HB5688 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB098 17408 RLC 52508 b

98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
HB5688

Introduced , by Rep. Kelly Burke

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Law Enforcement Officer Bulletproof Vest Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency within the State shall provide a bulletproof vest for every law enforcement officer of that agency who is employed as a new recruit by that agency on or after the effective date of the Act as part of the officer's initial equipment issue. Provides that each bulletproof vest shall be replaced before the expiration of the warranty period of the vest at the expense of the law enforcement agency. Provides that all officer bulletproof vests shall be replaced by the law enforcement agency within a 4-year period after the effective date of the Act. Provides that the State or unit of local government which has jurisdiction over the law enforcement agency shall apply to the United States Department of Justice under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 or a successor Act for matching grants of one-half the purchase price of the bulletproof vests for the officers of the law enforcement agency. Provides that if the law enforcement agency is a local law enforcement agency and not a State agency, one-half the costs of purchasing the bulletproof vests shall be from State funds and one-half from the funds of the unit of local government, including the matching grants received from the United States Department of Justice. Provides that the Act does not apply if United States Department of Justice and State matching funds are not available or if the law enforcement agency collectively bargains with its officers or the exclusive representative of the officers for allowances to purchase bulletproof vests.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning law enforcement officers.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Law Enforcement Officer Bulletproof Vest Act.

Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Armor vest" or "bulletproof vest" means body armor, no less than Type I, which has been tested through the voluntary compliance testing program operated by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center of the National Institute of Justice, and found to meet or exceed the requirements of National Institute of Justice Standard 0101.03, or any subsequent revision of that standard.

"Law enforcement agency" means an agency of this State or unit of local government which is vested by law or ordinance with the duty to maintain public order and to enforce criminal laws or ordinances.

"Law enforcement officer" means any officer, agent, or employee of this State or a unit of local government authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, or investigation of any violation of criminal law, or authorized by law to supervise sentenced criminal offenders.

"Recruit" means any full-time or part-time law enforcement officer or full-time county corrections officer who is enrolled in an approved training course.

Section 10. Law enforcement agencies to provide bulletproof vests for officers.

(a) Each law enforcement agency within this State shall provide a bulletproof vest for every law enforcement officer of that agency who is employed as a new recruit by that agency on or after the effective date of this Act as part of the officer's initial equipment issue.

(b) Each bulletproof vest shall be replaced before the expiration of the warranty period of the vest at the expense of the law enforcement agency.

(c) All officer bulletproof vests shall be replaced by the law enforcement agency within a 4-year period after the effective date of this Act.

(d) The State or unit of local government which has jurisdiction over the law enforcement agency shall apply to the United States Department of Justice under the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1998 or a successor Act for matching grants of one-half the purchase price of the bulletproof vests for the officers of the law enforcement agency.

(e) If the law enforcement agency is a local law enforcement agency and not a State agency, one-half the costs of purchasing the bulletproof vests shall be from State funds and one-half from the funds of the unit of local government, including the matching grants received from the United States Department of Justice.

Section 15. Exemptions. This Act does not apply if United States Department of Justice and State matching funds are not available or if the law enforcement agency collectively bargains with its officers or the exclusive representative of the officers for allowances to purchase bulletproof vests.