103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5444

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
55 ILCS 5/3-6043 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20

    Amends the Co-Responder Pilot Program Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds the McHenry County Sheriff's Office to the offices to which the Division is applicable, including that the Office shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act, including the hiring of personnel as provided in the Division. Makes conforming changes, including in the Counties Code. Provides that, along with the duties described elsewhere in the Division, the unit's social workers are responsible for following up with victims (rather than conducting follow-up visits for victims) who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services.


LRB103 38907 AWJ 69044 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5444LRB103 38907 AWJ 69044 b

1    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section
53-6043 as follows:
 
6    (55 ILCS 5/3-6043 new)
7    Sec. 3-6043. Co-responder unit of the McHenry County
8Sheriff's Office. The McHenry County Sheriff's Office shall
9establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit as
10provided in Section 11-1.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
 
11    Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by
12changing Sections 11-1.5-5, 11-1.5-10, 11-1.5-15, and
1311-1.5-20 as follows:
 
14    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5)
15    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
16    Sec. 11-1.5-5. Definitions. As used in this Division:
17    "Department" means the East St. Louis Police Department,
18the Peoria Police Department, the Springfield Police
19Department, or the Waukegan Police Department, or the McHenry
20County Sheriff's Office.
21    "Social Worker" means a licensed clinical social worker or

 

 

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1licensed social worker, as those terms are defined in the
2Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act.
3    "Station adjustment" has the meaning given to that term in
4Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
5    "Unit" means a co-responder unit created under this
6Division.
7(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
8    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10)
9    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
10    Sec. 11-1.5-10. Establishment; responsibilities; focus.
11    (a) Each department shall establish, subject to
12appropriation, a co-responder unit no later than 6 months
13after May 10, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-756)
14this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including
15the hiring of personnel as provided in this Division. The
16McHenry County Sheriff's Office shall establish, subject to
17appropriation, a co-responder unit no later than 6 months
18after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
19General Assembly, including the hiring of personnel as
20provided in this Division
21    (b) Along with the duties described in Sections 11-1.5-15
22and 11-1.5-20, the unit's social workers are responsible for
23following up with conducting follow-up visits for victims who
24may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. The
25unit shall utilize community resources, including services

 

 

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1provided through the Department of Human Services and social
2workers in juvenile and adult investigations, to connect
3individuals with appropriate services.
4    (c) The unit's primary area of focus shall be victim
5assistance.
6(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
 
7    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15)
8    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
9    Sec. 11-1.5-15. Duties. The duties of the unit include,
10but are not limited to:
11        (1) Serving as a resource to a department's community
12    to identify and coordinate the social services available
13    to residents who are victims of criminal acts.
14        (2) Networking with area social service agencies to
15    develop a community-mutual resource system and wrap-around
16    services (a team-based, collaborative case management
17    approach) for victims in need of social service
18    assistance; and fostering relationships with community
19    organizations not limited to area hospitals, school
20    districts, juvenile justice system, and various community
21    groups.
22        (3) Employing social workers of the unit who shall:
23            (A) Upon request, provide community presentations
24        on an array of social service topics.
25            (B) Assist individuals in diversion from the

 

 

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1        criminal justice system by addressing problems or
2        concerns through therapeutic intervention.
3            (C) Facilitate follow-up treatment or referral to
4        the appropriate community resource organization.
5            (D) When requested, assist department employees in
6        securing services for those in need and provide
7        educational information to help the employee better
8        understand the circumstances or the community concern.
9            (E) Meet with walk-ins requesting information or
10        assistance.
11            (F) Protect the interest, confidentiality, and
12        civil rights of the client.
13            (G) Train social work interns who may be working
14        within the unit.
15            (H) Be on-call after regular business hours, as
16        needed.
17            (I) Inform clients, prior to providing services
18        under this Division, what communications are
19        confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of
20        State or federal law, rule, or regulation and what may
21        be shared with the social worker's employer.
22            (J) Consult on all cases as needed by the
23        department.
24            (K) Perform other functions as provided in Section
25        11-1.5-20 or otherwise needed by a department.
26        (4) Employing social workers who shall work with

 

 

