rep. David Reis

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
720 ILCS 5/24-2
730 ILCS 5/3-2-12 new

    Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 and the Unified Code of Corrections. Permits currently employed and retired State correctional officers to carry their own firearms off duty without being in violation of the unlawful use of weapons and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon statutes if they meet certain training requirements.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4550LRB099 16434 RLC 40767 b

1    AN ACT concerning correctional officers.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by changing
5Section 24-2 as follows:
 
6    (720 ILCS 5/24-2)
7    Sec. 24-2. Exemptions.
8    (a) Subsections 24-1(a)(3), 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(10), and
924-1(a)(13) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of
10the following:
11        (1) Peace officers, and any person summoned by a peace
12    officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the
13    peace, while actually engaged in assisting such officer.
14        (2) Wardens, superintendents and keepers of prisons,
15    penitentiaries, jails and other institutions for the
16    detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense,
17    while in the performance of their official duty, or while
18    commuting between their homes and places of employment.
19        (3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
20    the United States or the Illinois National Guard or the
21    Reserve Officers Training Corps, while in the performance
22    of their official duty.
23        (4) Special agents employed by a railroad or a public

 

 

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1    utility to perform police functions, and guards of armored
2    car companies, while actually engaged in the performance of
3    the duties of their employment or commuting between their
4    homes and places of employment; and watchmen while actually
5    engaged in the performance of the duties of their
6    employment.
7        (5) Persons licensed as private security contractors,
8    private detectives, or private alarm contractors, or
9    employed by a private security contractor, private
10    detective, or private alarm contractor agency licensed by
11    the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation,
12    if their duties include the carrying of a weapon under the
13    provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm,
14    Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of
15    2004, while actually engaged in the performance of the
16    duties of their employment or commuting between their homes
17    and places of employment. A person shall be considered
18    eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the
19    required 20 hours of training for a private security
20    contractor, private detective, or private alarm
21    contractor, or employee of a licensed private security
22    contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor
23    agency and 20 hours of required firearm training, and has
24    been issued a firearm control card by the Department of
25    Financial and Professional Regulation. Conditions for the
26    renewal of firearm control cards issued under the

 

 

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1    provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those
2    cards issued under the provisions of the Private Detective,
3    Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and
4    Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm control card shall be
5    carried by the private security contractor, private
6    detective, or private alarm contractor, or employee of the
7    licensed private security contractor, private detective,
8    or private alarm contractor agency at all times when he or
9    she is in possession of a concealable weapon permitted by
10    his or her firearm control card.
11        (6) Any person regularly employed in a commercial or
12    industrial operation as a security guard for the protection
13    of persons employed and private property related to such
14    commercial or industrial operation, while actually engaged
15    in the performance of his or her duty or traveling between
16    sites or properties belonging to the employer, and who, as
17    a security guard, is a member of a security force
18    registered with the Department of Financial and
19    Professional Regulation; provided that such security guard
20    has successfully completed a course of study, approved by
21    and supervised by the Department of Financial and
22    Professional Regulation, consisting of not less than 40
23    hours of training that includes the theory of law
24    enforcement, liability for acts, and the handling of
25    weapons. A person shall be considered eligible for this
26    exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours

 

 

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1    of training for a security officer and 20 hours of required
2    firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control
3    card by the Department of Financial and Professional
4    Regulation. Conditions for the renewal of firearm control
5    cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be
6    the same as for those cards issued under the provisions of
7    the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security,
8    Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm
9    control card shall be carried by the security guard at all
10    times when he or she is in possession of a concealable
11    weapon permitted by his or her firearm control card.
12        (7) Agents and investigators of the Illinois
13    Legislative Investigating Commission authorized by the
14    Commission to carry the weapons specified in subsections
15    24-1(a)(3) and 24-1(a)(4), while on duty in the course of
16    any investigation for the Commission.
17        (8) Persons employed by a financial institution as a
18    security guard for the protection of other employees and
19    property related to such financial institution, while
20    actually engaged in the performance of their duties,
21    commuting between their homes and places of employment, or
22    traveling between sites or properties owned or operated by
23    such financial institution, and who, as a security guard,
24    is a member of a security force registered with the
25    Department; provided that any person so employed has
26    successfully completed a course of study, approved by and

