SB1548 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10471 RTM 20546 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1548

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Paul Faraci

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

See Index

Amends the Illinois State Police Law. Provides that the Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Golden Search Task Force, shall develop as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory a coordinated statewide awareness program and toolkit, which shall be referred to as the Golden Search, to be used when there is a missing person who is believed to be a person having a developmental disability or a person having an intellectual disability. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall complete development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2026. Provides that the Illinois State Police shall establish a Golden Search Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of the amendatory Act to assist the Illinois State Police in development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that the Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements, standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and effectively with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Sets forth membership of the Task Force. Provides that the Director of the Illinois State Police or the Director's designee shall serve as Chair of the Task Force. Provides that the Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and shall provide a report on the operations of the Golden Search Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each year by June 30th. Provides that the Child Safety Coordinator shall act in the capacity of Golden Search Program Coordinator in addition to the Child Safety Coordinator's other duties. Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall conduct a training program for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide coordinated Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit. Provides that the Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the handling of missing persons cases involving a person having a developmental disability or a person having an intellectual disability based upon protocols developed by the Golden Search Task Force in conjunction with the Illinois State Police on or before July 1, 2026.

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 Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section 2605-485 as follows:

(20 ILCS 2605/2605-485)

Sec. 2605-485. Endangered Missing Person Advisory.

(a) A coordinated program known as the Endangered Missing Person Advisory is established within the Illinois State Police. The purpose of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory is to provide a regional system for the rapid dissemination of information regarding a missing person who is believed to be a high-risk missing person as defined in Section 10 of the Missing Persons Identification Act.

(b) The AMBER Plan Task Force, established under Section 2605-480 of this Law, shall serve as the task force for the Endangered Missing Person Advisory. The AMBER Plan Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of the regional system developed under subsection (a), including procedures, budgetary requirements, and response protocols. The AMBER Plan Task Force shall also develop additional network resources for use in the system.

(c) The Illinois State Police, in coordination with the Illinois Department on Aging, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness among the State's healthcare facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other senior centers. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the missing person is not made public through the alert or otherwise.

(c-5) Subject to appropriation, the Illinois State Police, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Human Services, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory among applicable entities, including, but not limited to, developmental disability facilities as defined in Section 1-107 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. The guidelines and procedures shall ensure that specific health information about the missing person is not made public through the alert or otherwise.

(d) The Child Safety Coordinator, created under Section 2605-480 of this Law, shall act in the dual capacity of Child Safety Coordinator and Endangered Missing Person Coordinator. The Coordinator shall assist in the establishment of State standards and monitor the availability of federal funding that may become available to further the objectives of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory. The Illinois State Police shall provide technical assistance for the Coordinator from its existing resources.

(e)(1) The Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Silver Search Task Force, shall develop as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory a coordinated statewide awareness program and toolkit to be used when a person 21 years of age or older who is believed to have Alzheimer's disease, other related dementia, or other dementia-like cognitive impairment is reported missing, which shall be referred to as Silver Search.

(2) The Illinois State Police shall complete development and deployment of the Silver Search Awareness Program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2017.

(3) The Illinois State Police shall establish a Silver Search Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 99th General Assembly to assist the Illinois State Police in development and deployment of the Silver Search Awareness Program and toolkit. The Task Force shall establish the criteria and create a toolkit, which may include usage of Department of Transportation signs, under Section 2705-505.6 of the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements, standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and effectively with individuals that suffer from Alzheimer's disease, other dementia, or other dementia-like cognitive impairment. The Task Force shall also develop additional network and financial resources for use in the system. The Task Force shall include, but is not limited to, one representative from each of the following:

(A) the Illinois State Police;

(B) the Department on Aging;

(C) the Department of Public Health;

(D) the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board;

(E) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security;

(F) the Secretary of State;

(G) the Department of Transportation;

(H) the Department of the Lottery;

(I) the Illinois Toll Highway Authority;

(J) a State association dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support, and research;

(K) a State association dedicated to improving quality of life for persons age 50 and over;

(L) a State group of area agencies involved in planning and coordinating services and programs for older persons in their respective areas;

(M) a State organization dedicated to enhancing communication and cooperation between sheriffs;

(N) a State association of police chiefs and other leaders of police and public safety organizations;

(O) a State association representing Illinois publishers;

(P) a State association that advocates for the broadcast industry;

(Q) a member of a large wireless telephone carrier; and

(R) a member of a small wireless telephone carrier.

The members of the Task Force designated in subparagraphs (A) through (I) of this paragraph (3) shall be appointed by the head of the respective agency. The members of the Task Force designated in subparagraphs (J) through (R) of this paragraph (3) shall be appointed by the Director of the Illinois State Police. The Director of the Illinois State Police or the Director's his or her designee shall serve as Chair of the Task Force.

The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and shall provide a report on the operations of the Silver Search Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each year by June 30.

(4) Subject to appropriation, the Illinois State Police, in coordination with the Department on Aging and the Silver Search Task Force, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness of the Silver Search Program as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory among law enforcement agencies, the State's healthcare facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, other senior centers, and the general population on or before January 1, 2017.

