Public Act 103-0036
HB2448 EnrolledLRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b HB2448 Enrolled LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
HB2448 Enrolled LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources
(Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
Illinois is amended by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
(20 ILCS 805/805-535) (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)
Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to
the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation Police
Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all
powers possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise
those powers anywhere in this State. Conservation Police
Officers acting under the authority of this Section are
considered employees of the Department and are subject to its
direction, benefits, and legal protection.
Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources
after July 1, 2022 for a sworn law enforcement position or
position that has arrest authority must meet the following
minimum professional standards:
(1) At the time of hire, the person must be not less
than 21 years of age, or 20 years of age and have
successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit
hours at an accredited college or university. Any person
HB2448 Enrolled LRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b
so hired after successful completion of an associate's
degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or
university shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or
she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she
reaches 21 years of age;
(2) The person must possess the skill level and
demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level
approved by the Department in an administrative rule; and
(3) The person must successfully obtain certification
pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act and must also
successfully complete the Conservation Police Academy
training program, consisting of not less than 400 hours of
training, within one year of hire.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons
who meet one of the following requirements are deemed to have
met the collegiate education requirements:
(i) have been honorably discharged and who have been
awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign
Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign
Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal by the United States Armed Forces;
(ii) are active members of the Illinois National Guard
or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces
and who have been awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal,
Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal,
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global
War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal as a result of
honorable service during deployment on active duty;
(iii) have been honorably discharged and served in a
combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent
danger pay during deployment on active duty; or
(iv) have at least 3 years of full active and
continuous military duty and received an honorable
discharge before hiring.
The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an
administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as
directly related areas of study.
(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.