HB4983 EngrossedLRB097 19940 CEL 65231 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources
5(Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois
6is amended by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 805/805-535)  (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)
8    Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to
9the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation Police
10Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all
11powers possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise
12those powers anywhere in this State. Conservation Police
13Officers acting under the authority of this Section are
14considered employees of the Department and are subject to its
15direction, benefits, and legal protection.
16    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources
17after July 1, 2001 for a sworn law enforcement position or
18position that has arrest authority must meet the following
19minimum professional standards:
20        (1) At the time of hire, the person must hold (i) a
21    2-year degree and 3 consecutive years of experience as a
22    police officer with the same law enforcement agency or (ii)
23    a 4-year degree.

 

 

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1        (2) The person must possess the skill level and
2    demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level
3    approved by the Department in an administrative rule. The
4    Department's administrative rule must require the person
5    to use techniques established by the American Red Cross.
6        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification
7    as a police officer under the standards in effect at that
8    time unless that person already holds that certification
9    and must also successfully complete the Conservation
10    Police Academy training program, consisting of not less
11    than 400 hours of training, within one year of hire.
12    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons
13who either (i) have been honorably discharged and who have been
14awarded an Afghan or Iraqi campaign medal by the military or
15naval services of the United States or (ii) are active members
16of the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the
17United States Armed Forces and who have been awarded an Afghan
18or Iraqi campaign medal as a result of honorable service during
19deployment on active duty, are deemed to have met the
20collegiate educational requirements for a sworn law
21enforcement position or position that has arrest authority.
22    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an
23administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as
24directly related areas of study and must also adopt, by
25listing, the American Red Cross standards and testing points
26for a skill level equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer.

 

 

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1(Source: P.A. 96-972, eff. 7-2-10.)
 
2    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
3becoming law.