Pritzker signs bill updating police hiring procedures

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., (KBSI) — Gov. JB Pritzker has signed into law a bill aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in law enforcement hiring processes.

The measure, known as the Sonya Massey Bill, requires police agencies to conduct thorough reviews of an applicant’s employment history, including detailed past job records, before making a job offer.

The new law also lowers the population requirement for counties to create police merit boards and makes related changes to hiring oversight.

The legislation was supported by the Illinois Sheriff’s Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.