Criminal Justice (Policing)

Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that State police officers and local police officers shall receive training in homicide investigations in which the victims were suspected of being subject to domestic abuse. Amends the Counties Code. Provides that every coroner, whenever, as soon as he or she knows or is informed that the dead body of any person is found, or lying within his or her county, whose death is suspected of being a death, if the circumstances surrounding the death is known or suspected as due to suicide and affords a reasonable basis to suspect that the death was caused by or related to the domestic violence of another, in consultation with a board-certified forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology, shall go to the place where the dead body is and take charge of the same and shall make a preliminary investigation into the circumstances of the death. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Adds the Investigation of Homicides of Decedents with Identifiable History of Being Victimized by Domestic Violence Article to the Code. Provides that prior to making any findings as to the manner and cause of death of a deceased individual with an identifiable history of being victimized by domestic violence, and with the presence of 3 or more specified factors, law enforcement investigators shall interview family members, such as parents, siblings, or other close friends or relatives of the decedent with relevant information regarding that history of domestic violence. Lists those factors that law enforcement investigators must consider in those investigations. Provides that sworn law enforcement personnel investigating a death if it has been determined that the decedent has an identifiable history of being victimized by domestic violence shall be current in their training related to domestic violence incidents, including training required pursuant to the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois or the Illinois Police Training Act. Defines terms. Amends the Autopsy Act to make conforming changes.

Amends the Arsonist Registry Act, the Sex Offender Registration Act, and the Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registration Act. Provides that the Illinois State Police, or any other law enforcement or registering agency, shall not impose a fee for registration on any person subject to those Acts. Effective immediately.

Creates the First Responder Trauma-Informed Response Training Act, which may be referred to as Anna's Law. Provides that, prior to the onboarding processes of a first responder, the individual must complete mandatory pass or fail trauma-informed response training, as established by the Department of Public Health. Provides that a first responder must also complete the pass or fail trauma-informed response training every 18 months after beginning work as a first responder. Provides that, if more than 18 months have elapsed after beginning work as a first responder and the first responder has not completed the retraining, the first responder may not perform trauma-related duties, such as responding to emergency calls, taking statements from victims, or interviewing victims. Provides that, if a first responder who is certified or licensed by the State or a subdivision of the State has not completed the required trauma-informed response retraining, the first responder may be decertified by the certifying entity or the first responder's license may be revoked by the licensing entity if retraining is not completed. Limits the concurrent exercise of home rule powers. Defines terms. Makes conforming changes in the Illinois Police Training Act and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act, including requiring the Department of Public Health to adopt rules to implement the trauma-informed response training and providing that the rules may allow or require the use of a training program from a university, college, or not-for-profit entity.

Amends the Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act. Provides that each law enforcement agency that seizes, forfeits, or receives property subject to reporting under the Act shall report certain information about each seizure and forfeiture of property to the Illinois State Police no later than 60 days after December 31 of the year in which the property is seized or forfeited. Adds certain required information, including the accused person's race, sex, age, and zip code, as well as a citation to the statutory authorities under which the property was seized and the accused person was arrested, to the information to be submitted in a report. Adds certain required information from court records about each forfeiture of property to the information to be reported to the Illinois State Police. Provides that if an agency did not seize, forfeit, receive, or spend forfeiture funds, it shall file a null report with the Illinois State Police. Provides that the annual report shall include an aggregate summary of all seizures and forfeitures carried out and their respective proceeds, as well as other information, including categories of expenditures, such as investigation and litigation expenses, software, hardware, appliances, canines, surveillance technology, IMSI catchers, operating expenses, and administrative expenses. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall post annually on its website aggregate data for each law enforcement agency with certain information. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, 120 days after the end of each calendar year, submit to the General Assembly, Attorney General, and Governor, as well as post on its website, a written report that summarizes certain activity in the State for the preceding year regarding property seized and related expenditures at the State and local levels, with categorized accounting and other requirements. Provides that the Illinois State Police may include certain recommendations in its report. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall, on or before January 1, 2026 (rather than 2019), establish and implement the requirements of this Act. Makes other changes.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that notwithstanding any other provision of the Act to the contrary, on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, the Illinois State Police may not revoke a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Provides that on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act, a Firearm Owner's Identification Card may only be revoked after a Firearm Owner's Identification Card hearing has been held in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that if the State's Attorney of the county of residence of the person whose Firearm Owner's Identification Card is sought to be revoked has probable cause to believe that the person who has been issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card is no longer eligible for the Card under the Act, the State's Attorney shall file a petition in the circuit court of the county of residence of the person whose Card is sought to be revoked. Provides that at the hearing, the person may present evidence in his or her favor seeking retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card and the Illinois State Police and State's Attorney may present evidence for revocation. Provides that the hearing shall be a civil proceeding and subject to due process, the Code of Civil Procedure, and the Illinois Rules of Evidence as adopted by the Supreme Court. Provides that the hearing shall be held within 45 days after the filing of the petition. Provides that if the circuit court determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person is ineligible for retention of his or her Firearm Owner's Identification Card under the Act, the court shall order the Illinois State Police to immediately revoke the Card and the circuit clerk shall seize the Card and transmit the Card to the Illinois State Police. Establishes procedures for the Illinois State Police to suspend a Firearm Owner's Identification Card.

