State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

   [ Search ]   [ PDF text ]   [ Legislation ]   
[ Home ]   [ Back ]   [ Bottom ]


[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ]


92_HB2247

 
                                               LRB9208215EGfg

 1        AN ACT in relation to fire inspectors.

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

 4        Section  5.   The Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act is
 5    amended by changing Section 1 as follows:

 6        (20 ILCS 2910/1) (from Ch. 127 1/2, par. 501)
 7        Sec. 1.  Peace Officer Status.
 8        (a)  Any person who is a sworn member  of  any  organized
 9    and  paid  fire department of a political subdivision of this
10    State and is authorized to investigate  fires  or  explosions
11    for  such  political  subdivision,  or who is employed by the
12    Office of the State Fire  Marshal  to  determine  the  cause,
13    origin and circumstances of such fires or explosions that are
14    suspected  to  be  arson  or  arson-related  crimes,  may  be
15    classified as a peace officer by the political subdivision or
16    agency  employing  such  person. A person so classified shall
17    possess the same powers of arrest, search and seizure and the
18    securing and service of warrants as sheriffs of counties, and
19    police officers within the jurisdiction  of  their  political
20    subdivision.  While  in  the actual investigation and matters
21    incident thereto, such person may carry  weapons  as  may  be
22    necessary,   but  only  if  that  person  has  satisfactorily
23    completed (1) a training program offered or approved  by  the
24    Illinois  Law  Enforcement  Training  Standards  Board  which
25    substantially  conforms  to standards promulgated pursuant to
26    the Illinois Police Training Act and "An Act in  relation  to
27    firearms  training  for  peace officers", approved August 29,
28    1975, as amended; or in the case of employees of  the  Office
29    of  the State Fire Marshal, a training course approved by the
30    Department of State Police which also substantially  conforms
31    to  standards  promulgated pursuant to "An Act in relation to
 
                            -2-                LRB9208215EGfg
 1    firearms training for peace officers",  approved  August  29,
 2    1975,  as  amended;  and  (2)  a  course  in  fire  and arson
 3    investigation approved  by  the  Office  of  the  State  Fire
 4    Marshal  pursuant  to  the  Illinois Fire Protection Training
 5    Act.  Such training need not include exposure to vehicle  and
 6    traffic  law,  traffic control and accident investigation, or
 7    first aid, but shall include training in the law relating  to
 8    the  rights  of  persons suspected of involvement in criminal
 9    activities.
10        Any person granted the powers enumerated in this  Section
11    may exercise such powers only during the actual investigation
12    of  the  cause,  origin  and  circumstances  of such fires or
13    explosions that are suspected to be  arson  or  arson-related
14    crimes.
15        (b)  The  State  Fire  Marshal  must  authorize  to  each
16    employee  of  the  Office  of  the  State Fire Marshal who is
17    exercising the powers of a peace  officer  a  distinct  badge
18    that,  on  its  face,  (i)  clearly  states that the badge is
19    authorized by the Office of the State Fire Marshal  and  (ii)
20    contains  a  unique identifying number.  No other badge shall
21    be authorized by the Office of the State Fire Marshal, except
22    that a badge,  different  from  the  badge  issued  to  peace
23    officers,  may  be authorized by the Office of the State Fire
24    Marshal for the use of fire prevention inspectors employed by
25    that Office.
26    (Source: P.A. 91-883, eff. 1-1-01.)

27        Section 99. Effective date.  This Act takes  effect  upon
28    becoming law.

[ Top ]