Bill Text: IL HB3280 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Public Safety Officer Protection Act. Provides that a public employer shall reimburse a public safety officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless, in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies: (1) the officer is convicted of a crime; (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred. Provides that a public employer, including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of the Act.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-27 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB3280 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HB3280-Introduced.html

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99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2015 and 2016 HB3280 Introduced , by Rep. Brandon W. Phelps SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Public Safety Officer Protection Act. Provides that a public employer shall reimburse a public safety officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless, in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies: (1) the officer is convicted of a crime; (2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or (3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred. Provides that a public employer, including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of the Act.
LRB099 08748 RLC 28916 b
FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY HOME RULE NOTE ACT MAY APPLY STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT
A BILL FOR
HB3280 LRB099 08748 RLC 28916 b
AN ACT concerning public safety officers.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public
Safety Officer Protection Act.
Section 5. Declaration of State interest. The General
Assembly determines and declares that the provisions of this
Act fulfill an important State interest.
Section 10. Definitions. In this Section:
"Criminal proceeding" means any criminal action or
proceeding brought in State or federal court.
"Public employer" means the State of Illinois or any unit
of local government (including any home rule unit), any State
supported college or university, or any other public entity
granted the power to employ public safety officers.
"Public safety officer" means a peace officer, law
enforcement officer, emergency medical technician, first
responder, fire fighter, or correctional officer.
Section 15. Public employer reimbursement of public safety
officer. A public employer shall reimburse a public safety
officer for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the officer

HB3280 - 2 - LRB099 08748 RLC 28916 b
in connection with any criminal proceeding arising from the
officer's conduct in the performance of official duties unless,
in relation to that conduct, any of the following applies:
(1) the officer is convicted of a crime;
(2) the officer's employment is terminated for cause; or
(3) the officer resigns for reasons other than retirement
or disability before the attorney's fees are incurred.
Section 20. Home rule preemption. A public employer,
including a home rule unit, that employs a full-time public
safety officer may not provide benefits to that officer in a
manner inconsistent with the requirements of this Act. This Act
is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article
VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise of
powers and functions exercised by the State.