SB3351 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18778 RLC 32221 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3351

Introduced 2/4/2026, by Sen. Terri Bryant

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

730 ILCS 5/3-2.5-15

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that, notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary, any person serving as a guard of youth at a Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Center must: (1) be over the age of 21 and (2) have a high school diploma or equivalent. Provides that no social work experience or college education is required to serve as a guard of youth at a Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Center.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning criminal law.

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

Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by changing Section 3-2.5-15 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/3-2.5-15)

Sec. 3-2.5-15. Department of Juvenile Justice; assumption of duties of the Juvenile Division.

(a) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall assume the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Juvenile Division of the Department of Corrections. Personnel, books, records, property, and unencumbered appropriations pertaining to the Juvenile Division of the Department of Corrections shall be transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly. Any rights of employees or the State under the Personnel Code or any other contract or plan shall be unaffected by this transfer.

(b) Department of Juvenile Justice personnel who are hired by the Department on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly and who participate or assist in the rehabilitative and vocational training of delinquent youths, supervise the daily activities involving direct and continuing responsibility for the youth's security, welfare and development, or participate in the personal rehabilitation of delinquent youth by training, supervising, and assisting lower level personnel who perform these duties must: (1) be over the age of 21 and (2) have a high school diploma or equivalent and either (A) a bachelor's or advanced degree from an accredited college or university or (B) 2 or more years of experience providing direct care to youth in the form of residential care, coaching, case management, or mentoring. This requirement shall not apply to security, clerical, food service, and maintenance staff that do not have direct and regular contact with youth. The degree requirements specified in this subsection (b) are not required of persons who provide vocational training and who have adequate knowledge in the skill for which they are providing the vocational training.

(c) Subsection (b) of this Section does not apply to personnel transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.

(c-1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) or any other law to the contrary, any person serving as a guard of youth at a Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Center must: (1) be over the age of 21 and (2) have a high school diploma or equivalent. No social work experience or college education is required to serve as a guard of youth at a Department of Juvenile Justice Youth Center.

(d) The Department shall be under the direction of the Director of Juvenile Justice as provided in this Code.

(e) The Director shall organize divisions within the Department and shall assign functions, powers, duties, and personnel as required by law. The Director may create other divisions and may assign other functions, powers, duties, and personnel as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the functions and responsibilities vested by law in the Department. The Director may, with the approval of the Office of the Governor, assign to and share functions, powers, duties, and personnel with other State agencies such that administrative services and administrative facilities are provided by a shared administrative service center. Where possible, shared services which impact youth should be done with child-serving agencies. These administrative services may include, but are not limited to, all of the following functions: budgeting, accounting related functions, auditing, human resources, legal, procurement, training, data collection and analysis, information technology, internal investigations, intelligence, legislative services, emergency response capability, statewide transportation services, and general office support.

(f) The Department of Juvenile Justice may enter into intergovernmental cooperation agreements under which minors adjudicated delinquent and committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice may participate in county juvenile impact incarceration programs established under Section 3-6039 of the Counties Code.

(g) The Department of Juvenile Justice must comply with the ethnic and racial background data collection procedures provided in Section 4.5 of the Criminal Identification Act.

(h) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall implement a wellness program to support health and wellbeing among staff and service providers within the Department of Juvenile Justice environment. The Department of Juvenile Justice shall establish response teams to provide support to employees and staff affected by events that are both duty-related and not duty-related and provide training to response team members. The Department's wellness program shall be accessible to any Department employee or service provider, including contractual employees and approved volunteers. The wellness program may include information sharing, education and activities designed to support health and well-being within the Department's environment. Access to wellness response team support shall be voluntary and remain confidential.

(i) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall collaborate with the Department of Human Services and other State agencies to develop and implement screening and follow-up protocols for intake and aftercare personnel on identification and response to children and adolescents who show indications of being victims of human trafficking or at risk of human trafficking. Protocols should include assessment and provision of pre-release and post-release housing, legal, medical, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment services and recognize the specialized needs of victims of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

(j) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall require the juvenile justice system to provide access to specialized services for identified trafficked children and youth. In this subsection, "specialized services" means substance-use disorder, mental health, medical and other support services by Department employees and contractors who have completed victim-centered, trauma-informed training specifically designed to address the complex psychological and physical needs of victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and involvement in the sex trade.

(k) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall require statewide training for juvenile justice agencies and their direct service personnel on identification and response to child trafficking.

(Source: P.A. 103-290, eff. 7-28-23; 104-159, eff. 1-1-26.)