Amends the Illinois Pension Code. In the Downstate Police Article, provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, any line-of-duty disability pension shall be at least $40,000 per year (instead of $400 per month), without regard to whether the disability or death of the police officer occurred before July 1, 2025. In provisions concerning an annual increase in the line-of-duty disability pension, removes requirements that an applicant must file an affidavit stating that the applicant has not earned any income from gainful employment during the most recently concluded tax year; have service credit in the Fund for at least 7 years of active duty; and have been receiving a line-of-duty disability pension for a period which, when added to the officer's total service credit in the Fund, equals at least 20 years. In the Downstate Firefighter Article, provides that the minimum line-of-duty disability pension shall be at least $40,000 per year. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.

Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. Provides that, if a person is determined to pose a clear and present danger to himself, herself, or to others by a physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner, whether employed by the State, by any public or private mental health facility or part thereof, or by a law enforcement official or a school administrator, then the physician, clinical psychologist, or qualified examiner shall notify the Department of Human Services and a law enforcement official or school administrator shall notify the Illinois State Police and the appropriate local law enforcement agency (rather than shall notify the Illinois State Police), within 24 hours of making the determination that the person poses a clear and present danger.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. Provides that a person charged with certain weapon-related offenses under the Criminal Code of 2012 and sentenced to the First Time Weapons Offense Program under the Unified Code of Corrections or any other court-ordered diversionary program created by law or by a court of the State of Illinois may submit an application for a Firearm Owner's Identification Card before receiving a court order demonstrating completion of the program. Directs the Illinois State Police to issue a Firearm Owner's Identification Card to such a person upon receiving a court order demonstrating completion of the program, provided the person is otherwise eligible to receive a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Specifies that a FOID application made under this provision shall be approved or denied within 10 business days of receiving a court order or written notification from a State's Attorney that the person completed a diversionary program.

Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Provides that the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shall establish the Returning Police Officers Loan Repayment Assistance Program to assist police officers who have left law enforcement with repayment of student loans and in order to help place officers into areas of the State that are the most under-staffed and in need of additional officers. Sets forth qualifications for applicants. Provides that each award under the Program shall be equal to $6,000 per year (i) for up to 5 years or (ii) until the applicant's student loans are paid off, whichever is sooner. Provides that an applicant has one year from the date that the first student loan assistance payment is received to begin work in a shortage area. Provides that applicants currently working in shortage areas are eligible for the Program, but those who left law enforcement due to reasons other than retirement or a permanent disability shall be given priority for the Program. Provides for rulemaking. Effective July 1, 2026.

HB 1968 proposes to appropriate $2 from the General Revenue Fund to the Illinois State Police. These funds are designated to cover the department's ordinary and contingent expenses for Fiscal Year 2026, with an effective date of July 1, 2025.