SB2455 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 12212 BDA 22317 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2455

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

520 ILCS 5/2.38	from Ch. 61, par. 2.38
520 ILCS 5/3.1-5
520 ILCS 5/3.2	from Ch. 61, par. 3.2
520 ILCS 5/3.5	from Ch. 61, par. 3.5
520 ILCS 5/3.36	from Ch. 61, par. 3.36
625 ILCS 40/2-2	from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 602-2
705 ILCS 405/5-125
705 ILCS 405/5-915

Amends the Wildlife Code. In prohibitions against fraud in connection with any license, permit, or tag, deletes provisions that the Department of Natural Resources shall suspend the privileges of any person found guilty of violating these prohibitions for a period of not less than one year. In provisions regarding the Apprentice Hunter License Program, deletes provisions requiring the Apprentice Hunter License to be a nonrenewable license. In provisions regarding a certificate of competency, deletes provisions allowing a person born on or after January 1, 1980, to be exempt from requirements for a certificate of competency if the person has a hunting license issued in another State. In provisions regarding penalties, deletes provisions requiring the Department to suspend for a period of not less than one year the privileges of any person found guilty of violating specific provisions in the Act. Deletes provisions limiting some suspensions to 5 years. Requires the Department to suspend the privileges of a person for a violation of certain provisions in the Act for a period of one year. Makes technical and other changes. Amends the Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. In provisions regarding snowmobile inspections, provides that an officer may (rather than must) issue a summons. Amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Makes changes in provisions concerning jurisdiction and expungement.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning conservation.

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

Section 5. The Wildlife Code is amended by changing Sections 2.38, 3.1-5, 3.2, 3.5, and 3.36 as follows:

(520 ILCS 5/2.38) (from Ch. 61, par. 2.38)

Sec. 2.38. No person shall at any time:

(1) falsify, alter or change in any manner, or provide deceptive or false information required for, any license, permit or tag issued under the provisions hereof;

(2) falsify any record required by this Act;

(3) counterfeit any form of license, permit or tag provided for by this Act;

(4) loan or transfer to another person any license, permit, or tag issued under this Act; or

(5) use in the field any license, permit, or tag issued to another person.

It is unlawful to possess any license, permit or tag issued under the provisions of this Act which was fraudulently obtained, or which the possessor knew, or should have known, was falsified, altered, changed in any manner or fraudulently obtained.

The Department shall suspend the privileges, under this Act, of any person found guilty of violating this Section for a period of not less than one year.

(Source: P.A. 95-13, eff. 1-1-08.)

(520 ILCS 5/3.1-5)

Sec. 3.1-5. Apprentice Hunter License Program.

(a) The Department shall establish an Apprentice Hunter License Program. The purpose of this Program shall be to extend limited hunting privileges, in lieu of obtaining a valid hunting license, to persons interested in learning about hunting sports.

(b) Any resident or nonresident may apply to the Department for an Apprentice Hunter License. The Apprentice Hunter License shall be a non-renewable license that shall expire on the March 31 following the date of issuance.

(c) The Apprentice Hunter License shall entitle the licensee to hunt on private property while supervised by a validly licensed resident or nonresident hunter who is 21 years of age or older.

(c-5) The Apprentice Hunter License shall entitle the licensee to hunt on public property while supervised by a validly licensed resident or nonresident who is 21 years of age or older and has a hunter education certificate.

(d) In order to be approved for the Apprentice Hunter License, the applicant must request an Apprentice Hunter License on a form designated and made available by the Department and submit a $7 fee, which shall be separate from and additional to any other stamp, permit, tag, or license fee that may be required for hunting under this Code. The Department shall adopt suitable administrative rules that are reasonable and necessary for the administration of the program, but shall not require any certificate of competency or other hunting education as a condition of the Apprentice Hunter License.

(Source: P.A. 100-638, eff. 1-1-19; 101-444, eff. 6-1-20.)

