Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB5688

Creates the Law Enforcement Officer Bulletproof Vest Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency within the State shall provide a bulletproof vest for every law enforcement officer of that agency who is employed as a new recruit by that agency on or after the effective date of the Act as part of the officer's initial equipment issue. Provides that each bulletproof vest shall be replaced before the expiration of the warranty period of the vest at the expense of the law enforcement agency. Provides that all officer bulletproof vests shall be replaced by the law enforcement agency within a 4-year period after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the State or unit of local government which has jurisdiction over the law enforcement agency shall apply to the United States Department of Justice under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 or a successor Act for matching grants of one-half the purchase price of the bulletproof vests for the officers of the law enforcement agency. Provides that if the law enforcement agency is a local law enforcement agency and not a State agency, one-half the costs of purchasing the bulletproof vests shall be from State funds and one-half from the funds of the unit of local government, including the matching grants received from the United States Department of Justice. Provides that the Act does not apply if United States Department of Justice and State matching funds are not available or if the law enforcement agency collectively bargains with its officers or the exclusive representative of the officers for allowances to purchase bulletproof vests.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the bill. Provides that if substantial funding for the purchase of bulletproof vests is provided to law enforcement agencies by the federal government and State government, the law enforcement agency shall comply with the provisions of the Act. Provides that the Act does not apply to a law enforcement agency if any one of the following is applicable: (1) substantial funding, as determined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, is not provided to that agency by the federal and State government; (2) the law enforcement agency collectively bargains with its officers or exclusive representative of the officers for uniform allowances, and bulletproof vests are considered to be a part of the uniform for which the allowance is given; or (3) the law enforcement agency collectively bargains with its officers or exclusive representative of the officers for the provision of bulletproof vests. Provides that all officer bulletproof vests shall be replaced before or at the expiration of the warranty period of the vest at the expense of the law enforcement agency. Deletes provision that all officer bulletproof vests shall be replaced by the law enforcement agency within a 4-year period after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall determine whether or not costs for the purchase of bulletproof vests are substantially funded by the federal and State government. Deletes references to one-half of the costs of purchasing bulletproof vests in relation to matching funds. Amends the Police Training Act. Provides that a portion of the Traffic and Criminal Conviction Surcharge Fund may be used by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, subject to appropriation, to administer grants to local law enforcement agencies for the purpose of purchasing bulletproof vests under the Law Enforcement Officer Bulletproof Vest Act.

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