SB2788 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16752 LNS 30160 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2788

Introduced 1/13/2026, by Sen. Darby A. Hills

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/2-3.06 new
105 ILCS 5/10-20.68

Amends the School Code. Requires, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. Provides that eligible entities are schools or school districts that have hired an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer and the law enforcement agency or agencies that a school or school district has an intergovernmental agreement with to employ a school resource officer. Provides that any funds distributed to an eligible entity under the Program shall be equally distributed between the eligible entities in an intergovernmental agreement to employ a school resource officer. Allows the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, to adopt rules as needed for the Program's implementation and the distribution of grants. Makes a conforming change.

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 adding Section 2-3.06 and by changing Section 10-20.68 as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/2-3.06 new)

Sec. 2-3.06. School Resource Officer Grant Program. Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, shall establish the School Resource Officer Grant Program to fund salaries and any other costs associated with the hiring of an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer. Eligible entities are schools or school districts that have hired an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer and the law enforcement agency or agencies that a school or school district has an intergovernmental agreement with to employ a school resource officer. Any funds distributed to an eligible entity under the Program shall be equally distributed between the eligible entities in the intergovernmental agreement to employ a school resource officer.

The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, may adopt rules as needed for the Program's implementation and the distribution of grants under this Section.

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.68)

Sec. 10-20.68. School resource officer.

(a) In this Section, "school resource officer" means an active a law enforcement officer who has been primarily assigned to a school or school district under a memorandum of understanding between a local law enforcement agency and a school district.

(a-5) Beginning July 1, 2026, a memorandum of understanding between a local law enforcement agency and a school district is required for any school district that uses a school resource officer. The memorandum of understanding shall include provisions that:

(1) define the role, duties, and responsibilities of a school resource officer;

(2) specify procedures to ensure that a school resource officer has been trained or has received a waiver for training, as provided in Section 10.22 of the Illinois Police Training Act, including specific training on working with students with disabilities to ensure appropriate and effective interactions that support their educational and behavioral needs;

(3) specify that a school resource officer is prohibited from issuing tickets or citations on school property in accordance with subsection (i) of Section 10-22.6;

(4) outline a process for data collection and reporting in accordance with Section 2-3.206; and

(5) provide for regular review and evaluation of the school resource officer program, including community and stakeholder input.

(b) Any law enforcement agency that provides a school resource officer 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.

(d) Any school or school district that hires an active law enforcement officer as a school resource officer shall be reimbursed for salary and additional costs through the School Resource Officer Grant Program established by the State Board of Education.

(Source: P.A. 104-430, eff. 8-20-25.)