Bill Text: IL HR0735 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Expresses respect and value for the law enforcement officers of Illinois and the United States and greatly appreciates all that those officers do to protect and serve their communities. Remembers and honors law enforcement officers who have experienced a death or injury in the line of duty and the families of those officers. Calls for increased measures to be taken to maximize the safety and well-being of law enforcement officers, including improvements relating to the retention and recruitment of officers, improved training and equipment for officers, and increased mental health resources for officers. Calls on all levels of government in Illinois and across the United States to ensure that law enforcement officers receive the support and resources needed to keep all communities in Illinois and the United States safe. Thanks all members of law enforcement for their unwavering commitment to serve our communities and to keep us safe.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Katie Stuart [HR0735 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0735-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, More than 800,000 law enforcement officers in the
United States risk their lives daily to serve and protect
their communities, including nearly 40,000 in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, There are now more than 23,000 names listed among
America's fallen law enforcement heroes on the walls of the
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial dating back to
1786, including names from Illinois; and
WHEREAS, More than 2,400 law enforcement officers have
died in the United States in the line of duty during the past
decade, an average of one officer fatality every 36 hours; and
WHEREAS, Members of law enforcement have faced increased
challenges over the last several years, and the challenges
have been further exacerbated by the drop to a dangerously low
level in the retention and recruitment of sworn law
enforcement officers, with current numbers showing fewer law
enforcement officers per resident than at any other time
during the past 25 years; and
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers typically encounter
between 400 and 600 traumatic events over the course of their
career as an officer, compared with three or four traumatic

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events encountered by the average citizen; and
WHEREAS, The unusually high number of traumatic events
experienced by law enforcement officers has contributed to a
54% higher suicide rate among officers than among individuals
in other jobs; and
WHEREAS, The innovative and dedicated efforts of law
enforcement officers have successfully reduced crime rates
from historic highs; and
WHEREAS, Supporting law enforcement officers with the
equipment, training, and funding needed to protect communities
in Illinois and the United States from criminal violence has
long received overwhelming public support from across the
political spectrum; and
WHEREAS, The Illinois Police Memorial ceremony is
scheduled for May 2, 2024, and the week of May 12-18, 2024 has
been designated as National Police Week, a time to honor the
men and women who serve in law enforcement and pay special
tribute to those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice
and to the families of those fallen heroes; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

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we highly respect and value the law enforcement officers of
Illinois and the United States and greatly appreciate all that
those officers do to protect and serve their communities; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That we remember and honor law enforcement
officers who have experienced a death or injury in the line of
duty and the families of those officers; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call for increased measures to be taken
to maximize the safety and well-being of law enforcement
officers, including improvements relating to the retention and
recruitment of officers, improved training and equipment for
officers, and increased mental health resources for officers;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That we call on all levels of government in
Illinois and across the United States to ensure that law
enforcement officers receive the support and resources needed
to keep all communities in Illinois and the United States
safe; and be it further