Bill Text: IL SB2998 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires all State and local publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory systems to report all complaints received alleging significant non-conformity with efficient delivery of forensic services and the sound practice of forensic science to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission within 30 days of becoming aware of the alleged significant non-conformity or deficient method. Specifies that the report of complaints alleging significant non-conformity or deficient method shall include the nature and extent of the non-conformity or deficient method alleged and whether any corrective actions were or will be implemented to address the alleged non-conformity or deficient method. Provides that all annual reports summarizing the forensic laboratory systems' significant non-conformities to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission shall include the information required to be reported under the amendatory Act.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-05-22 - Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments [SB2998 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-SB2998-Introduced.html

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104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026SB2998 Introduced 1/27/2026, by Sen. Laura Ellman SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
20 ILCS 2605/2605-615
Amends the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires all State and local publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory systems to report all complaints received alleging significant non-conformity with efficient delivery of forensic services and the sound practice of forensic science to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission within 30 days of becoming aware of the alleged significant non-conformity or deficient method. Specifies that the report of complaints alleging significant non-conformity or deficient method shall include the nature and extent of the non-conformity or deficient method alleged and whether any corrective actions were or will be implemented to address the alleged non-conformity or deficient method. Provides that all annual reports summarizing the forensic laboratory systems' significant non-conformities to the Illinois Forensic Science Commission shall include the information required to be reported under the amendatory Act.
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A BILL FOR
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AN ACT concerning State government.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by changing Section
2605-615 as follows:
(20 ILCS 2605/2605-615)
Sec. 2605-615. Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
(a) Creation. There is created within the Illinois State
Police the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
(b) Duties and purpose. The Commission shall:
(1) Provide guidance to ensure the efficient delivery
of forensic services and the sound practice of forensic
science.
(2) Provide a forum for discussions between forensic
science stakeholders to improve communication and
coordination and to monitor the important issues impacting
all stakeholders.
(3) Take a systems-based approach in reviewing all
aspects of the delivery of forensic services and the sound
practice of forensic science with the goal of reducing or
eliminating the factors and inefficiencies that contribute
to backlogs and errors, with a focus on education and

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training, funding, hiring, procurement, and other aspects
identified by the Commission.
(4) Review significant non-conformities with the sound
practice of forensic science documented by each publicly
funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory and offer
recommendations for the correction thereof.
(5) Subject to appropriation, provide educational,
research, and professional training opportunities for
practicing forensic scientists, police officers, judges,
State's Attorneys and Assistant State's Attorneys, Public
Defenders, and defense attorneys comporting with the sound
practice of forensic science.
(6) Collect and analyze information related to the
impact of current laws, rules, policies, and practices on
forensic crime laboratories and the practice of forensic
science; evaluate the impact of those laws, rules,
policies, and practices on forensic crime laboratories and
the practice of forensic science; identify new policies
and approaches, together with changes in science, and
technology; and make recommendations for changes to those
laws, rules, policies, and practices that will yield
better results in the criminal justice system consistent
with the sound practice of forensic science.
(7) Perform such other studies or tasks pertaining to
forensic crime laboratories as may be requested by the
General Assembly by resolution or the Governor, and

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perform such other functions as may be required by law or
as are necessary to carry out the purposes and goals of the
Commission prescribed in this Section.
(8) Ensure that adequate resources and facilities are
available for carrying out the changes proposed in
legislation, rules, or policies and that rational
priorities are established for the use of those resources.
To do so, the Commission may prepare statements to the
Governor and General Assembly identifying the fiscal and
practical effects of proposed legislation, rules, or
policy changes. Such statements may include, but are not
limited to: the impact on present levels of staffing and
resources; a professional opinion on the practical value
of the change or changes; the increase or decrease the
number of crime laboratories; the increase or decrease the
cost of operating crime laboratories; the impact on
efficiencies and caseloads; other information, including
but not limited to, facts, data, research, and science
relevant to the legislation, rule, or policy; the direct
or indirect alteration in any process involving or used by
crime laboratories of such proposed legislation, rules, or
policy changes; an analysis of the impact, either directly
or indirectly, on the technology, improvements, or
practices of forensic analyses for use in criminal
proceedings; together with the direct or indirect impact
on headcount, space, equipment, instruments,