(520 ILCS 5/3.2) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.2)

Sec. 3.2. Hunting license; application; instruction. Before the Department or any county, city, village, township, incorporated town clerk or the clerk's his duly designated agent or any other person authorized or designated by the Department to issue hunting licenses shall issue a hunting license to any person, the person shall file the person's his application with the Department or other party authorized to issue licenses on a form provided by the Department and further give definite proof of identity and place of legal residence. Each clerk designating agents to issue licenses and stamps shall furnish the Department, within 10 days following the appointment, the names and mailing addresses of the agents. Each clerk or the clerk's his duly designated agent shall be authorized to sell licenses and stamps only within the territorial area for which the clerk he was elected or appointed. No duly designated agent is authorized to furnish licenses or stamps for issuance by any other business establishment. Each application shall be executed and sworn to and shall set forth the name and description of the applicant and place of residence.

No hunting license shall be issued to any person born on or after January 1, 1980 unless that person he presents the person who is authorized to issue the license evidence that the person seeking the license he has held a hunting license issued by the State of Illinois or another state in a prior year, or a certificate of competency as provided in this Section. Persons under 18 years of age may be issued a Lifetime Hunting or Sportsmen's Combination License as provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code but shall not be entitled to hunt alone, without the supervision of an adult age 21 or older, unless they have a certificate of competency as provided in this Section and the certificate is in their possession while hunting.

The Department of Natural Resources shall authorize personnel of the Department or certified volunteer instructors to conduct courses, of not less than 10 hours in length, in firearms and hunter safety, which may include training in bow and arrow safety, at regularly specified intervals throughout the State. Persons successfully completing the course shall receive a certificate of competency. The Department of Natural Resources may further cooperate with any reputable association or organization in establishing courses if the organization has as one of its objectives the promotion of safety in the handling of firearms or bow and arrow.

The Department of Natural Resources shall designate any person found by it to be competent to give instruction in the handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. The persons so appointed shall give the course of instruction and upon the successful completion shall issue to the person instructed a certificate of competency in the safe handling of firearms, hunter safety, and bow and arrow. No charge shall be made for any course of instruction except for materials or ammunition consumed. The Department of Natural Resources shall furnish information on the requirements of hunter safety education programs to be distributed free of charge to applicants for hunting licenses by the persons appointed and authorized to issue licenses. Funds for the conducting of firearms and hunter safety courses shall be taken from the fee charged for the Firearm Owners Identification Card.

The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of Illinois is $12. For residents age 65 or older, and, commencing with the 2012 license year, resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or the Reserves of the United States Armed Forces, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a hunting license to hunt all species for a resident of Illinois. Veterans must provide to the Department acceptable verification of their service. The Department shall establish by administrative rule the procedure by which such verification of service shall be made to the Department for the purpose of issuing resident veterans hunting licenses at a reduced fee. The fee for a hunting license to hunt all species shall be $1 for residents over 75 years of age. Nonresidents shall be charged $57 for a hunting license.

Residents of this State may obtain a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for 3 times the annual fee. For residents age 65 or older and resident veterans of the United States Armed Forces after returning from service abroad or mobilization by the President of the United States, the fee is one-half of the fee charged for a 3-year hunting license to hunt all species as described in Section 3.1 for a resident of this State. Veterans must provide to the Department, per administrative rule, verification of their service. The Department shall establish what constitutes suitable verification of service for the purpose of issuing resident veterans 3-year hunting licenses at a reduced fee.

Nonresidents may be issued a nonresident hunting license for a period not to exceed 10 consecutive days' hunting in the State and shall be charged a fee of $35.

A special nonresident hunting license authorizing a nonresident to take game birds by hunting on a game breeding and hunting preserve area only, established under Section 3.27, shall be issued upon proper application being made and payment of a fee equal to that for a resident hunting license. The expiration date of this license shall be on the same date each year that game breeding and hunting preserve area licenses expire.

Each applicant for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp, regardless of the applicant's his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $15 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Migratory Waterfowl Stamp shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to the person's his license or permit in a space designated by the Department for that purpose.

Each applicant for a State Habitat Stamp, regardless of the applicant's his residence or other condition, shall pay a fee of $5 and shall receive a stamp. The fee for a State Habitat Stamp shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age. Except as provided under Section 20-45 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code, the stamp shall be signed by the person or affixed to the person's his license or permit in a space designated by the Department for that purpose.

Nothing in this Section shall be construed as to require the purchase of more than one State Habitat Stamp by any person in any one license year.

The fees for State Pheasant Stamps and State Furbearer Stamps shall be waived for residents over 75 years of age.

