Public Act 101-0375
 
HB2766 EnrolledLRB101 09370 SLF 54468 b

    AN ACT concerning first responders.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the First
Responders Suicide Prevention Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
    "Emergency services provider" means any public employer
that employs persons to provide firefighting services.
    "Emergency services personnel" means any employee of an
emergency services provider who is engaged in providing
firefighting services.
    "Law enforcement agency" means any county sheriff,
municipal police department, police department established by
a university, the Department of State Police, the Department of
Corrections, the Department of Children and Family Services,
the Division of Probation Services of the Supreme Court, the
Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator, and other local or
county agency comprised of county probation officers,
corrections employees, or 9-1-1 telecommunicators or emergency
medical dispatchers.
    "Peer support advisor" means an employee, approved by the
law enforcement agency or the emergency provider, who
voluntarily provides confidential support and assistance to
fellow employees experiencing personal or professional
problems. An emergency services provider or law enforcement
agency shall provide peer support advisors with an appropriate
level of training in counseling to provide emotional and moral
support.
    "Peer support counseling program" means a program
established by an emergency services provider, a law
enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization to
train employees to serve as peer support advisors to conduct
peer support counseling sessions.
    "Peer support counseling session" means communication with
a peer support advisor designated by an emergency services
provider or law enforcement agency. A peer support counseling
session is accomplished primarily through listening,
assessing, assisting with problem-solving, making referrals to
a professional when necessary and conducting follow-up as
needed.
    "Public safety personnel" means any employee of a law
enforcement agency.
 
    Section 10. Establishment of peer support program;
applicability. Any emergency services provider, law
enforcement agency, or collective bargaining organization that
creates a peer support program is subject to this Act. An
emergency services provider, law enforcement agency, or
collective bargaining organization shall ensure that peer
support advisors receive appropriate training in counseling to
conduct peer support counseling sessions. Emergency services
personnel and public safety personnel may refer any person to a
peer support advisor within the emergency services provider or
law enforcement agency, or if those services are not available
within the agency, to another peer support counseling program
that is available and approved by the emergency services
provider or law enforcement agency. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Act, public safety personnel may not mandate
that any employee participate in a peer support counseling
program.
 
    Section 20. Confidentiality; exemptions.
    (a) Any communication made by an employee of an emergency
services provider or law enforcement agency or peer support
advisor in a peer support counseling session and any oral or
written information conveyed in the peer support counseling
session is confidential and may not be disclosed by any person
participating in the peer support counseling session and shall
not be released to any person or entity.
    (b) Any communication relating to a peer support counseling
session made confidential under this Section that is made
between peer support advisors and the supervisors or staff of a
peer support counseling program, or between the supervisor or
staff of a peer support counseling program, is confidential and
may not be disclosed.
    (c) This Section does not prohibit any communications
between counselors who conduct peer support counseling
sessions or any communications between counselors and the
supervisors or staff of a peer support counseling program.
    (c-5) Any communication described in subsection (a) or (b)
is subject to subpoena for good cause shown.
    (d) This Section does not apply to:
        (1) any threat of suicide or homicide made by a
    participant in a peer support counseling session or any
    information conveyed in a peer support counseling session
    related to a threat of suicide or homicide;
        (2) any information mandated by law or agency policy to
    be reported, including, but not limited to, domestic
    violence, child abuse or neglect, or elder abuse or
    neglect;
        (3) any admission of criminal conduct; or
        (4) an admission or act of refusal to perform duties to
    protect others or the employee of the emergency services
    provider or law enforcement agency.
    (e) All communications, notes, records, and reports
arising out of a peer support counseling session are not
subject to disclosure under Section 7.5 of the Freedom of
Information Act.
    (e-5) A department that establishes a peer support
counseling program shall develop a policy or rule that imposes
disciplinary measures against a peer support advisor who
violates the confidentiality of the peer support counseling
program by sharing information learned in a peer support
counseling session with department personnel who are not
supervisors or staff of the peer support counseling program,
unless the information is related to the exemptions in
subsection (d).
    (f) A cause of action exists for public safety personnel or
emergency services personnel if the emergency services
provider or law enforcement agency uses confidential
information obtained during a confidential peer support
counseling session conducted by a law enforcement agency or by
an emergency services provider for an adverse employment action
against the participant.
 
