(65 ILCS 5/10-1-30) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-30)

Sec. 10-1-30. No officer or employee in the service of such municipality shall, directly or indirectly, give or hand over to any officer or employee in such service, or to any senator or representative or alderperson, councilman, trustee or commissioner, any money or other valuable thing, on account of or to be applied to the promotion of any party or political object whatever.

(Source: P.A. 102-15, eff. 6-17-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-31) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-31)

Sec. 10-1-31. No officer or employee of such municipality shall discharge or degrade or promote, or in any manner change the official rank or compensation of any other officer or employee, or promise or threaten to do so for giving or withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of any money or other valuable thing for any party or political purpose, or for refusal or neglect to render any party or political service.

(Source: P.A. 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-32) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-32)

Sec. 10-1-32. No applicant for appointment in the classified civil service, either directly or indirectly, shall pay or promise to pay any money or other valuable thing to any person whatever for or on account of his appointment, or proposed appointment, and no officer or employee shall pay or promise to pay, either directly or indirectly, any person any money or other valuable thing whatever for or on account of his promotion.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-33) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-33)

Sec. 10-1-33. No applicant for appointment or promotion in the classified civil service shall ask for or receive a recommendation or assistance from any officer or employee in the service, or of any person upon the consideration of any political service to be rendered to or for such person, or for the promotion of such person to any office or appointment.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-34) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-34)

Sec. 10-1-34. No person while holding any office in the government of such municipality, or in nomination for, or while seeking a nomination for, or appointment to any such office, shall corruptly use or promise to use, either directly or indirectly, any official authority or influence, whether then possessed or merely anticipated, in the way of conferring upon any person, or in order to secure or aid any person in securing any office or public employment, or any nomination, confirmation, promotion or increase of salary upon the consideration or condition that the vote or political influence or action of the last named person or any other shall be given or used in behalf of any candidate, officer or party, or upon any other corrupt condition or consideration.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3252.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-35) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-35)

Sec. 10-1-35. No accounting or auditing officer shall allow the claim of any public officer for services of any deputy or other person employed in the public service in violation of the provisions of this Division 1.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-36) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-36)

Sec. 10-1-36. The commission shall certify to the comptroller or other auditing officers, all appointments to offices and places in the classified civil service, and all vacancies occurring therein, whether by dismissal or resignation or death, and all findings made or approved by the commission under the provisions of Section 10-1-18, that a person shall be discharged from the classified civil service.

In no event shall any person who is classified by his local selective service draft board as a conscientious objector, or who has ever been so classified, be appointed to the police department.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3222.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-37) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-37)

Sec. 10-1-37. No comptroller or other auditing officer of a municipality which has adopted this Division 1 shall approve the payment of, or be in any manner concerned in paying any salary or wages to any person for services as an officer or employee of such municipality, unless such person is occupying an office or place of employment according to the provisions of law and is entitled to payment therefor.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3252.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-38) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-38)

Sec. 10-1-38. No paymaster, treasurer or other officer or agent of a municipality which has adopted this Division 1 shall wilfully pay, or be in any manner concerned in paying any person any salary or wages for services as an officer or employee of such municipality, unless such person is occupying an office or place of employment according to the provisions of law and is entitled to payment therefor.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3252.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-38.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-38.1)

Sec. 10-1-38.1. When the force of the Fire Department or of the Police Department is reduced, and positions displaced or abolished, seniority shall prevail, and the officers and members so reduced in rank, or removed from the service of the Fire Department or of the Police Department shall be considered furloughed without pay from the positions from which they were reduced or removed.

Such reductions and removals shall be in strict compliance with seniority and in no event shall any officer or member be reduced more than one rank in a reduction of force. Officers and members with the least seniority in the position to be reduced shall be reduced to the next lower rated position. For purposes of determining which officers and members will be reduced in rank, seniority shall be determined by adding the time spent at the rank or position from which the officer or member is to be reduced and the time spent at any higher rank or position in the Department. For purposes of determining which officers or members in the lowest rank or position shall be removed from the Department in the event of a layoff, length of service in the Department shall be the basis for determining seniority, with the least senior such officer or member being the first so removed and laid off. Such officers or members laid off shall have their names placed on an appropriate reemployment list in the reverse order of dates of layoff.

If any positions which have been vacated because of reduction in forces or displacement and abolition of positions, are reinstated, such members and officers of the Fire Department or of the Police Department as are furloughed from the said positions shall be notified by registered mail of such reinstatement of positions and shall have prior right to such positions if otherwise qualified, and in all cases seniority shall prevail. Written application for such reinstated position must be made by the furloughed person within 30 days after notification as above provided and such person may be required to submit to examination by physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, or physician assistants of both the commission and the appropriate pension board to determine his physical fitness.

(Source: P.A. 99-581, eff. 1-1-17; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-39) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-39)

Sec. 10-1-39. Any person who shall be served with a subpoena to appear and testify, or to produce books and papers, issued by the commission or by any commissioner or by any board or person acting under the orders of the commission in the course of an investigation conducted either under the provisions of Section 10-1-18 or 10-1-20, and who shall refuse or neglect to appear or to testify, or to produce books and papers relevant to the investigation, as commanded in such subpoena, is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, on conviction, be punished as provided in Section 10-1-40. The fees of witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as the fees of witnesses before the circuit courts of this state and shall be paid from the appropriation for the expenses of the commission. Any circuit court of this state upon application of any such commissioner, or officer or board, may in his discretion compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of books and papers, and giving of testimony before the commission, or before any such commissioner, investigating board or officer, by attachment for contempt or otherwise in the same manner as the production of evidence may be compelled before such court. Every person who, having taken an oath or made affirmation before a commissioner or officer appointed by the commission authorized to administer oaths shall swear or affirm wilfully, corruptly and falsely shall be guilty of perjury and upon conviction shall be punished accordingly.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3762.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-40) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-40)

Sec. 10-1-40. Any person who wilfully, or through culpable negligence violates any of the provisions of this Division 1 or any rule promulgated in accordance with the provisions thereof, other than Section 10-1-16, is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Any person who wilfully or through culpable negligence violates any of the provisions of Section 10-1-16 of this Code, or any rule promulgated in accordance with the provisions thereof, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(Source: P.A. 85-372.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-41) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-41)

Sec. 10-1-41. If any person is convicted for violating any of the provisions of this Division 1, or rules adopted pursuant thereto, any public office or place of public employment, which such person may hold shall, by force of such conviction be rendered vacant, and such person shall be incapable of holding any office or place of public employment for the period of 5 years from the date of such conviction.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-42) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-42)

Sec. 10-1-42. Prosecutions for violations of this Division 1 may be instituted either by the Attorney General, the State's Attorney for the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed, or by the commission, acting through special counsel. Such suits shall be conducted and controlled by the prosecuting officers who institute them, unless they request the aid of other prosecuting officers.

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 576.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-43) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-43)

Sec. 10-1-43. The electors of any municipality may adopt and become entitled to the benefits of this Division 1 in the following manner: Whenever 1,000 of the legal voters of such municipality, voting at the last preceding election petition the circuit court for the county in which the municipality is located to order submitted to a vote of the electors of such municipality the proposition as to whether such municipality and the electors thereof shall adopt and become entitled to the benefits of this Division 1, the circuit court shall order such proposition certified and submitted accordingly at the next succeeding election in accordance with the general election law, and if such proposition is not adopted at such election the same shall in like manner be ordered to a vote of the electors of such municipality by the circuit court upon like application at any election thereafter, and an order shall be entered of record in the circuit court for the submission of such proposition as aforesaid. The clerk of the circuit court shall certify the proposition for submission.

If the required number of 1,000 electors exceeds a number equal to 1/8 of the legal voters of any such municipality voting at the last preceding municipal election, then such petition or application need not be signed or made by more than 1/8 of the legal voters of such municipality voting at the last preceding municipal election.

