HB5319 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 23753 AWJ 32943 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB5319

Introduced 1/31/2022, by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 1.5 heading new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-25 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-99 new

Creates the Peoria Co-Responder Pilot Program Division in the Illinois Municipal Code. Provides that the Peoria Police Department shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-response unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the hiring of personnel as provided in the Division. Provides that the unit is responsible for conducting initial or follow-up visits for individuals who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services rather than a traditional law enforcement response. Provides that the unit shall utilize community resources, including a unit-integrated Social Services Unit (social workers integrated in juvenile and adult investigations), to connect individuals with appropriate services. Provides that the Department's Special Response Team officers will respond to resolve violent or armed emotionally distressed persons. Provides that the unit's 3 primary areas of focus shall be mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and homelessness issues. Includes provisions relating to unit duties, social workers of the unit, and training. Defines terms. Repeals the division on January 1, 2029.

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Division 1.5 of Article 11 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 1.5 heading new)

DIVISION 1.5.

PEORIA CO-RESPONDER PILOT PROGRAM

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-5. Definitions. As used in this Section:

"Department" means the Peoria Police Department.

"Station adjustment" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

"Unit" means a co-response unit created under this Division.

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-10. Establishment; responsibilities; focus.

(a) The Department shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-response unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including the hiring of personnel as provided in this Division.

(b) The unit is responsible for conducting initial or follow-up visits for individuals who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services rather than traditional law enforcement response. The unit shall utilize community resources, including a unit-integrated Social Services Unit (social workers integrated in juvenile and adult investigations), to connect individuals with appropriate services, along with the Special Response Team officers in the resolution of violent or armed emotionally distressed persons.

(c) The unit's 3 primary areas of focus shall be mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder services, and homelessness issues.

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-15. Duties. The duties of the unit include, but are not limited to:

(1) Serving as a resource to the Peoria community to identify and coordinate the social services available to residents who are victims of criminal acts.

(2) Networking with area social service agencies to develop a community-mutual resource system and wrap-around services (a team-based, collaborative case management approach) for victims in need of social service assistance; and fostering relationships with community organizations not limited to area hospitals, school districts, juvenile justice system, and various community groups.

(3) Employing social workers of the unit who shall:

(A) Upon request, provide community presentations on an array of social service topics.

(B) Assist individuals in diversion from the criminal justice system by addressing problems or concerns through therapeutic intervention.

(C) Facilitate follow-up treatment or referral to the appropriate community resource organization.

(D) When requested, assist Department employees in securing services for those in need and provide educational information to help the employee better understand the circumstances or the community concern.

(E) Meet with walk-ins requesting information or assistance.

(F) Protect the interest, confidentiality, and civil rights of the client.

(G) Train social work interns who may be working within the unit.

(H) Be on-call after regular business hours, as needed.

(L) Consult on all cases as needed by the Department.

(M) Perform other functions as provided in Section 11-1.5-20 or otherwise needed by the Department.

(4) Employing social workers who shall work with victims of crimes as follows:

(A) Review police reports to identify known victims and contact them to offer direct and referred services.

(B) Assist victims with filing police reports and victim compensation forms.

(C) Provide safety planning services to victims.

(D) Provide crisis counseling services to victims and their families.

(E) Conduct home visits with victims in conjunction with police backup, when needed.

(F) Assist victims in obtaining orders of protection. A social worker, in the performance of his or her duties under this subparagraph, is an advocate, as that term is defined in Section 112A-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

(G) Facilitate court advocacy services for victims, including arranging for transportation to and from court.

(H) Maintain confidential case files which include social history, diagnosis, formulation of treatment, and documentation of services.

(I) Perform miscellaneous personal advocacy tasks for victims, as needed.

(J) Oversee activities to ensure those victims with the most urgent needs are given the highest priority for services.

(K) Provide status updates on the progress of a victim's case.

(5) Adhering to and understand the applicable policies, procedures, and orders of the Department.

(6) Attaining Department-established unit goals.

(7) Maintaining a positive relationship with co-workers, as well as the investigators from area police departments and facilitate the exchange of information and resources pertaining to investigations.

(8) Keeping informed on crime trends within the City.

(9) Remaining obedient and responsive to all verbal and written orders issued by superiors.

(10) Completing police reports and other required documentation.

(11) Performing such other duties as may be required by State law, city ordinance, and Department policy or as may be assigned by a sworn supervisor.

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-20. Social workers.

(a) Unit social workers may be referred to as victim service specialists. Social workers are responsible for working as a team to provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and ongoing emotional support to the victims of all crimes, with extra attention to crimes that cause a high level of victim trauma.

(b) Unit social workers involved in a case under adult investigations may perform the following responsibilities:

(1) Working with domestic violence investigators.

(2) Assisting victims with finding safe housing, transportation, and legal assistance.

(3) Providing other needed resources for the victim and their families, including working with children who witness and or experience domestic violence.

(4) Assisting victims and their children in setting up counseling.

(5) Helping reduce victim's chance of reentry into the violent situations.

(c) Unit social workers involved in a case under juvenile investigations may perform the following responsibilities:

(1) Working with families that have habitual runaways and determining why the juveniles keep running away.

(2) Providing services to families where there have between domestics disturbances between the juveniles and their parents.

(3) Providing resources for parents to help their children who are struggling in school or need transportation to school.

(4) Providing guidance and advice to the families of a juvenile who has been arrested and what the next steps and options are in the process.

(5) Assisting a juvenile with station adjustments and creating a station adjustment program in the Department.

(6) Providing services to juvenile victims and families where the Department of Children and Family Services either did not get involved or did not provide services.

(7) Assisting with overcoming feuds between groups of juveniles.

(8) Assisting us in instances where the families are not cooperative with police.

(9) Discussing with families and juveniles options and solutions to prevent future arrest.

(10) Maintaining a list of families in need that the unit or Department have had contact with for Department or city special events.

(11) Helping facilitate or assist the Department in community-oriented events, such as setting up an event where officers or unit personnel read books with younger children, talking about cyber crimes and social media, or having an officer or unit personnel visit a school for other activities.

(12) Helping reduce juvenile recidivism.

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-25 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-25. Training. All unit employees and the Special Response Team shall be trained in crisis intervention and integrating communications, assessment and tactics. Integrating communications, assessment, and tactics training shall be designed for situations involving persons who are unarmed or are armed with weapons and who may be experiencing a mental health or other crisis. The training shall incorporates different skill sets into a unified training approach that emphasizes scenario-based exercises, as well as lecture and case study opportunities.

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-99 new)

Sec. 11-1.5-99. Repeal. This Division is repealed January 1, 2029.