HOUSE BILL 4667 PASSES, GRANTING ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIRED CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN ILLINOIS EQUAL PROTECTIONS UNDER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAFETY ACT OF 2004

Teamsters Local 700 leadership urges Governor Pritzker to sign the bill into law, as public safety remains a top concern for thousands of Department of Corrections Officers throughout Illinois.

CHICAGO, IL – After nearly two decades of Teamsters’ lobbying efforts for Illinois Correctional Officers to have the same rights and designations as other law enforcement agencies throughout the state, House Bill 4667 was recently passed in the Illinois General Assembly this past week. 

The Bill provides that deputies, county correctional officers, and correctional officers of the Department of Corrections be deemed qualified law enforcement officers, including retirees. These new designations allow all active duty and retired Correctional Officers to carry concealed firearms while off duty, amending the Unified Code of Corrections and the County Jail Act. 

“This additional protection for our Correctional Officers is a long time coming,” says Teamsters Local 700 President Ramon D. Williams. “Like other agencies previously protected under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, our Local 700 Correctional Officers are also targets of assault, battery, or even retaliation, both on and off duty. This new bill now provides peace of mind and security for thousands of Local 700 Correctional Officers, who willingly put their lives on the line day after day.” 

State Representative Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) and State Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) sponsored the bill, which received overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers, passing the Senate 58-0-0 on Thursday, April 7th and the House 103-6-3 on Friday, April 8th. 

The Bill will land on Governor Pritzker’s desk to be signed into law in the coming weeks. Teamsters Local 700 strongly supports the passage of this legislation, hoping no time will be wasted in implementing the new measures. 

“The lobbying efforts of Teamsters Joint Council No. 25 President Terrence J. Hancock and his staff, working in conjunction with Local 700 and other advocates of this Bill were instrumental in its success,” noted President Williams. “We urge the Governor to sign it into law without hesitation. The safety of our officers is a top priority, and we anticipate that the Governor shares that sentiment with us. Let’s continue to keep dangerous criminals off our streets and provide our Correctional Officers with the tools, resources, and protections they need to perform their jobs effectively and protect themselves and their families while off duty.”

# # #