225 ILCS 447/25-20

(225 ILCS 447/25-20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 25-20. Training; private security contractor and employees.

(a) Registered employees of the private security contractor agency who provide traditional guarding or other private security related functions or who respond to alarm systems shall complete, within 30 days of their employment, a minimum of 20 hours of basic training, which may be provided in a classroom or seminar setting or via Internet-based online learning programs, and shall be provided by a qualified instructor, which shall include the following subjects:

(1) The law regarding arrest and search and seizure as it applies to private security.

(2) Civil and criminal liability for acts related to private security.

(3) The use of force, including but not limited to the use of nonlethal force (i.e., disabling spray, baton, stungun, taser, or similar weapon).

(4) Verbal communication skills.

(5) The offenses under the Criminal Code of 2012 that are directly related to the protection of persons and property.

(6) Private security officers and the criminal justice system.

(7) Fire prevention, fire equipment, and fire safety.

(8) Report writing and observation techniques.

(9) Customer service, civil rights, and public relations.

(10) The identification of terrorists, acts of terrorism, and terrorist organizations, as defined by federal and State statutes.

(b) All other employees of a private security contractor agency shall complete a minimum of 20 hours of basic training provided by the qualified instructor within 30 days of their employment. The training may be provided in a classroom or seminar setting or via Internet-based online learning programs. The substance of the training shall be related to the work performed by the registered employee.

(c) Registered employees of the private security contractor agency who provide guarding or other private security related functions, in addition to the basic training required under subsection (a), within 6 months of their employment, shall complete an additional 8 hours of training on subjects to be determined by the employer, which training may be site-specific and may be conducted on the job. The training may be provided in a classroom or seminar setting or via Internet-based online learning programs.

(d) In addition to the basic training provided for in subsections (a) and (c), registered employees of the private security contractor agency who provide guarding or other private security related functions shall complete an additional 8 hours of refresher training on subjects to be determined by the employer each calendar year commencing with the calendar year following the employee's first employment anniversary date, which refresher training may be site-specific and may be conducted on the job.

(e) It is the responsibility of the employer to certify, on a form provided by the Department, that the employee has successfully completed the basic and refresher training. The original form or a copy shall be a permanent record of training completed by the employee and shall be placed in the employee's file with the employer for the period the employee remains with the employer. The original form or a copy shall be given to the employee when the employee's employment is terminated. Failure to return the original form or a copy to the employee is grounds for disciplinary action. The employee shall not be required to repeat the required training once the employee has been issued the form. An employer may provide or require additional training.

(f) (Blank).

(g) All private security contractors shall complete a minimum of 4 hours of annual training on a topic of their choosing, provided that the subject matter of the training is reasonably related to their private security contractor practice. The training may be provided in a classroom setting or seminar setting or via Internet-based online learning programs. The Department shall adopt rules to administer this subsection.

(h) It shall be the responsibility of the private security contractor to keep and maintain a personal log of all training hours earned along with sufficient documentation necessary for the Department to verify the annual training completed for at least 5 years. The personal training log and documentation shall be provided to the Department in the same manner as other documentation and records required under this Act.

(i) If the private security contractor owns or is employed by a private security contractor agency, the private security contractor agency shall maintain a record of the annual training. The private security contractor agency must make the record of annual training available to the Department upon request.

(j) Recognizing the diverse professional practices of private security contractors licensed under this Act, it is the intent of the training requirements in this Section to allow for a broad interpretation of the coursework, seminar subjects, or class topics to be considered reasonably related to the practice of any profession licensed under this Act.

(k) Notwithstanding any other professional license a private security contractor holds under this Act, no more than 4 hours of annual training shall be required for any one year.

(l) The annual training requirements for private security contractors shall not apply until the calendar year following the issuance of the private security contractor license.

(Source: P.A. 102-152, eff. 1-1-22; 103-309, eff. 1-1-24.)