IL HB5661

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961 to expand criminal street gang recruitment offense to include recruitment in public parks, in addition to school grounds and adjacent public property.

Defines "school grounds" to include school buildings and property, public/private elementary through post-secondary schools, 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education, areas within 1,000 feet of school property, school buses, designated bus stops, and areas within 1,000 feet of bus stops during school transportation times.

Creates new offense of "criminal street gang recruitment of a minor" that prohibits threatening physical force to coerce, solicit, recruit, or induce a minor to join or remain in a criminal street gang through any means including in-person, Internet, or telecommunications devices.

Defines "public park" to include parks, forest preserves, and conservation areas under state or local government jurisdiction.

Both criminal street gang recruitment on school grounds/public parks and recruitment of a minor are classified as Class 1 felonies.