HB3999 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 12508 RTM 22908 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3999

Introduced 3/4/2025, by Rep. Amy L. Grant - Dan Ugaste

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/Div. 3-16 heading new
55 ILCS 5/3-16005 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16010 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16015 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16020 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16025 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16030 new
55 ILCS 5/3-16099 new

Creates the County Co-Responder Pilot Program Division in the Counties Code. Provides that each county sheriff's office may establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit by no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Provides that, in addition to other responsibilities, the unit's social workers are responsible for conducting follow-up visits for victims who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. Provides that the unit's primary area of focus shall be victim assistance. Includes other provisions relating to establishment of the units, duties of the unit, unit training, and privileged or confidential communications. Repeals the Division on January 1, 2029.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Division 3-16 to Article 3 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/Div. 3-16 heading new)

Division 3-16. County Co-Responder Pilot Program

(55 ILCS 5/3-16005 new)

Sec. 3-16005. Definitions. As used in this Division:

"Sheriff's office" means the sheriff's office of a county.

"Social worker" means a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker, as those terms are defined in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act.

"Station adjustment" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

"Unit" means a co-responder unit created under this Division.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16010 new)

Sec. 3-16010. Establishment; responsibilities; focus.

(a) Each sheriff's office may establish a co-responder unit, subject to appropriation, including the hiring of personnel as provided in this Division.

(b) Along with the duties described in Sections 3-16015 and 3-16020, the unit's social workers are responsible for conducting follow-up visits for victims who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. The unit shall utilize community resources, including services provided through the Department of Human Services and social workers in juvenile and adult investigations, to connect individuals with appropriate services.

(c) The unit's primary area of focus shall be victim assistance.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16015 new)

Sec. 3-16015. Duties. The duties of the unit shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(1) serving as a resource to a department's community to identify and coordinate the social services available to residents who are victims of criminal acts;

(2) networking with area social service agencies to develop a community-mutual resource system and wrap-around services (a team-based, collaborative case management approach) for victims in need of social service assistance;

(3) fostering relationships with community organizations, including, but not limited to, area hospitals, school districts, juvenile justice system, and various community groups;

(4) employing social workers of the unit who shall:

(A) provide, upon request, community presentations on an array of social service topics;

(B) assist individuals in diversion from the criminal justice system by addressing problems or concerns through therapeutic intervention;

(C) facilitate follow-up treatment or referral to the appropriate community resource organization;

(D) assist department employees, upon request, in securing services for those in need and provide educational information to help the employees better understand the circumstances or the community concern;

(E) meet with walk-ins requesting information or assistance;

(F) protect the interest, confidentiality, and civil rights of the client;

(G) train social work interns who may be working within the unit;

(H) be on-call after regular business hours, as needed;

(I) inform clients, prior to providing services under this Division, about which communications are confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of State or federal law, rule, or regulation and which communications may be shared with the social worker's employer;

(J) consult on all cases as needed by the sheriff's office;

(K) perform other functions as provided in Section 3-16020 or as otherwise needed by the sheriff's office;

(5) employing social workers who shall work with victims of crimes as follows:

(A) review police reports to identify known victims and contact them to offer direct and referred services;

(B) assist victims with filing police reports and victim compensation forms;

(C) provide safety planning services to victims;

(D) provide crisis counseling services to victims and their families;

(E) conduct home visits with victims in conjunction with police backup, when needed;

(F) assist victims in obtaining orders of protection. A social worker, in the performance of his or her duties under this subparagraph, is an advocate, as that term is defined in Section 112A-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963;

(G) facilitate court advocacy services for victims, including arranging for transportation to and from court;

(H) maintain confidential case files that include social history, diagnosis, formulation of treatment, and documentation of services;

(I) perform miscellaneous personal advocacy tasks for victims, as needed;

(J) oversee activities to ensure that those victims with the most urgent needs are given the highest priority for services; and

(K) provide status updates on the progress of a victim's case;

(6) adhering to and understanding the applicable policies, procedures, and orders of a department;

(7) attaining department-established unit goals;

(8) maintaining a positive relationship with coworkers, as well as the investigators from area police departments, and facilitating the exchange of information and resources pertaining to investigations that would not violate confidentiality as protected pursuant to applicable provisions of State or federal law, rule, or regulation;

(9) keeping informed on crime trends within the county;

(10) remaining obedient and responsive to all lawful verbal and written orders issued by superiors; and

(11) completing police reports and other required documentation; and

(12) performing such other duties as may be required by State law, city ordinance, and office policy or as may be assigned by a sworn supervisor.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16020 new)

Sec. 3-16020. Social workers.

(a) Unit social workers may be referred to as victim service specialists. Social workers are responsible for working as a team to provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and ongoing emotional support to the victims of all crimes, with extra attention to crimes that cause a high level of victim trauma.

(b) Unit social workers involved in a case under adult investigations:

(1) work with domestic violence investigators;

(2) assist victims with finding safe housing, transportation, and legal assistance;

(3) provide other needed resources for victims and their families, including working with children who witness or experience domestic violence;

(4) assist victims and their children in setting up counseling; and

(5) help reduce victims' chances of reentry into violent situations.

(c) Unit social workers involved in a case under juvenile investigations may:

(1) work with families that have habitual runaways and determine why the juveniles keep running away;

(2) provide services to families where there have been domestic disturbances between the juveniles and their parents;

(3) provide resources for parents to help their children who are struggling in school or need transportation to school;

(4) provide guidance and advice to the families of a juvenile who has been arrested and what the next steps and options are in the process;

(5) assist a juvenile with station adjustments and creating a station adjustment program in the sheriff's office;

(6) provide services to juvenile victims and families where the Department of Children and Family Services either did not get involved or did not provide services;

(7) assist with overcoming feuds between groups of juveniles;

(8) assist in instances where the families are not cooperative with the sheriff's office;

(9) discuss with families and juveniles options and solutions to prevent future arrest;

(10) maintain a list of families in need that the unit or sheriff's office have had contact with for office or county special events;

(11) help facilitate or assist the sheriff's office in community-oriented events, such as setting up an event where officers or unit personnel read books with younger children, talking about cyber crimes and social media, or having an officer or unit personnel visit a school for other activities; and

(12) help reduce juvenile recidivism.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16025 new)

Sec. 3-16025. Training. All unit employees shall receive crisis intervention training and integrating communications, assessment, and tactics training. Integrating communications, assessment, and tactics training shall be designed for situations involving persons who are unarmed or are armed with weapons and who may be experiencing a mental health or other crisis. The training described in this Section shall incorporate different skill sets into a unified training approach that emphasizes scenario-based exercises, as well as lecture and case study opportunities.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16030 new)

Sec. 3-16030. Privileged or confidential communications. Nothing contained in this Division shall be construed to impair or limit the confidentiality of communications otherwise protected by law as privileged or confidential, including, but not limited to, information communicated in confidence to a social worker or social work intern who works under the direct supervision of a social worker. A social worker may not be subjected to adverse employment action, the threat of adverse employment action, or any manner of discrimination because the employee is acting or has acted to protect communications as privileged or confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of State or federal law, rule, or regulation.

(55 ILCS 5/3-16099 new)

Sec. 3-16099. Repeal. This Division is repealed January 1, 2029.