99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4551

 

Introduced , by Rep. John E. Bradley

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
430 ILCS 66/10
430 ILCS 66/15
430 ILCS 66/20
430 ILCS 66/70
430 ILCS 66/87

    Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Provides that the Department of State Police must notify the applicant stating detailed grounds for the denial and the applicant's right to receive copies of all documents and other evidence that was provided to the Department concerning the application. Provides that in the event that an applicant is denied a license, a copy of any and all objections made by law enforcement agencies shall be made available to the applicant. Provides that upon the referral, applicants shall be given notice by the Department that the application is undergoing review by the Board. The notice shall include the next date upon which the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board is expected to convene, and shall inform the applicant that the 90-day time period has been tolled. Provides that all documents and evidence provided to the Board, including a list of the names of all witnesses who provided testimony to the Board, shall be made available to the applicant and the applicant's designated attorney, if any. Provides that an applicant may appeal a denial of an application for a concealed carry license by the Department to the Director for a hearing within 70 calendar days after the denial. Provides that the time deadline for filing a petition for administrative or judicial review shall be 70 calendar days from the date the notice of denial was received by the applicant. If an applicant brings a petition for judicial review under this Act, the petition must be decided without remand to the Department.


LRB099 16114 RLC 40438 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4551LRB099 16114 RLC 40438 b

1    AN ACT concerning safety.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Firearm Concealed Carry Act is amended by
5changing Sections 10, 15, 20, 70, and 87 as follows:
 
6    (430 ILCS 66/10)
7    Sec. 10. Issuance of licenses to carry a concealed firearm.
8    (a) The Department shall issue a license to carry a
9concealed firearm under this Act to an applicant who:
10        (1) meets the qualifications of Section 25 of this Act;
11        (2) has provided the application and documentation
12    required in Section 30 of this Act;
13        (3) has submitted the requisite fees; and
14        (4) does not pose a danger to himself, herself, or
15    others, or a threat to public safety as determined by the
16    Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board in accordance with
17    Section 20.
18    (b) The Department shall issue a renewal, corrected, or
19duplicate license as provided in this Act.
20    (c) A license shall be valid throughout the State for a
21period of 5 years from the date of issuance. A license shall
22permit the licensee to:
23        (1) carry a loaded or unloaded concealed firearm, fully

 

 

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1    concealed or partially concealed, on or about his or her
2    person; and
3        (2) keep or carry a loaded or unloaded concealed
4    firearm on or about his or her person within a vehicle.
5    (d) The Department shall make applications for a license
6available no later than 180 days after the effective date of
7this Act. The Department shall establish rules for the
8availability and submission of applications in accordance with
9this Act.
10    (e) An application for a license submitted to the
11Department that contains all the information and materials
12required by this Act, including the requisite fee, shall be
13deemed completed. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, no
14later than 90 days after receipt of a completed application,
15the Department shall issue or deny the applicant a license.
16    (f) The Department shall deny the applicant a license if
17the applicant fails to meet the requirements under this Act or
18the Department receives a determination from the Board that the
19applicant is ineligible for a license. The Department must
20notify the applicant stating detailed the grounds for the
21denial and the applicant's right to receive copies of all
22documents and other evidence that was provided to the
23Department concerning the application. The notice of denial
24must inform the applicant of his or her right to an appeal
25through administrative and judicial review.
26    The notification of denial shall be provided as follows:

 

 

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1        (1) the notice of denial and the written decision of
2    the Board under subsection (f) of Section 20 of this Act
3    shall be sent via certified United States mail by the
4    Department, with signature required and return receipt
5    requested, to the address listed on the application;
6        (2) the appeal period under Section 87 of this Act
7    shall begin to accrue on the date the denial letter is
8    delivered to the address listed on the application; and
9        (3) in any administrative or judicial proceeding
10    concerning the denial of the application, the Department
11    shall provide the following:
12            (A) proof that the denial letter was delivered to
13        the correct address;
14            (B) a copy of the signature of the person who
15        received the letter; and
16            (C) proof of the date on which it was delivered.
17    (g) A licensee shall possess a license at all times the
18licensee carries a concealed firearm except:
19        (1) when the licensee is carrying or possessing a
20    concealed firearm on his or her land or in his or her
21    abode, legal dwelling, or fixed place of business, or on
22    the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an
23    invitee with that person's permission;
24        (2) when the person is authorized to carry a firearm
25    under Section 24-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012, except
26    subsection (a-5) of that Section; or

