96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB5538


 
Introduced 2/9/2010, by Rep. Susana A. Mendoza
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		





 








20 ILCS 805/805-535
  was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2








     Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Conservation) Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires conservation police officers to demonstrate their ability to swim at  a competency level that has been established by the American Red Cross and approved by the Department in an administrative rule (rather than at a competency level established by the American Red
Cross for skills equivalent to an intermediate level swimmer). Effective immediately.
  















LRB096 17719 JDS 33084 b

















 


 


A BILL FOR









 




  






HB5538

LRB096 17719 JDS 33084 b





  
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    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
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    Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources 
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(Conservation) Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois 
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is amended  by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
 



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    (20 ILCS 805/805-535)  (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)



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    Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to

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the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation
Police 
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Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all 
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powers
possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise 
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those powers
anywhere
in this State.  Conservation Police 
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Officers acting under the authority
of this Section are 
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considered employees of the Department and are subject
to its 
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direction, benefits, and legal protection.

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    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources 
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after July 1, 2001
for a sworn law enforcement position or 
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position that has arrest authority
must meet the following 
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minimum professional standards:


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        (1) At the time of hire, the person must hold (i) a 
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    2-year degree and 3
consecutive years of experience as a 
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    police officer with the same law
enforcement agency or (ii) 
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    a 4-year degree.


 


 






HB5538
- 2 -
LRB096 17719 JDS 33084 b




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        (2) The person must possess the skill level and 
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    demonstrate the ability
to
swim at a competency level  that 
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    has been not less than that established by the American Red

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    Cross
 and approved by the Department in an administrative 
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    rule for skills equivalent to an intermediate level 
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    swimmer.


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        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification 
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    as a
police officer under the standards in effect at that 
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    time unless that person
already holds that certification 
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    and must also successfully complete the
Conservation

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    Police Academy training program, consisting of not less 
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    than 400 hours of
training, within
one year of hire.

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    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an 
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administrative rule
listing those disciplines that qualify as 
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directly related areas of study
and must also adopt, by

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listing, the American Red Cross standards and testing points 
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for a skill
level equivalent
to an intermediate level swimmer.

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(Source: P.A. 91-239, eff. 1-1-00; 92-511, eff. 1-1-02.)

 
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
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becoming law.