Metro East Sun

Katie Stuart introduced HB1647 in the Illinois House on Jan. 23, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Amends the Civil Service In Cities Division and Board Of Fire and Police Commissioners Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Expands the definition of "firefighter" to include persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district, or employed by a State university, unit of local government, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System, and sworn or commissioned or employed to perform (i) firefighter duties, (ii) paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), or advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT) duties, (iii) or both (rather than persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform firefighter duties, paramedic duties, or both)."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill amends the Civil Service in Cities Division and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Division of the Illinois Municipal Code by broadening the definition of "firefighter." The expanded definition now includes individuals appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a state university, local government unit, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System. These individuals must be sworn, commissioned, or employed in roles involving firefighter duties, paramedic or emergency medical technician (EMT) duties, or a combination of these roles. However, part-time, auxiliary, reserve, or voluntary firefighters, along with clerks, dispatchers, and elected officials, are excluded from this definition. The bill establishes guidelines for forming eligibility lists for original appointments to affected fire departments and outlines requirements for testing, appointments, and preference points, such as for veterans and education. It ensures compliance with state and federal laws, applies a standard for qualification and appointing processes, and sets policies on temporary appointments and misconduct related to examination processes. The bill's provision ensures that these processes are as stringent as or more stringent than existing local processes, emphasizing fair and competitive hiring while maintaining statewide standards.

Katie Stuart has proposed another seven bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Stuart graduated from Rutgers University in 1989 with a BA.

Katie Stuart is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 112th House District. She replaced previous state representative Dwight Kay in 2017.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1647	01/23/2025	Amends the Civil Service In Cities Division and Board Of Fire and Police Commissioners Division of the Illinois Municipal Code. Expands the definition of "firefighter" to include persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district, or employed by a State university, unit of local government, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System, and sworn or commissioned or employed to perform (i) firefighter duties, (ii) paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-basic (EMT-B), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), or advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT) duties, (iii) or both (rather than persons appointed to a fire department or fire protection district or employed by a State university and sworn or commissioned to perform firefighter duties, paramedic duties, or both).
HB1573	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer's employer on behalf of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Creates an income tax deduction for any amounts paid by the taxpayer on behalf of an employee of the taxpayer as part of an educational assistance program. Provides that the deductions are limited to the first $5,250 of such assistance so furnished to any individual. Effective immediately.
HB1574	01/22/2025	Amends the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) Article of the Illinois Pension Code. Authorizes sheriff's law enforcement employee (SLEP) status for a person who is not eligible to participate in a downstate firefighter fund and is employed on a full-time basis by a participating municipality to perform duties as a paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency medical technician-intermediate (EMT-I), or advanced emergency medical technician (A-EMT); but only if the governing authority of that municipality has approved sheriff's law enforcement employee status for such employees by adoption of an affirmative resolution. Provides that the resolution must specify that SLEP status shall be applicable to such employment occurring on or after the adoption of the resolution and that the resolution shall be irrevocable. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement.
HB1293	01/13/2025	Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1294	01/13/2025	Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the short title.
HB1271	01/10/2025	Amends the Fire Investigation Act. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2026, the Office of the State Fire Marshal shall, in consultation with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), annually determine what funding is necessary for MABAS to sufficiently alleviate difficulties that emergency responders face in coordinating personnel and equipment from participating agencies and units of local government when responding to tornado disasters at large warehouse complexes in this State. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, the Office shall, in consultation with MABAS, establish a formula for the distribution of that funding, with certain requirements. Provides for a continuing appropriation from the General Revenue Fund to the Office for the maintenance, operation, and capital expenses of MABAS. Makes findings. Defines terms. Effective immediately.
HB1062	01/09/2025	Amends the Illinois Century Network Act. Provides that the connection of anchor institutions to the Illinois Century Network shall be prioritized according to the type of anchor institution, starting with schools and libraries.
HB1086	01/09/2025	Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. Provides that "alcoholic liquor" does not include frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that "frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor" means ice cream or other frozen desserts that are made with liquor, wine, beer, cider, or any combination thereof and that contain more than 0.5% but not more than 5% of alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts that contains more than 5% alcohol by volume. Provides that no person shall sell, give, or deliver frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of 21. Provides that a person under the age of 21 may not purchase, possess, or consume frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor. Provides that no person shall sell a package of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises or for consumption on the premises unless it contains specified notices and warnings. Provides that no manufacturer or distributor of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor shall sell the product to a person intending to sell at retail individual servings of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor or packages of frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor for consumption off the premises, unless, with each shipment, the manufacturer or distributor provides a written notice that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor may be sold at retail only if the retailer complies with specified requirements and provides a written copy of those requirements. Provides that frozen desserts containing alcoholic liquor are subject to all applicable food safety laws, rules, standards, and requirements, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Makes conforming changes. Amends the Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to make a conforming change.