If this Division 1 is adopted by a municipality that before adoption was subject to the provisions of Division 2.1 of this Article 10, the provisions of this Division 1 shall apply except as to the board of fire and police commissioners and firemen and policemen. The provisions of Division 2.1 shall continue to apply to the board of fire and police commissioners and firemen and policemen.

A municipality that has adopted this Division 1 may abolish it in the same manner prescribed for its adoption.

(Source: P.A. 88-264.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-44) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-44)

Sec. 10-1-44. (a) Proclamation to adopt. If a majority of the votes cast upon a proposition to adopt shall be for the proposition, this Division 1 shall be adopted by the municipality, and the mayor shall then issue a proclamation declaring this Division 1 in force in the municipality.

(b) Proclamation to abolish. If a majority of the votes cast upon a proposition to abolish shall be for the proposition, this Division 1 shall be abolished by the municipality, and the mayor shall then issue a proclamation declaring this Division 1 abolished in the municipality.

(Source: P.A. 88-264.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-45) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-45)

Sec. 10-1-45. The provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto, shall apply to and govern all proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative decisions of a Civil Service Commission, or of the Police Board of a city of more than 500,000 population. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-46) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-46)

Sec. 10-1-46. An employee who is injured while in the performance of his duties and because of such injury is temporarily unable to continue his duties or who enters the military or naval service of the United States because of a war in which the United States is a party belligerent or as required by any Act of Congress shall, upon written application to the commission, be granted a disability or military leave, as the case may be.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1116.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-47) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-47)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-929)

Sec. 10-1-47. An employee who has been on disability leave or military leave granted by the commission and who wishes to return to active duty in his certified position shall be credited with seniority for the period of such leave and, if otherwise qualified, shall be reinstated to his certified position at the rank or grade held at the start of the leave, not more than 60 days after his written request for reinstatement is filed with the commission. Such request shall be filed not more than 30 days after termination of the disability or military or naval service.

(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1116.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-929)

Sec. 10-1-47. An employee who has been on disability leave or military leave granted by the commission and who wishes to return to active duty in his certified position shall be credited with seniority for the period of such leave and, if otherwise qualified, shall be reinstated to his certified position at the rank or grade held at the start of the leave, not more than 60 days after his written request for reinstatement is filed with the commission. Such request shall be filed not more than 30 days after termination of the disability or military or naval service.

Upon the chief of the police department's receipt of a certification under Section 3-116 of the Illinois Pension Code that a police officer is no longer disabled and is able to resume the duties of his or her position, the police officer shall report to the chief of the police department. The chief of the police department shall thereupon order immediate reinstatement into active service, and the municipality shall immediately return the police officer to its payroll, in the same rank or grade held at the date he or she was placed on a disability pension under Article 3 of the Illinois Pension Code.

(Source: P.A. 103-929, eff. 1-1-25.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-1-48) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-1-48)

Sec. 10-1-48. This division is subject to the provisions of the Illinois Police Training Act and the provisions of the Illinois Fire Protection Training Act.

Public Act 78-951 is not a limit on any municipality which is a home rule unit.

(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)

(65 ILCS 5/Art. 10 Div. 2.1 heading) DIVISION 2.1. BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-1)

Sec. 10-2.1-1. Appointment-Terms of office.

In every municipality with a population of at least 5,000 and not more than 250,000 which is not subject to Division 1 of this Article, and in every municipality with a population of less than 5,000 which adopts this Division 2.1 as provided in Section 10-2.1-27, including in either event any municipality incorporated and existing under a special charter, the mayor of the city, with the consent of the city council or the president of the village or incorporated town, with the consent of the board of trustees, shall appoint a board of fire and police commissioners. This board shall consist of 3 members, whose terms of office shall be 3 years and until their respective successors are appointed and have qualified, except as provided in Section 10-2.1-2. No such appointment, however, shall be made by any mayor or president within 30 days before the expiration of his term of office.

(Source: P.A. 76-1445.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-2)

Sec. 10-2.1-2. First appointments.

Within 30 days after this Division 2.1 becomes effective in a municipality, the mayor or president, as the case may be, shall appoint the first members of the board. One of the members shall be appointed to serve until the end of the then current municipal year, another to serve until the end of the municipal year next ensuing, and the third to serve until the end of the municipal year second next ensuing. But every member shall serve until his successor is appointed and has qualified.

Vacancies on the board of fire and police commissioners shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

The board members shall elect a chairman to serve during the municipal fiscal year.

A majority of the board constitutes a quorum for the conduct of all business.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 3422.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-3)

Sec. 10-2.1-3. Qualifications - Oath - Bond - Removal. The members of the board shall be considered officers of the municipality, and shall file an oath and a fidelity bond in such amount as may be required by the governing body of the municipality.

No person holding an office under a municipality, shall be a member of the board of fire and police commissioners or the Secretary thereof. The acceptance of any such office by a member of the board shall be treated as a resignation of his office as a member of the board or the Secretary thereof. No person shall be appointed a member of the board of fire and police commissioners who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this State or comparable laws of any other state or the United States. No person shall be appointed a member of the board of fire and police commissioners who is related, either by blood or marriage up to the degree of first cousin, to any elected official of such municipality. No more than 2 members of the board shall belong to the same political party existing in such municipality at the time of such appointments and as defined in Section 10-2 of The Election Code. If only one or no political party exists in such municipality at the time of such appointments, then state or national political party affiliations shall be considered in making such appointments. Party affiliation shall be determined by affidavit of the person appointed as a member of the board.

Members shall not be subject to removal, except for cause, upon written charges, and after an opportunity to be heard within 30 days in his or their own defense, before a regular meeting of the governing body of the municipality for which they have been appointed. A majority vote of the elected members of such governing body shall be required to remove any such member from office.

(Source: P.A. 87-423.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-4)

Sec. 10-2.1-4. Fire and police departments; appointment of members; certificates of appointments. The board of fire and police commissioners shall appoint all officers and members of the fire and police departments of the municipality, including the chief of police and the chief of the fire department, unless the council or board of trustees shall by ordinance as to them otherwise provide; except as otherwise provided in this Section, and except that in any municipality which adopts or has adopted this Division 2.1 and also adopts or has adopted Article 5 of this Code, the chief of police and the chief of the fire department shall be appointed by the municipal manager, if it is provided by ordinance in such municipality that such chiefs, or either of them, shall not be appointed by the board of fire and police commissioners.

If the chief of the fire department or the chief of the police department or both of them are appointed in the manner provided by ordinance, they may be removed or discharged by the appointing authority. In such case the appointing authority shall file with the corporate authorities the reasons for such removal or discharge, which removal or discharge shall not become effective unless confirmed by a majority vote of the corporate authorities.

After January 1, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 100-1126), a person shall not be appointed as the chief, the acting chief, the department head, or a position, by whatever title, that is responsible for day-to-day operations of a fire department for greater than 180 days unless he or she possesses the following qualifications and certifications:

(1) Office of the State Fire Marshal Basic Operations Firefighter Certification or Office of the State Fire Marshal Firefighter II Certification; Office of the State Fire Marshal Advanced Fire Officer Certification or Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Officer II Certification; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college;

(2) a current certification from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System that meets the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, Level I job performance requirements; a current certification from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress or Pro Board Fire Service Professional Qualifications System that meets the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Fire Officer II job performance requirements; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college;

(3) qualifications that meet the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications, Level I job performance requirements; qualifications that meet the National Fire Protection Association standard NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, Fire Officer II job performance requirements; and an associate degree in fire science or a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college; or

(4) a minimum of 10 years' experience as a firefighter at the fire department in the jurisdiction making the appointment.