 

 

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1    supervised by the Department of Financial and Professional
2    Regulation, consisting of not less than 40 hours of
3    training which includes theory of law enforcement,
4    liability for acts, and the handling of weapons. A person
5    shall be considered to be eligible for this exemption if he
6    or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for
7    a security officer and 20 hours of required firearm
8    training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the
9    Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
10    Conditions for renewal of firearm control cards issued
11    under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as
12    for those issued under the provisions of the Private
13    Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint
14    Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm control card
15    shall be carried by the security guard at all times when he
16    or she is in possession of a concealable weapon permitted
17    by his or her firearm control card. For purposes of this
18    subsection, "financial institution" means a bank, savings
19    and loan association, credit union or company providing
20    armored car services.
21        (9) Any person employed by an armored car company to
22    drive an armored car, while actually engaged in the
23    performance of his duties.
24        (10) Persons who have been classified as peace officers
25    pursuant to the Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act.
26        (11) Investigators of the Office of the State's

 

 

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1    Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor authorized by the board of
2    governors of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate
3    Prosecutor to carry weapons pursuant to Section 7.06 of the
4    State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act.
5        (12) Special investigators appointed by a State's
6    Attorney under Section 3-9005 of the Counties Code.
7        (12.5) Probation officers while in the performance of
8    their duties, or while commuting between their homes,
9    places of employment or specific locations that are part of
10    their assigned duties, with the consent of the chief judge
11    of the circuit for which they are employed, if they have
12    received weapons training according to requirements of the
13    Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act.
14        (13) Court Security Officers while in the performance
15    of their official duties, or while commuting between their
16    homes and places of employment, with the consent of the
17    Sheriff.
18        (13.5) A person employed as an armed security guard at
19    a nuclear energy, storage, weapons or development site or
20    facility regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
21    who has completed the background screening and training
22    mandated by the rules and regulations of the Nuclear
23    Regulatory Commission.
24        (14) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of weapons
25    to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through
26    (13.5) of this subsection to possess those weapons.

 

 

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1    (a-5) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) do not apply
2to or affect any person carrying a concealed pistol, revolver,
3or handgun and the person has been issued a currently valid
4license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act at the time of
5the commission of the offense.
6    (b) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section
724-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of the following:
8        (1) Members of any club or organization organized for
9    the purpose of practicing shooting at targets upon
10    established target ranges, whether public or private, and
11    patrons of such ranges, while such members or patrons are
12    using their firearms on those target ranges.
13        (2) Duly authorized military or civil organizations
14    while parading, with the special permission of the
15    Governor.
16        (3) Hunters, trappers or fishermen with a license or
17    permit while engaged in hunting, trapping or fishing.
18        (4) Transportation of weapons that are broken down in a
19    non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible.
20        (5) Carrying or possessing any pistol, revolver, stun
21    gun or taser or other firearm on the land or in the legal
22    dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's
23    permission.
24    (c) Subsection 24-1(a)(7) does not apply to or affect any
25of the following:
26        (1) Peace officers while in performance of their

 

 

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1    official duties.
2        (2) Wardens, superintendents and keepers of prisons,
3    penitentiaries, jails and other institutions for the
4    detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense.
5        (3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
6    the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in
7    the performance of their official duty.
8        (4) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of machine
9    guns to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through
10    (3) of this subsection to possess machine guns, if the
11    machine guns are broken down in a non-functioning state or
12    are not immediately accessible.
13        (5) Persons licensed under federal law to manufacture
14    any weapon from which 8 or more shots or bullets can be
15    discharged by a single function of the firing device, or
16    ammunition for such weapons, and actually engaged in the
17    business of manufacturing such weapons or ammunition, but
18    only with respect to activities which are within the lawful
19    scope of such business, such as the manufacture,
20    transportation, or testing of such weapons or ammunition.
21    This exemption does not authorize the general private
22    possession of any weapon from which 8 or more shots or
23    bullets can be discharged by a single function of the
24    firing device, but only such possession and activities as
25    are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing
26    business described in this paragraph.

