Public Act 096-0972
 		





HB5538 Enrolled
LRB096 17719 JDS 33084 b





  
    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  



 
 
    Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources 
(Conservation) Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois 
is amended  by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
 



    (20 ILCS 805/805-535)  (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)



    Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to

the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation
Police 
Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all 
powers
possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise 
those powers
anywhere
in this State.  Conservation Police 
Officers acting under the authority
of this Section are 
considered employees of the Department and are subject
to its 
direction, benefits, and legal protection.

    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources 
after July 1, 2001
for a sworn law enforcement position or 
position that has arrest authority
must meet the following 
minimum professional standards:


        (1) At the time of hire, the person must hold (i) a 
    2-year degree and 3
consecutive years of experience as a 
    police officer with the same law
enforcement agency or (ii) 
    a 4-year degree.


        (2) The person must possess the skill level and 
    demonstrate the ability
to
swim at a competency level  
    approved by the Department in an administrative rule not 
    less than that established by the American Red
Cross
  for 
    skills equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer. The 
    Department's administrative rule must require the person 
    to use techniques established by the American Red Cross. 


        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification 
    as a
police officer under the standards in effect at that 
    time unless that person
already holds that certification 
    and must also successfully complete the
Conservation

    Police Academy training program, consisting of not less 
    than 400 hours of
training, within
one year of hire.

    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an 
administrative rule
listing those disciplines that qualify as 
directly related areas of study
and must also adopt, by

listing, the American Red Cross standards and testing points 
for a skill
level equivalent
to an intermediate level swimmer.

(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 92-511, eff. 1-1-02.)

 
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.