102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5319

 

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 1.5 heading new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-25 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-99 new

    Creates the Peoria Co-Responder Pilot Program Division in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the Peoria Police Department shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-response unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the hiring of personnel as provided in the Division. Provides that the unit is responsible for conducting initial or follow-up visits for individuals who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services rather than a traditional law enforcement response. Provides that the unit shall utilize community resources, including a unit-integrated Social Services Unit (social workers integrated in juvenile and adult investigations), to connect individuals with appropriate services. Provides that the Department's Special Response Team officers will respond to resolve violent or armed emotionally distressed persons. Provides that the unit's 3 primary areas of focus shall be mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and homelessness issues. Includes provisions relating to unit duties, social workers of the unit, and training. Defines terms. Repeals the division on January 1, 2029.


LRB102 23753 AWJ 32943 b

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5319LRB102 23753 AWJ 32943 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
5adding Division 1.5 of Article 11 as follows:
 
6    (65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 1.5 heading new)
7
DIVISION 1.5.
8
PEORIA CO-RESPONDER PILOT PROGRAM

 
9    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5 new)
10    Sec. 11-1.5-5. Definitions. As used in this Section:
11    "Department" means the Peoria Police Department.
12    "Station adjustment" has the meaning given to that term in
13Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
14    "Unit" means a co-response unit created under this
15Division.
 
16    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10 new)
17    Sec. 11-1.5-10. Establishment; responsibilities; focus.
18    (a) The Department shall establish, subject to
19appropriation, a co-response unit no later than 6 months after
20the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General
21Assembly, including the hiring of personnel as provided in

 

 

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1this Division.
2    (b) The unit is responsible for conducting initial or
3follow-up visits for individuals who may benefit from mental
4or behavioral health services rather than traditional law
5enforcement response. The unit shall utilize community
6resources, including a unit-integrated Social Services Unit
7(social workers integrated in juvenile and adult
8investigations), to connect individuals with appropriate
9services, along with the Special Response Team officers in the
10resolution of violent or armed emotionally distressed persons.
11    (c) The unit's 3 primary areas of focus shall be mental and
12behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and
13homelessness issues.
 
14    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15 new)
15    Sec. 11-1.5-15. Duties. The duties of the unit include,
16but are not limited to:
17        (1) Serving as a resource to the Peoria community to
18    identify and coordinate the social services available to
19    residents who are victims of criminal acts.
20        (2) Networking with area social service agencies to
21    develop a community-mutual resource system and wrap-around
22    services (a team-based, collaborative case management
23    approach) for victims in need of social service
24    assistance; and fostering relationships with community
25    organizations not limited to area hospitals, school

 

 

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1    districts, juvenile justice system, and various community
2    groups.
3        (3) Employing social workers of the unit who shall:
4            (A) Upon request, provide community presentations
5        on an array of social service topics.
6            (B) Assist individuals in diversion from the
7        criminal justice system by addressing problems or
8        concerns through therapeutic intervention.
9            (C) Facilitate follow-up treatment or referral to
10        the appropriate community resource organization.
11            (D) When requested, assist Department employees in
12        securing services for those in need and provide
13        educational information to help the employee better
14        understand the circumstances or the community concern.
15            (E) Meet with walk-ins requesting information or
16        assistance.
17            (F) Protect the interest, confidentiality, and
18        civil rights of the client.
19            (G) Train social work interns who may be working
20        within the unit.
21            (H) Be on-call after regular business hours, as
22        needed.
23            (L) Consult on all cases as needed by the
24        Department.
25            (M) Perform other functions as provided in Section
26        11-1.5-20 or otherwise needed by the Department.