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1    victims of crimes as follows:
2            (A) Review police reports to identify known
3        victims and contact them to offer direct and referred
4        services.
5            (B) Assist victims with filing police reports and
6        victim compensation forms.
7            (C) Provide safety planning services to victims.
8            (D) Provide crisis counseling services to victims
9        and their families.
10            (E) Conduct home visits with victims in
11        conjunction with law enforcement police backup, when
12        needed.
13            (F) Assist victims in obtaining orders of
14        protection. A social worker, in the performance of his
15        or her duties under this subparagraph, is an advocate,
16        as that term is defined in Section 112A-3 of the Code
17        of Criminal Procedure of 1963.
18            (G) Facilitate court advocacy services for
19        victims, including arranging for transportation to and
20        from court.
21            (H) Maintain confidential case files which include
22        social history, diagnosis, formulation of treatment,
23        and documentation of services.
24            (I) Perform miscellaneous personal advocacy tasks
25        for victims, as needed.
26            (J) Oversee activities to ensure those victims

 

 

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1        with the most urgent needs are given the highest
2        priority for services.
3            (K) Provide status updates on the progress of a
4        victim's case.
5        (5) Adhering to and understanding the applicable
6    policies, procedures, and orders of a department.
7        (6) Attaining department-established unit goals.
8        (7) Maintaining a positive relationship with
9    co-workers, as well as the investigators from area law
10    enforcement agencies police departments and facilitating
11    the exchange of information and resources pertaining to
12    investigations that would not violate confidentiality as
13    protected pursuant to applicable provisions of State or
14    federal law, rule, or regulation.
15        (8) Keeping informed on crime trends within the
16    department the unit supports City.
17        (9) Remaining obedient and responsive to all lawful
18    verbal and written orders issued by superiors.
19        (10) Completing police reports and other required
20    documentation.
21        (11) Performing such other duties as may be required
22    by State law, city ordinance, and department policy or as
23    may be assigned by a sworn supervisor.
24(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)
 
25    (65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20)

 

 

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1    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)
2    Sec. 11-1.5-20. Social workers.
3    (a) Unit social workers may be referred to as victim
4service specialists. Social workers are responsible for
5working as a team to provide trauma-informed crisis
6intervention, case management, advocacy, and ongoing emotional
7support to the victims of all crimes, with extra attention to
8crimes that cause a high level of victim trauma.
9    (b) Unit social workers involved in a case under adult
10investigations may perform the following responsibilities:
11        (1) Working with domestic violence investigators.
12        (2) Assisting victims with finding safe housing,
13    transportation, and legal assistance.
14        (3) Providing other needed resources for victims and
15    their families, including working with children who
16    witness or experience domestic violence.
17        (4) Assisting victims and their children in setting up
18    counseling.
19        (5) Helping reduce victims' chances of reentry into
20    violent situations.
21    (c) Unit social workers involved in a case under juvenile
22investigations may perform the following responsibilities:
23        (1) Working with families that have habitual runaways
24    and determining why the juveniles keep running away.
25        (2) Providing services to families where there have
26    been domestic disturbances between the juveniles and their

 

 

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1    parents.
2        (3) Providing resources for parents to help their
3    children who are struggling in school or need
4    transportation to school.
5        (4) Providing guidance and advice to the families of a
6    juvenile who has been arrested and what the next steps and
7    options are in the process.
8        (5) Assisting a juvenile with station adjustments and
9    creating a station adjustment program in a department.
10        (6) Providing services to juvenile victims and
11    families where the Department of Children and Family
12    Services either did not get involved or did not provide
13    services.
14        (7) Assisting with overcoming feuds between groups of
15    juveniles.
16        (8) Assisting in instances where the families are not
17    cooperative with law enforcement police.
18        (9) Discussing with families and juveniles options and
19    solutions to prevent future arrest.
20        (10) Maintaining a list of families in need that the
21    unit or department have had contact with for department or
22    city special events.
23        (11) Helping facilitate or assist a department in
24    community-oriented events, such as setting up an event
25    where officers or unit personnel read books with younger
26    children, talking about cyber crimes and social media, or

 

 

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1    having an officer or unit personnel visit a school for
2    other activities.
3        (12) Helping reduce juvenile recidivism.
4(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)