SB3891 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18436 RLC 31878 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3891

Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Neil Anderson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

50 ILCS 705/2	from Ch. 85, par. 502
50 ILCS 705/10.28 new
55 ILCS 5/3-6012.3 new
65 ILCS 5/10-4-13 new
720 ILCS 5/24-2

Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Provides that the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board shall establish minimum training standards for tactical emergency medical services professionals. In establishing the minimum training standards, the Board shall consider recommendations made by the Illinois State Police and the Department of Public Health. Provides that the Board may amend the standards as needed to respond to technological changes affecting law enforcement or tactical emergency medical services, additional recommendations made by the Illinois State Police and the Department of Public Health, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character. Provides that no person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily met the standards established under these provisions and has been certified by the Board as being qualified to be a tactical emergency medical services professional. Provides that no person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional without the prior written approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the tactical emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties. Provides that the sheriff or chief of police must have authority and responsibility over the team on which he or she is approving the tactical emergency medical services professional to go armed with a firearm. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 to exempt tactical emergency medical services professionals from the unlawful possession of weapons and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon statutes. Amends the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code to make conforming changes.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning tactical emergency medical services professionals.

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

Section 5. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by changing Section 2 and by adding Section 10.28 as follows:

(50 ILCS 705/2) (from Ch. 85, par. 502)

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

"Board" means the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

"Full-time law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer who has completed the officer's probationary period and is employed on a full-time basis as a law enforcement officer by a local government agency, State government agency, or as a campus police officer by a university, college, or community college.

"Law Enforcement agency" means any entity with statutory police powers and the ability to employ individuals authorized to make arrests. It does not include the Illinois State Police as defined in the State Police Act. A law enforcement agency may include any university, college, or community college.

"Local law enforcement agency" means any law enforcement unit of government or municipal corporation in this State. It does not include the State of Illinois or any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency of the State, except that it does include a State-controlled university, college or public community college.

"State law enforcement agency" means any law enforcement agency of this State. This includes any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency of the State. It does not include the Illinois State Police as defined in the State Police Act.

"Panel" means the Certification Review Panel.

"Basic training school" means any school located within the State of Illinois whether privately or publicly owned which offers a course in basic law enforcement or county corrections training and has been approved by the Board.

"Probationary police officer" means a recruit law enforcement officer required to successfully complete initial minimum basic training requirements at a basic training school to be eligible for permanent full-time employment as a local law enforcement officer.

"Probationary part-time police officer" means a recruit part-time law enforcement officer required to successfully complete initial minimum part-time training requirements to be eligible for employment on a part-time basis as a local law enforcement officer.

"Permanent law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer who has completed the officer's probationary period and is permanently employed on a full-time basis as a local law enforcement officer, as a security officer, or campus police officer permanently employed by a law enforcement agency.

"Part-time law enforcement officer" means a law enforcement officer who has completed the officer's probationary period and is employed on a part-time basis as a law enforcement officer or as a campus police officer by a law enforcement agency.

"Law enforcement officer" means (i) any police officer of a law enforcement agency who is primarily responsible for prevention or detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal code, traffic, or highway laws of this State or any political subdivision of this State or (ii) any member of a police force appointed and maintained as provided in Section 2 of the Railroad Police Act.

"Recruit" means any full-time or part-time law enforcement officer or full-time county corrections officer who is enrolled in an approved training course.

"Review Committee" means the committee at the Board for certification disciplinary cases in which the Panel, a law enforcement officer, or a law enforcement agency may file for reconsideration of a decertification decision made by the Board.

"Probationary county corrections officer" means a recruit county corrections officer required to successfully complete initial minimum basic training requirements at a basic training school to be eligible for permanent employment on a full-time basis as a county corrections officer.

"Permanent county corrections officer" means a county corrections officer who has completed the officer's probationary period and is permanently employed on a full-time basis as a county corrections officer by a participating law enforcement agency.

"County corrections officer" means any sworn officer of the sheriff who is primarily responsible for the control and custody of offenders, detainees or inmates.

"Probationary court security officer" means a recruit court security officer required to successfully complete initial minimum basic training requirements at a designated training school to be eligible for employment as a court security officer.

"Permanent court security officer" means a court security officer who has completed the officer's probationary period and is employed as a court security officer by a participating law enforcement agency.

"Tactical emergency medical services professional" means a Paramedic (EMT-P) licensed under the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act who has been endorsed by the Board as a person who provides medical services when operating as part of a law enforcement tactical team and operating with the prior written approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the licensed emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties.

"Court security officer" has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3-6012.1 of the Counties Code.

