HB4104eng 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  
  
  

 


 
HB4104 EngrossedLRB099 08974 MGM 29149 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    The Department of Natural Resources shall implement
17measures to ensure that the Office of Law Enforcement
18establishes and maintains a sworn police force of at least 175
19personnel by July 1, 2020. Accrual of sworn conservation police
20officers along with necessary support staff shall be added
21incrementally beginning with Fiscal Year 2016 with subsequent
22additions established until the goal is reached. Anytime the
23number of sworn officers drops below a minimum of 165, the

 

 

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1Department shall immediately implement hiring procedures to
2reestablish the number of sworn officers back to 175.
3    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources
4after July 1, 2001 for a sworn law enforcement position or
5position that has arrest authority must meet the following
6minimum professional standards:
7        (1) At the time of hire, the person must hold (i) a
8    2-year degree and 3 consecutive years of experience as a
9    police officer with the same law enforcement agency or (ii)
10    a 4-year degree.
11        (2) The person must possess the skill level and
12    demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level
13    approved by the Department in an administrative rule. The
14    Department's administrative rule must require the person
15    to use techniques established by the American Red Cross.
16        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification
17    as a police officer under the standards in effect at that
18    time unless that person already holds that certification
19    and must also successfully complete the Conservation
20    Police Academy training program, consisting of not less
21    than 400 hours of training, within one year of hire.
22    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons
23who either (i) have been honorably discharged and who have been
24awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal,
25Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq
26Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

 

 

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1by the United States Armed Forces or (ii) are active members of
2the Illinois National Guard or a reserve component of the
3United States Armed Forces and who have been awarded a
4Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean
5Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq
6Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
7as a result of honorable service during deployment on active
8duty, are deemed to have met the collegiate educational
9requirements for a sworn law enforcement position or position
10that has arrest authority.
11    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an
12administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as
13directly related areas of study and must also adopt, by
14listing, the American Red Cross standards and testing points
15for a skill level equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer.
16(Source: P.A. 96-972, eff. 7-2-10; 97-948, eff. 8-13-12.)