The Department shall furnish the holders of hunting licenses and stamps with an insignia as evidence of possession of license, or license and stamp, as the Department may consider advisable. The insignia shall be exhibited and used as the Department may order.

All other hunting licenses and all State stamps shall expire upon March 31 of each year. Three-year hunting licenses shall expire on March 31 of the 2nd year after the year in which the license is issued.

Every person holding any license, permit, or stamp issued under the provisions of this Act shall have it in the person's his possession for immediate presentation for inspection to the officers and authorized employees of the Department, any sheriff, deputy sheriff, or any other peace officer making a demand for it. This provision shall not apply to Department owned or managed sites where it is required that all hunters deposit their license, permit, or Firearm Owner's Identification Card at the check station upon entering the hunting areas.

For the purposes of this Section, "acceptable verification" means official documentation from the Department of Defense or the appropriate Major Command showing mobilization dates or service abroad dates, including: (i) a DD-214, (ii) a letter from the Illinois Department of Military Affairs for members of the Illinois National Guard, (iii) a letter from the Regional Reserve Command for members of the Armed Forces Reserve, (iv) a letter from the Major Command covering Illinois for active duty members, (v) personnel records for mobilized State employees, and (vi) any other documentation that the Department, by administrative rule, deems acceptable to establish dates of mobilization or service abroad.

For the purposes of this Section, the term "service abroad" means active duty service outside of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and includes all active duty service in territories and possessions of the United States.

(Source: P.A. 102-780, eff. 5-13-22; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)

(520 ILCS 5/3.5) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.5)

Sec. 3.5. Penalties; probation.

(a) Any person who violates any of the provisions of Section 2.36a, including administrative rules, shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony, except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section and subsection (a) of Section 2.36a.

(b) Whenever any person who has not previously been convicted of, or placed on probation or court supervision for, any offense under Section 1.22, 2.36, or 2.36a, operating without a permit as prescribed in subsection (b) of Section 2.37, or an offense under subsection (i) or (cc) of Section 2.33, the court may, without entering a judgment and with the person's consent, sentence the person to probation for a violation of Section 2.36a.

(1) When a person is placed on probation, the court shall enter an order specifying a period of probation of 24 months and shall defer further proceedings in the case until the conclusion of the period or until the filing of a petition alleging violation of a term or condition of probation.

(2) The conditions of probation shall be that the person:

(A) Not violate any criminal statute of any jurisdiction.

(B) Perform no less than 30 hours of community service, provided community service is available in the jurisdiction and is funded and approved by the county board.

(3) The court may, in addition to other conditions:

(A) Require that the person make a report to and appear in person before or participate with the court or courts, person, or social service agency as directed by the court in the order of probation.

(B) Require that the person pay a fine and costs.

(C) Require that the person refrain from possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon.

(D) Prohibit the person from associating with any person who is actively engaged in any of the activities regulated by the permits issued or privileges granted by the Department of Natural Resources.

(4) Upon violation of a term or condition of probation, the court may enter a judgment on its original finding of guilt and proceed as otherwise provided.

(5) Upon fulfillment of the terms and conditions of probation, the court shall discharge the person and dismiss the proceedings against the person.

(6) A disposition of probation is considered to be a conviction for the purposes of imposing the conditions of probation, for appeal, and for administrative revocation and suspension of licenses and privileges; however, discharge and dismissal under this Section is not a conviction for purposes of disqualification or disabilities imposed by law upon conviction of a crime.

(7) Discharge and dismissal under this Section may occur only once with respect to any person.

(8) If a person is convicted of an offense under this Act within 5 years subsequent to a discharge and dismissal under this Section, the discharge and dismissal under this Section shall be admissible in the sentencing proceeding for that conviction as a factor in aggravation.

(9) The Circuit Clerk shall notify the Illinois State Police of all persons convicted of or placed under probation for violations of Section 2.36a.