"Trauma" means physical or emotional harm resulting from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that has led to lasting adverse effects on an individual's mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

"Trauma-informed response" means a program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed; realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, and seeks to actively avoid re-traumatization and to restore autonomy and stability to survivors.

(Source: P.A. 104-159, eff. 1-1-26.)

(50 ILCS 705/10.28 new)

Sec. 10.28. Tactical emergency medical services professionals.

(a) The Board shall establish minimum training standards for tactical emergency medical services professionals. In establishing the minimum training standards, the Board shall consider recommendations made by the Illinois State Police and the Department of Public Health. The Board may amend the standards as needed to respond to technological changes affecting law enforcement or tactical emergency medical services, additional recommendations made by the Illinois State Police and the Department of Public Health, or other conditions affecting the public interest in maintaining training standards of a proper professional character.

(b) No person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional, except on a temporary or probationary basis, unless the person has satisfactorily met the standards established under subsection (a) and has been certified by the Board as being qualified to be a tactical emergency medical services professional. No person may be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional without the prior written approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the tactical emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties. The sheriff or chief of police must have authority and responsibility over the team on which he or she is approving the tactical emergency medical services professional to go armed with a firearm.

(c) A person who has met the minimum training standards established under subsection (a), and who seeks certification as a tactical emergency medical services professional, shall be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards, each bearing a complete set of the person's fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by the Illinois State Police. The fingerprints shall be submitted to the Illinois State Police for verification of the identify of the person fingerprinted and to obtain records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions in Illinois. The Illinois State Police shall provide for the submission of the fingerprint cards or fingerprints by other technologies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of verifying the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions on file with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(d) No person who has been convicted of any federal felony, any crime of domestic violence, or of any offense that, if committed in this State, could be punished as a felony qualifies for certification as a tactical emergency medical services professional unless he or she has been granted an absolute and unconditional pardon for the crime.

(e) No person may continue to be certified as a tactical emergency medical services professional unless that person maintains employment as a tactical emergency medical services professional, maintains the approval of the sheriff or chief of police for the jurisdiction in which the tactical emergency medical services professional is authorized to carry out his or her duties, and meets annual recertification training standards. Each tactical emergency medical services professional who is subject to this Section shall annually complete a handgun qualification course from curricula based upon model standards established by the Board of training completed under subsection (b) which shall count toward the hours of training required for certification.

Section 10. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 3-6012.3 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/3-6012.3 new)

Sec. 3-6012.3. Tactical emergency medical services professional. A Sheriff may employ a tactical emergency medical services professional certified under Section 10.28 of the Illinois Police Training Act. In addition to any other requirements, the tactical emergency medical services professional shall participate in tactical teams and law enforcement operations as the sheriff deems appropriate and may carry firearms in the performance of his or her duties. Before the sheriff employs a tactical emergency medical services professional, the sheriff shall file his or her written approval with the county clerk and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

Section 15. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by adding Section 10-4-13 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/10-4-13 new)

Sec. 10-4-13. Tactical emergency medical services professional. A municipal police chief may employ tactical emergency medical services professionals certified under Section 10.28 of the Illinois Police Training Act. In addition to any other requirements, the tactical emergency medical services professionals shall participate in tactical teams and law enforcement operations as the municipal police chief deems appropriate and may carry firearms in the performance of their duties. Before the municipal police chief employs a tactical emergency medical services professional, the municipal police chief shall file his or her written approval with the municipal clerk and the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

Section 20. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by changing Section 24-2 as follows:

(720 ILCS 5/24-2)

Sec. 24-2. Exemptions.

(a) Subsections 24-1(a)(3), 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(10), and 24-1(a)(13) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Peace officers, and any person summoned by a peace officer to assist in making arrests or preserving the peace, while actually engaged in assisting such officer.

(2) Wardens, superintendents, and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails, and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense, while in the performance of their official duty, or while commuting between their homes and places of employment.

(3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard or the Reserve Officers Training Corps, while in the performance of their official duty.

(4) Special agents employed by a railroad or a public utility to perform police functions, and guards of armored car companies, while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment or commuting between their homes and places of employment; and watchmen while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment.

(5) Persons licensed as private security contractors, private detectives, or private alarm contractors, or employed by a private security contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor agency licensed by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, if their duties include the carrying of a weapon under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004, while actually engaged in the performance of the duties of their employment or commuting between their homes and places of employment. A person shall be considered eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for a private security contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor, or employee of a licensed private security contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor agency and 28 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Conditions for the renewal of firearm control cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those cards issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm control card shall be carried by the private security contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor, or employee of the licensed private security contractor, private detective, or private alarm contractor agency at all times when he or she is in possession of a concealable weapon permitted by his or her firearm control card.

