HB4295 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 16789 LNS 30198 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4295

Introduced 1/14/2026, by Rep. Jed Davis

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Public Safety Career Pathways Act. Requires a participating public or nonpublic high school or school district to provide access to at least one Pipeline Program in a public safety field. Allows an individual 18 years of age or older to participate in a Fire and Emergency Medical Services Pathway. Provides that a law enforcement agency may establish a Cadet Program for individuals 18 to 20 years of age interested in pursuing sworn law enforcement employment. Provides that a Pipeline Program may also include training or supervised experience leading to certain other careers. Requires the State Board of Education to develop a model memorandum of understanding for institutions and local public safety partners. Requires a local public safety partner participating in a Pipeline Program to maintain all insurance required under State law. Provides that participation in a Pipeline Program does not create civil liability for a local public safety partner beyond its statutory duties, as long as the local public safety partner acts in good faith and complies with safety requirements. Provides that compensation for a Pipeline Program participant is optional and may be determined by the local public safety partner. Allows the State Board to provide tuition assistance to eligible participants in certified fire services, emergency medical services, or law enforcement preparatory programs. Requires a local public safety partner to comply with all safety requirements applicable to minors and trainees. Sets forth provisions concerning employee status, background checks, reporting, and rulemaking. Repeals the Act 5 years after the effective date. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

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

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public Safety Career Pathways Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to expand student access to structured pathways leading to careers in public safety, including law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services, telecommunications, corrections, and emergency management. This Act promotes regional flexibility, preserves all existing training and certification standards, and supports local recruitment efforts without imposing new mandates on schools.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Access" means availability of a pathway option through school district programming, a regional partnership, or an agreement with a qualified provider.

"Cadet Program" means a structured educational and training experience for individuals ages 18 to 20 that prepares participants for future sworn law enforcement employment upon meeting all statutory requirements.

"Fire and Emergency Medical Services Pathway" means a training sequence recognized or approved by the Office of the State Fire Marshal or leading to basic emergency medical technician certification or higher emergency medical services certification.

"Institution" means a public high school, school district, or nonpublic high school recognized by the State Board of Education that elects to participate.

"Law enforcement agency" means any agency recognized by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board.

"Local public safety partner" includes a law enforcement agency, fire protection district, emergency medical services provider, 9-1-1 telecommunication center, corrections agency, emergency management agency, public community college, or similar entity providing training or supervised experience.

"Pipeline Program" means a structured sequence of instruction, training, or supervised experience preparing a student for entry into a public safety career.

Section 15. Access requirement.

(a) Each institution shall provide access to at least one Pipeline Program in a public safety field.

(b) Access may be offered through:

(1) direct programming by the institution;

(2) regional vocational centers;

(3) community college partnerships;

(4) local public safety partners; or

(5) any combination of paragraphs (1) through (4).

(c) Nothing in this Act required an institution to create a new program, hire new personnel, construct a facility, or incur additional operational costs.

Section 20. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Pathway.

(a) An individual 18 years of age or older may participate in a Fire and Emergency Medical Services Pathway, including attendance at an approved training program, subject to all applicable certification requirements.

(b) No training or certification standard under the authority of the Office of the State Fire Marshal or the Department of Public Health may be reduced or waived due to participation in a Pipeline Program.

(c) A participant may not perform duties requiring certification until obtaining such certification under the law.

Section 25. Police Cadet Program.

(a) A law enforcement agency may establish a Cadet Program for individuals 18 to 20 years of age interested in pursuing sworn law enforcement employment.

(b) A cadet may perform nonenforcement duties, attend preparatory training, participate in physical fitness and academic components of academy instruction, and assist with community engagement activities.

(c) A cadet may not:

(1) exercise police powers;

(2) carry a firearm in any operational capacity;

(3) make arrests; or

(4) perform custodial searches.

(d) A cadet may become a sworn officer only upon reaching the statutory age, meeting all certification requirements of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, and satisfying all hiring standards of the law enforcement agency.

(e) No training, certification, psychological, or fitness requirements for a sworn officer may be reduced or waived under this Act.

Section 30. Additional pathway options. A Pipeline Program may also include training or supervised experience leading to careers in:

(1) 9-1-1 telecommunications;

(2) corrections;

(3) probation or court services;

(4) emergency management; or

(5) related public safety fields.

Section 35. Model memorandum of understanding.

(a) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, shall develop a model memorandum of understanding for institutions and local public safety partners.

(b) The model memorandum of understanding shall include:

(1) student responsibilities;

(2) supervision and safety protocols;

(3) training site expectations;

(4) attendance and reporting requirements;

(5) credit or credential options;

(6) partner responsibilities;

(7) program duration; and

(8) procedures for review.

(c) An institution and local public safety partner may modify the model memorandum of understanding by mutual agreement.

Section 40. Insurance; liability; employee status.

(a) A local public safety partner participating in a Pipeline Program shall maintain all insurance required under State law, including workers' compensation and general liability if applicable.

(b) Participation in a Pipeline Program does not create civil liability for a local public safety partner beyond its statutory duties, as long as the local public safety partner acts in good faith and complies with safety requirements.

(c) Participation in a Pipeline Program does not create employee status for a student unless the student receives compensation under applicable labor laws.

Section 45. Compensation.

(a) Compensation for a Pipeline Program participant is optional and may be determined by the local public safety partner.

(b) A compensated participant may be considered a temporary or part-time employee only for purposes expressly required under State or federal law.

(c) An uncompensated participant may not be designated as an employee for any purpose.

Section 50. Tuition assistance.

(a) Subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education may provide tuition assistance to eligible participants in certified fire services, emergency medical services, or law enforcement preparatory programs.

(b) Nothing in this Section may be construed to require the State to appropriate funds.

Section 55. Safety requirements; background checks.

(a) A local public safety partner shall comply with all safety requirements applicable to minors and trainees.

(b) All mentors and supervisors under this Act shall comply with an institution's volunteer or contractor background-check procedures.

(c) No additional background check requirements may be imposed under this Act.

Section 60. Reporting.

(a) By December 31 each year, the State Board of Education shall submit a one-page summary to the General Assembly identifying:

(1) the total number of student participants under this Act;

(2) any participating agencies and partners under this Act;

(3) the pathway completion rates under this Act;

(4) regional partnership development under this Act; and

(5) any recommendations for program refinement under this Act.

(b) An institution is not required to submit a report beyond the minimal participation data requested by the State Board of Education.

Section 65. No new mandates. Nothing in this Act may be construed as requiring an institution to incur additional expenditures or establish new programs.

Section 70. Rulemaking. The State Board of Education, the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Act. Rules shall be limited to administrative procedures and may not impose material costs on institutions or local public safety partners.

Section 75. Repeal. This Act is repealed 5 years after the effective date of this Act.

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