 

 

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1        (3) when the handgun is broken down in a
2    non-functioning state, is not immediately accessible, or
3    is unloaded and enclosed in a case.
4    (h) If an officer of a law enforcement agency initiates an
5investigative stop, including but not limited to a traffic
6stop, of a licensee or a non-resident carrying a concealed
7firearm under subsection (e) of Section 40 of this Act, upon
8the request of the officer the licensee or non-resident shall
9disclose to the officer that he or she is in possession of a
10concealed firearm under this Act, or present the license upon
11the request of the officer if he or she is a licensee or
12present upon the request of the officer evidence under
13paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 40 of this Act that
14he or she is a non-resident qualified to carry under that
15subsection. The disclosure requirement under this subsection
16(h) is satisfied if the licensee presents his or her license to
17the officer or the non-resident presents to the officer
18evidence under paragraph (2) of subsection (e) of Section 40 of
19this Act that he or she is qualified to carry under that
20subsection. Upon the request of the officer, the licensee or
21non-resident shall also identify the location of the concealed
22firearm and permit the officer to safely secure the firearm for
23the duration of the investigative stop. During a traffic stop,
24any passenger within the vehicle who is a licensee or a
25non-resident carrying under subsection (e) of Section 40 of
26this Act must comply with the requirements of this subsection

 

 

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1(h).
2    (h-1) If a licensee carrying a firearm or a non-resident
3carrying a firearm in a vehicle under subsection (e) of Section
440 of this Act is contacted by a law enforcement officer or
5emergency services personnel, the law enforcement officer or
6emergency services personnel may secure the firearm or direct
7that it be secured during the duration of the contact if the
8law enforcement officer or emergency services personnel
9determines that it is necessary for the safety of any person
10present, including the law enforcement officer or emergency
11services personnel. The licensee or nonresident shall submit to
12the order to secure the firearm. When the law enforcement
13officer or emergency services personnel have determined that
14the licensee or non-resident is not a threat to the safety of
15any person present, including the law enforcement officer or
16emergency services personnel, and if the licensee or
17non-resident is physically and mentally capable of possessing
18the firearm, the law enforcement officer or emergency services
19personnel shall return the firearm to the licensee or
20non-resident before releasing him or her from the scene and
21breaking contact. If the licensee or non-resident is
22transported for treatment to another location, the firearm
23shall be turned over to any peace officer. The peace officer
24shall provide a receipt which includes the make, model,
25caliber, and serial number of the firearm.
26    (i) The Department shall maintain a database of license

 

 

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1applicants and licensees. The database shall be available to
2all federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, State's
3Attorneys, the Attorney General, and authorized court
4personnel. Within 180 days after the effective date of this
5Act, the database shall be searchable and provide all
6information included in the application, including the
7applicant's previous addresses within the 10 years prior to the
8license application and any information related to violations
9of this Act. No law enforcement agency, State's Attorney,
10Attorney General, or member or staff of the judiciary shall
11provide any information to a requester who is not entitled to
12it by law.
13    (j) No later than 10 days after receipt of a completed
14application, the Department shall enter the relevant
15information about the applicant into the database under
16subsection (i) of this Section which is accessible by law
17enforcement agencies.
18(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 98-600, eff. 12-6-13; 99-29,
19eff. 7-10-15.)
 
20    (430 ILCS 66/15)
21    Sec. 15. Objections by law enforcement agencies.
22    (a) Any law enforcement agency may submit an objection to a
23license applicant based upon a reasonable suspicion that the
24applicant is a danger to himself or herself or others, or a
25threat to public safety. The objection shall be made by the

 

 

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1chief law enforcement officer of the law enforcement agency, or
2his or her designee, and must include any information relevant
3to the objection. If a law enforcement agency submits an
4objection within 30 days after the entry of an applicant into
5the database, the Department shall submit the objection and all
6information available to the Board under State and federal law
7related to the application to the Board within 10 days of
8completing all necessary background checks. If an applicant is
9denied a license, a copy of any and all objections made by law
10enforcement agencies shall be made available to the applicant.
11    (b) If an applicant has 5 or more arrests for any reason,
12that have been entered into the Criminal History Records
13Information (CHRI) System, within the 7 years preceding the
14date of application for a license, or has 3 or more arrests
15within the 7 years preceding the date of application for a
16license for any combination of gang-related offenses, the
17Department shall object and submit the applicant's arrest
18record to the extent the Board is allowed to receive that
19information under State and federal law, the application
20materials, and any additional information submitted by a law
21enforcement agency to the Board. For purposes of this
22subsection, "gang-related offense" is an offense described in
23Section 12-6.4, Section 24-1.8, Section 25-5, Section 33-4, or
24Section 33G-4, or in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section
2512-6.2, paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Section 16-30,
26paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Section 31-4, or item (iii)