    Section 25. Judicial proceedings. Any oral communication
or written information made or conveyed by a participant or
peer support advisor in a peer support counseling session is
not admissible in any judicial proceeding, arbitration
proceeding, or other adjudicatory proceeding, except to the
extent necessary to enforce subsection (f) of Section 20.
 
    Section 30. First Responders Suicide Task Force.
    (a) The First Responders Suicide Task Force is created to
pursue recommendations to help reduce the risk and rates of
suicide among first responders, along with developing a
mechanism to help reduce the risk and rates of suicide among
first responders. The Task Force shall be composed of the
following members:
        (1) the Director of State Police or his or her
    designee;
        (2)the Director of Public Health or his or her
    designee;
        (3) 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed
    by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom
    shall serve as co-chair;
        (4) 2 members of the House of Representatives appointed
    by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
        (5) 2 members of the Senate appointed by the President
    of the Senate, one of whom shall serve as co-chair;
        (6) 2 members of the Senate appointed by the Minority
    Leader of the Senate;
        (7) 2 members who represent 2 different mental health
    organizations, one appointed by the Minority Leader of the
    House of Representatives and one appointed by the Minority
    Leader of the Senate;
        (8) one member who represents an organization that
    advocates on behalf of police appointed by the Speaker of
    the House of Representatives;
        (9) one member who represents the Chicago Police
    Department appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of
    Representatives;
        (10) 2 members who represent organizations that
    advocate on behalf of firefighters appointed by the
    President of the Senate;
        (11) one member who represents the Chicago Fire
    Department appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;
    and
        (12) one member who represents an organization that
    advocates on behalf of sheriffs in the State of Illinois
    appointed by the President of the Senate.
    (b) Members of the Task Force shall be appointed within 30
days after the effective date of this Act and shall serve
without compensation. The Task Force shall begin meeting no
later than 30 days after all members have been appointed. The
Department of State Police shall provide administrative
support for the Task Force, and if the subject matter is either
sensitive or classified, the Task Force may hold its hearings
in private.
    (c) The Task Force shall issue a final report to the
General Assembly on or December 31, 2020 and, one year after
the filing of its report, is dissolved.
 
    Section 35. Other provisions of law. Nothing in this Act
limits or reduces any confidentiality protections or legal
privileges that are otherwise provided by law or rule,
including, but not limited to, local ordinance, State or
federal law, or court rule. Any confidentiality provision
enacted by local ordinance on or after the effective date of
this Act may not diminish the protections enumerated in this
Act.
 
    Section 105. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
changing Section 7.5 as follows:
 