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accreditation, the volume of cases for analysis,
scientific controls, and quality assurance.
(c) Members. The Commission shall be composed of the
Director of the Illinois State Police, or his or her designee,
together with the following members appointed for a term of 4
years by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate:
(1) One crime laboratory director or administrator
from each publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic
laboratory system.
(2) One member with experience in the admission of
forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
representing prosecutors.
(3) One member with experience in the admission of
forensic evidence in trials from a statewide association
representing criminal defense attorneys.
(4) Three forensic scientists with bench work
background from various forensic disciplines (e.g., DNA,
chemistry, pattern evidence, etc.).
(5) One retired circuit court judge or associate
circuit court judge with criminal trial experience,
including experience in the admission of forensic evidence
in trials.
(6) One academic specializing in the field of forensic
sciences.
(7) One or more community representatives (e.g.,

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victim advocates, innocence project organizations, sexual
assault examiners, etc.).
(8) One member who is a medical examiner or coroner.
The Governor shall designate one of the members of the
Commission to serve as the chair of the Commission. Beginning
January 1, 2026, the Governor shall designate the chair of the
Commission for a 2-year term. The members of the Commission
shall elect from their number such other officers as they may
determine. Members of the Commission shall serve without
compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties from funds
appropriated for that purpose.
(d) Subcommittees. The Commission may form subcommittees
to study specific issues identified under paragraph (3) of
subsection (b), including, but not limited to, subcommittees
on education and training, procurement, funding and hiring. Ad
hoc subcommittees may also be convened to address other
issues. Such subcommittees shall meet as needed to complete
their work, and shall report their findings back to the
Commission. Subcommittees shall include members of the
Commission, and may also include non-members such as forensic
science stakeholders and subject matter experts.
(e) Meetings. The Commission shall meet quarterly, at the
call of the chairperson. Facilities for meeting, whether
remotely or in person, shall be provided for the Commission by
the Illinois State Police.

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(e-5) Complaint reporting by publicly funded ISO 17025
accredited forensic laboratories. All State and local publicly
funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory systems,
including, but not limited to, the DuPage County Forensic
Science Center, the Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime
Laboratory, and the Illinois State Police, shall report to the
Commission any complaint received that alleges a significant
non-conformity with the efficient delivery of forensic
services and the sound practice of forensic science within 30
days of becoming aware of the alleged significant
non-conformity or deficient method. A report under this
subsection shall include the nature and extent of the
non-conformity or deficient method alleged and whether any
corrective actions have been implemented or will be
implemented to address the alleged non-conformity or deficient
method.
(f) Annual reporting Reporting by publicly funded ISO
17025 accredited forensic laboratories. All State and local
publicly funded ISO 17025 accredited forensic laboratory
systems, including, but not limited to, the DuPage County
Forensic Science Center, the Northeastern Illinois Regional
Crime Laboratory, and the Illinois State Police, shall
annually provide to the Commission a report summarizing its
significant non-conformities with the efficient delivery of
forensic services and the sound practice of forensic science.
The report will identify: each significant non-conformity or

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deficient method; how the non-conformity or deficient method
was detected; the nature and extent of the non-conformity or
deficient method; all corrective actions implemented to
address the non-conformity or deficient method; and an
analysis of the effectiveness of the corrective actions taken.
The report shall include all complaints reported to the
Commission under subsection (e-5) of this Section.
(g) Definition. As used in this Section, "Commission"
means the Illinois Forensic Science Commission.
(Source: P.A. 103-34, eff. 1-1-24; 103-609, eff. 7-1-24;
104-24, eff. 1-1-26.)