 

 

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1of paragraph (1.5) of subsection (i) of Section 48-1 of the
2Criminal Code of 2012.
3    (c) The referral of an objection under this Section to the
4Board shall toll the 90-day period for the Department to issue
5or deny the applicant a license under subsection (e) of Section
610 of this Act, during the period of review and until the Board
7issues its decision. Upon the referral, applicants shall be
8given notice by the Department that the application is
9undergoing review by the Board. The notice shall include the
10next date upon which the Board is expected to convene, and
11shall inform the applicant that the 90-day time period has been
12tolled.
13    (d) If no objection is made by a law enforcement agency or
14the Department under this Section, the Department shall process
15the application in accordance with this Act.
16(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 98-600, eff. 12-6-13.)
 
17    (430 ILCS 66/20)
18    Sec. 20. Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board.
19    (a) There is hereby created within the Department of State
20Police a Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board to consider any
21objection to an applicant's eligibility to obtain a license
22under this Act submitted by a law enforcement agency or the
23Department under Section 15 of this Act. The Board shall
24consist of 7 commissioners to be appointed by the Governor,
25with the advice and consent of the Senate, with 3 commissioners

 

 

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1residing within the First Judicial District and one
2commissioner residing within each of the 4 remaining Judicial
3Districts. No more than 4 commissioners shall be members of the
4same political party. The Governor shall designate one
5commissioner as the Chairperson. The Board shall consist of:
6        (1) one commissioner with at least 5 years of service
7    as a federal judge;
8        (2) 2 commissioners with at least 5 years of experience
9    serving as an attorney with the United States Department of
10    Justice;
11        (3) 3 commissioners with at least 5 years of experience
12    as a federal agent or employee with investigative
13    experience or duties related to criminal justice under the
14    United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement
15    Administration, Department of Homeland Security, or
16    Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
17        (4) one member with at least 5 years of experience as a
18    licensed physician or clinical psychologist with expertise
19    in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
20    (b) The initial terms of the commissioners shall end on
21January 12, 2015. Thereafter, the commissioners shall hold
22office for 4 years, with terms expiring on the second Monday in
23January of the fourth year. Commissioners may be reappointed.
24Vacancies in the office of commissioner shall be filled in the
25same manner as the original appointment, for the remainder of
26the unexpired term. The Governor may remove a commissioner for

 

 

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1incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or inability to
2serve. Commissioners shall receive compensation in an amount
3equal to the compensation of members of the Executive Ethics
4Commission and may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
5actually incurred in the performance of their Board duties,
6from funds appropriated for that purpose.
7    (c) The Board shall meet at the call of the chairperson as
8often as necessary to consider objections to applications for a
9license under this Act. If necessary to ensure the
10participation of a commissioner, the Board shall allow a
11commissioner to participate in a Board meeting by electronic
12communication. Any commissioner participating electronically
13shall be deemed present for purposes of establishing a quorum
14and voting.
15    (d) The Board shall adopt rules for the review of
16objections and the conduct of hearings. The Board shall
17maintain a record of its decisions and all materials considered
18in making its decisions. All Board decisions and voting records
19shall be kept confidential and all materials considered by the
20Board shall be exempt from inspection except upon order of a
21court.
22    (e) In considering an objection of a law enforcement agency
23or the Department, the Board shall review the materials
24received with the objection from the law enforcement agency or
25the Department. By a vote of at least 4 commissioners, the
26Board may request additional information from the law

 

 