(6) Any person regularly employed in a commercial or industrial operation as a security guard for the protection of persons employed and private property related to such commercial or industrial operation, while actually engaged in the performance of his or her duty or traveling between sites or properties belonging to the employer, and who, as a security guard, is a member of a security force registered with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; provided that such security guard has successfully completed a course of study, approved by and supervised by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, consisting of not less than 48 hours of training that includes the theory of law enforcement, liability for acts, and the handling of weapons. A person shall be considered eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for a security officer and 28 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Conditions for the renewal of firearm control cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those cards issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm control card shall be carried by the security guard at all times when he or she is in possession of a concealable weapon permitted by his or her firearm control card.

(7) Agents and investigators of the Illinois Legislative Investigating Commission authorized by the Commission to carry the weapons specified in subsections 24-1(a)(3) and 24-1(a)(4), while on duty in the course of any investigation for the Commission.

(8) Persons employed by a financial institution as a security guard for the protection of other employees and property related to such financial institution, while actually engaged in the performance of their duties, commuting between their homes and places of employment, or traveling between sites or properties owned or operated by such financial institution, and who, as a security guard, is a member of a security force registered with the Department; provided that any person so employed has successfully completed a course of study, approved by and supervised by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, consisting of not less than 48 hours of training which includes theory of law enforcement, liability for acts, and the handling of weapons. A person shall be considered to be eligible for this exemption if he or she has completed the required 20 hours of training for a security officer and 28 hours of required firearm training, and has been issued a firearm control card by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Conditions for renewal of firearm control cards issued under the provisions of this Section shall be the same as for those issued under the provisions of the Private Detective, Private Alarm, Private Security, Fingerprint Vendor, and Locksmith Act of 2004. The firearm control card shall be carried by the security guard at all times when he or she is in possession of a concealable weapon permitted by his or her firearm control card. For purposes of this subsection, "financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or company providing armored car services.

(9) Any person employed by an armored car company to drive an armored car, while actually engaged in the performance of his duties.

(10) Persons who have been classified as peace officers pursuant to the Peace Officer Fire Investigation Act.

(11) Investigators of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor authorized by the board of governors of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor to carry weapons pursuant to Section 7.06 of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act.

(12) Special investigators appointed by a State's Attorney under Section 3-9005 of the Counties Code.

(12.5) Probation officers while in the performance of their duties, or while commuting between their homes, places of employment or specific locations that are part of their assigned duties, with the consent of the chief judge of the circuit for which they are employed, if they have received weapons training according to requirements of the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act.

(13) Court security officers while in the performance of their official duties, or while commuting between their homes and places of employment, with the consent of the sheriff.

(13.5) A person employed as an armed security guard at a nuclear energy, storage, weapons, or development site or facility regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who has completed the background screening and training mandated by the rules and regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(14) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of weapons to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (13.5) of this subsection to possess those weapons.

(a-5) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) do not apply to or affect any person carrying a concealed pistol, revolver, or handgun and the person has been issued a currently valid license under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act at the time of the commission of the offense.

(a-6) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) do not apply to or affect a qualified current or retired law enforcement officer or a current or retired deputy, county correctional officer, or correctional officer of the Department of Corrections qualified under the laws of this State or under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

Subsections 24-1(a)(4), 24-1(a)(10), and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect tactical emergency medical services professionals while in performance of their official duties.

(b) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Members of any club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets upon established target ranges, whether public or private, and patrons of such ranges, while such members or patrons are using their firearms on those target ranges.

(2) Duly authorized military or civil organizations while parading, with the special permission of the Governor.

(3) Hunters, trappers, or fishermen while engaged in lawful hunting, trapping, or fishing under the provisions of the Wildlife Code or the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

(4) Transportation of weapons that are broken down in a non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible.

(5) Carrying or possessing any pistol, revolver, stun gun or taser or other firearm on the land or in the legal dwelling of another person as an invitee with that person's permission.

(c) Subsection 24-1(a)(7) does not apply to or affect any of the following:

(1) Peace officers while in performance of their official duties.

(2) Wardens, superintendents, and keepers of prisons, penitentiaries, jails, and other institutions for the detention of persons accused or convicted of an offense.

(3) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in the performance of their official duty.

(4) Manufacture, transportation, or sale of machine guns to persons authorized under subdivisions (1) through (3) of this subsection to possess machine guns, if the machine guns are broken down in a non-functioning state or are not immediately accessible.

