Criminal Justice (Policing)

Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Provides that the written policy that must be adopted by each law enforcement agency that employs the use of officer-worn body cameras must require cameras to be turned off when, among other things, an executive branch constitutional officer requests that the camera be turned off and that request is made to the executive branch constitutional officer's on-duty and assigned security detail.

Creates the Law Enforcement Hiring Act. Creates the Law Enforcement Hiring Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall (1) identify various measures to ensure that unfit candidates are not hired as law enforcement officers; (2) explore strategies to prevent unnecessary deaths caused by law enforcement officers; and (3) make a report to the General Assembly no later than June 30, 2026 with recommendations for preventing people with dangerous backgrounds from being hired as law enforcement officers in the State. Sets forth membership of the Task Force. Provides that a law enforcement agency may hire a law enforcement officer without reviewing background disciplinary actions, terminations, and administrative review from previous employers. Provides that a law enforcement agency may not hire a law enforcement officer if the law enforcement officer spent less than 30 days reviewing the law enforcement officer.

Amends the Local Records Act. Provides that a law enforcement agency that encrypts police scanner transmissions must provide, by license or otherwise, real-time access to those transmissions to broadcast stations, broadcasting stations, radio broadcast stations, and newspapers. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that no law enforcement agency shall make an offer of employment for the position of probationary police officer, probationary part-time police officer, full-time law enforcement officer, or part-time law enforcement officer without requiring the execution of a signed release from the applicant, directing any and all entities that previously employed the individual to produce or make available for inspection all employment records, including background investigation materials collected in connection with making an offer of employment, duty-related physical and psychological fitness-for-duty examinations, work performance records, criminal, civil, or administrative investigations of conduct, arrests, convictions, findings of guilt, pleas of guilty, or pleas of nolo contendere. Provides that, with specified exceptions, all records shall be produced without any redaction and no nondisclosure, separation, or settlement agreement shall prevent the production of these records. Provides that the provisions do not apply to the extent that they would impair an existing collective bargaining agreement. Sets forth provisions concerning: (i) the procedures for requesting employment records; (ii) the deadlines for providing the records; (iii) the penalties for failing to produce the records in accordance with the provisions; and (iv) an example of an acceptable release form. Requires the receipt of a written release for an entity to have immunity for the release of information. Makes other changes to immunity-related provisions. Amends the Sheriff's Merit System Law of the Counties Code. Provides that the county board of any county having a population of at least 75,000 must adopt and implement, by ordinance, the merit system provided by the Sheriff's Merit System Law. Provides that the county board of any county having a population of less than 75,000 (rather than 1,000,000) which does not have a merit board or merit commission for sheriff's personnel may adopt and implement, by ordinance, the merit system provided by the Sheriff's Merit System Law. Makes other and conforming changes.

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that any person convicted of a first offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 2 felony (instead of a Class 4 felony). Provides that any person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer is guilty of a Class 1 felony (instead of a Class 3 felony).

This resolution (HR 83) urges Illinois to repeal the TRUST Act, a law that restricts local police from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. The TRUST Act prohibits police from asking about immigration status during routine stops, detaining individuals solely based on immigration status, sharing information with ICE, or entering agreements to detain people for immigration violations. The resolution argues these restrictions hinder law enforcement cooperation, risk losing federal funding, and reduce community safety by limiting police effectiveness. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally requests the state government to seek repeal.

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.

Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that upon petition, the court shall order that a person against whom an emergency order of protection was issued shall have all records related to the emergency order expunged (unless the person violated the order) from the court's records and from the Illinois State Police's Law Enforcement Agencies Data System if: (1) the person who sought the emergency order fails to seek a plenary order of protection before the emergency order expires; (2) there is an agreed dismissal; or (3) the court denies the issuance of a plenary order of protection following the emergency order. Provides that the clerk shall immediately file the expungement order and all records to be expunged shall be expunged no later than 3 business days after the order. Effective June 1, 2025.

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that a person is legally accountable for the conduct of another when, acting as an aggressor as provided in the Code, he or she causes another to use force in defense of himself or another and that use of force is the proximate cause of injury to a third party.

Amends the Counties Code. Restores certain provisions of the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code concerning citizenship of employees of a sheriff's department and police officer applicants to the form in which they existed before their amendment by Public Act 103-357. Effective immediately.