Bill Text: IL SB1543 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Chaptered


Bill Title: Amends the Illinois Police Training Act. Creates under the authority of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator, appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of 4 years. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall receive a salary as provided by law and is eligible for reappointment. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall be responsible for implementing a program of mental health support and education for law enforcement officers. Establishes qualifications for the Coordinator. Provides that the Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall report to the Board on the development and implementation of programs and training for law enforcement officers and shall advise the Board and receive advice from the Board on direction and training needs for law enforcement agencies that vary in size, location, and demographics.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 51-29)

Status: (Passed) 2023-07-28 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0382 [SB1543 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB1543-Chaptered.html



Public Act 103-0382
SB1543 EnrolledLRB103 26944 AWJ 53309 b
AN ACT concerning local government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois Police Training Act is amended by
adding Section 3.2 as follows:
(50 ILCS 705/3.2 new)
Sec. 3.2. Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator.
(a) There is created under the authority of the Illinois
Law Enforcement Training Standards Board the Statewide PTSD
Mental Health Coordinator, appointed by the Governor, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of 4
years. The Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall
receive a salary as provided by law and is eligible for
reappointment. The Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator
shall be responsible for implementing a program of mental
health support and education for law enforcement officers.
(b) The Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall:
(1) be an active duty law enforcement officer with an
established career in different aspects of law
enforcement, including, but not limited to, having
experience as both a patrol officer and detective or in
both urban and rural settings;
(2) have a history of developing and disseminating
evidence-based training in mental health and resilience
and with a strong working knowledge of the legislative
process at the State and local level; and
(3) have an established history of working with police
administrations and police unions.
(c) The Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall:
(1) cooperate with statewide police academies to
introduce police recruits to mental health issues they
could face throughout their career in law enforcement;
(2) assist in establishing mental health training for
law enforcement, including resilience training,
trauma-based training, interdepartmental and
intradepartmental training, and training for law
enforcement families;
(3) select medical professionals statewide to
establish a reference list that can be utilized by police
departments who seek out professionals who offer
evidence-based treatment for trauma and have strong
working knowledge of the challenges faced by law
enforcement;
(4) cooperate with police agencies to establish peer
support programs;
(5) cooperate with private limited liability companies
who train in mental health and wellness to ensure that the
company programs are scientifically sound and factual;
(6) utilize the State university system to establish
training and produce research documentation of training
effectiveness; and
(7) set standards for continuing education in mental
health with an emphasis on meeting the developmental
training needs for officers at various stages of their
career.
(d) The Statewide PTSD Mental Health Coordinator shall
report to the Board on the development and implementation of
programs and training for law enforcement officers and shall
advise the Board and receive advice from the Board on
direction and training needs for law enforcement agencies that
vary in size, location, and demographics.
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