104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1924
 
Introduced 2/6/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
    Creates the First Responder Medal of Honor Act. Provides that the Governor may award the First Responder Medal of Honor to a first responder who displays conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the first responder's life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an act of public service. Provides that the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall determine if a first responder is eligible for the First Responder Medal of Honor. Provides that a first responder's employer may recommend a first responder who has been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty for the First Responder Medal of Honor. Provides that a member of the General Assembly may recommend a first responder who resides, works, or dies in the line of duty in the member's district for the First Responder Medal of Honor.


LRB104 07376 RTM 17416 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB1924LRB104 07376 RTM 17416 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the First 
5Responder Medal of Honor Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Department" means the Illinois Emergency Management 
8Agency and Office of Homeland Security.
9    "First responder" includes:
10        (1) law enforcement officers as defined in Section 2 
11    of the Line of Duty Compensation Act;
12        (2) firemen as defined in Section 2 of the Line of Duty 
13    Compensation Act; and
14        (3) emergency medical service personnel as defined in 
15    Emergency the Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act.
 
16    Section 10. The First Responder Medal of Honor.
17    (a) The Governor may award the First Responder Medal of 
18Honor to a first responder who displays conspicuous gallantry 
19and intrepidity at the risk of the first responder's life 
20above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an act of 
21public service.
22    (b) The Governor may award the First Responder Medal of 
 
 
SB1924- 2 -LRB104 07376 RTM 17416 b

1Honor only to a first responder deemed eligible by the 
2Department under Section 15.
3    (c) The Governor shall determine the time and place of the 
4public ceremony where a first responder or the first 
5responder's next of kin are presented the First Responder 
6Medal of Honor.
 
7    Section 15. Eligibility.
8    (a) The Department shall determine if a first responder is 
9eligible for the First Responder Medal of Honor. Only first 
10responders deemed eligible by the Department may be awarded 
11the First Responder Medal of Honor.
12    (b) The Department shall consider every recommendation for 
13the First Responder Medal of Honor made under Section 20.
 
14    Section 20. Recommendations.
15    (a) The first responder's employer may recommend a first 
16responder who has been killed or seriously injured in the line 
17of duty for the First Responder Medal of Honor.
18    (b) A member of the General Assembly may recommend a first 
19responder who resides, works, or dies in the line of duty in 
20the member's district for the First Responder Medal of Honor.
 
21    Section 25. Rulemaking. The Department shall adopt rules 
22to implement and administer this Act.