HB1329 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 07015 RTM 17052 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB1329

Introduced 1/28/2025, by Rep. Suzanne M. Ness

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

55 ILCS 5/3-6043 new
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15
65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20

Amends the Co-Responder Pilot Program Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Adds the McHenry County Sheriff's Office to the offices to which the Division is applicable and requires the Office to establish a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of the amendatory Act and hire specified personnel. Makes conforming changes, including in the Counties Code. Provides that, along with the duties described elsewhere in the Division, the unit's social workers are responsible for following up with victims (rather than conducting follow-up visits for victims) who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Counties Code is amended by adding Section 3-6043 as follows:

(55 ILCS 5/3-6043 new)

Sec. 3-6043. Co-responder unit of the McHenry County Sheriff's Office. The McHenry County Sheriff's Office shall establish a co-responder unit as provided in Section 11-1.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.

Section 10. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Sections 11-1.5-5, 11-1.5-10, 11-1.5-15, and 11-1.5-20 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-5)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 11-1.5-5. Definitions. As used in this Division:

"Department" means the East St. Louis Police Department, the Peoria Police Department, the Springfield Police Department, or the Waukegan Police Department, or the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

"Social Worker" means a licensed clinical social worker or licensed social worker, as those terms are defined in the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act.

"Station adjustment" has the meaning given to that term in Section 1-3 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.

"Unit" means a co-responder unit created under this Division.

(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-10)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 11-1.5-10. Establishment; responsibilities; focus.

(a) Each department shall establish, subject to appropriation, a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after May 10, 2022 (the effective date of Public Act 102-756) this amendatory Act of the 102nd General Assembly, including the hiring of personnel as provided in this Division. The McHenry County Sheriff's Office shall establish a co-responder unit no later than 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly and shall hire the personnel required under this Division.

(b) Along with the duties described in Sections 11-1.5-15 and 11-1.5-20, the unit's social workers are responsible for following up with conducting follow-up visits for victims who may benefit from mental or behavioral health services. The unit shall utilize community resources, including services provided through the Department of Human Services and social workers in juvenile and adult investigations, to connect individuals with appropriate services.

(c) The unit's primary area of focus shall be victim assistance.

(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-15)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 11-1.5-15. Duties. The duties of the unit include, but are not limited to:

(1) Serving as a resource to a department's community to identify and coordinate the social services available to residents who are victims of criminal acts.

(2) Networking with area social service agencies to develop a community-mutual resource system and wrap-around services (a team-based, collaborative case management approach) for victims in need of social service assistance; and fostering relationships with community organizations not limited to area hospitals, school districts, juvenile justice system, and various community groups.

(3) Employing social workers of the unit who shall:

(A) Upon request, provide community presentations on an array of social service topics.

(B) Assist individuals in diversion from the criminal justice system by addressing problems or concerns through therapeutic intervention.

(C) Facilitate follow-up treatment or referral to the appropriate community resource organization.

(D) When requested, assist department employees in securing services for those in need and provide educational information to help the employee better understand the circumstances or the community concern.

(E) Meet with walk-ins requesting information or assistance.

(F) Protect the interest, confidentiality, and civil rights of the client.

(G) Train social work interns who may be working within the unit.

(H) Be on-call after regular business hours, as needed.

(I) Inform clients, prior to providing services under this Division, what communications are confidential pursuant to applicable provisions of State or federal law, rule, or regulation and what may be shared with the social worker's employer.

(J) Consult on all cases as needed by the department.

(K) Perform other functions as provided in Section 11-1.5-20 or otherwise needed by a department.

(4) Employing social workers who shall work with victims of crimes as follows:

(A) Review police reports to identify known victims and contact them to offer direct and referred services.

(B) Assist victims with filing police reports and victim compensation forms.

(C) Provide safety planning services to victims.

(D) Provide crisis counseling services to victims and their families.

(E) Conduct home visits with victims in conjunction with law enforcement police backup, when needed.

(F) Assist victims in obtaining orders of protection. A social worker, in the performance of his or her duties under this subparagraph, is an advocate, as that term is defined in Section 112A-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963.

(G) Facilitate court advocacy services for victims, including arranging for transportation to and from court.

(H) Maintain confidential case files which include social history, diagnosis, formulation of treatment, and documentation of services.

(I) Perform miscellaneous personal advocacy tasks for victims, as needed.

(J) Oversee activities to ensure those victims with the most urgent needs are given the highest priority for services.

(K) Provide status updates on the progress of a victim's case.

(5) Adhering to and understanding the applicable policies, procedures, and orders of a department.

(6) Attaining department-established unit goals.

(7) Maintaining a positive relationship with co-workers, as well as the investigators from area law enforcement agencies, police departments and facilitating the exchange of information and resources pertaining to investigations that would not violate confidentiality as protected pursuant to applicable provisions of State or federal law, rule, or regulation.

(8) Keeping informed on crime trends within the department the unit supports City.

(9) Remaining obedient and responsive to all lawful verbal and written orders issued by superiors.

(10) Completing police reports and other required documentation.

(11) Performing such other duties as may be required by State law, city ordinance, and department policy or as may be assigned by a sworn supervisor.

(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-1.5-20)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029)

Sec. 11-1.5-20. Social workers.

(a) Unit social workers may be referred to as victim service specialists. Social workers are responsible for working as a team to provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, and ongoing emotional support to the victims of all crimes, with extra attention to crimes that cause a high level of victim trauma.

(b) Unit social workers involved in a case under adult investigations may perform the following responsibilities:

(1) Working with domestic violence investigators.

(2) Assisting victims with finding safe housing, transportation, and legal assistance.

(3) Providing other needed resources for victims and their families, including working with children who witness or experience domestic violence.

(4) Assisting victims and their children in setting up counseling.

(5) Helping reduce victims' chances of reentry into violent situations.

(c) Unit social workers involved in a case under juvenile investigations may perform the following responsibilities:

(1) Working with families that have habitual runaways and determining why the juveniles keep running away.

(2) Providing services to families where there have been domestic disturbances between the juveniles and their parents.

(3) Providing resources for parents to help their children who are struggling in school or need transportation to school.

(4) Providing guidance and advice to the families of a juvenile who has been arrested and what the next steps and options are in the process.

(5) Assisting a juvenile with station adjustments and creating a station adjustment program in a department.

(6) Providing services to juvenile victims and families where the Department of Children and Family Services either did not get involved or did not provide services.

(7) Assisting with overcoming feuds between groups of juveniles.

(8) Assisting in instances where the families are not cooperative with law enforcement police.

(9) Discussing with families and juveniles options and solutions to prevent future arrest.

(10) Maintaining a list of families in need that the unit or department have had contact with for department or city special events.

(11) Helping facilitate or assist a department in community-oriented events, such as setting up an event where officers or unit personnel read books with younger children, talking about cyber crimes and social media, or having an officer or unit personnel visit a school for other activities.

(12) Helping reduce juvenile recidivism.

(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)