This paragraph applies to fire departments that employ firefighters hired under the provisions of this Division. On and after January 1, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 100-1126), a home rule municipality may not appoint a fire chief, an acting chief, a department head, or a position, by whatever title, that is responsible for day-to-day operations of a fire department for greater than 180 days in a manner inconsistent with this paragraph. This paragraph is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

If a member of the department is appointed chief of police or chief of the fire department prior to being eligible to retire on pension, he shall be considered as on furlough from the rank he held immediately prior to his appointment as chief. If he resigns as chief or is discharged as chief prior to attaining eligibility to retire on pension, he shall revert to and be established in whatever rank he currently holds, except for previously appointed positions, and thereafter be entitled to all the benefits and emoluments of that rank, without regard as to whether a vacancy then exists in that rank.

All appointments to each department other than that of the lowest rank, however, shall be from the rank next below that to which the appointment is made except as otherwise provided in this Section, and except that the chief of police and the chief of the fire department may be appointed from among members of the police and fire departments, respectively, regardless of rank, unless the council or board of trustees shall have by ordinance as to them otherwise provided. A chief of police or the chief of the fire department, having been appointed from among members of the police or fire department, respectively, shall be permitted, regardless of rank, to take promotional exams and be promoted to a higher classified rank than he currently holds, without having to resign as chief of police or chief of the fire department.

The sole authority to issue certificates of appointment shall be vested in the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and all certificates of appointments issued to any officer or member of the fire or police department of a municipality shall be signed by the chairman and secretary respectively of the board of fire and police commissioners of such municipality, upon appointment of such officer or member of the fire and police department of such municipality by action of the board of fire and police commissioners. After being selected from the register of eligibles to fill a vacancy in the affected department, each appointee shall be presented with his or her certificate of appointment on the day on which he or she is sworn in as a classified member of the affected department. Firefighters who were not issued a certificate of appointment when originally appointed shall be provided with a certificate within 10 days after making a written request to the chairperson of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. In any municipal fire department that employs full-time firefighters and is subject to a collective bargaining agreement, a person who has not qualified for regular appointment under the provisions of this Division 2.1 shall not be used as a temporary or permanent substitute for classified members of a municipality's fire department or for regular appointment as a classified member of a municipality's fire department unless mutually agreed to by the employee's certified bargaining agent. Such agreement shall be considered a permissive subject of bargaining. Municipal fire departments covered by the changes made by Public Act 95-490 that are using non-certificated employees as substitutes immediately prior to June 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95-490) may, by mutual agreement with the certified bargaining agent, continue the existing practice or a modified practice and that agreement shall be considered a permissive subject of bargaining. A home rule unit may not regulate the hiring of temporary or substitute members of the municipality's fire department in a manner that is inconsistent with this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

The term "policemen" as used in this Division does not include auxiliary police officers except as provided for in Section 10-2.1-6.

Any full-time member of a regular fire or police department of any municipality which comes under the provisions of this Division or adopts this Division 2.1 or which has adopted any of the prior Acts pertaining to fire and police commissioners, is a city officer.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, the Chief of Police of a department in a non-home rule municipality of more than 130,000 inhabitants may, without the advice or consent of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, appoint up to 6 officers who shall be known as deputy chiefs or assistant deputy chiefs, and whose rank shall be immediately below that of Chief. The deputy or assistant deputy chiefs may be appointed from any rank of sworn officers of that municipality, but no person who is not such a sworn officer may be so appointed. Such deputy chief or assistant deputy chief shall have the authority to direct and issue orders to all employees of the Department holding the rank of captain or any lower rank. A deputy chief of police or assistant deputy chief of police, having been appointed from any rank of sworn officers of that municipality, shall be permitted, regardless of rank, to take promotional exams and be promoted to a higher classified rank than he currently holds, without having to resign as deputy chief of police or assistant deputy chief of police.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, a non-home rule municipality of 130,000 or fewer inhabitants, through its council or board of trustees, may, by ordinance, provide for a position of deputy chief to be appointed by the chief of the police department. The ordinance shall provide for no more than one deputy chief position if the police department has fewer than 25 full-time police officers and for no more than 2 deputy chief positions if the police department has 25 or more full-time police officers. The deputy chief position shall be an exempt rank immediately below that of Chief. The deputy chief may be appointed from any rank of sworn, full-time officers of the municipality's police department, but must have at least 5 years of full-time service as a police officer in that department. A deputy chief shall serve at the discretion of the Chief and, if removed from the position, shall revert to the rank currently held, without regard as to whether a vacancy exists in that rank. A deputy chief of police, having been appointed from any rank of sworn full-time officers of that municipality's police department, shall be permitted, regardless of rank, to take promotional exams and be promoted to a higher classified rank than he currently holds, without having to resign as deputy chief of police.

No municipality having a population less than 1,000,000 shall require that any firefighter appointed to the lowest rank serve a probationary employment period of longer than one year. The limitation on periods of probationary employment provided in Public Act 86-990 is an exclusive power and function of the State. Pursuant to subsection (h) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution, a home rule municipality having a population less than 1,000,000 must comply with this limitation on periods of probationary employment, which is a denial and limitation of home rule powers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the probationary employment period limitation may be extended for a firefighter who is required, as a condition of employment, to be a licensed paramedic, during which time the sole reason that a firefighter may be discharged without a hearing is for failing to meet the requirements for paramedic licensure.

To the extent that this Section or any other Section in this Division conflicts with Section 10-2.1-6.3 or 10-2.1-6.4, then Section 10-2.1-6.3 or 10-2.1-6.4 shall control.

(Source: P.A. 100-252, eff. 8-22-17; 100-425, eff. 8-25-17; 100-863, eff, 8-14-18; 100-1126, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-5)

Sec. 10-2.1-5. Rules-publications. The board shall make rules (1) to carry out the purpose of this Division 2.1, and (2) for appointments and removals in accordance with the provisions of this Division 2.1. The board, from time to time, may make changes in these rules.

All these rules and changes therein shall be printed immediately for distribution. The board shall give notice (1) of the places where the printed rules may be obtained, and (2) of the date, not less than 10 days subsequent to the time of publication, when the rules or changes therein shall go into operation. This notice shall be published in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality.

These rules of the board shall apply only to the conduct of examinations for original appointments, for promotions, and to the conduct of hearings on charges brought against a member of the police or fire department. No such rule shall be made by the board to govern the operation of the police or fire department or the conduct of its members unless the governing body of the municipality specifically authorizes the board of fire and police commissioners to make such rules; however, the governing body may also rescind such authorization. The Board may, however, provide rules for the appointment of persons at least 16 years of age to part-time positions within the cadet training program of the fire department of the municipality, provided such training program is conducted in conjunction with the Diversified Occupational Program of the local High School District and with the Illinois State Vocational Education System.

This amendatory Act of 1973 does not apply to any municipality which is a home rule unit.

(Source: P.A. 78-402.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-5.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-5.1)

Sec. 10-2.1-5.1. No municipality covered under this Division 2.1 may make or enforce any rule or ordinance which will in any way inhibit or prohibit any employee from exercising his full political rights to engage in political activities, including the right to petition, make speeches, campaign door to door, and to run for public office, so long as the employee does not use his official position to coerce or influence others and does not engage in these activities while he is at work on duty.

(Source: P.A. 84-1018.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-6)

Sec. 10-2.1-6. Examination of applicants; disqualifications.

(a) All applicants for a position in either the fire or police department of the municipality shall be under 35 years of age, shall be subject to an examination that shall be public, competitive, and open to all applicants (unless the council or board of trustees by ordinance limit applicants to electors of the municipality, county, state, or nation) and shall be subject to reasonable limitations as to residence, health, habits, and moral character. An individual who is not a citizen but is legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law or is an individual against whom immigration action has been deferred by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process is authorized to apply for the position of police officer, subject to (i) all requirements and limitations, other than citizenship, to which other applicants are subject and (ii) the individual being authorized under federal law to obtain, carry, or purchase or otherwise possess a firearm. The municipality may not charge or collect any fee from an applicant who has met all prequalification standards established by the municipality for any such position. With respect to a police department, a veteran shall be allowed to exceed the maximum age provision of this Section by the number of years served on active military duty, but by no more than 10 years of active military duty.