(c) Any person who violates any of the provisions of Sections 2.9, 2.11, 2.16, 2.18, 2.24, 2.25, 2.26, 2.29, 2.30, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33 (except subsections (g), (i), (o), (p), (y), and (cc)), 2.33-1, 2.33a, 3.3, 3.4, 3.11 through 3.16, 3.19, 3.20, 3.21 (except subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (f.5), (g), (h), and (i)), 3.24, 3.25, and 3.26 (except subsection (f)), including administrative rules, shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

A person who violates Section 2.33b by using any computer software or service to remotely control a weapon that takes wildlife by remote operation is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. A person who violates Section 2.33b by facilitating a violation of Section 2.33b, including an owner of land in which remote control hunting occurs, a computer programmer who designs a program or software to facilitate remote control hunting, or a person who provides weapons or equipment to facilitate remote control hunting, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of Sections 1.22, 2.2a, 2.3, 2.4, 2.36, and 2.38, including administrative rules, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any second or subsequent violations of Sections 2.4 and 2.36 shall be a Class 4 felony.

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, during such period when the person's his license, privileges, or permit is revoked or denied by virtue of Section 3.36, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Any person who violates subsection (g), (i), (o), (p), (y), or (cc) of Section 2.33 shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of no less than $500 and no more than $5,000 in addition to other statutory penalties. In addition, the Department shall suspend the privileges, under this Act, of any person found guilty of violating subsection (cc) of Section 2.33 for a period of not less than one year.

Any person who operates without a permit in violation of subsection (b) of Section 2.37 is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not less than $500. Any other violation of subsection (b) of Section 2.37, including administrative rules, is a Class B misdemeanor.

Any person who violates any other of the provisions of this Act including administrative rules, unless otherwise stated, shall be guilty of a petty offense. Offenses committed by minors under the direct control or with the consent of a parent or guardian may subject the parent or guardian to the penalties prescribed in this Section.

In addition to any fines imposed pursuant to the provisions of this Section or as otherwise provided in this Act, any person found guilty of unlawfully taking or possessing any species protected by this Act shall be assessed a civil penalty for such species in accordance with the values prescribed in Section 2.36a of this Act. This civil penalty shall be imposed by the Circuit Court for the county within which the offense was committed at the time of the conviction. Any person found guilty of violating subsection (b) of Section 2.37 is subject to an additional civil penalty of up to $1,500. All penalties provided for in this Section shall be remitted to the Department in accordance with the same provisions provided for in Section 1.18 of this Act, except that civil penalties collected for violation of subsection (b) of Section 2.37 shall be remitted to the Department and allocated as follows:

(1) 60% to the Conservation Police Operations Assistance Fund; and

(2) 40% to the Illinois Habitat Fund.

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-37, eff. 6-9-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24.)

(520 ILCS 5/3.36) (from Ch. 61, par. 3.36)

Sec. 3.36. Revocation and suspension.

(a) Whenever a license or permit is issued to any person under this Act, and the holder thereof pleads guilty to, is found guilty of, or receives court supervision for: of (1) any misrepresentation in obtaining such license or permit; (2) or of a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012; (3) or a violation of any of the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, or (4) a violation of the United States Code that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any wildlife protected by this Code when any part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois, that person's his license or permit may be revoked by the Department, and the Department may refuse to issue any permit or license to such person and may suspend the person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or license for a period of time as established by administrative rule, unless otherwise specified in this Act not to exceed 5 years following such revocation.

Department revocation procedures shall be established by Administrative rule.

(b) Whenever any person who has not been issued a license or a permit under the provisions of this Code pleads guilty to, is found guilty of, or receives court supervision for any of the following: (1) a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012; or (2) a violation of the provisions of this Code, including administrative rules; , or (3) a violation of the United States Code that involves the taking, possessing, killing, harvesting, transportation, selling, exporting, or importing any wildlife protected by this Code when any part of the United States Code violation occurred in Illinois, the Department may refuse to issue any permit or license to that person, and suspend that person from engaging in the activity requiring the permit or license for a period of time as established in administrative rule, unless otherwise specified in this Act not to exceed 5 years.

(c) Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any of the provisions of this Act, including administrative rules, during such period when his license or permit is revoked or denied by virtue of this Section or during the time the person he is suspended under subsection (b), shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. The penalties for a violation of Section 48-3 of the Criminal Code of 2012 shall be as provided in that Section.

(d) Licenses and permits authorized to be issued under the provisions of this Act shall be prepared by the Department and be in such form as prescribed by the Department. The information required on each license shall be completed thereon by the issuing agent or his sub-agent at the time of issuance and each license shall be signed by the licensee, or initialed by the designated purchaser and then signed immediately upon receipt by the licensee, and countersigned by the issuing agent or his sub-agent at the time of issuance. All such licenses shall be supplied by the Department, subject to such rules and regulations as the Department may prescribe. Any license not properly prepared, obtained and signed as required by this Act shall be void.