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1enforcement agency, Department, or the applicant, or the
2testimony of the law enforcement agency, Department, or the
3applicant. The Board may require that the applicant submit
4electronic fingerprints to the Department for an updated
5background check where the Board determines it lacks sufficient
6information to determine eligibility. The Board may only
7consider information submitted by the Department, a law
8enforcement agency, or the applicant. The Board shall review
9each objection and determine by a majority of commissioners
10whether an applicant is eligible for a license.
11    (f) The Board shall issue a written decision within 30 days
12of receipt of the objection from the Department. The decision
13shall specifically reference all documents and evidence
14submitted to the Board by the Department, law enforcement
15agencies, and the applicant. The decision shall include the
16names of all witnesses who testified at the hearing.
17    The However, the Board need not issue its written a
18decision within the 30-day time period 30 days if:
19        (1) the Board requests information from the applicant,
20    including but not limited to electronic fingerprints to be
21    submitted to the Department, in accordance with subsection
22    (e) of this Section, in which case the Board shall issue
23    its written make a decision within 30 days of receipt of
24    the required information from the applicant;
25        (2) the applicant agrees, in writing, to allow the
26    Board additional time to consider an objection before

 

 

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1    issuing a written decision; or
2        (3) the Board notifies the applicant and the Department
3    that the Board needs an additional 30 days to issue its
4    written a decision.
5    (g) If the Board determines by a preponderance of the
6evidence that the applicant poses a danger to himself or
7herself or others, or is a threat to public safety, then the
8Board shall affirm the objection of the law enforcement agency
9or the Department, and shall notify the Department that the
10applicant is ineligible for a license, and shall provide the
11Department with a written copy of the decision as outlined in
12subsection (f) of this Section. If the Board does not determine
13by a preponderance of the evidence that the applicant poses a
14danger to himself or herself or others, or is a threat to
15public safety, then the Board shall notify the Department that
16the applicant is eligible for a license and shall forward a
17copy of its written decision to the Department.
18    (h) Meetings of the Board shall not be subject to the Open
19Meetings Act and records of the Board shall not be subject to
20the Freedom of Information Act. However, all documents and
21evidence provided to the Board, including a list of the names
22of all witnesses who provided testimony to the Board, shall be
23made available to the applicant and the applicant's designated
24attorney, if any. To the extent that the Board has reviewed the
25medical records of an applicant, or any other records subject
26to any law or rule providing for the applicant's privacy,

 

 

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1copies of the those records shall be provided only to the
2applicant and the disclosure of the records shall comply with
3all applicable privacy laws, rules, and regulations. Upon a
4Board decision denying an application, a copy of the written
5decision of the Board shall be attached to the notice of denial
6required under subsection (f) of Section 10 of this Act, and
7mailed to the applicant.
8    (i) The Board shall report monthly to the Governor and the
9General Assembly on the number of objections received and
10provide details of the circumstances in which the Board has
11determined to deny licensure based on law enforcement or
12Department objections under Section 15 of this Act. The report
13shall not contain any identifying information about the
14applicants.
15(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 98-600, eff. 12-6-13.)
 
16    (430 ILCS 66/70)
17    Sec. 70. Violations.
18    (a) A license issued or renewed under this Act shall be
19revoked if, at any time, the licensee is found to be ineligible
20for a license under this Act or the licensee no longer meets
21the eligibility requirements of the Firearm Owners
22Identification Card Act. The notification and appeals
23processes for revoked licenses shall be the same as those for
24denied applications under Sections 10, 15, and 87 of this Act.
25    (b) A license shall be suspended if an order of protection,

 

 

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1including an emergency order of protection, plenary order of
2protection, or interim order of protection under Article 112A
3of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or under the Illinois
4Domestic Violence Act of 1986, is issued against a licensee for
5the duration of the order, or if the Department is made aware
6of a similar order issued against the licensee in any other
7jurisdiction. If an order of protection is issued against a
8licensee, the licensee shall surrender the license, as
9applicable, to the court at the time the order is entered or to
10the law enforcement agency or entity serving process at the
11time the licensee is served the order. The court, law
12enforcement agency, or entity responsible for serving the order
13of protection shall notify the Department within 7 days and
14transmit the license to the Department.
15    (c) A license is invalid upon expiration of the license,
16unless the licensee has submitted an application to renew the
17license, and the applicant is otherwise eligible to possess a
18license under this Act.
19    (d) A licensee shall not carry a concealed firearm while
20under the influence of alcohol, other drug or drugs,
21intoxicating compound or combination of compounds, or any
22combination thereof, under the standards set forth in
23subsection (a) of Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
24    A licensee in violation of this subsection (d) shall be
25guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first or second violation
26and a Class 4 felony for a third violation. The Department may

 

 