(b) Residency requirements in effect at the time an individual enters the fire or police service of a municipality (other than a municipality that has more than 1,000,000 inhabitants) cannot be made more restrictive for that individual during his period of service for that municipality, or be made a condition of promotion, except for the rank or position of Fire or Police Chief.

(c) No person with a record of misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-1.50, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 11-30, 11-35, 12-2, 12-6, 12-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1, 31-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, and 32-8, subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2)(C) of Section 11-14.3, and paragraphs (1), (6), and (8) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or arrested for any cause but not convicted on that cause shall be disqualified from taking the examination to qualify for a position in the fire department on grounds of habits or moral character.

(d) The age limitation in subsection (a) does not apply (i) to any person previously employed as a policeman or fireman in a regularly constituted police or fire department of (I) any municipality, regardless of whether the municipality is located in Illinois or in another state, or (II) a fire protection district whose obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21 of the Fire Protection District Act, (ii) to any person who has served a municipality as a regularly enrolled volunteer fireman for 5 years immediately preceding the time that municipality begins to use full time firemen to provide all or part of its fire protection service, or (iii) to any person who has served as an auxiliary police officer under Section 3.1-30-20 for at least 5 years and is under 40 years of age, (iv) to any person who has served as a deputy under Section 3-6008 of the Counties Code and otherwise meets necessary training requirements, or (v) to any person who has served as a sworn officer as a member of the Illinois State Police.

(e) Applicants who are 20 years of age and who have successfully completed 2 years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university may be considered for appointment to active duty with the police department. An applicant described in this subsection (e) who is appointed to active duty shall not have power of arrest, nor shall the applicant be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she reaches 21 years of age.

(f) Applicants who are 18 years of age and who have successfully completed 2 years of study in fire techniques, amounting to a total of 4 high school credits, within the cadet program of a municipality may be considered for appointment to active duty with the fire department of any municipality.

(g) The council or board of trustees may by ordinance provide that persons residing outside the municipality are eligible to take the examination.

(h) The examinations shall be practical in character and relate to those matters that will fairly test the capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the positions to which they seek appointment. No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department if he or she does not possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school education. A board of fire and police commissioners may, by its rules, require police applicants to have obtained an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree as a prerequisite for employment. The examinations shall include tests of physical qualifications and health. A board of fire and police commissioners may, by its rules, waive portions of the required examination for police applicants who have previously been full-time sworn officers of a regular police department in any municipal, county, university, or State law enforcement agency, provided they are certified by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and have been with their respective law enforcement agency within the State for at least 2 years. No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department if he or she has suffered the amputation of any limb unless the applicant's duties will be only clerical or as a radio operator. No applicant shall be examined concerning his or her political or religious opinions or affiliations. The examinations shall be conducted by the board of fire and police commissioners of the municipality as provided in this Division 2.1.

The requirement that a police applicant possess an associate's degree under this subsection may be waived if one or more of the following applies: (1) the applicant has served for 24 months of honorable active duty in the United States Armed Forces and has not been discharged dishonorably or under circumstances other than honorable; (2) the applicant has served for 180 days of active duty in the United States Armed Forces in combat duty recognized by the Department of Defense and has not been discharged dishonorably or under circumstances other than honorable; or (3) the applicant has successfully received credit for a minimum of 60 credit hours toward a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

The requirement that a police applicant possess a bachelor's degree under this subsection may be waived if one or more of the following applies: (1) the applicant has served for 36 months of honorable active duty in the United States Armed Forces and has not been discharged dishonorably or under circumstances other than honorable or (2) the applicant has served for 180 days of active duty in the United States Armed Forces in combat duty recognized by the Department of Defense and has not been discharged dishonorably or under circumstances other than honorable.

(i) No person who is classified by his local selective service draft board as a conscientious objector, or who has ever been so classified, may be appointed to the police department.

(j) No person shall be appointed to the police or fire department unless he or she is a person of good character and not an habitual drunkard, gambler, or a person who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. No person, however, shall be disqualified from appointment to the fire department because of his or her record of misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-1.50, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 11-30, 11-35, 12-2, 12-6, 12-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1, 31-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, and 32-8, subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2)(C) of Section 11-14.3, and paragraphs (1), (6), and (8) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or arrest for any cause without conviction on that cause. Any such person who is in the department may be removed on charges brought and after a trial as provided in this Division 2.1.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 103-357, eff. 1-1-24.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-6.1)

Sec. 10-2.1-6.1. A classifiable set of the fingerprints of every person who is now employed, or who hereafter becomes employed, as a full time member of a regular fire or police department of any municipality in this State, whether with or without compensation, shall be furnished to the Illinois State Police and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the board of fire or police commissioners or other appropriate appointing authority, as the case may be.

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

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.2) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-6.2)

Sec. 10-2.1-6.2. Whenever the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is authorized or required by law to consider some aspect of criminal history record information for the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the Illinois State Police Law, the Illinois State Police is authorized to furnish, pursuant to positive identification, such information contained in State files as is necessary to fulfill the request.

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

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.3)

Sec. 10-2.1-6.3. Original appointments; full-time fire department.

(a) Applicability. Unless a commission elects to follow the provisions of Section 10-2.1-6.4, this Section shall apply to all original appointments to an affected full-time fire department. Existing registers of eligibles shall continue to be valid until their expiration dates, or up to a maximum of 2 years after August 4, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-251).

Notwithstanding any statute, ordinance, rule, or other law to the contrary, all original appointments to an affected department to which this Section applies shall be administered in the manner provided for in this Section. Provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code, municipal ordinances, and rules adopted pursuant to such authority and other laws relating to initial hiring of firefighters in affected departments shall continue to apply to the extent they are compatible with this Section, but in the event of a conflict between this Section and any other law, this Section shall control.

A home rule or non-home rule municipality may not administer its fire department process for original appointments in a manner that is less stringent than this Section. This Section is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of the powers and functions exercised by the State.

A municipality that is operating under a court order or consent decree regarding original appointments to a full-time fire department before August 4, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-251) is exempt from the requirements of this Section for the duration of the court order or consent decree.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection (a), this Section does not apply to a municipality with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants.

(b) Original appointments. All original appointments made to an affected fire department shall be made from a register of eligibles established in accordance with the processes established by this Section. Only persons who meet or exceed the performance standards required by this Section shall be placed on a register of eligibles for original appointment to an affected fire department.

Whenever an appointing authority authorizes action to hire a person to perform the duties of a firefighter or to hire a firefighter-paramedic to fill a position that is a new position or vacancy due to resignation, discharge, promotion, death, the granting of a disability or retirement pension, or any other cause, the appointing authority shall appoint to that position the person with the highest ranking on the final eligibility list. If the appointing authority has reason to conclude that the highest ranked person fails to meet the minimum standards for the position or if the appointing authority believes an alternate candidate would better serve the needs of the department, then the appointing authority has the right to pass over the highest ranked person and appoint either: (i) any person who has a ranking in the top 5% of the register of eligibles or (ii) any person who is among the top 5 highest ranked persons on the list of eligibles if the number of people who have a ranking in the top 5% of the register of eligibles is less than 5 people.

Any candidate may pass on an appointment once without losing his or her position on the register of eligibles. Any candidate who passes a second time may be removed from the list by the appointing authority provided that such action shall not prejudice a person's opportunities to participate in future examinations, including an examination held during the time a candidate is already on the municipality's register of eligibles.

The sole authority to issue certificates of appointment shall be vested in the board of fire and police commissioners. All certificates of appointment issued to any officer or member of an affected department shall be signed by the chairperson and secretary, respectively, of the board upon appointment of such officer or member to the affected department by action of the board. After being selected from the register of eligibles to fill a vacancy in the affected department, each appointee shall be presented with his or her certificate of appointment on the day on which he or she is sworn in as a classified member of the affected department. Firefighters who were not issued a certificate of appointment when originally appointed shall be provided with a certificate within 10 days after making a written request to the chairperson of the board of fire and police commissioners. Each person who accepts a certificate of appointment and successfully completes his or her probationary period shall be enrolled as a firefighter and as a regular member of the fire department.