(e) A person whose license or permit to engage in any activity regulated by this Code has been suspended or revoked may not, during the period of the suspension or revocation or until obtaining such a license or permit, (i) be in the company of any person engaging in the activity covered by the suspension or revocation or (ii) serve as a guide, outfitter, or facilitator for a person who is engaged or prepared to engage in the activity covered by the suspension or revocation.

(f) No person may be issued or obtain a license or permit or engage in any activity regulated by this Code during the time that the person's privilege to engage in the same or similar activities is suspended or revoked by another state, by a federal agency, or by a province of Canada.

(g) Any person whose license, stamps, permits, or any other privilege issued by the Department has been suspended or revoked shall immediately return proof of such privileges to the Department. The Department, or any law enforcement entity, is authorized to take possession of any proof of privileges. Any person failing to comply with this subsection by possessing a suspended or revoked license, stamp, or permit issued by the Department after having received written notice from the Department or any other State agency or department of such suspension or revocation is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(h) The Department shall suspend the privileges of any person that pleads guilty to, is found guilty of, or receives court supervision for a violation of section 2.38 or section 2.33(cc). Such suspension shall be for a period of one year.

(Source: P.A. 102-837, eff. 5-13-22; 103-456, eff. 1-1-24.)

Section 10. The Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act is amended by changing Section 2-2 as follows:

(625 ILCS 40/2-2) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 602-2)

Sec. 2-2. Inspection; seizure; impoundment.

(a) Agents of the Department or other duly authorized police officers may stop and inspect any snowmobile at any time for the purpose of determining if the provisions of this Act are being complied with. If the inspecting officer or agent discovers any violation of the provisions of this Act, the officer may he must issue a summons to the operator of such snowmobile requiring that the operator appear before the circuit court for the county within which the offense was committed.

(b) Every snowmobile subject to this Act, if under way and upon being hailed by a designated law enforcement officer, must stop immediately.

(c) Agents of the Department and other duly authorized police officers may seize and impound, at the owner's expense, any snowmobile involved in an accident or a violation of subsection B of Section 5-1 or of Section 5-7 of this Act.

(d) If a snowmobile is causing a traffic hazard because of its position in relation to the highway or its physical appearance is causing the impeding of traffic, its immediate removal from the highway or private property adjacent to the highway by a towing service may be authorized by a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction.

(e) Whenever a peace officer reasonably believes that a person under arrest for a violation of subsection B of Section 5-1 or Section 5-7 of this Act or similar provision of a local ordinance, is likely, upon release, to commit a subsequent violation of subsection B of Section 5-1 or Section 5-7 or a similar provision of a local ordinance, the arresting officer shall have the snowmobile which the person was operating at the time of the arrest impounded for a period of not more than 12 hours after the time of the arrest. The snowmobile may be released by the arresting law enforcement agency without impoundment, or may be released prior to the end of the impoundment period, however, if:

(1) the snowmobile was not owned by the person under arrest, and the lawful owner requesting release of the snowmobile possesses proof of ownership, and would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency: (i) indicate a lack of ability to operate a snowmobile in a safe manner, or (ii) otherwise, by operating the snowmobile, be in violation of this Act; or

(2) the snowmobile is owned by the person under arrest, and the person under arrest gives permission to another person to operate the snowmobile, and the other person would not, as determined by the arresting law enforcement agency: (i) indicate a lack of ability to operate a snowmobile in a safe manner, or (ii) otherwise, by operating the snowmobile, be in violation of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 93-156, eff. 1-1-04.)

Section 15. The Juvenile Court Act of 1987 is amended by changing Sections 5-125 and 5-915 as follows:

(705 ILCS 405/5-125)

Sec. 5-125. Concurrent jurisdiction. Any minor alleged to have violated a traffic, boating, or fish and game law, a conservation offense, or a municipal or county ordinance, may be prosecuted for the violation and if found guilty punished under any statute or ordinance relating to the violation, without reference to the procedures set out in this Article, except that:

(1) any detention, must be in compliance with this Article; and

(2) the confidentiality of records provisions in Part 9 of this Article shall apply to any law enforcement and court records relating to prosecution of a minor under 18 years of age for a municipal or county ordinance violation or a violation of subsection (a) of Section 4 of the Cannabis Control Act or subsection (c) of Section 3.5 of the Drug Paraphernalia Control Act; except that these confidentiality provisions shall not apply to or affect any proceeding to adjudicate the violation.

