Public Act 103-0036
 
HB2448 EnrolledLRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b

    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources
(Conservation) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of
Illinois is amended by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
 
    (20 ILCS 805/805-535)  (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)
    Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to
the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation Police
Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all
powers possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise
those powers anywhere in this State. Conservation Police
Officers acting under the authority of this Section are
considered employees of the Department and are subject to its
direction, benefits, and legal protection.
    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources
after July 1, 2022 for a sworn law enforcement position or
position that has arrest authority must meet the following
minimum professional standards:
        (1) At the time of hire, the person must be not less
    than 21 years of age, or 20 years of age and have
    successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit
    hours at an accredited college or university. Any person
    so hired after successful completion of an associate's
    degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or
    university shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or
    she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she
    reaches 21 years of age;
        (2) The person must possess the skill level and
    demonstrate the ability to swim at a competency level
    approved by the Department in an administrative rule; and
        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification
    pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act and must also
    successfully complete the Conservation Police Academy
    training program, consisting of not less than 400 hours of
    training, within one year of hire.
    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons
who meet one of the following requirements are deemed to have
met the collegiate education requirements:
        (i) have been honorably discharged and who have been
    awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign
    Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign
    Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism
    Expeditionary Medal by the United States Armed Forces;
        (ii) are active members of the Illinois National Guard
    or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces
    and who have been awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal,
    Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal,
    Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global
    War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal as a result of
    honorable service during deployment on active duty;
        (iii) have been honorably discharged and served in a
    combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent
    danger pay during deployment on active duty; or
        (iv) have at least 3 years of full active and
    continuous military duty and received an honorable
    discharge before hiring.
    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an
administrative rule listing those disciplines that qualify as
directly related areas of study.
(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.

Effective Date: 6/9/2023