96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5068

 

Introduced 1/29/2010, by Rep. Patrick J. Verschoore

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Public Safety Officer Protection Act. Provides that a public employer shall reimburse a public safety officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless, in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies: (1) the officer is convicted of a crime; (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred. Provides that a public employer, including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of the Act.


LRB096 16754 RLC 32047 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5068 LRB096 16754 RLC 32047 b

1     AN ACT concerning public safety officers.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public
5 Safety Officer Protection Act.
 
6     Section 5. Declaration of State interest. The General
7 Assembly determines and declares that the provisions of this
8 Act fulfill an important State interest.
 
9     Section 10. Definitions. In this Section:
10     "Criminal proceeding" means any criminal action or
11 proceeding brought in State or federal court.
12     "Public employer" means the State of Illinois or any unit
13 of local government (including any home rule unit), any State
14 supported college or university, or any other public entity
15 granted the power to employ public safety officers.
16     "Public safety officer" means a peace officer, law
17 enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, first
18 responder, fire fighter, or correctional officer.
 
19     Section 15. Public employer reimbursement of public safety
20 officer. A public employer shall reimburse a public safety
21 officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer

 

 

HB5068 - 2 - LRB096 16754 RLC 32047 b

1 in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the
2 officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless,
3 in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies:
4     (1) the officer is convicted of a crime;
5     (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or
6     (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement
7 or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred.
 
8     Section 20. Home rule preemption. A public employer,
9 including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public
10 safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a
11 manner inconsistent with the requirements of this Act. This Act
12 is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article
13 VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise of
14 powers and functions exercised by the State.