For the purpose of this Section, "traffic violation" shall include a violation of Section 9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 relating to the offense of reckless homicide, Section 11-501 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, or any similar county or municipal ordinance.

(Source: P.A. 99-697, eff. 7-29-16.)

(705 ILCS 405/5-915)

Sec. 5-915. Expungement of juvenile law enforcement and juvenile court records.

(0.05) (Blank).

(0.1)(a) The Illinois State Police and all law enforcement agencies within the State shall automatically expunge, on or before January 1 of each year, except as described in paragraph (c) of this subsection (0.1), all juvenile law enforcement records relating to events occurring before an individual's 18th birthday if:

(1) one year or more has elapsed since the date of the arrest or law enforcement interaction documented in the records;

(2) no petition for delinquency or criminal charges were filed with the clerk of the circuit court relating to the arrest or law enforcement interaction documented in the records; and

(3) 6 months have elapsed since the date of the arrest without an additional subsequent arrest or filing of a petition for delinquency or criminal charges whether related or not to the arrest or law enforcement interaction documented in the records.

(b) If the law enforcement agency is unable to verify satisfaction of conditions (2) and (3) of this subsection (0.1), records that satisfy condition (1) of this subsection (0.1) shall be automatically expunged if the records relate to an offense that if committed by an adult would not be an offense classified as a Class 2 felony or higher, an offense under Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 1961 or Criminal Code of 2012, or an offense under Section 12-13, 12-14, 12-14.1, 12-15, or 12-16 of the Criminal Code of 1961.

(c) If the juvenile law enforcement record was received through a public submission to a statewide student confidential reporting system administered by the Illinois State Police, the record will be maintained for a period of 5 years according to all other provisions in this subsection (0.1).

(0.15) If a juvenile law enforcement record meets paragraph (a) of subsection (0.1) of this Section, a juvenile law enforcement record created:

(1) prior to January 1, 2018, but on or after January 1, 2013 shall be automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2020;

(2) prior to January 1, 2013, but on or after January 1, 2000, shall be automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2023; and

(3) prior to January 1, 2000 shall not be subject to the automatic expungement provisions of this Act.

Nothing in this subsection (0.15) shall be construed to restrict or modify an individual's right to have the person's juvenile law enforcement records expunged except as otherwise may be provided in this Act.

(0.2)(a) Upon dismissal of a petition alleging delinquency or upon a finding of not delinquent, the successful termination of an order of supervision, or the successful termination of an adjudication for an offense which would be a Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, or a petty or business offense if committed by an adult, the court shall automatically order the expungement of the juvenile court records and juvenile law enforcement records. The clerk shall deliver a certified copy of the expungement order to the Illinois State Police and the arresting agency. Upon request, the State's Attorney shall furnish the name of the arresting agency. The expungement shall be completed within 60 business days after the receipt of the expungement order.

(b) If the chief law enforcement officer of the agency, or the chief law enforcement officer's designee, certifies in writing that certain information is needed for a pending investigation involving the commission of a felony, that information, and information identifying the juvenile, may be retained until the statute of limitations for the felony has run. If the chief law enforcement officer of the agency, or the chief law enforcement officer's designee, certifies in writing that certain information is needed with respect to an internal investigation of any law enforcement office, that information and information identifying the juvenile may be retained within an intelligence file until the investigation is terminated or the disciplinary action, including appeals, has been completed, whichever is later. Retention of a portion of a juvenile's law enforcement record does not disqualify the remainder of a juvenile's record from immediate automatic expungement.

