Bill > HB1033

This bill restores previous citizenship requirements for police officers and deputy sheriffs in Illinois counties and municipalities. Specifically, the bill reverses recent changes that had allowed non-citizens, including individuals with deferred action status (such as DACA recipients), to serve as law enforcement officers. The legislation requires that deputy sheriffs and police officers in counties with fewer than 1,000,000 inhabitants must be United States citizens, effectively eliminating previous provisions that permitted non-citizens to work in these roles. The bill amends sections of the Counties Code and the Illinois Municipal Code to reinstate citizenship as a mandatory qualification for these positions, removing language that previously allowed non-citizens to apply for police officer roles. By doing so, the bill narrows the pool of potential law enforcement applicants to only U.S. citizens, reversing a more inclusive policy that had been established by a previous legislative act. The changes apply to deputy sheriff positions, special policemen, and municipal police department appointments, ensuring that citizenship is a strict requirement for these public safety roles.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1033&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104