    (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
    Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be exempt
from inspection and copying:
        (a) All information determined to be confidential
    under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
    Development Act.
        (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
    library users with specific materials under the Library
    Records Confidentiality Act.
        (c) Applications, related documents, and medical
    records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
    Procedures Board and any and all documents or other records
    prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
    Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
    has received.
        (d) Information and records held by the Department of
    Public Health and its authorized representatives relating
    to known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible
    disease or any information the disclosure of which is
    restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmissible
    Disease Control Act.
        (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
    under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
        (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of
    the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
    Qualifications Based Selection Act.
        (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
    and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
    Tuition Act.
        (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
    under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
    records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
    general's office that would be exempt if created or
    obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under
    that Act.
        (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
    plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a local
    emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted under
    Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
        (j) Information and data concerning the distribution
    of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
    under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
        (k) Law enforcement officer identification information
    or driver identification information compiled by a law
    enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
    under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
        (l) Records and information provided to a residential
    health care facility resident sexual assault and death
    review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
    Prevention Review Team Act.
        (m) Information provided to the predatory lending
    database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
    Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
    authorized under that Article.
        (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
    compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
    counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the Capital
    Crimes Litigation Act. This subsection (n) shall apply
    until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the
    prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior
    to trial or sentencing.
        (o) Information that is prohibited from being
    disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
    Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
        (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
    investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
    information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
    Regional Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of
    the Regional Transportation Authority Act or the St. Clair
    County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
    Act.
        (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
    Personnel Record Records Review Act.
        (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
    Illinois School Student Records Act.
        (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
    under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
        (t) All identified or deidentified health information
    in the form of health data or medical records contained in,
    stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released from
    the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and identified
    or deidentified health information in the form of health
    data and medical records of the Illinois Health Information
    Exchange in the possession of the Illinois Health
    Information Exchange Authority due to its administration
    of the Illinois Health Information Exchange. The terms
    "identified" and "deidentified" shall be given the same
    meaning as in the Health Insurance Portability and
    Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191, or any
    subsequent amendments thereto, and any regulations
    promulgated thereunder.
        (u) Records and information provided to an independent
    team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
    Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
        (v) Names and information of people who have applied
    for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
    the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
    or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
    Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
    Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
    Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed Carry
    Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed Carry
    Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
    Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
        (w) Personally identifiable information which is
    exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
    19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
        (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
    under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
    8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
        (y) Confidential information under the Adult
    Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
    statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
    information about the identity and administrative finding
    against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
    decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an
    eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
    under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
        (z) Records and information provided to a fatality
    review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
    Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
    Act.
        (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
    under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
        (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
    disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
        (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
    Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
    authorized under that Act.
        (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
    disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
    Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
        (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
    under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
        (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
    under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
        (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
    disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
    Code.
        (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
    Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
        (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
    under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
    the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
        (jj) Information and reports that are required to be
    submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day and
    temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
    disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
    and Temporary Labor Services Act.
        (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
    Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
        (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
    and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
    Aid Code.
        (mm) (ll) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
    Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
        (nn) (ll) Information that is exempt from disclosure
    under Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance
    Act.
        (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
    arising out of a peer support counseling session prohibited
    from disclosure under the First Responders Suicide
    Prevention Act.
        (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
    an employee of an emergency services provider or law
    enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
    Prevention Act.
(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 99-298, eff. 8-6-15; 99-352,
eff. 1-1-16; 99-642, eff. 7-28-16; 99-776, eff. 8-12-16;
99-863, eff. 8-19-16; 100-20, eff. 7-1-17; 100-22, eff. 1-1-18;
100-201, eff. 8-18-17; 100-373, eff. 1-1-18; 100-464, eff.
8-28-17; 100-465, eff. 8-31-17; 100-512, eff. 7-1-18; 100-517,
eff. 6-1-18; 100-646, eff. 7-27-18; 100-690, eff. 1-1-19;
100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 100-887, eff. 8-14-18; revised
10-12-18.)
 
    Section 110. The Department of State Police Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding
Section 2605-610 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 2605/2605-610 new)
    Sec. 2605-610. Possession of a Firearm Owner's
Identification Card. The Department shall not make possession
of a Firearm Owner's Identification Card a condition of
continued employment if the State Police officer's Firearm
Owner's Identification Card is revoked or seized because the
State Police officer has been a patient of a mental health
facility and the State Police officer has not been determined
to pose a clear and present danger to himself, herself, or
others as determined by a physician, clinical psychologist, or
qualified examiner. Nothing is this Section shall otherwise
impair an employer's ability to determine a State Police
officer's fitness for duty. A collective bargaining agreement
already in effect on this issue on the effective date of this
amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly cannot be
modified, but on or after the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 101st General Assembly, the employer cannot require
a Firearm Owner's Identification Card as a condition of
continued employment in a collective bargaining agreement. The
employer shall document if and why a State Police officer has
been determined to pose a clear and present danger.
 
    Section 115. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by
changing Section 7 as follows:
 
