Bill > HB3842

This bill amends the Township Code to provide more specific guidelines for how townships in counties with over 1 million residents can use special police district tax funds. The bill allows township boards to create a special police district and levy a property tax up to 0.10% to fund police protection in unincorporated areas. Importantly, the bill explicitly defines what "public safety" means, which includes crime prevention, community safety measures, public information campaigns, traffic safety measures, anti-gang and anti-violence programs, and graffiti abatement. The bill specifically prohibits using these funds to pay for school resource officers' wages or to facilitate agreements to hire school resource officers, and also bars using the funds for red light cameras, speed cameras, or automated license plate readers. The bill defines a "school resource officer" by referencing the School Code and provides clear parameters for how townships can use these specialized tax funds to improve safety in unincorporated areas. The bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3842&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104