Public Act 103-0036
 
HB2448 EnrolledLRB103 30593 RLC 57032 b


  
    AN ACT concerning State government.
  
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
    Section 5. The Department of Natural Resources 
(Conservation) Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of 
Illinois is amended  by changing Section 805-535 as follows:
 



    (20 ILCS 805/805-535)  (was 20 ILCS 805/63b2.2)



    Sec. 805-535. Conservation Police Officers. In addition to

the arrest powers prescribed by law, Conservation
Police 
Officers are conservators of the peace and as such have all 
powers
possessed by policemen, except that they may exercise 
those powers
anywhere
in this State.  Conservation Police 
Officers acting under the authority
of this Section are 
considered employees of the Department and are subject
to its 
direction, benefits, and legal protection.

    Any person hired by the Department of Natural Resources 
after July 1, 2022
for a sworn law enforcement position or 
position that has arrest authority
must meet the following 
minimum professional standards:

        (1) At the time of hire, the person must be not less 
    than 21 years of age, or 20 years of age and have 
    successfully completed an associate's degree or 60 credit 
    hours at an accredited college or university. Any person 
    so hired after successful completion of an associate's 
    degree or 60 credit hours at an accredited college or 
    university shall not have power of arrest, nor shall he or 
    she be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she 
    reaches 21 years of age;

        (2) The person must possess the skill level and 
    demonstrate the ability
to
swim at a competency level  
    approved by the Department in an administrative rule; and 

        (3) The person must successfully obtain certification 
    pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act and must also 
    successfully complete the
Conservation
Police Academy 
    training program, consisting of not less than 400 hours of

    training, within
one year of hire.

    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, all persons 
who meet one of the following requirements are deemed to have 
met the collegiate education requirements:
        (i) have been honorably discharged and who have been 
    awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign 
    Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign 
    Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global War on Terrorism 
    Expeditionary Medal by the United States Armed Forces;
        (ii) are active members of the Illinois National Guard 
    or a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces 
    and who have been awarded a Southwest Asia Service Medal, 
    Kosovo Campaign Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, 
    Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, or Global 
    War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal as a result of 
    honorable service during deployment on active duty;
        (iii)  have been honorably discharged and served in a 
    combat mission by proof of hostile fire pay or imminent 
    danger pay during deployment on active duty; or
        (iv) have at least 3 years of full active and 
    continuous military duty and received an honorable 
    discharge before hiring.
    The Department of Natural Resources must adopt an 
administrative rule
listing those disciplines that qualify as 
directly related areas of study.

(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22.)

  
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon 
becoming law.