 

 

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1        During transportation, such weapons shall be broken
2    down in a non-functioning state or not immediately
3    accessible.
4        (6) The manufacture, transport, testing, delivery,
5    transfer or sale, and all lawful commercial or experimental
6    activities necessary thereto, of rifles, shotguns, and
7    weapons made from rifles or shotguns, or ammunition for
8    such rifles, shotguns or weapons, where engaged in by a
9    person operating as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant
10    to a contract or subcontract for the development and supply
11    of such rifles, shotguns, weapons or ammunition to the
12    United States government or any branch of the Armed Forces
13    of the United States, when such activities are necessary
14    and incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.
15        The exemption granted under this subdivision (c)(6)
16    shall also apply to any authorized agent of any such
17    contractor or subcontractor who is operating within the
18    scope of his employment, where such activities involving
19    such weapon, weapons or ammunition are necessary and
20    incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.
21        (7) A person possessing a rifle with a barrel or
22    barrels less than 16 inches in length if: (A) the person
23    has been issued a Curios and Relics license from the U.S.
24    Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; or (B)
25    the person is an active member of a bona fide, nationally
26    recognized military re-enacting group and the modification

 

 

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1    is required and necessary to accurately portray the weapon
2    for historical re-enactment purposes; the re-enactor is in
3    possession of a valid and current re-enacting group
4    membership credential; and the overall length of the weapon
5    as modified is not less than 26 inches.
6    (d) Subsection 24-1(a)(1) does not apply to the purchase,
7possession or carrying of a black-jack or slung-shot by a peace
8officer.
9    (e) Subsection 24-1(a)(8) does not apply to any owner,
10manager or authorized employee of any place specified in that
11subsection nor to any law enforcement officer.
12    (f) Subsection 24-1(a)(4) and subsection 24-1(a)(10) and
13Section 24-1.6 do not apply to members of any club or
14organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting
15at targets upon established target ranges, whether public or
16private, while using their firearms on those target ranges.
17    (g) Subsections 24-1(a)(11) and 24-3.1(a)(6) do not apply
18to:
19        (1) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of
20    the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in
21    the performance of their official duty.
22        (2) Bonafide collectors of antique or surplus military
23    ordinance.
24        (3) Laboratories having a department of forensic
25    ballistics, or specializing in the development of
26    ammunition or explosive ordinance.

 

 

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1        (4) Commerce, preparation, assembly or possession of
2    explosive bullets by manufacturers of ammunition licensed
3    by the federal government, in connection with the supply of
4    those organizations and persons exempted by subdivision
5    (g)(1) of this Section, or like organizations and persons
6    outside this State, or the transportation of explosive
7    bullets to any organization or person exempted in this
8    Section by a common carrier or by a vehicle owned or leased
9    by an exempted manufacturer.
10    (g-5) Subsection 24-1(a)(6) does not apply to or affect
11persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any device or
12attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in
13silencing the report of any firearm, firearms, or ammunition
14for those firearms equipped with those devices, and actually
15engaged in the business of manufacturing those devices,
16firearms, or ammunition, but only with respect to activities
17that are within the lawful scope of that business, such as the
18manufacture, transportation, or testing of those devices,
19firearms, or ammunition. This exemption does not authorize the
20general private possession of any device or attachment of any
21kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the
22report of any firearm, but only such possession and activities
23as are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing
24business described in this subsection (g-5). During
25transportation, these devices shall be detached from any weapon
26or not immediately accessible.