(5) Persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any weapon from which 8 or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device, or ammunition for such weapons, and actually engaged in the business of manufacturing such weapons or ammunition, but only with respect to activities which are within the lawful scope of such business, such as the manufacture, transportation, or testing of such weapons or ammunition. This exemption does not authorize the general private possession of any weapon from which 8 or more shots or bullets can be discharged by a single function of the firing device, but only such possession and activities as are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing business described in this paragraph.

During transportation, such weapons shall be broken down in a non-functioning state or not immediately accessible.

(6) The manufacture, transport, testing, delivery, transfer, or sale, and all lawful commercial or experimental activities necessary thereto, of rifles, shotguns, and weapons made from rifles or shotguns, or ammunition for such rifles, shotguns, or weapons, where engaged in by a person operating as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant to a contract or subcontract for the development and supply of such rifles, shotguns, weapons, or ammunition to the United States government or any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, when such activities are necessary and incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.

The exemption granted under this subdivision (c)(6) shall also apply to any authorized agent of any such contractor or subcontractor who is operating within the scope of his employment, where such activities involving such weapon, weapons, or ammunition are necessary and incident to fulfilling the terms of such contract.

(7) A person possessing a rifle with a barrel or barrels less than 16 inches in length if: (A) the person has been issued a Curios and Relics license from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; or (B) the person is an active member of a bona fide, nationally recognized military re-enacting group and the modification is required and necessary to accurately portray the weapon for historical re-enactment purposes; the re-enactor is in possession of a valid and current re-enacting group membership credential; and the overall length of the weapon as modified is not less than 26 inches.

(d) Subsection 24-1(a)(1) does not apply to the purchase, possession or carrying of a black-jack or slung-shot by a peace officer.

(e) Subsection 24-1(a)(8) does not apply to any owner, manager, or authorized employee of any place specified in that subsection nor to any law enforcement officer.

(f) Subsection 24-1(a)(4) and subsection 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to members of any club or organization organized for the purpose of practicing shooting at targets upon established target ranges, whether public or private, while using their firearms on those target ranges.

(g) Subsections 24-1(a)(11) and 24-3.1(a)(6) do not apply to:

(1) Members of the Armed Services or Reserve Forces of the United States or the Illinois National Guard, while in the performance of their official duty.

(2) Bonafide collectors of antique or surplus military ordnance.

(3) Laboratories having a department of forensic ballistics or specializing in the development of ammunition or explosive ordnance.

(4) Commerce, preparation, assembly, or possession of explosive bullets by manufacturers of ammunition licensed by the federal government, in connection with the supply of those organizations and persons exempted by subdivision (g)(1) of this Section, or like organizations and persons outside this State, or the transportation of explosive bullets to any organization or person exempted in this Section by a common carrier or by a vehicle owned or leased by an exempted manufacturer.

(g-5) Subsection 24-1(a)(6) does not apply to or affect persons licensed under federal law to manufacture any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm, firearms, or ammunition for those firearms equipped with those devices, and actually engaged in the business of manufacturing those devices, firearms, or ammunition, but only with respect to activities that are within the lawful scope of that business, such as the manufacture, transportation, or testing of those devices, firearms, or ammunition. This exemption does not authorize the general private possession of any device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm, but only such possession and activities as are within the lawful scope of a licensed manufacturing business described in this subsection (g-5). During transportation, these devices shall be detached from any weapon or not immediately accessible.

(g-6) Subsections 24-1(a)(4) and 24-1(a)(10) and Section 24-1.6 do not apply to or affect any parole agent or parole supervisor who meets the qualifications and conditions prescribed in Section 3-14-1.5 of the Unified Code of Corrections.

(g-7) Subsection 24-1(a)(6) does not apply to a peace officer while serving as a member of a tactical response team or special operations team. A peace officer may not personally own or apply for ownership of a device or attachment of any kind designed, used, or intended for use in silencing the report of any firearm. These devices shall be owned and maintained by lawfully recognized units of government whose duties include the investigation of criminal acts.

(g-10) (Blank).

(h) An information or indictment based upon a violation of any subsection of this Article need not negate any exemptions contained in this Article. The defendant shall have the burden of proving such an exemption.

(i) Nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or affect the transportation, carrying, or possession of any pistol or revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm consigned to a common carrier operating under license of the State of Illinois or the federal government, where such transportation, carrying, or possession is incident to the lawful transportation in which such common carrier is engaged; and nothing in this Article shall prohibit, apply to, or affect the transportation, carrying, or possession of any pistol, revolver, stun gun, taser, or other firearm, not the subject of and regulated by subsection 24-1(a)(7) or subsection 24-2(c) of this Article, which is unloaded and enclosed in a case, firearm carrying box, shipping box, or other container, by the possessor of a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)