 

 

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1        (4) Employing social workers who shall work with
2    victims of crimes as follows:
3            (A) Review police reports to identify known
4        victims and contact them to offer direct and referred
5        services.
6            (B) Assist victims with filing police reports and
7        victim compensation forms.
8            (C) Provide safety planning services to victims.
9            (D) Provide crisis counseling services to victims
10        and their families.
11            (E) Conduct home visits with victims in
12        conjunction with police backup, when needed.
13            (F) Assist victims in obtaining orders of
14        protection. A social worker, in the performance of his
15        or her duties under this subparagraph, is an advocate,
16        as that term is defined in Section 112A-3 of the Code
17        of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
18            (G) Facilitate court advocacy services for
19        victims, including arranging for transportation to and
20        from court.
21            (H) Maintain confidential case files which include
22        social history, diagnosis, formulation of treatment,
23        and documentation of services.
24            (I) Perform miscellaneous personal advocacy tasks
25        for victims, as needed.
26            (J) Oversee activities to ensure those victims

 

 

HB5319- 5 -LRB102 23753 AWJ 32943 b

1        with the most urgent needs are given the highest
2        priority for services.
3            (K) Provide status updates on the progress of a
4        victim's case.
5        (5) Adhering to and understand the applicable
6    policies, procedures, and orders of the Department.
7        (6) Attaining Department-established unit goals.
8        (7) Maintaining a positive relationship with
9    co-workers, as well as the investigators from area police
10    departments and facilitate the exchange of information and
11    resources pertaining to investigations.
12        (8) Keeping informed on crime trends within the City.
13        (9) Remaining obedient and responsive to all verbal
14    and written orders issued by superiors.
15        (10) Completing police reports and other required
16    documentation.
17        (11) Performing such other duties as may be required
18    by State law, city ordinance, and Department policy or as
19    may be assigned by a sworn supervisor.
 
20    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20 new)
21    Sec. 11-1.5-20. Social workers.
22    (a) Unit social workers may be referred to as victim
23service specialists. Social workers are responsible for
24working as a team to provide trauma-informed crisis
25intervention, case management, advocacy, and ongoing emotional

 

 

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1support to the victims of all crimes, with extra attention to
2crimes that cause a high level of victim trauma.
3    (b) Unit social workers involved in a case under adult
4investigations may perform the following responsibilities:
5        (1) Working with domestic violence investigators.
6        (2) Assisting victims with finding safe housing,
7    transportation, and legal assistance.
8        (3) Providing other needed resources for the victim
9    and their families, including working with children who
10    witness and or experience domestic violence.
11        (4) Assisting victims and their children in setting up
12    counseling.
13        (5) Helping reduce victim's chance of reentry into the
14    violent situations.
15    (c) Unit social workers involved in a case under juvenile
16investigations may perform the following responsibilities:
17        (1) Working with families that have habitual runaways
18    and determining why the juveniles keep running away.
19        (2) Providing services to families where there have
20    between domestics disturbances between the juveniles and
21    their parents.
22        (3) Providing resources for parents to help their
23    children who are struggling in school or need
24    transportation to school.
25        (4) Providing guidance and advice to the families of a
26    juvenile who has been arrested and what the next steps and

 

 

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1    options are in the process.
2        (5) Assisting a juvenile with station adjustments and
3    creating a station adjustment program in the Department.
4        (6) Providing services to juvenile victims and
5    families where the Department of Children and Family
6    Services either did not get involved or did not provide
7    services.
8        (7) Assisting with overcoming feuds between groups of
9    juveniles.
10        (8) Assisting us in instances where the families are
11    not cooperative with police.
12        (9) Discussing with families and juveniles options and
13    solutions to prevent future arrest.
14        (10) Maintaining a list of families in need that the
15    unit or Department have had contact with for Department or
16    city special events.
17        (11) Helping facilitate or assist the Department in
18    community-oriented events, such as setting up an event
19    where officers or unit personnel read books with younger
20    children, talking about cyber crimes and social media, or
21    having an officer or unit personnel visit a school for
22    other activities.
23        (12) Helping reduce juvenile recidivism.
 
24    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-25 new)
25    Sec. 11-1.5-25. Training. All unit employees and the

 

 

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1Special Response Team shall be trained in crisis intervention
2and integrating communications, assessment and tactics.
3Integrating communications, assessment, and tactics training
4shall be designed for situations involving persons who are
5unarmed or are armed with weapons and who may be experiencing a
6mental health or other crisis. The training shall incorporates
7different skill sets into a unified training approach that
8emphasizes scenario-based exercises, as well as lecture and
9case study opportunities.
 
10    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-99 new)
11    Sec. 11-1.5-99. Repeal. This Division is repealed January
121, 2029.