Section 1730.10  Definitions

"Act" means the Peace Officer Firearm Training Act [50 ILCS 710].

"Board" means the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board created by the Illinois Police Training Act [50 ILCS 705].

"Firearms" means any weapon or device defined as a firearm in Section 1.1 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act [430 ILCS 65/1.1].

"Peace Officer" means:

any person who by virtue of his office or public employment is vested by law with a primary duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses, whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses, and who is employed in such capacity, by any county or municipality; or

any law enforcement officer as defined in Section 2 of the Illinois Police Training Act; or

any retired law enforcement officer qualified under federal law to carry a concealed weapon.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3284, effective February 22, 2008)

Section 1730.20  Officer's Responsibilities

            a)         Basic Firearms Certification

1)         Each officer shall successfully complete a Board certified course of training in the use of a suitable type firearm as a condition precedent to the possession and use of that type of firearm in connection with his or her official duties.  The training must be completed within the officer's probationary period or within 6 months from the date of his or her initial employment.

2)         In order to receive a certificate attesting to the successful completion of the required training, each officer-trainee must attain a passing grade of at least 70% on a written examination covering pertinent portions of the instruction.  The officer-trainee must also achieve a score of 70% or above on a pistol course to be fired as prescribed in the curriculum adopted by the Board.  In addition, the person in charge of the training must be completely satisfied of the ability of the officer-trainee to handle his or her weapon in a safe and competent manner.

3)         Any officer who successfully completes the Basic Training Course prescribed for recruits (full time) by the Board shall be presumed to have satisfied the requirements of the Act.

            b)         Annual Range Qualification

1)         Each officer shall successfully complete an annual range qualification using a suitable type firearm as a condition precedent to the possession and use of that type firearm in connection with his or her official duties.  Training must be completed within 12 months after the officer's previous certification.

2)         Each retired law enforcement officer qualified under federal law to carry a concealed weapon must successfully complete, during the most recent 12 month period, at the expense of the individual, the same standards for annual range qualification as used for active officers.

3)         In order to receive a certificate attesting to the successful completion of the annual range qualification, each officer, including those retired law enforcement officers qualified under federal law to carry a concealed weapon, must achieve a score of 70% or above on a pistol course to be fired as prescribed in a curriculum adopted by the Board.  In addition, the range officer in charge of the program must be completely satisfied of the ability of the officer to handle his or her weapon in a safe and competent manner.

4)         The  training course shall contain a presentation of the ethical, moral and legal considerations to be taken into account by any person who uses a firearm.

c)         Each officer will bring such equipment as required by the Course Director.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3284, effective February 22, 2008)

Section 1730.30  Course Requirements

a)         Basic Firearms Certification programs must be approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Officers Training and Standards Board and may be given in logical segments.

b)         Basic Firearms Certification programs must include:

1)         Instruction in the dangers of misuse of the firearm, safety rules, and care and cleaning of the firearm;

2)         Practice firing on a range and qualification with the firearm in accordance with the standards established by the Board in Section 1730.20(a)(2) of this Part;

3)         Instruction in the legal use of firearms under the provisions of the Criminal Code of 1961 [720 ILCS 5] and relevant court decisions;

4)         A forceful presentation of the ethical and moral considerations assumed by any person who uses a firearm.

c)         Training shall be offered twice each year within each of the Illinois State Police Districts, but no training course need be held when there are no police officers requiring such training.

d)         Annual Range Qualification programs must be approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board and may be given in logical segments.

e)         Annual Range Qualification programs must include:

1)         Information on the dangers of misuse of the firearm, safety rules, and care and cleaning of the firearm;

2)         Practice firing on a range and qualification with the firearm in accordance with the standards established by the Board in Appendix A of this Part;

3)         Information on the legal use of firearms under the provisions of the Criminal Code of 1961 and relevant court decisions;

4)         Information on the ethical and moral considerations assumed by any person who uses a firearm.

f)         No instructor shall be utilized in the delivery of the required program who has not been approved by the Executive Director of the Board.

g)         A range officer shall be in charge of all aspects of the actual firing line and shall certify to the Executive Director of the Board that the range to be used is safe for all phases of the required practice firing.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3284, effective February 22, 2008)

Section 1730.40  Responsibilities of the County or Municipality

All units of government who employ or utilize peace officers shall cooperate with the Board by furnishing relevant information which the Board may require.

Section 1730.50  Responsibilities of the Board

a)         The Board shall develop and publish a detailed curriculum of the required course of training.

b)         Advisory Councils

1)         The Board shall arrange for training courses to be conducted at least twice each year within the geographical boundaries of each of the Illinois State Police Districts.  This shall be accomplished through advisory councils composed of one representative from each of the following agencies:

A)        A municipal police department;

B)        A sheriff's office;

C)        A state's attorney's office;

D)        The district office of the Illinois State Police;

E)        An appropriate office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

2)         Where logic would dictate, the membership of these individual councils may be increased, but to no more than 10 members in any one district.

3)         Appointments to these advisory councils shall be the responsibility of the chairman of the Board.

c)         Inspections

1)         The Board's staff shall conduct appropriate inspections to ensure the required participation of the pertinent units of government.

2)         The Board shall, in its annual report, indicate the results of the staff inspections and provide other related information and recommendations as it deems proper.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 3284, effective February 22, 2008)