101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB3625

 

Introduced 2/14/2020, by Sen. Rachelle Crowe

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 2605/2605-615 new
20 ILCS 2705/2705-505.7 new

    Amends the Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Establishes the Blue Alert Advisory Program within the Department of State Police. Provides that the Department shall inform all persons that are within a radius of 100 square miles of the correctional institution or facility from which the inmate has escaped, through electronic communication devices, electronic messages signs on State highways, and any other medium deemed necessary by the Department. Provides that the Department, in coordination with the Department of Corrections, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness of the Blue Alert Advisory Program among applicable entities, including, but not limited to, chiefs of police, county sheriffs, and correctional institutions or facilities. Creates the Blue Alert Advisory Coordinator within the Department and provides that he or she shall assist in the establishment of State standards and monitor the availability of federal funding that may become available to further the objectives of the Advisory Program. Provides that the Department shall establish an Inmate Search Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Prescribes membership for the Task Force. Amends the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Transportation shall coordinate with the Department in the use of electronic message signs on roads and highways to immediately provide critical information to the public concerning escaped inmates, as allowed by federal guidelines. Effective immediately.


LRB101 15214 TAE 64378 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB3625LRB101 15214 TAE 64378 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Department of State Police Law of the Civil
5Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Section
62605-615, and 2705-505.7 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 2605/2605-615 new)
8    Sec. 2605-615. Blue Alert Advisory Program.
9    (a) As used in this Section:
10    "Department" means the Department of State Police.
11    "Escape" means the intentional and unauthorized absence of
12a committed person from the custody of the Department.
13    "Inmate" means a male or female offender who is committed,
14under sentence to, or confined in a penal or correctional
15institution.
16    (b) A coordinated program known as the Blue Alert Advisory
17Program is established within the Department of State Police.
18The purpose of the Blue Alert Advisory Program is to provide a
19regional system for the rapid dissemination of information
20regarding an escaped inmate. The Blue Alert Advisory Program
21shall apply to all inmates that escape a correctional
22institution or facility. "Correctional institution or
23facility" has the meaning provided under Section 3-1-2 of the

 

 

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1Unified Code of Corrections.
2    (c) The Department shall inform all persons that are within
3a radius of 100 square miles of the correctional institution or
4facility from which the inmate has escaped, through electronic
5communication devices, electronic messages signs on State
6highways, and any other medium deemed necessary by the
7Department.
8    (d) Subject to appropriation, the Department of State
9Police, in coordination with the Department of Corrections,
10shall develop and implement a community outreach program to
11promote awareness of the Blue Alert Advisory Program among
12applicable entities, including, but not limited to, chiefs of
13police, county sheriffs, and correctional institutions or
14facilities.
15    (e) The Department shall establish an Inmate Search Task
16Force no later than 90 days after the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly to assist the
18Department in development and deployment of the Blue Alert
19Advisory Program. The Task Force shall establish the criteria,
20which may include usage of Department of Transportation signs,
21under Section 2705-505.6 of the Department of Transportation
22Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The Task
23Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation
24of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements,
25standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law
26enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and

 

 

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1effectively with escaped inmates. The Task Force shall also
2develop additional network and financial resources for use in
3the system. The Task Force shall include, but is not limited
4to, one representative from each of the following:
5        (1) the Department of State Police;
6        (2) the Department of Corrections;
7        (3) the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards
8    Board;
9        (4) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency;
10        (5) the Secretary of State;
11        (6) the Department of Transportation;
12        (7) the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority;
13        (8) a State organization dedicated to enhancing
14    communication and cooperation between sheriffs;
15        (9) a State association of police chiefs and other
16    leaders of police and public safety organizations;
17        (10) a State association representing Illinois
18    publishers;
19        (11) a State association that advocates for the
20    broadcast industry;
21        (12) a representative of a large wireless telephone
22    carrier; and
23        (13) a representative of a small wireless telephone
24    carrier.
25    (f) The members of the Task Force designated in paragraphs
26(1) through (7) of subsection (e) shall be appointed by the

 

 

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1head of the respective agency. The members of the Task Force
2designated in paragraphs (8) through (13) of subsection (e)
3shall be appointed by the Director of State Police. The
4Director of State Police, or his or her designee, shall serve
5as Chair of the Task Force.
6    (g) The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and
7shall provide a report on the operations of the Blue Alert
8Advisory Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each
9year by June 30.
10    (h) The Blue Alert Advisory Coordinator is created under
11the Department. The Blue Alert Advisory Coordinator shall, in
12conjunction with the members of the Task Force, assist the
13Department and the Inmate Search Task Force in the
14establishment of State standards and monitor the availability
15of federal and private funding that may become available to
16further the objectives of Blue Alert Advisory Program. The
17Department shall provide technical assistance for the
18Coordinator from its existing resources.
19    (i) The Department shall provide administrative and other
20support to the Task Force.
 
21    Section 10. The Department of Transportation Law of the
22Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding
23Section 2705-505.7 as follows:
 
24    (20 ILCS 2705/2705-505.7 new)

 

 

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1    Sec. 2705-505.7. Blue Alert Advisory message signs. The
2Department of Transportation shall coordinate with the
3Department in the use of electronic message signs on roads and
4highways to immediately provide critical information to the
5public concerning escaped inmates, as allowed by federal
6guidelines.
 
7    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
8becoming law.