 

 

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1    (g-6) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section
224-1.6 do not apply to or affect any parole agent or parole
3supervisor who meets the qualifications and conditions
4prescribed in Section 3-14-1.5 of the Unified Code of
5Corrections.
6    (g-7) Subsection 24-1(a)(6) does not apply to a peace
7officer while serving as a member of a tactical response team
8or special operations team. A peace officer may not personally
9own or apply for ownership of a device or attachment of any
10kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the
11report of any firearm. These devices shall be owned and
12maintained by lawfully recognized units of government whose
13duties include the investigation of criminal acts.
14    (g-8) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section
1524-1.6 do not apply to or affect any currently employed or
16retired State correctional officer who meets the
17qualifications and conditions prescribed in Section 3-2-12 of
18the Unified Code of Corrections.
19    (g-10) Subsections 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(8), and
2024-1(a)(10), and Sections 24-1.6 and 24-3.1 do not apply to an
21athlete's possession, transport on official Olympic and
22Paralympic transit systems established for athletes, or use of
23competition firearms sanctioned by the International Olympic
24Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the
25International Shooting Sport Federation, or USA Shooting in
26connection with such athlete's training for and participation

 

 

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1in shooting competitions at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic
2Games and sanctioned test events leading up to the 2016 Olympic
3and Paralympic Games.
4    (h) An information or indictment based upon a violation of
5any subsection of this Article need not negative any exemptions
6contained in this Article. The defendant shall have the burden
7of proving such an exemption.
8    (i) Nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or
9affect the transportation, carrying, or possession, of any
10pistol or revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm consigned
11to a common carrier operating under license of the State of
12Illinois or the federal government, where such transportation,
13carrying, or possession is incident to the lawful
14transportation in which such common carrier is engaged; and
15nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or affect the
16transportation, carrying, or possession of any pistol,
17revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm, not the subject of
18and regulated by subsection 24-1(a)(7) or subsection 24-2(c) of
19this Article, which is unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm
20carrying box, shipping box, or other container, by the
21possessor of a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card.
22(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 98-463, eff. 8-16-13; 98-725,
23eff. 1-1-15; 99-174, eff. 7-29-15.)
 
24    Section 10. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
25adding Section 3-2-12 as follows:
 

 

 

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1    (730 ILCS 5/3-2-12 new)
2    Sec. 3-2-12. State correctional officers; off-duty
3firearms.
4    (a) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section
524-1.6 of the Criminal Code of 2012 do not apply to currently
6employed or retired State correctional officers who meet the
7following conditions:
8        (1) The currently employed or retired State
9    correctional officer must receive training in the use of
10    firearms while off duty conducted by the Illinois Law
11    Enforcement Training Standards Board and be certified as
12    having successfully completing the training by the Board.
13    The Board shall determine the amount of the training and
14    the course content for the training. The currently employed
15    or retired State correctional officer shall requalify for
16    the firearms training annually at a State range certified
17    by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.
18    The expenses of the retraining shall be paid by the
19    currently employed or retired State correctional officer
20    and moneys for the costs of the requalification shall be
21    expended at the request of the Illinois Law Enforcement
22    Training Standards Board.
23        (2) The currently employed or retired State
24    correctional officer shall purchase the firearm at his or
25    her own expense and shall register the firearm with the

 

 

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1    Department of State Police and with any other local law
2    enforcement agencies that require the registration.
3        (3) The currently employed or retired State
4    correctional officer may not carry any Department of
5    Corrections or Department of Juvenile Justice State-issued
6    firearm while off duty. A person who violates this
7    paragraph (3) is subject to disciplinary action by the
8    Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile
9    Justice.
10        (4) State correctional officers who are or were
11    discharged from employment by the Department of
12    Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice shall no
13    longer be considered law enforcement officials and all
14    their rights as law enforcement officials shall be revoked
15    permanently.
16    (b) For the purposes of this Section, "State correctional
17officer" means an employee of the Department of Corrections or
18the Department of Juvenile Justice who has custody and control
19over inmates in an adult or juvenile correctional facility.