(5) The Child Safety Coordinator, created under Section 2605-480 of this Law, shall act in the capacity of Child Safety Coordinator, Endangered Missing Person Coordinator, and Silver Search Program Coordinator. The Coordinator, in conjunction with the members of the Task Force, shall assist the Illinois State Police and the Silver Search Task Force in the establishment of State standards and monitor the availability of federal and private funding that may become available to further the objectives of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory and Silver Search Awareness Program. The Illinois State Police shall provide technical assistance for the Coordinator from its existing resources.

(6) The Illinois State Police shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

(f)(1) The Illinois State Police, in cooperation with the Golden Search Task Force, shall develop as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory a coordinated statewide awareness program and toolkit, which shall be referred to as the Golden Search, to be used when there is a missing person who is believed to be a person having a developmental disability, as defined in Section 1-106 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, or a person having an intellectual disability, as defined in Section 1-116 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.

(2) The Illinois State Police shall complete development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit on or before July 1, 2026.

(3) The Illinois State Police shall establish a Golden Search Task Force within 90 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly to assist the Illinois State Police in development and deployment of the Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit. The Task Force shall establish the criteria and create a toolkit, which may include usage of Department of Transportation signs, under Section 2705-505.6 of the Department of Transportation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The toolkit shall include information and guidance on responding to a missing person with autism spectrum disorder. The Task Force shall monitor and review the implementation and operation of that program, including procedures, budgetary requirements, standards, and minimum requirements for the training of law enforcement personnel on how to interact appropriately and effectively with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Task Force shall also develop additional network and financial resources for use in the system. The Task Force shall include, but shall not be limited to, one representative from each of the following:

(A) the Illinois State Police;

(B) the Department of Human Services;

(C) the Department of Public Health;

(D) the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission;

(E) the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board;

(F) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security;

(G) the Secretary of State;

(H) the Department of Transportation;

(I) the Department of the Lottery;

(J) the Illinois Toll Highway Authority;

(K) a State association dedicated to serving and supporting persons with autism spectrum disorder;

(L) a State organization dedicated to enhancing communication and cooperation between sheriffs;

(M) a State association of police chiefs and other leaders of police and public safety organizations;

(N) a State association representing Illinois publishers;

(O) a State association that advocates for the broadcast industry;

(P) a member of a large wireless telephone carrier; and

(Q) a member of a small wireless telephone carrier.

The members of the Task Force designated in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of this paragraph (3) shall be appointed by the head of the respective agency. The members of the Task Force designated in subparagraphs (K) through (Q) of this paragraph (3) shall be appointed by the Director of the Illinois State Police. The Director of the Illinois State Police or the Director's designee shall serve as Chair of the Task Force.

The Task Force shall meet at least twice a year and shall provide a report on the operations of the Golden Search Program to the General Assembly and the Governor each year by June 30th.

(4) Subject to appropriation, the Illinois State Police, in coordination with the Department of Human Services and the Golden Search Task Force, shall develop and implement a community outreach program to promote awareness of the Golden Search Program as part of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory among law enforcement agencies, the State's healthcare facilities, service providers, community-based organizations, and the general population on or before January 1, 2026.

(5) The Child Safety Coordinator, created under Section 2605-480 of this Law, shall act in the capacity of Golden Search Program Coordinator in addition to the Child Safety Coordinator's other duties. The Golden Search Program Coordinator, in conjunction with the members of the Task Force, shall assist the Illinois State Police and the Golden Search Task Force in the establishment of State standards and monitor the availability of federal and private funding that may become available to further the objectives of the Endangered Missing Person Advisory and Golden Search Awareness Program. The Illinois State Police shall provide technical assistance for the Coordinator from its existing resources.

(6) The Illinois State Police shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

Section 10. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by changing Section 10.10 as follows:

(50 ILCS 705/10.10)

Sec. 10.10. Training in child abduction and missing endangered senior alert system.

(a) The Board shall conduct training programs for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide coordinated child abduction alert system developed under Section 2605-480 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois and the statewide coordinated missing endangered senior alert system developed under Section 2605-375 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.

(b) The Board shall conduct a training program for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide Alzheimer's disease, other related dementia, or other dementia-like cognitive impairment coordinated Silver Search Awareness Program and toolkit developed under Section 2605-485 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the handling of missing persons cases involving Alzheimer's disease, other related dementia, or other dementia-like cognitive impairment based upon protocols developed by the Silver Search Task Force in conjunction with the Illinois State Police on or before July 1, 2016.

(c) The Board shall conduct a training program for law enforcement personnel of local governmental agencies in the statewide coordinated Golden Search Awareness Program and toolkit developed under Section 2605-485 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. The Board shall adopt written protocols and guidelines for the handling of missing persons cases involving a person having a developmental disability, as defined in Section 1-106 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, or a person having an intellectual disability, as defined in Section 1-116 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code, based upon protocols developed by the Golden Search Task Force in conjunction with the Illinois State Police on or before July 1, 2026.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)