For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any person who has been prior to, on, or after August 4, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act 97-251) appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that the following persons are not included: part-time firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters, including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or other civilian employees of a fire department or fire protection district who are not routinely expected to perform firefighter duties; and elected officials.

(c) Qualification for placement on register of eligibles. The purpose of establishing a register of eligibles is to identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the mental aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties required of members of the fire department in order to provide the highest quality of service to the public. To this end, all applicants for original appointment to an affected fire department shall be subject to examination and testing which shall be public, competitive, and open to all applicants unless the municipality shall by ordinance limit applicants to residents of the municipality, county or counties in which the municipality is located, State, or nation. Any examination and testing procedure utilized under subsection (e) of this Section shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable State and federal laws. Municipalities may establish educational, emergency medical service licensure, and other prerequisites for participation in an examination or for hire as a firefighter. Any municipality may charge a fee to cover the costs of the application process.

Residency requirements in effect at the time an individual enters the fire service of a municipality cannot be made more restrictive for that individual during his or her period of service for that municipality, or be made a condition of promotion, except for the rank or position of fire chief and for no more than 2 positions that rank immediately below that of the chief rank which are appointed positions pursuant to the Fire Department Promotion Act.

No person who is 35 years of age or older shall be eligible to take an examination for a position as a firefighter unless the person has had previous employment status as a firefighter in the regularly constituted fire department of the municipality, except as provided in this Section. The age limitation does not apply to:

(1) any person previously employed as a full-time firefighter in a regularly constituted fire department of (i) any municipality or fire protection district located in Illinois, (ii) a fire protection district whose obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21 of the Fire Protection District Act, or (iii) a municipality whose obligations were taken over by a fire protection district,

(2) any person who has served a municipality as a regularly enrolled volunteer, paid-on-call, or part-time firefighter, or

(3) any person who turned 35 while serving as a member of the active or reserve components of any of the branches of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state, whose service was characterized as honorable or under honorable, if separated from the military, and is currently under the age of 40.

No person who is under 21 years of age shall be eligible for employment as a firefighter.

No applicant shall be examined concerning his or her political or religious opinions or affiliations. The examinations shall be conducted by the commissioners of the municipality or their designees and agents.

No municipality shall require that any firefighter appointed to the lowest rank serve a probationary employment period of longer than one year of actual active employment, which may exclude periods of training, or injury or illness leaves, including duty related leave, in excess of 30 calendar days. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section, the probationary employment period limitation may be extended for a firefighter who is required, as a condition of employment, to be a licensed paramedic, during which time the sole reason that a firefighter may be discharged without a hearing is for failing to meet the requirements for paramedic licensure.

In the event that any applicant who has been found eligible for appointment and whose name has been placed upon the final eligibility register provided for in this Section has not been appointed to a firefighter position within one year after the date of his or her physical ability examination, the commission may cause a second examination to be made of that applicant's physical ability prior to his or her appointment. If, after the second examination, the physical ability of the applicant shall be found to be less than the minimum standard fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant shall not be appointed. The applicant's name may be retained upon the register of candidates eligible for appointment and when next reached for certification and appointment that applicant may be again examined as provided in this Section, and if the physical ability of that applicant is found to be less than the minimum standard fixed by the rules of the commission, the applicant shall not be appointed, and the name of the applicant shall be removed from the register.

(d) Notice, examination, and testing components. Notice of the time, place, general scope, merit criteria for any subjective component, and fee of every examination shall be given by the commission, by a publication at least 2 weeks preceding the examination: (i) in one or more newspapers published in the municipality, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the municipality, or (ii) on the municipality's Internet website. Additional notice of the examination may be given as the commission shall prescribe.

The examination and qualifying standards for employment of firefighters shall be based on: mental aptitude, physical ability, preferences, moral character, and health. The mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference components shall determine an applicant's qualification for and placement on the final register of eligibles. The examination may also include a subjective component based on merit criteria as determined by the commission. Scores from the examination must be made available to the public.

(e) Mental aptitude. No person who does not possess at least a high school diploma or an equivalent high school education shall be placed on a register of eligibles. Examination of an applicant's mental aptitude shall be based upon a written examination. The examination shall be practical in character and relate to those matters that fairly test the capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties performed by members of a fire department. Written examinations shall be administered in a manner that ensures the security and accuracy of the scores achieved.

(f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the essential functions included in the duties they may be called upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected for testing. These physical examinations shall be open, competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test each applicant's physical abilities in the following dimensions:

(1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions that may be required in the performance of duties including grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested may be based on standards developed, or approved, by the local appointing authority.

(2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights, walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces, and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.

(3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive, and complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful and hazardous environments. The testing environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.

The tests utilized to measure each applicant's capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Physical ability examinations administered under this Section shall be conducted with a reasonable number of proctors and monitors, open to the public, and subject to reasonable regulations of the commission.

(g) Scoring of examination components. Appointing authorities may create a preliminary eligibility register. A person shall be placed on the list based upon his or her passage of the written examination or the passage of the written examination and the physical ability component. Passage of the written examination means attaining the minimum score set by the commission. Minimum scores should be set by the commission so as to demonstrate a candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The minimum score set by the commission shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable State and federal laws. The appointing authority may conduct the physical ability component and any subjective components subsequent to the posting of the preliminary eligibility register.

The examination components for an initial eligibility register shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's position on the list shall be determined by the following: (i) the person's score on the written examination, (ii) the person successfully passing the physical ability component, and (iii) the person's results on any subjective component as described in subsection (d).

In order to qualify for placement on the final eligibility register, an applicant's score on the written examination, before any applicable preference points or subjective points are applied, shall be at or above the minimum score as set by the commission. The local appointing authority may prescribe the score to qualify for placement on the final eligibility register, but the score shall not be less than the minimum score set by the commission.

The commission shall prepare and keep a register of persons whose total score is not less than the minimum score for passage and who have passed the physical ability examination. These persons shall take rank upon the register as candidates in the order of their relative excellence based on the highest to the lowest total points scored on the mental aptitude, subjective component, and preference components of the test administered in accordance with this Section. No more than 60 days after each examination, an initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission. The list shall include the final grades of the candidates without reference to priority of the time of examination and subject to claim for preference credit.

Commissions may conduct additional examinations, including without limitation a polygraph test, after a final eligibility register is established and before it expires with the candidates ranked by total score without regard to date of examination. No more than 60 days after each examination, an initial eligibility list shall be posted by the commission showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to priority of time of examination and subject to claim for preference credit.

(h) Preferences. The following are preferences:

(1) Veteran preference. Persons who were engaged in the military service of the United States for a period of at least one year of active duty and who were honorably discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval service, shall be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department of an affected department.

(2) Fire cadet preference. Persons who have successfully completed 2 years of study in fire techniques or cadet training within a cadet program established under the rules of the Joint Labor and Management Committee (JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department Promotion Act, may be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department.

(3) Educational preference. Persons who have successfully obtained an associate's degree in the field of fire service or emergency medical services, or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university may be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department.

(4) Paramedic preference. Persons who have obtained a license as a paramedic shall be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department of an affected department providing emergency medical services.

(5) Experience preference. All persons employed by a municipality who have been paid-on-call or part-time certified Firefighter II, State of Illinois or nationally licensed EMT, EMT-I, A-EMT, or any combination of those capacities shall be awarded 0.5 point for each year of successful service in one or more of those capacities, up to a maximum of 5 points. Certified Firefighter III and State of Illinois or nationally licensed paramedics shall be awarded one point per year up to a maximum of 5 points. Applicants from outside the municipality who were employed as full-time firefighters or firefighter-paramedics by a fire protection district or another municipality for at least 2 years shall be awarded 5 experience preference points. These additional points presuppose a rating scale totaling 100 points available for the eligibility list. If more or fewer points are used in the rating scale for the eligibility list, the points awarded under this subsection shall be increased or decreased by a factor equal to the total possible points available for the examination divided by 100.

