20 ILCS 2605/2605-51

(20 ILCS 2605/2605-51)

Sec. 2605-51. Division of the Academy and Training.

(a) The Division of the Academy and Training shall exercise, but not be limited to, the following functions:

(1) Oversee and operate the Illinois State Police Training Academy.

(2) Train and prepare new officers for a career in law enforcement, with innovative, quality training and educational practices.

(3) Offer continuing training and educational programs for Illinois State Police employees.

(4) Oversee the Illinois State Police's recruitment initiatives.

(5) Oversee and operate the Illinois State Police's quartermaster.

(6) Duties assigned to the Illinois State Police in Article 5, Chapter 11 of the Illinois Vehicle Code concerning testing and training officers on the detection of impaired driving.

(7) Duties assigned to the Illinois State Police in Article 108B of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

(a-5) Successful completion of the Illinois State Police Academy satisfies the minimum standards pursuant to subsections (a), (b), and (d) of Section 7 of the Illinois Police Training Act and exempts State police officers from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board's State Comprehensive Examination and Equivalency Examination. Satisfactory completion shall be evidenced by a commission or certificate issued to the officer.

(b) The Division of the Academy and Training shall exercise the rights, powers, and duties vested in the former Division of State Troopers by Section 17 of the Illinois State Police Act.

(c) Specialized training.

(1) Training; cultural diversity. The Division of the Academy and Training shall provide training and continuing education to State police officers concerning cultural diversity, including sensitivity toward racial and ethnic differences. This training and continuing education shall include, but not be limited to, an emphasis on the fact that the primary purpose of enforcement of the Illinois Vehicle Code is safety and equal and uniform enforcement under the law.

(2) Training; death and homicide investigations. The Division of the Academy and Training shall provide training in death and homicide investigation for State police officers. Only State police officers who successfully complete the training may be assigned as lead investigators in death and homicide investigations. Satisfactory completion of the training shall be evidenced by a certificate issued to the officer by the Division of the Academy and Training. The Director shall develop a process for waiver applications for officers whose prior training and experience as homicide investigators may qualify them for a waiver. The Director may issue a waiver, at his or her discretion, based solely on the prior training and experience of an officer as a homicide investigator.

(A) The Division shall require all homicide investigator training to include instruction on victim-centered, trauma-informed investigation. This training must be implemented by July 1, 2023.

(B) The Division shall cooperate with the Division of Criminal Investigation to develop a model curriculum on victim-centered, trauma-informed investigation. This curriculum must be implemented by July 1, 2023.

(3) Training; police dog training standards. All police dogs used by the Illinois State Police for drug enforcement purposes pursuant to the Cannabis Control Act, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act shall be trained by programs that meet the certification requirements set by the Director or the Director's designee. Satisfactory completion of the training shall be evidenced by a certificate issued by the Division of the Academy and Training.

(4) Training; post-traumatic stress disorder. The Division of the Academy and Training shall conduct or approve a training program in post-traumatic stress disorder for State police officers. The purpose of that training shall be to equip State police officers to identify the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and to respond appropriately to individuals exhibiting those symptoms.

(5) Training; opioid antagonists. The Division of the Academy and Training shall conduct or approve a training program for State police officers in the administration of opioid antagonists as defined in paragraph (1) of subsection (e) of Section 5-23 of the Substance Use Disorder Act that is in accordance with that Section. As used in this Section, "State police officers" includes full-time or part-time State police officers, investigators, and any other employee of the Illinois State Police exercising the powers of a peace officer.

(6) Training; sexual assault and sexual abuse.

(A) Every 3 years, the Division of the Academy and Training shall present in-service training on sexual assault and sexual abuse response and report writing training requirements, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) recognizing the symptoms of trauma;

(ii) understanding the role trauma has played in a victim's life;

(iii) responding to the needs and concerns of a victim;

(iv) delivering services in a compassionate, sensitive, and nonjudgmental manner;

(v) interviewing techniques in accordance with the curriculum standards in this paragraph (6);

(vi) understanding cultural perceptions and common myths of sexual assault and sexual abuse; and

(vii) report writing techniques in accordance with the curriculum standards in this paragraph (6).

(B) This training must also be presented in all full and part-time basic law enforcement academies.

(C) Instructors providing this training shall have successfully completed training on evidence-based, trauma-informed, victim-centered responses to cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse and have experience responding to sexual assault and sexual abuse cases.

(D) The Illinois State Police shall adopt rules, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to determine the specific training requirements for these courses, including, but not limited to, the following:

(i) evidence-based curriculum standards for report writing and immediate response to sexual assault and sexual abuse, including trauma-informed, victim-centered interview techniques, which have been demonstrated to minimize retraumatization, for all State police officers; and

(ii) evidence-based curriculum standards for trauma-informed, victim-centered investigation and interviewing techniques, which have been demonstrated to minimize retraumatization, for cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse for all State police officers who conduct sexual assault and sexual abuse investigations.

(7) Training; human trafficking. The Division of the Academy and Training shall conduct or approve a training program in the detection and investigation of all forms of human trafficking, including, but not limited to, involuntary servitude under subsection (b) of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012, involuntary sexual servitude of a minor under subsection (c) of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012, and trafficking in persons under subsection (d) of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012. This program shall be made available to all cadets and State police officers.

(8) Training; hate crimes. The Division of the Academy and Training shall provide training for State police officers in identifying, responding to, and reporting all hate crimes.

(d) The Division of the Academy and Training shall administer and conduct a program consistent with 18 U.S.C. 926B and 926C for qualified active and retired Illinois State Police officers.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-756, eff. 5-10-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-34, eff. 1-1-24.)