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.