Upon request by the commission, the governing body of the municipality or in the case of applicants from outside the municipality the governing body of any fire protection district or any other municipality shall certify to the commission, within 10 days after the request, the number of years of successful paid-on-call, part-time, or full-time service of any person. A candidate may not receive the full amount of preference points under this subsection if the amount of points awarded would place the candidate before a veteran on the eligibility list. If more than one candidate receiving experience preference points is prevented from receiving all of their points due to not being allowed to pass a veteran, the candidates shall be placed on the list below the veteran in rank order based on the totals received if all points under this subsection were to be awarded. Any remaining ties on the list shall be determined by lot.

(6) Residency preference. Applicants whose principal residence is located within the fire department's jurisdiction shall be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department.

(7) Additional preferences. Up to 5 additional preference points may be awarded for unique categories based on an applicant's experience or background as identified by the commission.

(7.5) Apprentice preferences. A person who has performed fire suppression service for a department as a firefighter apprentice and otherwise meets the qualifications for original appointment as a firefighter specified in this Section is eligible to be awarded up to 20 preference points. To qualify for preference points, an applicant shall have completed a minimum of 600 hours of fire suppression work on a regular shift for the affected fire department over a 12-month period. The fire suppression work must be in accordance with Section 10-2.1-4 of this Division and the terms established by a Joint Apprenticeship Committee included in a collective bargaining agreement agreed between the employer and its certified bargaining agent. An eligible applicant must apply to the Joint Apprenticeship Committee for preference points under this item. The Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall evaluate the merit of the applicant's performance, determine the preference points to be awarded, and certify the amount of points awarded to the commissioners. The commissioners may add the certified preference points to the final grades achieved by the applicant on the other components of the examination.

(8) Scoring of preferences. The commission may give preference for original appointment to persons designated in item (1) by adding to the final grade that they receive 5 points for the recognized preference achieved. The commission may give preference for original appointment to persons designated in item (7.5) by adding to the final grade the amount of points designated by the Joint Apprenticeship Committee as defined in item (7.5). The commission shall determine the number of preference points for each category, except items (1) and (7.5). The number of preference points for each category shall range from 0 to 5, except item (7.5). In determining the number of preference points, the commission shall prescribe that if a candidate earns the maximum number of preference points in all categories except item (7.5), that number may not be less than 10 nor more than 30. The commission shall give preference for original appointment to persons designated in items (2) through (7) by adding the requisite number of points to the final grade for each recognized preference achieved. The numerical result thus attained shall be applied by the commission in determining the final eligibility list and appointment from the eligibility list. The local appointing authority may prescribe the total number of preference points awarded under this Section, but the total number of preference points, except item (7.5), shall not be less than 10 points or more than 30 points. Apprentice preference points may be added in addition to other preference points awarded by the commission.

No person entitled to any preference shall be required to claim the credit before any examination held under the provisions of this Section, but the preference may be given after the posting or publication of the initial eligibility list or register at the request of a person entitled to a credit before any certification or appointments are made from the eligibility register, upon the furnishing of verifiable evidence and proof of qualifying preference credit. Candidates who are eligible for preference credit may make a claim in writing within 10 days after the posting of the initial eligibility list, or the claim may be deemed waived. Final eligibility registers may be established after the awarding of verified preference points. However, apprentice preference credit earned subsequent to the establishment of the final eligibility register may be applied to the applicant's score upon certification by the Joint Apprenticeship Committee to the commission and the rank order of candidates on the final eligibility register shall be adjusted accordingly. All employment shall be subject to the commission's initial hire background review, including, but not limited to, criminal history, employment history, moral character, oral examination, and medical and psychological examinations, all on a pass-fail basis. The medical and psychological examinations must be conducted last, and may only be performed after a conditional offer of employment has been extended.

Any person placed on an eligibility list who exceeds the age requirement before being appointed to a fire department shall remain eligible for appointment until the list is abolished, or his or her name has been on the list for a period of 2 years. No person who has attained the age of 35 years shall be inducted into a fire department, except as otherwise provided in this Section.

The commission shall strike off the names of candidates for original appointment after the names have been on the list for more than 2 years.

(i) Moral character. No person shall be appointed to a fire department unless he or she is a person of good character; not a habitual drunkard, a gambler, or a person who has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. However, no person shall be disqualified from appointment to the fire department because of the person's record of misdemeanor convictions except those under Sections 11-6, 11-7, 11-9, 11-14, 11-15, 11-17, 11-18, 11-19, 12-2, 12-6, 12-15, 14-4, 16-1, 21.1-3, 24-3.1, 24-5, 25-1, 28-3, 31-1, 31-4, 31-6, 31-7, 32-1, 32-2, 32-3, 32-4, 32-8, and paragraphs (1), (6), and (8) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, or arrest for any cause without conviction thereon. Any such person who is in the department may be removed on charges brought for violating this subsection and after a trial as hereinafter provided.

A classifiable set of the fingerprints of every person who is offered employment as a certificated member of an affected fire department whether with or without compensation, shall be furnished to the Illinois State Police and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by the commission.

Whenever a commission is authorized or required by law to consider some aspect of criminal history record information for the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Illinois State Police is authorized to furnish, pursuant to positive identification, the information contained in State files as is necessary to fulfill the request.

(j) Temporary appointments. In order to prevent a stoppage of public business, to meet extraordinary exigencies, or to prevent material impairment of the fire department, the commission may make temporary appointments, to remain in force only until regular appointments are made under the provisions of this Division, but never to exceed 60 days. No temporary appointment of any one person shall be made more than twice in any calendar year.

(k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section, commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to charges for official misconduct.

A person who is the knowing recipient of test information in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the examination or discharged from the position to which he or she was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to disciplinary actions.

(Source: P.A. 101-489, eff. 8-23-19; 102-375, eff. 8-13-21; 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6.4)

Sec. 10-2.1-6.4. Alternative procedure; original appointment; full-time firefighter.

(a) Authority. The Joint Labor and Management Committee (JLMC), as defined in Section 50 of the Fire Department Promotion Act, may establish a community outreach program to market the profession of firefighter and firefighter-paramedic so as to ensure the pool of applicants recruited is of broad diversity and the highest quality. Nothing in this Section requires that the Joint Labor and Management Committee establish or operate the community outreach program or master register of eligibles, or to contract with a testing agency to establish or operate such program or register, unless the Joint Labor and Management Committee chooses to do so.

For the purposes of this Section, "firefighter" means any person who has been prior to, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform firefighter duties or paramedic duties, or both, except that the following persons are not included: part-time firefighters; auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters, including paid-on-call firefighters; clerks and dispatchers or other civilian employees of a fire department or fire protection district who are not routinely expected to perform firefighter duties; and elected officials.

(b) Eligibility. Persons eligible for placement on the master register of eligibles shall consist of the following:

Persons who have participated in and received a passing total score on the mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference components of a regionally administered test based on the standards described in this Section. The standards for administering these tests and the minimum passing score required for placement on this list shall be as is set forth in this Section.

Qualified candidates shall be listed on the master register of eligibles in highest to lowest rank order based upon their test scores without regard to their date of examination. Candidates listed on the master register of eligibles shall be eligible for appointment for 2 years after the date of the certification of their final score on the register without regard to the date of their examination. After 2 years, the candidate's name shall be struck from the list.

