Bill > SB1491

This bill amends the Illinois Police Training Act to expand the existing Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training program by adding a new certification for therapy dog teams working with law enforcement. Specifically, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board will now be required to develop a course and certification program for officers who use therapy dogs during crisis and emergency response situations. This new program builds upon the existing CIT training, which already provides comprehensive mental health awareness training for law enforcement, including 40-hour specialty courses that teach officers how to identify mental illness signs, de-escalate crisis situations, and connect individuals to appropriate treatment. The therapy dog team certification aims to ensure that CIT officers with trained therapy dogs are available across different regions of the state and can be dispatched during emergencies. By integrating therapy dogs into crisis response, the bill seeks to provide additional support and potentially reduce stress for individuals experiencing mental health challenges during law enforcement interactions.

Government Affairs, Justice

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1491&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104