summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
03/27/2026
03/27/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates the Certification Enforcement Unit within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. Removes the Review Committee created within the Board. Provides that the Certification Enforcement Unit shall be headed by the Deputy Director of the Certification Enforcement Unit. Provides that the Deputy Director of the Certification Enforcement Unit shall be appointed by the Board and must have (1) substantial experience in law enforcement, criminal law, civil-rights law, or government investigations and (2) demonstrated integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and leadership. Provides that any investigator hired to serve in the Certification Enforcement Unit must have at least 2 years of prior investigative experience and may have previously served as a certified or licensed law enforcement officer. Changes the name of the Certification Review Panel to the Decertification Review Panel. In provisions concerning formal complaint hearings, provides that, at the hearing, the Certification Enforcement Unit bears the burden of proving that the officer committed the decertifying conduct by clear and convincing evidence. Provides that all hearings shall be open to the public. In provisions concerning certification review meetings, provides that the Panel shall vote to decertify the officer if a simple majority of the Panel finds that (1) any alleged decertification conduct has been proven by clear and convincing evidence; and (2) there is no mitigating factor or combination of mitigating factors that significantly outweigh the seriousness of the misconduct and the impact of the misconduct on the victim and the community. Provides that a law enforcement agency and the Illinois State Police shall notify the Board when an officer is discharged or dismissed because of a sustained violation of a department, agency, or Illinois State Police policy that includes assault, sexual assault, bribery, coercion, fraud, theft, untruthfulness, bias, excessive force, conduct that constitutes a significant abuse of the public trust, or reflects an unfitness to serve, or any other specified conduct. The agency shall provide information regarding the nature of the violation. The notification shall occur as soon as the officer is discharged or dismissed. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Illinois Police Training Act to establish a new Certification Enforcement Unit within the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board (let's call it the Board), which will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases where law enforcement officers may have engaged in conduct that warrants decertification (meaning their certification to be a police officer is revoked). This new unit will be led by a Deputy Director appointed by the Board, who must have significant experience in law enforcement, criminal law, civil-rights law, or government investigations, and demonstrate integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, and leadership. Investigators hired for this unit will need at least two years of investigative experience and may have prior law enforcement experience. The bill also renames the Certification Review Panel to the Decertification Review Panel and clarifies that during formal complaint hearings, the Certification Enforcement Unit must prove an officer committed decertifying conduct by clear and convincing evidence, and all such hearings will be open to the public. The Panel will vote to decertify an officer if misconduct is proven by clear and convincing evidence and there are no significant mitigating factors that outweigh the seriousness of the misconduct. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies and the Illinois State Police are now required to promptly notify the Board when an officer is discharged or dismissed for specific policy violations, such as assault, sexual assault, bribery, untruthfulness, excessive force, or abuse of public trust.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (on 03/27/2026)
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