    (50 ILCS 705/7)  (from Ch. 85, par. 507)
    Sec. 7. Rules and standards for schools. The Board shall
adopt rules and minimum standards for such schools which shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
        a. The curriculum for probationary police officers
    which shall be offered by all certified schools shall
    include, but not be limited to, courses of procedural
    justice, arrest and use and control tactics, search and
    seizure, including temporary questioning, civil rights,
    human rights, human relations, cultural competency,
    including implicit bias and racial and ethnic sensitivity,
    criminal law, law of criminal procedure, constitutional
    and proper use of law enforcement authority, vehicle and
    traffic law including uniform and non-discriminatory
    enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code, traffic control
    and accident investigation, techniques of obtaining
    physical evidence, court testimonies, statements, reports,
    firearms training, training in the use of electronic
    control devices, including the psychological and
    physiological effects of the use of those devices on
    humans, first-aid (including cardiopulmonary
    resuscitation), training in the administration of opioid
    antagonists as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (e)
    of Section 5-23 of the Substance Use Disorder Act, handling
    of juvenile offenders, recognition of mental conditions
    and crises, including, but not limited to, the disease of
    addiction, which require immediate assistance and response
    and methods to safeguard and provide assistance to a person
    in need of mental treatment, recognition of abuse, neglect,
    financial exploitation, and self-neglect of adults with
    disabilities and older adults, as defined in Section 2 of
    the Adult Protective Services Act, crimes against the
    elderly, law of evidence, the hazards of high-speed police
    vehicle chases with an emphasis on alternatives to the
    high-speed chase, and physical training. The curriculum
    shall include specific training in techniques for
    immediate response to and investigation of cases of
    domestic violence and of sexual assault of adults and
    children, including cultural perceptions and common myths
    of sexual assault and sexual abuse as well as interview
    techniques that are age sensitive and are trauma informed,
    victim centered, and victim sensitive. The curriculum
    shall include training in techniques designed to promote
    effective communication at the initial contact with crime
    victims and ways to comprehensively explain to victims and
    witnesses their rights under the Rights of Crime Victims
    and Witnesses Act and the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
    The curriculum shall also include training in effective
    recognition of and responses to stress, trauma, and
    post-traumatic stress experienced by police officers that
    is consistent with Section 25 of the Illinois Mental Health
    First Aid Training Act in a peer setting. The curriculum
    shall also include a block of instruction aimed at
    identifying and interacting with persons with autism and
    other developmental or physical disabilities, reducing
    barriers to reporting crimes against persons with autism,
    and addressing the unique challenges presented by cases
    involving victims or witnesses with autism and other
    developmental disabilities. The curriculum for permanent
    police officers shall include, but not be limited to: (1)
    refresher and in-service training in any of the courses
    listed above in this subparagraph, (2) advanced courses in
    any of the subjects listed above in this subparagraph, (3)
    training for supervisory personnel, and (4) specialized
    training in subjects and fields to be selected by the
    board. The training in the use of electronic control
    devices shall be conducted for probationary police
    officers, including University police officers.
        b. Minimum courses of study, attendance requirements
    and equipment requirements.
        c. Minimum requirements for instructors.
        d. Minimum basic training requirements, which a
    probationary police officer must satisfactorily complete
    before being eligible for permanent employment as a local
    law enforcement officer for a participating local
    governmental agency. Those requirements shall include
    training in first aid (including cardiopulmonary
    resuscitation).
        e. Minimum basic training requirements, which a
    probationary county corrections officer must
    satisfactorily complete before being eligible for
    permanent employment as a county corrections officer for a
    participating local governmental agency.
        f. Minimum basic training requirements which a
    probationary court security officer must satisfactorily
    complete before being eligible for permanent employment as
    a court security officer for a participating local
    governmental agency. The Board shall establish those
    training requirements which it considers appropriate for
    court security officers and shall certify schools to
    conduct that training.
        A person hired to serve as a court security officer
    must obtain from the Board a certificate (i) attesting to
    his or her successful completion of the training course;
    (ii) attesting to his or her satisfactory completion of a
    training program of similar content and number of hours
    that has been found acceptable by the Board under the
    provisions of this Act; or (iii) attesting to the Board's
    determination that the training course is unnecessary
    because of the person's extensive prior law enforcement
    experience.
        Individuals who currently serve as court security
    officers shall be deemed qualified to continue to serve in
    that capacity so long as they are certified as provided by
    this Act within 24 months of June 1, 1997 (the effective
    date of Public Act 89-685). Failure to be so certified,
    absent a waiver from the Board, shall cause the officer to
    forfeit his or her position.
        All individuals hired as court security officers on or
    after June 1, 1997 (the effective date of Public Act
    89-685) shall be certified within 12 months of the date of
    their hire, unless a waiver has been obtained by the Board,
    or they shall forfeit their positions.
        The Sheriff's Merit Commission, if one exists, or the
    Sheriff's Office if there is no Sheriff's Merit Commission,
    shall maintain a list of all individuals who have filed
    applications to become court security officers and who meet
    the eligibility requirements established under this Act.
    Either the Sheriff's Merit Commission, or the Sheriff's
    Office if no Sheriff's Merit Commission exists, shall
    establish a schedule of reasonable intervals for
    verification of the applicants' qualifications under this
    Act and as established by the Board.
        g. Minimum in-service training requirements, which a
    police officer must satisfactorily complete every 3 years.
    Those requirements shall include constitutional and proper
    use of law enforcement authority, procedural justice,
    civil rights, human rights, mental health awareness and
    response, and cultural competency.
        h. Minimum in-service training requirements, which a
    police officer must satisfactorily complete at least
    annually. Those requirements shall include law updates and
    use of force training which shall include scenario based
    training, or similar training approved by the Board.
(Source: P.A. 99-352, eff. 1-1-16; 99-480, eff. 9-9-15; 99-642,
eff. 7-28-16; 99-801, eff. 1-1-17; 100-121, eff. 1-1-18;
100-247, eff. 1-1-18; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19; 100-863, eff.
8-14-18; 100-910, eff. 1-1-19; revised 9-28-19.)
 