(0.3)(a) Upon an adjudication of delinquency based on any offense except a disqualified offense, the juvenile court shall automatically order the expungement of the juvenile court and law enforcement records 2 years after the juvenile's case was closed if no delinquency or criminal proceeding is pending and the person has had no subsequent delinquency adjudication or criminal conviction. On the date that the minor's sentence ends or the date that the court enters an order committing the minor to the Department of Juvenile Justice, the juvenile court judge shall schedule a date to enter the automatic expungement order. The minor must be notified but shall not be required to be present for the scheduled court date when automatic expungement is to be ordered. If the minor is not yet eligible on the originally scheduled date, the court shall schedule a subsequent date to enter the automatic expungement order. The clerk shall deliver a certified copy of the expungement order to the Illinois State Police and the arresting agency. Upon request, the State's Attorney shall furnish the name of the arresting agency. The expungement shall be completed within 60 business days after the receipt of the expungement order. In this subsection (0.3), "disqualified offense" means any of the following offenses: Section 8-1.2, 9-1, 9-1.2, 9-2, 9-2.1, 9-3, 9-3.2, 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-3.1, 10-4, 10-5, 10-9, 11-1.20, 11-1.30, 11-1.40, 11-1.50, 11-1.60, 11-6, 11-6.5, 12-2, 12-3.05, 12-3.3, 12-4.4a, 12-5.02, 12-6.2, 12-6.5, 12-7.1, 12-7.5, 12-20.5, 12-32, 12-33, 12-34, 12-34.5, 18-1, 18-2, 18-3, 18-4, 18-6, 19-3, 19-6, 20-1, 20-1.1, 24-1.2, 24-1.2-5, 24-1.5, 24-3A, 24-3B, 24-3.2, 24-3.8, 24-3.9, 29D-14.9, 29D-20, 30-1, 31-1a, 32-4a, or 33A-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012, or subsection (b) of Section 8-1, paragraph (4) of subsection (a) of Section 11-14.4, subsection (a-5) of Section 12-3.1, paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) of Section 12-6, subsection (a-3) or (a-5) of Section 12-7.3, paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of Section 12-7.4, subparagraph (i) of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 12-9, subparagraph (H) of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 24-1.6, paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Section 25-1, or subsection (a-7) of Section 31-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012.

(b) If the chief law enforcement officer of the agency, or the chief law enforcement officer's designee, certifies in writing that certain information is needed for a pending investigation involving the commission of a felony, that information, and information identifying the juvenile, may be retained in an intelligence file until the investigation is terminated or for one additional year, whichever is sooner. Retention of a portion of a juvenile's juvenile law enforcement record does not disqualify the remainder of a juvenile's record from immediate automatic expungement.

(0.4) Automatic expungement for the purposes of this Section shall not require law enforcement agencies to obliterate or otherwise destroy juvenile law enforcement records that would otherwise need to be automatically expunged under this Act, except after 2 years following the subject arrest for purposes of use in civil litigation against a governmental entity or its law enforcement agency or personnel which created, maintained, or used the records. However, these juvenile law enforcement records shall be considered expunged for all other purposes during this period and the offense, which the records or files concern, shall be treated as if it never occurred as required under Section 5-923.

(0.5) Subsection (0.1) or (0.2) of this Section does not apply to violations of traffic, boating, fish and game laws, conservation offenses, or county or municipal ordinances.

(0.6) Juvenile law enforcement records of a plaintiff who has filed civil litigation against the governmental entity or its law enforcement agency or personnel that created, maintained, or used the records, or juvenile law enforcement records that contain information related to the allegations set forth in the civil litigation may not be expunged until after 2 years have elapsed after the conclusion of the lawsuit, including any appeal.

(0.7) Officer-worn body camera recordings shall not be automatically expunged except as otherwise authorized by the Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act.

(1) Whenever a person has been arrested, charged, or adjudicated delinquent for an incident occurring before a person's 18th birthday that if committed by an adult would be an offense, and that person's juvenile law enforcement and juvenile court records are not eligible for automatic expungement under subsection (0.1), (0.2), or (0.3), the person may petition the court at any time at no cost to the person for expungement of juvenile law enforcement records and juvenile court records relating to the incident and, upon termination of all juvenile court proceedings relating to that incident, the court shall order the expungement of all records in the possession of the Illinois State Police, the clerk of the circuit court, and law enforcement agencies relating to the incident, but only in any of the following circumstances:

(a) the minor was arrested and no petition for delinquency was filed with the clerk of the circuit court;

(a-5) the minor was charged with an offense and the petition or petitions were dismissed without a finding of delinquency;

(b) the minor was charged with an offense and was found not delinquent of that offense;

(c) the minor was placed under supervision under Section 5-615, and the order of supervision has since been successfully terminated; or

(d) the minor was adjudicated for an offense which would be a Class B misdemeanor, Class C misdemeanor, or a petty or business offense if committed by an adult.

