- (a) The Board shall develop or approve a course to assist law enforcement officers in identifying and appropriately responding to individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
(b) The Board shall conduct or approve the autism-informed response training course no later than January 1, 2027 (2 years after the effective date of Public Act 103-949). The Board may consult with the Department of Public Health or Department of Human Services to develop and update the curriculum as needed. The course must include instruction in autism-informed responses, procedures, and techniques, which may include, but are not limited to:
- (1) recognizing the signs and symptoms of an autism spectrum disorder;
- (2) responding to the needs of a victim with an autism spectrum disorder;
- (3) interview and interrogation techniques for an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
- (4) techniques for differentiating an individual with an autism spectrum disorder from a person who is being belligerent and uncooperative. The Board must, within a reasonable amount of time, update this course, from time to time, to conform with national trends and best practices.
- (c) The Board is encouraged to adopt model policies to assist law enforcement agencies in appropriately responding to individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
(Source: P.A. 103-949, eff. 1-1-25; 104-417, eff. 8-15-25.)