Any person currently employed as a full-time member of a fire department or any person who has experienced a non-voluntary (and non-disciplinary) separation from the active workforce due to a reduction in the number of departmental officers, who was appointed pursuant to Division 1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code, Division 2.1 of Article 10 of the Illinois Municipal Code, or the Fire Protection District Act, and who during the previous 24 months participated in and received a passing score on the physical ability and mental aptitude components of the test may request that his or her name be added to the master register. Any eligible person may be offered employment by a local commission under the same procedures as provided by this Section except that the apprenticeship period may be waived and the applicant may be immediately issued a certificate of original appointment by the local commission.

(c) Qualifications for placement on register of eligibles. The purpose for establishing a master register of eligibles shall be to identify applicants who possess and demonstrate the mental aptitude and physical ability to perform the duties required of members of the fire department in order to provide the highest quality of service to the public. To this end, all applicants for original appointment to an affected fire department through examination conducted by the Joint Labor and Management Committee (JLMC) shall be subject to examination and testing which shall be public, competitive, and open to all applicants. Any examination and testing procedure utilized under subsection (e) of this Section shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable state and federal laws. Any subjective component of the testing must be administered by certified assessors. All qualifying and disqualifying factors applicable to examination processes for local commissions in this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly shall be applicable to persons participating in Joint Labor and Management Committee examinations unless specifically provided otherwise in this Section.

Notice of the time, place, general scope, and fee of every JLMC examination shall be given by the JLMC or designated testing agency, as applicable, by a publication at least 30 days preceding the examination, in one or more newspapers published in the region, or if no newspaper is published therein, then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within the region. The JLMC may publish the notice on the JLMC's Internet website. Additional notice of the examination may be given as the JLMC shall prescribe.

(d) Examination and testing components for placement on register of eligibles. The examination and qualifying standards for placement on the master register of eligibles and employment shall be based on the following components: mental aptitude, physical ability, preferences, moral character, and health. The mental aptitude, physical ability, and preference components shall determine an applicant's qualification for and placement on the master register of eligibles. The consideration of an applicant's general moral character and health shall be administered on a pass-fail basis after a conditional offer of employment is made by a local commission.

(e) Mental aptitude. Examination of an applicant's mental aptitude shall be based upon written examination and an applicant's prior experience demonstrating an aptitude for and commitment to service as a member of a fire department. Written examinations shall be practical in character and relate to those matters that fairly test the capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties performed by members of a fire department. Written examinations shall be administered in a manner that ensures the security and accuracy of the scores achieved. Any subjective component of the testing must be administered by certified assessors. No person who does not possess a high school diploma or an equivalent high school education shall be placed on a register of eligibles. Local commissions may establish educational, emergency medical service licensure, and other pre-requisites for hire within their jurisdiction.

(f) Physical ability. All candidates shall be required to undergo an examination of their physical ability to perform the essential functions included in the duties they may be called upon to perform as a member of a fire department. For the purposes of this Section, essential functions of the job are functions associated with duties that a firefighter may be called upon to perform in response to emergency calls. The frequency of the occurrence of those duties as part of the fire department's regular routine shall not be a controlling factor in the design of examination criteria or evolutions selected for testing. These physical examinations shall be open, competitive, and based on industry standards designed to test each applicant's physical abilities in each of the following dimensions:

(1) Muscular strength to perform tasks and evolutions that may be required in the performance of duties including grip strength, leg strength, and arm strength. Tests shall be conducted under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions to test both the candidate's speed and endurance in performing tasks and evolutions. Tasks tested are to be based on industry standards developed by the JLMC by rule.

(2) The ability to climb ladders, operate from heights, walk or crawl in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces, and operate in proximity to hazardous environments.

(3) The ability to carry out critical, time-sensitive, and complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful and hazardous environments. The testing environment may be hot and dark with tightly enclosed spaces, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions.

The tests utilized to measure each applicant's capabilities in each of these dimensions may be tests based on industry standards currently in use or equivalent tests approved by the Joint Labor-Management Committee of the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

(g) Scoring of examination components. The examination components shall be graded on a 100-point scale. A person's position on the master register of eligibles shall be determined by the person's score on the written examination, the person successfully passing the physical ability component, and the addition of any applicable preference points.

Applicants who have achieved at least the minimum score as set by the JLMC, and who successfully pass the physical ability examination shall be placed on the initial eligibility register. Minimum scores should be set by the commission so as to demonstrate a candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the job. The minimum score set by the commission shall be supported by appropriate validation evidence and shall comply with all applicable State and federal laws. Applicable preference points shall be added to the written examination scores for all applicants who qualify for the initial eligibility register. Applicants who score at or above the minimum passing score as set by the JLMC, including any applicable preference points, shall be placed on the master register of eligibles by the JLMC.

These persons shall take rank upon the register as candidates in the order of their relative excellence based on the highest to the lowest total points scored on the mental aptitude and physical ability components, plus any applicable preference points requested and verified by the JLMC, or approved testing agency.

No more than 60 days after each examination, a revised master register of eligibles shall be posted by the JLMC showing the final grades of the candidates without reference to priority of time of examination.

(h) Preferences. The board shall give military, education, and experience preference points to those who qualify for placement on the master register of eligibles, on the same basis as provided for examinations administered by a local commission.

No person entitled to preference or credit shall be required to claim the credit before any examination held under the provisions of this Section. The preference shall be given after the posting or publication of the applicant's initial score at the request of the person before finalizing the scores from all applicants taking part in a JLMC examination. Candidates who are eligible for preference credit shall make a claim in writing within 10 days after the posting of the initial scores from any JLMC test or the claim shall be deemed waived. Once preference points are awarded, the candidates shall be certified to the master register in accordance with their final score including preference points.

(i) Firefighter apprentice and firefighter-paramedic apprentice. The employment of an applicant to an apprentice position (including a currently employed full-time member of a fire department whose apprenticeship may be reduced or waived) shall be subject to the applicant passing the moral character standards and health examinations of the local commission. In addition, a local commission may require as a condition of employment that the applicant demonstrate current physical ability by either passing the local commission's approved physical ability examination, or by presenting proof of participating in and receiving a passing score on the physical ability component of a JLMC test within a period of up to 12 months before the date of the conditional offer of employment. Applicants shall be subject to the local commission's initial hire background review including criminal history, employment history, moral character, oral examination, and medical examinations which may include polygraph, psychological, and drug screening components, all on a pass-fail basis. The medical examinations must be conducted last, and may only be performed after a conditional offer of employment has been extended.

(j) Selection from list. Any municipality or fire protection district that is a party to an intergovernmental agreement under the terms of which persons have been tested for placement on the master register of eligibles shall be entitled to offer employment to any person on the list irrespective of their ranking on the list. The offer of employment shall be to the position of firefighter apprentice or firefighter-paramedic apprentice.

Applicants passing these tests may be employed as a firefighter apprentice or a firefighter-paramedic apprentice who shall serve an apprenticeship period of 12 months or less according to the terms and conditions of employment as the employing municipality or district offers, or as provided for under the terms of any collective bargaining agreement then in effect. The apprenticeship period is separate from the probationary period.

Service during the apprenticeship period shall be on a probationary basis. During the apprenticeship period, the apprentice's training and performance shall be monitored and evaluated by a Joint Apprenticeship Committee.

The Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall consist of 4 members who shall be regular members of the fire department with at least 10 years of full-time work experience as a firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. The fire chief and the president of the exclusive bargaining representative recognized by the employer shall each appoint 2 members to the Joint Apprenticeship Committee. In the absence of an exclusive collective bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint the remaining 2 members who shall be from the ranks of company officer and firefighter with at least 10 years of work experience as a firefighter or firefighter-paramedic. In the absence of a sufficient number of qualified firefighters, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee members shall have the amount of experience and the type of qualifications as is reasonable given the circumstances of the fire department. In the absence of a full-time member in a rank between chief and the highest rank in a bargaining unit, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall be reduced to 2 members, one to be appointed by the chief and one by the union president, if any. If there is no exclusive bargaining representative, the chief shall appoint the second member of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee from among qualified members in the ranks of company officer and below. Before the conclusion of the apprenticeship period, the Joint Apprenticeship Committee shall meet to consider the apprentice's progress and performance and vote to retain the apprentice as a member of the fire department or to terminate the apprenticeship. If 3 of the 4 members of the Joint Apprenticeship Committee affirmatively vote to retain the apprentice (if a 2 member Joint Apprenticeship Committee exists, then both members must affirmatively vote to retain the apprentice), the local commission shall issue the apprentice a certificate of original appointment to the fire department.