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1suspend a license for up to 6 months for a second violation and
2shall permanently revoke a license for a third violation.
3    (e) Except as otherwise provided, a licensee in violation
4of this Act shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. A second
5or subsequent violation is a Class A misdemeanor. The
6Department may suspend a license for up to 6 months for a
7second violation and shall permanently revoke a license for 3
8or more violations of Section 65 of this Act. Any person
9convicted of a violation under this Section shall pay a $150
10fee to be deposited into the Mental Health Reporting Fund, plus
11any applicable court costs or fees.
12    (f) A licensee convicted or found guilty of a violation of
13this Act who has a valid license and is otherwise eligible to
14carry a concealed firearm shall only be subject to the
15penalties under this Section and shall not be subject to the
16penalties under Section 21-6, paragraph (4), (8), or (10) of
17subsection (a) of Section 24-1, or subparagraph (A-5) or (B-5)
18of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1.6 of the
19Criminal Code of 2012. Except as otherwise provided in this
20subsection, nothing in this subsection prohibits the licensee
21from being subjected to penalties for violations other than
22those specified in this Act.
23    (g) A licensee whose license is revoked, suspended, or
24denied shall, within 48 hours of receiving notice of the
25revocation, suspension, or denial, surrender his or her
26concealed carry license to the local law enforcement agency

 

 

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1where the person resides. The local law enforcement agency
2shall provide the licensee a receipt and transmit the concealed
3carry license to the Department of State Police. If the
4licensee whose concealed carry license has been revoked,
5suspended, or denied fails to comply with the requirements of
6this subsection, the law enforcement agency where the person
7resides may petition the circuit court to issue a warrant to
8search for and seize the concealed carry license in the
9possession and under the custody or control of the licensee
10whose concealed carry license has been revoked, suspended, or
11denied. The observation of a concealed carry license in the
12possession of a person whose license has been revoked,
13suspended, or denied constitutes a sufficient basis for the
14arrest of that person for violation of this subsection. A
15violation of this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor.
16    (h) A license issued or renewed under this Act shall be
17revoked if, at any time, the licensee is found ineligible for a
18Firearm Owner's Identification Card, or the licensee no longer
19possesses a valid Firearm Owner's Identification Card. A
20licensee whose license is revoked under this subsection (h)
21shall surrender his or her concealed carry license as provided
22for in subsection (g) of this Section.
23    This subsection shall not apply to a person who has filed
24an application with the State Police for renewal of a Firearm
25Owner's Identification Card and who is not otherwise ineligible
26to obtain a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.

 

 

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1    (i) A certified firearms instructor who knowingly provides
2or offers to provide a false certification that an applicant
3has completed firearms training as required under this Act is
4guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. A person guilty of a violation
5of this subsection (i) is not eligible for court supervision.
6The Department shall permanently revoke the firearms
7instructor certification of a person convicted under this
8subsection (i).
9(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13; 98-756, eff. 7-16-14; 98-899,
10eff. 8-15-14.)
 
11    (430 ILCS 66/87)
12    Sec. 87. Administrative and judicial review.
13    (a) Whenever an application for a concealed carry license
14is denied, whenever the Department fails to act on an
15application within 90 days of its receipt, or whenever a
16license is revoked or suspended as provided in this Act, the
17aggrieved party may appeal to the Director for a hearing upon
18the denial, revocation, suspension, or failure to act on the
19application, unless the denial was made by the Concealed Carry
20Licensing Review Board, in which case the aggrieved party may
21petition the circuit court in writing in the county of his or
22her residence for a hearing upon the denial. An applicant may
23appeal a denial of an application for a concealed carry license
24by the Department to the Director for a hearing within 70
25calendar days after the denial.

 

 

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1    (b) All final administrative decisions of the Department or
2the Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board under this Act shall
3be subject to judicial review under the provisions of the
4Administrative Review Law except that a petition for
5administrative or judicial review shall be filed within 70
6calendar days from the date the notice of denial was received
7by the applicant. If an applicant brings a petition for
8judicial review under this Act, the petition must be decided
9without remand to the Department. The term "administrative
10decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil
11Procedure.
12    (c) Immediately upon receiving notice that the application
13has been denied, the applicant or the applicant's attorney, if
14any, may formally request copies of all documents and evidence
15considered by the Department in making its determination. The
16Department shall provide the requested documents and evidence
17within 14 calendar days of receiving the written request.
18(Source: P.A. 98-63, eff. 7-9-13.)