HB4423 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB103 35351 AWJ 65415 b

103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB4423

Introduced 1/16/2024, by Rep. Jason Bunting

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

50 ILCS 705/3.3 new

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division. Provides that the Division shall establish a Back the Badge program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. Provides that the Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. Provides that the Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.

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 Police Training Act is amended by adding Section 3.3 as follows:

(50 ILCS 705/3.3 new)

Sec. 3.3. Recruitment Division; Back the Badge program.

(a) Purpose. Given the current environment of the policing profession, recruiting law enforcement officers and retaining officers are the greatest challenges facing law enforcement agencies. The recruitment of and retention of officers is imperative to public safety.

(b) Recruitment Division. There is created within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board a Recruitment Division.

(c) Duties. The Division shall establish a Back the Badge program, which shall establish recruitment plans for law enforcement agencies. The Division shall determine and prioritize specific characteristics that a law enforcement agency and community desire in their police officers. The Division shall cooperate with law enforcement agencies to determine a strategy to hire and retain sworn police officers who are diverse and reflective of the community, and the priorities of the law enforcement agencies.