HB4776 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB101 17395 NHT 66800 b

101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB4776

Introduced 2/18/2020, by Rep. Daniel Didech and Daniel Swanson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.180
105 ILCS 5/10-20.68

Amends the School Code. In a provision concerning school safety and security grants, allows a law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer to a public school to be awarded a grant (to be used exclusively to defray the costs related to providing a school resource officer to a school located within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 school district). Allows grant funds to be used to defray the costs associated with hiring a school resource officer, with the State Board of Education prioritizing estimated law enforcement response time in awarding grant funds for such a purpose. Requires the State Board to annually disseminate a request for grant applications, requires grant funds to be distributed annually, and permits the State Board to adopt rules. In a provision concerning school resource officers, changes how "school resource officer" is defined. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by renumbering and changing Section 2-3.176, as added by Public Act 101-413, and by changing Section 10-20.68 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.180)

Sec. 2-3.180 2-3.176. School safety and security grants.

(a) In this Section, "school resource officer" has the meaning given to that term under Section 10-20.68.

(b) Subject to appropriation or private donations, the State Board of Education shall award grants to school districts to support school safety and security and to law enforcement agencies that provide school resource officers to public schools. Grant funds may be used for school security improvements, including professional development, safety-related upgrades to school buildings, equipment, including metal detectors and x-ray machines, and facilities, including school-based health centers, and to defray the costs associated with hiring a school resource officer. However, grant funds received by a law enforcement agency under this Section must be used exclusively to defray the costs related to providing a school resource officer to a school located within a school district designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 under Section 18-8.15.

(c) The State Board must prioritize the distribution of grants under this Section to school districts designated as Tier 1 or Tier 2 under Section 18-8.15.

In awarding grant funds to defray the costs associated with hiring a school resource officer, the State Board must prioritize estimated law enforcement response time.

(d) The State Board shall annually disseminate a request for grant applications under this Section, and grant funds shall be distributed annually.

(e) The State Board may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section.

(Source: P.A. 101-413, eff. 1-1-20; revised 10-21-19.)

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.68)

Sec. 10-20.68. School resource officer.

(a) In this Section, "school resource officer" means a law enforcement officer who has been primarily assigned to a school or school district under an agreement with a local law enforcement agency. "School resource officer" also includes a retired law enforcement officer associated with a local law enforcement agency for the purpose of serving as a school resource officer.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2021, any law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer under this Section shall provide to the school district a certificate of completion, or approved waiver, issued by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board under Section 10.22 of the Illinois Police Training Act indicating that the subject officer has completed the requisite course of instruction in the applicable subject areas within one year of assignment, or has prior experience and training which satisfies this requirement.

(c) In an effort to defray the related costs, any law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer should apply for grant funding through the federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant program.

(Source: P.A. 100-984, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

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