Rep. Dennis Tipsword

Mourns the death of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.

Amends the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Permits certain judicial officers, the Attorney General, assistant Attorneys General, State's Attorneys and assistant State's Attorneys, some with specified written consent, to carry a concealed firearm in any building, parking area, or portion of a building under the control of an officer of the executive or legislative branch of government, any building designated for matters before a circuit court, appellate court, or the Supreme Court, or any building or portion of a building under the control of the Supreme Court and any building or portion of a building under the control of a unit of local government.

Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Provides that, if a person has 3 or more pending charges for misdemeanor domestic battery, battery, violation of an order of protection, or criminal damage to property when the property belongs to a family or household member as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the defendant may be charged as a habitual misdemeanant offender. Provides that the 3 or more charges alleged do not have to be for the same offense. Provides that any offense that results from or is connected with the same transaction, or results from an offense committed at the same time, shall be counted for the purposes of this provision as one offense. Provides that: (1) the third offense must have occurred after the second offense; (2) the second offense must have occurred after the first offense; and (3) all of the charged offenses must be proved at trial in order for the person to be adjudged a habitual misdemeanant offender. Provides that, once a person has been adjudged a habitual misdemeanant offender, any of the following charges for domestic battery, battery, violation of an order of protection, or criminal damage to property in which the property belongs to a family or household member as defined in the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 shall be charged as a Class 4 felony. Provides that a habitual misdemeanant offender shall be sentenced as a Class 4 felony offender for which the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 3 years. Provides that the court may deny pretrial release to a person charged as a habitual misdemeanant offender. Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make conforming changes.

Amends the General Assembly Operations Act. Provides that all witness slips filed in either house of the General Assembly concerning proposed legislation during the General Assembly committee hearing process shall track along with the legislation for which it was filed should such legislation be removed on to another bill, by amendment, for purposes of legislative action. Provides that the General Assembly, in consultation with the Legislative Information System, shall provide for such witness slip tracking on the Illinois General Assembly website. Amends the Legislative Information System Act. Provides that the Legislative Information System shall provide for electronic tracking of all witness slips to track along with the legislation for which it was filed should such legislation be removed on to another bill.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that if a person 18 years of age or older is confined in a county jail for any matter or proceeding under the Act, the provision that the minor's confinement shall be implemented in such a manner that there will be no contact by sight, sound, or otherwise between the minor and adult prisoners does not apply.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act. In the definition of "firearm", deletes language excluding any pneumatic gun, spring gun, paint ball gun, or B-B gun which expels a single globular projectile not exceeding .18 inch in diameter or which has a maximum muzzle velocity of less than 700 feet per second.

Amends the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act and the Firearm Concealed Carry Act. Eliminates fees under the Acts for applying for and renewing a Firearm Owners Identification Card or a concealed carry license.

Amends the Sex Offender Registration Act. Includes in the definition of "sex offense" under the Act, home invasion in which the defendant commits against any person or persons within the dwelling place criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, criminal sexual abuse, or aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall approve a course for school safety officers (a retired law enforcement officer who has been hired by a school district to perform security services). Sets forth training and certification requirements, including firearm certification. Provides that an applicant for employment as a school safety officer must authorize an investigation to determine if the applicant has been convicted of any criminal offense that disqualifies the person as a school safety officer. Amends the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act. Exempts school safety officers from the Act if a school board does not require officer-worn body cameras. Amends the School Code. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2025, a school may employ a school safety officer. Requires a school safety officer applicant to provide the school district a certificate of completion or approved waiver issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Provides that a school safety officer shall wear a uniform that clearly identifies the officer as a school safety officer. Provides that a school safety officer may detain a person when the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that an offense, other than an ordinance violation, is being committed. Provides that a school safety officer may carry a firearm as long as the officer is certified under specified provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act. Adds references to school safety officers throughout the Code. Effective immediately.

Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Provides that, if a minor is charged with the commission of a delinquent act and if the court has made a probable cause determination, then the court must conduct a hearing and must order the minor to take certain actions, but authorizes (and does not require) the court to order the minor to take other actions. (Now, if a minor is charged with the commission of a delinquent act, a court is authorized (but not required) to conduct a hearing and is authorized (but not required) to order the minor to take certain actions.)