Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday signed four pieces of legislation related to public safety.
One encourages police officers to seek mental health treatment, without jeopardizing their career.
The legislation provides that a police agency cannot make a FOID card a condition of continued employment if the card is temporarily revoked because of inpatient mental health treatment as long as the officers are believed not to be a danger to themselves or others.
Another gives gun owners an extended grace period to keep their FOID Card, even if the processing period extends beyond the card's expiration date. Rauner says this will ensure there is no interruption in gun owners' rights to keep their firearms.
Previously, FOID cards were deemed invalid if they expired during the renewal process.
Another new Illinois law requires law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, and coroners to seek support from appropriate state and federal agencies to help identify human remains.
Lt. Abigail Keller is with the Illinois State Police's Crime Scene Services. She says the new law allows for better collaboration among various agencies.
It is estimated nationwide 44-hundred unidentified bodies are recovered each year, with approximately one thousand of those bodies remaining unidentified after one year.
The 4th new law allows retiring state agency law enforcement officers to buy the badges they wore during their careers.
This includes officers from Illinois State Police, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, State Fire Marshal, Security of State Police and Capitol Police.
