IL was one of the first states to fully implement LEOSA qual statewide. The only holdup was a couple of months waiting for the legislature to return to session so they could pass the bill giving the ILETSB the authority to implement. Once the ILETSB had the statutory authority then there were 2 issues which delayed them. Prior to, there had been no qual standards for LEO once they graduated from the academy. A LEO could graduate from training, spend 50 yrs in LE and never be required to qualify with his weapon again. The ILETSB implemented the minimum annual qual standards. This caused much whining and moaning from small towns who did not want the state telling them they had to force their officers to qualify annually in order to stay certified LEOs. Many towns complained the mandatory qual standard would cost them too much money (30 rds per LEO per year). More than at least one town publicly stated they had a part time LEO that if they required him to qual annually they were concerned he could not pass the qualification and they would be out of LE in their town. The minimum course of fire is hardly a tough qual standard and is really not much more than a weapon function check. 30 rounds toal: 12 rounds from the five yard line; 12 rounds from the seven yard line; and 6 rounds from the fifteen yard line. In order to qualify, you must place 21 hits out of 30 rounds within the 8 ½ x 14 target area - 70% proficiency.
But towns were opposed to the state forcing them to qual their officers.
Until the bill was passed there was no agency with the authority to handle it statewide, set standards, and issue cards. Even prior to the passage many agencies were qualifying their own retired officers. Springfield PD was one of the first agencies in the nation to offer qual shoots for their retirees.
Here is what IL is doing statewide for retirees if their former agencies don't qualify them.
http://www.irocc.org/
If qualifying with the ILETSB (actually the mobile training units) cost is $75 a year for one gun either revolver or auto and another $25 if qual using the other.
Agencies can qualify their own retirees and charge whatever they want. My former agency charges $5 regardless whether 1 or 2 guns. Some agencies aren't charging anything.
Agencies can set other qual standards as long as they meet the minimum standard outlined in the website. Agency standards can be tougher but not less. My agency uses the same course of fire for retirees as they use for active off duty course of fire. It's sort of like the course of fire listed above but more rds at the 15 and less at the 5. Still pretty minimal standard.
