Summary as Introduced
Amends the Illinois State Police Law and the Illinois Police Training Act to require instruction during training on the policies and procedures for administering a lethality assessment, including referrals to domestic violence services. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2028, every law enforcement agency shall provide to all of its law enforcement officers instruction on the policies and procedures for administering a lethality assessment as part of basic training. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2028, a law enforcement officer investigating an alleged incident of domestic violence shall administer a lethality assessment if the allegation of domestic violence is against an intimate partner, regardless of whether an arrest is made. Provides that if a victim does not, or is unable to, provide information to a law enforcement officer sufficient to allow the law enforcement officer to administer a lethality assessment, the law enforcement officer must document the lack of a lethality assessment in the written police report and refer the victim to the nearest locally certified domestic violence center. Prohibits a law enforcement officer from including in or attaching to a probable cause statement, written police report, or incident report the domestic violence center to which a victim was referred. Prohibits a law enforcement officer from administering a lethality assessment if the law enforcement officer has not received training on administering a lethality assessment. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act.
Staff Analysis
Bill as Introduced
Amends the Illinois State Police Law and the Illinois Police Training Act to require instruction during training on the policies and procedures for administering a lethality assessment, including referrals to domestic violence services. Amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986. Provides that, on or before January 1, 2028, every law enforcement agency shall provide to all of its law enforcement officers instruction on the policies and procedures for administering a lethality assessment as part of basic training. Provides that, on or before July 1, 2028, a law enforcement officer investigating an alleged incident of domestic violence shall administer a lethality assessment if the allegation of domestic violence is against an intimate partner, regardless of whether an arrest is made. Provides that if a victim does not, or is unable to, provide information to a law enforcement officer sufficient to allow the law enforcement officer to administer a lethality assessment, the law enforcement officer must document the lack of a lethality assessment in the written police report and refer the victim to the nearest locally certified domestic violence center. Prohibits a law enforcement officer from including in or attaching to a probable cause statement, written police report, or incident report the domestic violence center to which a victim was referred. Prohibits a law enforcement officer from administering a lethality assessment if the law enforcement officer has not received training on administering a lethality assessment. Makes a conforming change in the Freedom of Information Act.
House Committee Amendment 1
The legislation amends the Freedom of Information Act to exempt from public disclosure information, records, and recordings collected by law enforcement agencies during behavioral threat assessments or domestic violence lethality assessments. The bill also amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 to require the Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the Illinois State Police, to develop a domestic violence lethality assessment toolkit for law enforcement use by January 1, 2028, including model policies, protocols, training guidance, and referral practices developed with stakeholder input. Beginning January 1, 2029, law enforcement agencies utilizing lethality assessments must incorporate related policies and procedures into continuing education training. The legislation further provides liability protections for law enforcement officers and agencies acting in good faith while administering these assessments.
House Committee Amendment 2
The legislation amends the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986 to provide that, by January 1, 2028, the Department of Human Services, in cooperation with the Illinois State Police, shall recommend rather than create a domestic violence lethality assessment toolkit for use by law enforcement agencies.