Bill > SB1700

This bill amends the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board Division of the Counties Code to lower the minimum age requirement for deputy sheriffs from 21 to 19 years old, removing the previous alternative provision that allowed 20-year-olds to be appointed if they had completed two years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university. The bill also extends the probationary period for new deputy sheriff appointees from 12 to 15 months, during which time they can be discharged at the will of the Sheriff. Other existing requirements remain in place, such as being a U.S. citizen or legally authorized to work in the United States, passing mental and physical examinations, and being of good moral character. The bill maintains provisions for military veterans, including allowing them to request examination before the next scheduled date and receive preference points during the application process. This change appears aimed at providing more flexibility in deputy sheriff recruitment by lowering the minimum age threshold while also giving employers a slightly longer probationary period to assess new appointees' performance.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1700&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104