(k) A person who knowingly divulges or receives test questions or answers before a written examination, or otherwise knowingly violates or subverts any requirement of this Section, commits a violation of this Section and may be subject to charges for official misconduct.

A person who is the knowing recipient of test information in advance of the examination shall be disqualified from the examination or discharged from the position to which he or she was appointed, as applicable, and otherwise subjected to disciplinary actions.

(l) Applicability. This Section does not apply to a municipality with more than 1,000,000 inhabitants.

(Source: P.A. 102-188, eff. 1-1-22.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-7)

Sec. 10-2.1-7. Exemption from examination. Any full time member of a regular fire or police department of any municipality which comes under the provisions of this Division or adopts this Division 2.1 or which has adopted any of the prior Acts pertaining to fire and police commissioners, or a full time member of a regular fire department of a fire protection district whose obligations were assumed by a municipality under Section 21 of "An Act in Relation to Fire Protection Districts", who has served at least one year as a full time member of such department, shall become a member of the classified service of the fire or police department respectively, in the position held by him at the time such department or municipality comes under the provisions of this Division, without examination.

(Source: P.A. 77-244; 77-1438.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-7.1) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-7.1)

Sec. 10-2.1-7.1. Persons transferred from the employment of a fire protection district by virtue of an Act entitled "An Act in Relation to Fire Protection Districts" under Section 21 as now or hereafter amended, shall without examination be assigned to the positions in the classified civil service or under the Fire and Police Commissioners Act of the municipality so far as may be practicable, having duties and responsibilities equivalent to their fire protection district employment. For the purpose of establishing the civil service status or classified service status under the board of fire and police commissioners of firemen transferred to the municipality, the rank of Chief of the Fire Department shall not be recognized. The appointment of the Chief of the Fire Department shall be subject to the ordinances of the transferee municipality in the appointment of the same. Employees so transferred shall have the same standing, grade, class or rank which they held in the classified service of the fire protection district from which they were transferred. For the purpose of determining seniority and class, grade or rank, each employee shall be credited with the time served by him on the date of such transfer and shall be given the position in the classified service as nearly comparable in responsibilities and duties to his former employment as it may be possible to approximate.

(Source: P.A. 77-244; 77-1438.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-8) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-8)

Sec. 10-2.1-8. Veteran's and educational preference. Persons who have successfully obtained an associate's degree in the field of law enforcement, criminal justice, fire service, or emergency medical services, or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; persons who have been awarded a certificate attesting to the successful completion of the Minimum Standards Basic Law Enforcement Training Course as provided in the Illinois Police Training Act and are currently serving as a law enforcement officer on a part-time or full-time basis within the State of Illinois; and persons who were engaged in the active military or naval service of the United States for a period of at least one year and who were honorably discharged therefrom, or who are now or may hereafter be on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval service (not including, however, in the case of offices, positions and places of employment in the police department, persons who were convicted by court-martial of disobedience of orders, where such disobedience consisted in the refusal to perform military service on the ground of religious or conscientious objections against war) shall be preferred for appointments to offices, positions, and places of employment in the fire and police departments of the municipality coming under the provisions of this Division 2.1. For purposes of this Section, if a person has been deployed, then "active duty military or naval service of the United States" includes training and service school attendance, as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(d), which is ordered pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 12301(d). The preference points awarded under this Section shall not be cumulative.

This amendatory Act of 1973 does not apply to any municipality which is a home rule unit.

Persons who have participated in that municipality's police explorer or cadet program may be preferred, for a maximum of 2 points, for appointments to offices, positions, and places of employment in municipal police departments under the provisions of this Division.

(Source: P.A. 98-231, eff. 8-9-13.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-9) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-9)

Sec. 10-2.1-9. Original appointments; Preferences; Limitation.

(a) The board of fire and police commissioners shall give preference for original appointment to persons designated in Section 10-2.1-8 whose names appear on any register of eligibles resulting from an examination for original entrance in the classified service of the fire and police departments of any municipality coming under the provisions of this Division 2.1 by adding to the final grade average which they receive or will receive as the result of any examination held for original entrance, 5 points. The board shall also give preference to persons eligible under subsection (b) as provided in that subsection. The numerical result thus attained shall be applied by the board of fire and police commissioners in determining the position of such persons on any eligibility list which has been created as the result of any examination for original entrance for purposes of preference in certification and appointment from such eligibility list. The board shall strike off the names of candidates for original appointment after such names have been on the list for more than 2 years.

(b) All persons who, on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1993, have been paid-on-call certified firefighters II, paramedics, or any combination of those capacities, of the municipality shall be awarded 0.5 point for each year of successful service in one or more of those capacities, up to a maximum of 5 points at the time of examination for original appointment to the classified service of the fire department. Certified firefighters III shall be awarded one point per year up to a maximum of 5 points. Applicants from outside the municipality who were employed as full-time firefighters or firefighter-paramedics by a fire protection district or another municipality for at least 2 years shall have the same preference as paid-on-call personnel. These additional points presuppose a rating scale totalling 100 points available for the eligibility list. If more or fewer points are used in the rating scale for the eligibility list, the points awarded under this subsection shall be increased or decreased by a factor equal to the total possible points available for the examination divided by 100.

No person entitled to additional points under this subsection shall be required to claim that preference or credit before an examination is held. The preference shall be given after the posting or publication of the eligibility list. To qualify for the preference, applicants who are eligible for credit under this subsection shall make a claim for that credit, in writing, within 10 days after the posting of the eligibility list, or the claim shall be deemed waived. Upon request by the board of fire and police commissioners, the governing body of the municipality or (in the case of applicants from outside the municipality) the governing body of any fire protection district or any other municipality shall certify to the board of fire and police commissioners, within 10 days of the request, the number of years of successful paid-on-call service of any person. A candidate may not receive preference points under this subsection if the amount of points awarded would place the candidate before a veteran on the eligibility list.

(Source: P.A. 88-440.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-10) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-10)

Sec. 10-2.1-10. Promotional preferences. Every member of the classified service of the fire or police department of any municipality coming under the provisions of this Division 2.1 who was engaged in a military or naval service of the United States at anytime for a period of one year, and who was honorably discharged therefrom, who is now or who may hereafter be on inactive or reserve duty in such military or naval service, not including, however, persons who were convicted by court-martial of disobedience of orders where such disobedience consisted in the refusal to perform military service on the ground of alleged religious or conscientious objections against war, and whose name appears on existing promotional eligibility registers or any promotional eligibility register that may hereafter be created as provided for by this Division 2.1 shall be preferred for promotional appointments of the fire or police department of any municipality coming under the provisions of this Division 2.1.

(Source: P.A. 76-1898.)

(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-11) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-11)

Sec. 10-2.1-11. Promotional examinations-Credits to veterans.) The board of fire and police commissioners shall give preference for promotional appointment to persons designated in Section 10-2.1-10 whose names appear on promotional eligibility registers by adding to the final grade average which they will receive as a result of any promotional examination 7/10 of one point for each 6 months or fraction thereof of military or naval service not exceeding 30 months. The numerical result thus attained shall be applied by the board of fire and police commissioners in determining the position of such persons on any eligibility list as the result of any promotional examination held for purposes of preference in certification and appointment from such eligibility list.

No person shall receive the preference for a promotional appointment granted by this Division 2.1 after he has received one promotion from an eligibility list on which he was allowed such preference.

(Source: P.A. 79-702.)