HB2448 EngrossedLRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b HB2448 Engrossed LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
HB2448 Engrossed LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
1 AN ACT concerning State government.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources
5 (Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
6 Illinois is 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
9 the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation Police
10 Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all
11 powers possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise
12 those powers anywhere in this State. Conservation Police
13 Officers acting under the authority of this Section are
14 considered employees of the Department and are subject to its
15 direction, benefits, and legal protection.
16 Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources
17 after July 1, 2022 for a sworn law enforcement position or
18 position that has arrest authority must meet the following
19 minimum professional standards:
20 (1) At the time of hire, the person must be not less
21 than 21 years of age, or 20 years of age and have
22 successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit
23 hours at an accredited college or university. Any person
HB2448 Engrossed LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
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1 so hired after successful completion of an associate's
2 degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or
3 university shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or
4 she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she
5 reaches 21 years of age;
6 (2) The person must possess the skill level and
7 demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level
8 approved by the Department in an administrative rule; and
9 (3) The person must successfully obtain certification
10 pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act and must also
11 successfully complete the Conservation Police Academy
12 training program, consisting of not less than 400 hours of
13 training, within one year of hire.
14 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons
15 who meet one of the following requirements are deemed to have
16 met the collegiate education requirements:
17 (i) have been honorably discharged and who have been
18 awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign
19 Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign
20 Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism
21 Expeditionary Medal by the United States Armed Forces;
22 (ii) are active members of the Illinois National Guard
23 or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces
24 and who have been awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal,
25 Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal,
26 Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global
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1 War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal as a result of
2 honorable service during deployment on active duty;
3 (iii) have been honorably discharged and served in a
4 combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent
5 danger pay during deployment on active duty; or
6 (iv) have at least 3 years of full active and
7 continuous military duty and received an honorable
8 discharge before hiring.
9 The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an
10 administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as
11 directly related areas of study.
12 (Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)
13 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14 becoming law.
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