    Section 117. The Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act
is amended by changing Section 7.2 as follows:
 
    (50 ILCS 725/7.2)
    Sec. 7.2. Possession of a Firearm Owner's Identification
Card. An employer of an officer shall not make possession of a
Firearm Owner's Identification Card a condition of continued
employment if the officer's Firearm Owner's Identification
Card is revoked or seized because the officer has been a
patient of a mental health facility and the officer has not
been determined to pose a clear and present danger to himself,
herself, or others as determined by a physician, clinical
psychologist, or qualified examiner. Nothing is this Section
shall otherwise impair an employer's ability to determine an
officer's fitness for duty. On and after the effective date of
this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly, Section 6 of
this Act shall not apply to the prohibition requiring a Firearm
Owner's Identification Card as a condition of continued
employment, but a collective bargaining agreement already in
effect on that issue on the effective date of this amendatory
Act of the 100th General Assembly cannot be modified. The
employer shall document if and why an officer has been
determined to pose a clear and present danger.
(Source: P.A. 100-911, eff. 8-17-18.)
 
    Section 120. The Illinois Fire Protection Training Act is
amended by changing Section 8 as follows:
 
    (50 ILCS 740/8)  (from Ch. 85, par. 538)
    Sec. 8. Rules and minimum standards for schools. The Office
shall adopt rules and minimum standards for such schools which
shall include but not be limited to the following:
        a. Minimum courses of study, resources, facilities,
    apparatus, equipment, reference material, established
    records and procedures as determined by the Office.
        b. Minimum requirements for instructors.
        c. Minimum basic training requirements, which a
    trainee must satisfactorily complete before being eligible
    for permanent employment as a firefighter fire fighter in
    the fire department of a participating local governmental
    agency. Those requirements shall include training in first
    aid (including cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and training
    in the administration of opioid antagonists as defined in
    paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of Section 5-23 of the
    Substance Use Disorder Act.
        d. Training in effective recognition of and responses
    to stress, trauma, and post-traumatic stress experienced
    by firefighters that is consistent with Section 25 of the
    Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act in a peer
    setting.
(Source: P.A. 99-480, eff. 9-9-15; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19.)
 
    Section 130. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section
3-6012.2 as follows:
 
    (55 ILCS 5/3-6012.2 new)
    Sec. 3-6012.2. Mental health specialists; sheriff's
offices. Sheriff's offices shall ensure that mental health
resources, including counselors or therapists, are available
to each sheriff's office's employees, whether through direct
employment by that office, contract employment, or other means.
 
    Section 135. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
adding Sections 11-1-14 and 11-6-11 as follows:
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-1-14 new)
    Sec. 11-1-14. Mental health specialists; police. The
corporate authorities of each municipality which has
established a police department shall ensure that mental health
resources, including counselors or therapists, are available
to that police department's employees, whether through direct
employment by that department, contract employment, or other
means.
 
    (65 ILCS 5/11-6-11 new)
    Sec. 11-6-11. Mental health specialists; fire. The
corporate authorities of each municipality which has
established firefighting services shall ensure that mental
health resources, including counselors or therapists, are
available to that fire department's employees, whether through
direct employment by that department, contract employment, or
other means.
 
    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.