(1.5) At no cost to the person, the Illinois State Police shall allow a person to use the Access and Review process, established in the Illinois State Police, for verifying that the person's juvenile law enforcement records relating to incidents occurring before the person's 18th birthday eligible under this Act have been expunged.

(1.6) (Blank).

(1.7) (Blank).

(1.8) (Blank).

(2) Any person whose delinquency adjudications are not eligible for automatic expungement under subsection (0.3) of this Section may petition the court at no cost to the person to expunge all juvenile law enforcement records relating to any incidents occurring before the person's 18th birthday which did not result in proceedings in criminal court and all juvenile court records with respect to any adjudications except those based upon first degree murder or an offense under Article 11 of the Criminal Code of 2012 if the person is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act at the time the person petitions the court for expungement; provided that 2 years have elapsed since all juvenile court proceedings relating to the person have been terminated and the person's commitment to the Department of Juvenile Justice under this Act has been terminated.

(2.5) If a minor is arrested and no petition for delinquency is filed with the clerk of the circuit court at the time the minor is released from custody, the youth officer, if applicable, or other designated person from the arresting agency, shall notify verbally and in writing to the minor or the minor's parents or guardians that the minor shall have an arrest record and shall provide the minor and the minor's parents or guardians with an expungement information packet, information regarding this State's expungement laws including a petition to expunge juvenile law enforcement and juvenile court records obtained from the clerk of the circuit court.

(2.6) If a minor is referred to court, then, at the time of sentencing, dismissal of the case, or successful completion of supervision, the judge shall inform the delinquent minor of the minor's rights regarding expungement and the clerk of the circuit court shall provide an expungement information packet to the minor, written in plain language, including information regarding this State's expungement laws and a petition for expungement, a sample of a completed petition, expungement instructions that shall include information informing the minor that (i) once the case is expunged, it shall be treated as if it never occurred, (ii) the minor shall not be charged a fee to petition for expungement, (iii) once the minor obtains an expungement, the minor may not be required to disclose that the minor had a juvenile law enforcement or juvenile court record, and (iv) if petitioning the minor may file the petition on the minor's own or with the assistance of an attorney. The failure of the judge to inform the delinquent minor of the minor's right to petition for expungement as provided by law does not create a substantive right, nor is that failure grounds for: (i) a reversal of an adjudication of delinquency; (ii) a new trial; or (iii) an appeal.

(2.6-1) A trafficking victim, as defined by paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012, may petition for vacation and expungement or immediate sealing of his or her juvenile court records and juvenile law enforcement records relating to events that resulted in the victim's adjudication of delinquency for an offense if committed by an adult would be a violation of the criminal laws occurring before the victim's 18th birthday upon the completion of his or her juvenile court sentence if his or her participation in the underlying offense was a result of human trafficking under Section 10-9 of the Criminal Code of 2012 or a severe form of trafficking under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

(2.7) (Blank).

(2.8) (Blank).

(3) (Blank).

(3.1) (Blank).

(3.2) (Blank).

(3.3) (Blank).

(4) (Blank).

(5) (Blank).

(5.5) Whether or not expunged, records eligible for automatic expungement under subdivision (0.1)(a), (0.2)(a), or (0.3)(a) may be treated as expunged by the individual subject to the records.

(6) (Blank).

(6.5) The Illinois State Police or any employee of the Illinois State Police shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for failure to expunge any records of arrest that are subject to expungement under this Section because of inability to verify a record. Nothing in this Section shall create Illinois State Police liability or responsibility for the expungement of juvenile law enforcement records it does not possess.

(7) (Blank).

(7.5) (Blank).

(8) The expungement of juvenile law enforcement or juvenile court records under subsection (0.1), (0.2), or (0.3) of this Section shall be funded by appropriation by the General Assembly for that purpose.

(9) (Blank).

(10) (Blank).

(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21; 102-752, eff. 1-1-23; 103-22, eff. 8-8-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23; 103-379, eff. 7-28-23; 103-605, eff. 7-1-24; 103-717, eff. 1-1-25; 103-787, eff. 1-1-25; revised 11-26-24.)